Patent Application
20240400268
The present invention relates to an opening device for a package, in particular a package having a main body, filled with a pourable product, even more particular filled with a pourable food product.
Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a mold for molding an opening device for a package, in particular a package having a main body, filled with a pourable product, even more particular filled with a pourable food product.
Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a package, in particular a package having a main body, filled with a pourable product, even more particular filled with a pourable food product, and comprising an opening device.
As is known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, milk, milk-based drinks, drinking yoghurt, wine, tomato sauce, salt, sugar etc., are sold in packages, in particular sealed packages, made of a sterilized packaging material.
A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a carton and/or paper base layer, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. layers of polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
Thus, such a type of package comprises a main body formed from a multilayer packaging material and has a designated pour opening, which allows the outpouring of the pourable product from the package. Preferentially, the package is also provided with an opening device, which allows a sealing of the designated pour opening prior to a first use of the package.
A typical opening device is arranged about the designated pour opening and is designed to seal the package prior to a first opening of the opening device.
Therefore, some kinds of opening devices comprise a closing element having a main wall rupturably connected to a collar or base frame of the opening device. A user needs to remove the main wall, which when the opening device is used for the very first-time, leads to a rupturing of the main wall from the collar or the base frame.
In order to facilitate the removal, the closing element also comprises a pulling device connected to the main wall. Any separation force is transferred to the main wall by means of the pulling device.
A known pulling device comprises a leg element integrally connected to the main wall and a coupling ring integrally connected to the leg element.
The leg element needs to be sufficiently stiff and secured onto the main wall such that during the exertion of a separation force the leg element remains attached to the main wall.
Even though the currently known opening devices provide for good results, a need is felt in the sector to further improve the opening devices and/or packages.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner an improved opening device for a package, in particular a package having a main body formed from a multilayer packaging material, filled with a pourable product, even more particular filled with a pourable food product.
It is another object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner a mold for molding an improved opening device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner a package, in particular a package having a main body formed from a multilayer packaging material, filled with a pourable product, in particular filled with a pourable food product, having an improved opening device.
According to the present invention, there is provided an opening device according to the independent claim.
Further advantageous embodiments of the opening device are specified in the claims directly or indirectly depending on claim 1.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a mold according to claim 13.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a package according to claim 14, claim 15 or claim 16.
Two non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Number 1 indicates as a whole a package (only partially shown to the extent necessary for the comprehension of the present invention) comprising:
The pourable product may be milk, tomato sauce, milk-based drinks, drinking yoghurt, water, sugar, salt, juices, emulsions, and the like.
According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the packaging material may comprise at least a layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene layers, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another. One of these two layers of heat-seal plastic material may define the inner face of main body 2 contacting the pourable product.
Preferably, the packaging material may also comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular being arranged between one of the layers of heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material. Preferentially but not necessarily, the packaging material may also comprise a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.
Preferentially, each package 1, in particular the respective main body 2, may be obtained from a respective packaging blank of the multilayer packaging material. In particular, the packaging blank may define a precursor of the respective package 1, in particular the respective main body 2.
In more detail, the respective packaging blank may comprise the respective designated pour opening, which in particular may be covered by a separation membrane. The separation membrane may be formed from a gas-barrier material. In particular, the separation membrane may be defined by a portion of the layer of the gas- and light-barrier material.
According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the multilayer packaging material may be provided in the form of a web, thereby the packaging blanks may be successively arranged with respect to one another. During the formation of packages 1, the web is formed into a tube, longitudinally sealed, filled with the pourable product and transversally sealed and cut in correspondence with the extensions of the packaging blanks.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, each opening device 3 may be applied, in particular molded, to the respective main body 2 or onto the respective packaging blank. Preferentially, each opening device 3 may be molded onto the respective packaging blank and about the designated pour opening. In particular and as will be explained further below, a first portion of opening device 3 may be molded onto the respective packaging blank and a second portion may be applied onto the first portion after molding of the first portion.
With particular reference to
Preferentially, main body 2 may be parallelepiped-shaped.
According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, main body 2 may comprise a first wall (not shown and known as such), in particular being transversal, even more particular perpendicular, to longitudinal axis A, from which main body 2 may extend along longitudinal axis A. Preferably, the first wall may define a support surface of package 1, in particular main body 2, which may be designed to be put in contact with a support, such as e.g. a shelf, when, in use, being e.g. exposed within a sales point or when being stored. In particular, when being arranged on the support the first wall may define a bottom wall.
Preferably, main body 2 may also comprise a side wall 4 being (fixedly) connected to the first wall and extending, in particular substantially parallel, along longitudinal axis A, from the first wall.
Preferentially, main body 2 may also comprise a second wall 5 opposite to the first wall and being (fixedly) connected to side wall 4. In particular, side wall 4 may be interposed between the first wall and second wall 5.
In particular, when package 1 is arranged on a support second wall 5 may define a top wall.
According to the shown non-limiting embodiment, the first wall and second wall 5 may be parallel to one another.
According to non-limiting alternative embodiments not shown, the first wall and second wall 5 may be inclined with respect to one another. In particular, second wall 5 may define a slanted top or may define a portion of a gable-top.
According to some non-limiting embodiments, second wall 5 may carry and/or comprise the designated pour opening.
According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, package 1, in particular main body 2, may comprise an inner space configured to contain and/or containing the pourable product. In particular, the first wall, side wall 4 and second wall 5 may delimit the inner space.
With particular reference to
Furthermore, closing element 7 may be configured to (rupturably) detach from the contact portion so as to free and/or open the designated pour opening for allowing the outpouring of the pourable product.
Moreover, opening device 3 may comprise:
More specifically, flow channel 10 may extend between a pouring outlet 11 (of collar 9) configured to allow for the outpouring of the pourable product and an inlet (of collar 9) configured to allow for the introduction of the pourable product into flow channel 10.
In particular, collar 9 may extend along a central axis E and pouring outlet 11 and the inlet may be arranged at respective axial ends of collar 9.
In particular, closing element 7 may be arranged, in particular coaxially arranged, within flow channel 10.
Preferentially, closing element 7 may be coaxially positioned with respect to collar 9. In particular, closing element 7 may be coaxially arranged with respect to central axis E.
Preferentially, closing element 7 may be interposed between pouring outlet 11 and base frame 8 before the first opening of opening device 3 and after re-closing of opening device 3.
Additionally, opening device 3 may also comprise a closure 13 coupled and/or couplable to collar 9 and configured to selectively open and close pouring outlet 11.
Preferentially, closing element 7 and closure 13 may be connected, in particular fixed, to one another such that any movement of closure 13 results in a concurrent movement of closing element 7. In particular, closing element 7 and closure 13 may be connected to one another by means of fusing and/or welding and/or bonding and/or molding.
Preferentially, base frame 8, collar 9 and closing element 7 may be integrally formed, in particular in a single piece. In particular, base frame 8, collar 9 and closing element 7 may be formed during a molding process, in particular during molding of opening device 3 onto the respective packaging blank.
Furthermore, closure 13 may be coupled to collar 9 after formation of base frame 8, collar 9 and closing element 7.
In other words, base frame 8, collar 9 and closing element 7 may define the first portion of opening device 3 and closure 13 may define the second portion of opening device 3. Thus, closure 13 is applied to collar 9 after molding of base frame 8, collar 9 and closing element 7.
According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, base frame 8 or collar 9, in the specific embodiment shown collar 9, may comprise the contact portion.
In more detail, an annular portion of collar 9 may define the contact portion. In particular, the annular portion faces flow channel 10.
With particular reference to
Preferentially, prior to detaching closing element 7, in particular main wall 16, from the contact portion, in particular t time, closing element 7, in particular main wall 16, may be configured to seal the designated pour opening and the inner space, in particular in cooperation with the contact portion. Afterwards, it may be possible to place closing element 7, in particular main wall 16, again within flow channel 10 such that closing element 7, in particular main wall 16, may close the designated pour opening, but may not seal the designated pour opening and the inner space anymore.
In more detail, main wall 16 may be controllable between an active position (see
Pulling device 17 may be configured to allow for a user to exert through pulling device 17 a separation force on main wall 16 such that main wall 16 irreversibly ruptures from the contact portion and/or that main wall 16 moves from the active position to the inactive position.
Preferentially, pulling device 17 may be connected to, in particular fused and/or welded and/or bond onto, closure 13. In this way, a user can, in use, exert the separation force by operating closure 13 and any movement of closure 13 is transferred to main wall 16 by pulling device 17. Such a solution can be considered to increase the user-friendliness of opening device 3.
Alternatively, a user could directly operate pulling device 17. In particular, according to some possible alternative embodiments, closure 13 and closing element 7 are not coupled and after removal of closure 13 a user could operate pulling device 17 so as to control closing element 7 from the active position to the inactive position.
In more detail, closure 13 may be movable between:
According to some possible embodiments, opening device 3 may comprise a ring 18 arranged about collar 9 and being connected to closure 13. In particular, closure 13 may be hinged to ring 18 and may be configured to angularly move between the opening configuration and the closing configuration.
Preferentially, closure 13 may be reversibly moved between the closing configuration and the opening configuration.
In particular, as closing element 7, in particular pulling device 17, may be connected, in particular fused and/or welded and/or bonded, to closure 13, the movement, in particular the angular movement, of closure 13 between the closing configuration and the opening configuration may result in movement of main wall 16 between respectively the active position and the inactive position.
It should be noted that package 1 may be immediately after its formation arranged in an initial configuration in which closure 13 and main wall 16 may be respectively in the closing configuration and in the active position. Package 1 may be distributed and/or sold to a user while being in the initial configuration.
With particular reference to
In more detail, the coupling structure may comprise a coupling ring 20.
According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the coupling structure, in particular coupling ring 20, may be connected, in particular fused and/or welded and/or bond, to closure 13, in particular an inner surface of closure 13. Preferentially, the inner surface of closure 13 may face flow channel 10 and/or pouring outlet 11 when closure 13 is arranged in the closing configuration.
Preferentially, leg elements 19 may be angularly displaced from one another about a central axis F of main wall 16. In particular, central axis F may be coaxial to central axis E with main wall 16 being in the active position.
Even more preferentially, leg elements 19 may be unevenly distributed from one another about central axis F. In this manner, it is possible to more precisely obtain the separation of main wall 16 from the contact portion.
Alternatively, leg elements 19 could be equally spaced about central axis F.
Preferentially, leg elements 19 may be integrally connected to main wall 16.
With particular reference to
Advantageously, each connection portion 26 may comprise the respective first end 23 and has a first extension E1 along the respective longitudinal axis G, which equals or is less than half of a second extension E2, along the respective longitudinal axis G, of the respective pillar 22 from the respective first end 23 to the respective second end 24. Preferentially, first extension E1 may equal or may be less than one third of second extension E2.
By having the stiffening ribs 25 connected to the respective connection portion 26, which has a limited extension, it is possible on the one side to stabilize the respective pillar 22 and on the other side to guarantee a good deformability of the respective pillar 22 as it is e.g. advantageous during demolding i.e. during extraction of opening device 3 from a mold in which it has been manufactured.
In particular, each pillar 22 may consist of connection portion 26 and a further portion extending from the respective connection portion 26 and to the respective second end 24.
Furthermore, each first extension E1 may be less than one third of a third extension E3, along the respective longitudinal axis G, of the respective pillar 22 together with the respective portion of the coupling structure, in particular coupling ring 20, connected to the respective pillar 22.
Preferentially, main wall 16 may comprise a first surface 27 facing away from and/or being designed to face away from the designated pour opening. In particular, first face 27 may extend within a plane H perpendicular to central axis E and/or central axis F and/or longitudinal axes G.
In particular, each pillar 22 transversally, in particular perpendicularly, extends from first surface 27.
Even more particular, each first end 23 is in contact with first surface 27.
In particular, each first extension E1 and each second extension E2 may be measured along a direction D orthogonal to main wall 16, in particular first surface 27, even more particular to plane H. Even more particular, each third extension E3 may be measured along direction D.
In particular, each stiffening rib 25 may be integrally connected to main wall 16.
Preferentially, each leg element 19 may comprise two stiffening ribs 25 spaced apart from one another and connected to the respective connection portion 26.
Even more preferentially, each stiffening rib 25 may be connected to a respective lateral section of the respective connection portion 26.
With particular reference to
Preferentially, outer surface 32 may face an inner wall 33 of collar 9. Preferentially, inner wall 33 may delimit flow channel 10.
Reverting again to
In particular, each stiffening rib 25 may be arranged radially inside with respect to the respective leg element 19, and in particular with respect to central axis F.
With particular reference to
In more detail, each lateral surface portion 35 may transversally extend from the respective central surface portion 34. In particular, each lateral surface portion 35 may also radially extend inside from the respective central surface portion 34.
Moreover, each outer surface 33 may be axially symmetric.
Preferentially, each lateral surface portion 35 may have a concave shape, in particular with respect to inner wall 33. Such lateral surface portions 35 allow to further facilitate demolding, in particular as leg elements 19 can be more easily separated from the respective mold.
Preferentially, each inner surface 30 may have a concave shape with respect to central axis E. In more detail, each inner surface 30 may correspond to a respective surface portion of a respective cylinder, in particular a cylinder having a central axis coaxial to central axis F.
With particular reference to
It should be noted that trapezoidal-like means that the obtained cross-section can be approximated by means of a trapezoid.
In the specific embodiment disclosed, each cross-section comprises a first base 36, a second base 37 and two lateral sides 38. In particular, each first base 36 is longer than the respective second base 37.
Moreover, each first base 36 results from the intersection with the respective inner surface 30, each second base 37 results from the intersection with the respective central surface portion 34 and each lateral side 38 results from the intersection with the respective lateral surface portion 35.
It can be noted that each first base 36 and the respective two lateral sides 38 may be curved. If one connects the respective intersection points with linear lines, one obtains the trapezoid, which approximates the trapezoidal-like cross-section. In particular, the linear lines approximating/associated with/corresponding to the two lateral sides 38 are not parallel, while the linear line approximating/associated with/corresponding to first base 36 approximating/associated and the linear line with/corresponding to second base 37 are parallel to one another.
In particular, each pillar 22 may widen from the respective first end 23 towards and to the respective second end 24.
Preferentially, the size of the respective first base 36 of a first cross-section profile (see
With particular reference to
In particular, each main portion 45 may also be interposed between two respective auxiliary portions 46.
Moreover, main portions 45 and auxiliary portions 46 may be integrally connected to one another and/or may be made in a single piece.
According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, main wall 16 may comprise an annular coupling membrane rupturably connected to the contact portion. In particular, the coupling membrane may be configured such that during the first-time removal of closing element 7, the coupling membrane ruptures so as to allow for the detachment of closing element 7 from the contact portion. In other words, the coupling membrane is configured to rupture the first time main wall 16 is moved from the active position to the inactive position.
Preferentially, the coupling membrane may define an annular and peripheral portion of main wall 16.
According to some preferred-non limiting embodiments, main wall 16 may comprise
Preferentially, one end of each ridge element 47 is interposed between two respective stiffening ribs 25.
Preferentially, each ridge element 47 may protrude from first surface 27 and/or each groove 48 may be depressed with respect to first surface 27.
According to another aspect of the present invention, opening device 3 may be coupled to main body 2 by means of a molding process. In particular, opening device 3 may be coupled to main body 2 by molding the first portion of opening device 3 to the respective packaging blank.
In order to do so, a mold needs to be provided, which is configured to allow for molding of opening device 3 onto main body 2 and/or the packaging blank. In more detail, the mold may be configured to allow for molding and forming the first portion of opening device 3.
In particular, the mold may be configured to allow for the formation of base frame 8, collar 9 and closing element 7.
Even more particular, the mold may be configured to mold base frame 8, collar 9 and closing element 7 in a single piece.
In more detail, the mold may be designed such to allow for the formation of leg elements 19, main wall 16 and the contact portion.
In use, a user receives package 1 with closure 13 and main wall 16 being respectively in the closing configuration and the active position so as to respectively cover pouring outlet 11 and the designated pour opening.
Prior to the first control of closure 13 from the closing configuration to the opening configuration and of main wall 16 from the active position to the inactive position, closing element 7, in particular main wall 16, even more particular the coupling membrane, is rupturably fixed to the contact portion.
The user, in order to access the pourable product, needs to control closure 13 from the closing configuration to the leading, wall 16 is opening configuration as main operationally coupled to closure 13 through pull device 17, to a movement of main wall 16 from the active position to the inactive position and a rupturing of closing element 7, in particular of main wall 16, even more particular of the coupling membrane, from the contact portion. This then allows the pourable product to flow from the inner space through and out of flow channel 10.
Each time main wall 16 is arranged again in the active position (by moving closure 13 in the closing configuration) main wall 16 covers the designated pour opening.
With reference to
In particular, opening device 3′ differs from opening device 3 in that each auxiliary portion 46 may comprise a recess 49.
More specifically, one or more recesses 49, in the specific case shown two, may be centered with respect to the respective two main portions 45. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more recesses 49, in the specific case shown two, may be arranged closer to one of the respective two main portions 45 than to the other one of the respective two main portions 45.
Preferentially, each recess 49 is designed so as to allow for the respective auxiliary portion 46 to deform, in particular to deform along a direction radial with respect to central axis F and/or longitudinal axes G.
Moreover, each recess 49 may define a weakening of the respective auxiliary portion 46.
According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, each recess 49 may define a recessed surface 50 of the respective auxiliary portion 46.
In particular, by providing for recesses 49 and/or deformable and/or weakened auxiliary portions 46, the extraction from the mold of closing element 7, in particular of the coupling structure, even more particular of coupling ring 20, is furthermore facilitated.
As operation of opening device 3′ is similar to operation of opening device 3, we refer to the above-provided description.
The advantages of opening device 3 and/or opening device 3′ and/or of package 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.
In particular, opening device 3 and opening device 3′ are provided with pull device 17, which guarantees the needed stability when detaching main wall 16 from the contact portion, but which also ensures to be easily removed from a mold, which is used for molding opening device 3 or opening device 3′ onto main body 2 and/or the respective precursor.
Moreover, during demolding, leg elements 19 may elastically deform. Therefore, it is possible to avoid modification of the shape of leg elements 19.
Additionally, leg elements 19 do not break during movement, in particular during the first movement of main wall 16 from the active position to the inactive position.
A further advantage resides, in the opening device 3′ has a deformable coupling ring 20 due to recesses 49 and/or recessed surfaces 50.
Clearly, changes may be made to opening device 3 and/or opening device 3′ and/or package 1 as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21200038.4 | Sep 2021 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/076024 | 9/20/2022 | WO |
