Patent Application
20240199283
The invention relates to the field of packaging based on cellulose or recyclable plastic. More specifically, it concerns packaging comprising a tubular body obtained by welding or gluing end-to-end of a sheet. The invention applies in the field of packaging, and in particular that of recyclable flexible tubes which are designed to contain cream or paste products; or it applies in that of flexible pouches to contain foodstuffs; or that of cans as a replacement for aluminium, to contain liquids; or that of containers for cosmetic products.
Patent EP1260447B1 by Otani describes paper pulp packaging produced by moulding. The Otani patent has numerous advantages, since it makes it possible to obtain packaging with a high level of cellulose. The process according to Otani makes it possible in particular to form packages with threads which have substantial strength and durability. However, the process for obtaining this packaging has a long cycle time which does not permit production at a fast pace and at a competitive cost. Furthermore, the process does not make it possible to modulate locally the thickness of the packaging, which is detrimental when wishing to produce flexible packaging such as tubes for example.
Plastic, or metal-plastic, or paper-plastic tubes produced by welding a tubular body onto a tube head, such as flexible tubes, are described for example in the publications FR2505250, GB1118632, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,119,926 and 4,132,331. The problem of leakage at the intersection of the welds is not approached in these documents, since the tubes described in these publications mostly have plastic or synthetic material which melts at least partly or completely during the welding operation and prevents the formation of cavities. However, the prior art does not teach how to obtain sealed packaging when using mostly materials based on cellulose or other equivalent (natural or synthetic) materials which do not melt under the effect of the temperature.
An objective of the invention is to improve the known processes, machines and products.
Another objective of the invention is to improve the packaging based on cellulose, and the processes and the machines for their production.
Another objective of the invention is to improve the packaging based on recycled material(s) which can not be in contact with the packaged product, and the processes and machines for their production.
Another objective of the invention is to eliminate the problems of sealing encountered with the tubes and packaging according to the prior art, the parts of which are made of materials based on cellulose.
The invention relates to packaging based on cellulose and/or recycled material(s) comprising a tubular body assembled on at least one component forming the end of a tube or a container or a bottle. This component is for example a shoulder with a neck and/or a base.
According to some embodiments, the invention makes it possible to produce packaging based on cellulose containing a level of cellulose which is sufficient to permit its recycling in the channel for paper and/or other recycled material(s), thus allowing it to be recycled via an appropriate channel. The tubular packaging body which is produced by welding a sheet based on cellulose can contain a high level of cellulose, typically higher than 85%. However, the production of components (necks, bases) which contain a high level of cellulose continues to be a topical subject.
Hereinafter in the description of the invention, the term “recycled material” will be used to designate materials which are not suitable for coming into contact with the packaged product. For example, a recycled material can be a recycled resin, or a recycled plastic material, such as HDPE, or other equivalents. The recycled material can be a single material or need not be, i.e. it can comprise a plurality of materials (traces, pollution, etc.). Other materials which are not necessarily recycled, but which are not suitable for being in contact with the packaged product, can also be envisaged within the context of the present invention.
According to other embodiments, the invention makes it possible to produce packaging based on recycled material(s) with a level higher than 60% and preferably higher than 85%. The tubular body of the packaging which is produced by welding a sheet based on recycled material can contain a level of recycling which is typically higher than 85%. However, the production of components (necks, bases) which contain a high level of recycled material (not suitable for being in contact with the packaged product) also continues to be a topical subject.
The invention relates to a component (such as, for example, a tube head or base) based on cellulose or recycled material comprising a functional layer which is (preferably) thin, covering at least the so-called inner face of the said component, its section at the end of the said component, as well as its so-called assembly area. The inner face of the component is defined as the face of the component which is in the interior of the packaging, and is in contact with the packaged product. The section is the part of the component which forms the end thereof, and is situated in the interior of the packaging after assembly. The assembly area is defined by the part of the outer face of the component which is situated on the periphery, and is used to assemble the component and the tubular body of the packaging. According to some embodiments of the invention, the end of the inner face of the tubular body is assembled on the end of the outer face of the component. Preferably, the assembly is carried out by welding.
According to the invention, the functional layer is a single layer, or itself contains a plurality of layers in order to ensure that all of the properties are provided (for example barrier, weldability, organoleptic).
According to the invention, the functional layer has at least properties of impermeability which protect the layer of cellulose (known as the “structural layer”) against the humidity contained in the packaging and/or in the packaged product, and guarantee the preservation of the packaged product. The functional layer can also have properties of impermeability to gases, such as oxygen, in order to prevent oxidation of the packaged products.
According to the invention, the functional layer has at least properties of impermeability which isolate the layer made of recycled material (known as the “structural layer”) of the packaged product, and prevent migration of molecules from the layer made of recycled material to the packaged product, and guarantee the preservation of the packaged product. The functional layer preferably has properties of impermeability to gases, such as oxygen, in order to prevent oxidation of the packaged products and migration of recycling residues.
The functional layer has properties which permit assembly of the component on the tubular body. Preferably, the functional layer has properties of weldability with the inner layer of the tubular body. Alternatively, the functional layer is assembled by gluing or another similar and/or equivalent method.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the functional layer covers all of the surface of the component, i.e. its inner surface, its outer surface, as well as its section. This variant makes it possible to obtain packaging which is insensitive to humidity, i.e. both coming from the interior of the packaging (liquid packaged product) and from the environment in which the packaging is used (bathroom, shower, for example).
Processes for production of these components and packaging comprising such components according to the invention are described in the present application.
The process for production of the components comprises at least the following steps:
According to some embodiments, the invention relates to a packaging part, the said part comprising a structural layer based on cellulose or recycled material with an inner face, a section and an outer face, and a functional layer covering the inner face of the structural layer at least partly, the said functional layer comprising an additional part which extends beyond the periphery of the structural layer.
According to some embodiments, the packaging part comprises a functional layer covering the outer face of the structural layer at least partly.
According to some embodiments, the functional part is formed by the part of the functional layer covering the inner face and the outer face, and extending beyond the periphery of the structural layer.
According to some embodiments, the additional part can be at least partly cut.
According to some embodiments, the additional part can be folded back in order to cover the section of the structural layer.
According to some embodiments the functional layer has welding properties.
According to some embodiments, the functional layer is single-layer or multiple-layer.
According to some embodiments, the functional layer is for example made of:
According to some embodiments, the structural layer is single-layer or multiple-layer.
According to some embodiments, the packaging part is a tube head or a base.
According to some embodiments, the packaging part is a tube head comprising a neck.
According to some embodiments, the neck is clipped onto the tube head.
According to some embodiments, the packaging part comprises a stopper.
According to some embodiments, the packaging part comprises an element for connection between the neck and the stopper.
According to some embodiments, the functional layer obstructs the orifice of the neck at least partly or totally.
According to some embodiments, the invention relates to packaging comprising at least a part as described in the present application, in the form of a tube head and/or base, and a second part in the form of a tubular body with a functional layer, the said parts being secured to one another in an assembly area comprising the functional layer of each part, in order to ensure the continuity of the said functional layers after assembly of the said parts.
According to some embodiments of the packaging, the assembly of the parts is carried out by welding or gluing.
According to some embodiments, the packaging is a tube or a container for example.
In some embodiments according to the invention of a process for production of a first part of an item of packaging (such as a shoulder or a base) comprising at least the said first part and a second part (such as a tubular body), which are designed to be assembled to one another by securing at an assembly area, with the said first part comprising a structural layer based on cellulose or recycled material with an inner face, a section and an outer face, in the process a functional layer is attached to the structural layer by covering at least the inner face of the structural layer and forming an additional part which extends beyond the periphery of the structural layer, and the additional part is folded back such as to cover at least the section of the structural layer.
According to some embodiments of the process, a supplementary fold is produced in the additional part, such as to turn it down and secure it on the outer surface of the structural layer of the first part, the said additional part forming the area of assembly of the parts of the packaging.
According to some embodiments of the process, the outer face of the structural layer of the first part is also covered with a functional layer, such as to encapsulate the first part in the functional layer.
According to some embodiments of the process, the additional part is formed by means of the functional layer covering the inner face and/or of the functional layer covering the outer face of the first part.
According to some embodiments of the process, the additional part is cut at least partly.
According to some embodiments of the process, a packaging is formed by assembling at least the first part and the second part, and attaching them to one another in the assembly area.
According to some embodiments of the process, the first part is a shoulder and/or a base, and the second part is a tubular body. According to one embodiment of the process, in order to form a container, the packaging comprises three parts, i.e. a shoulder as the first part, a tubular body as the second part, and a base as the third part. These parts are assembled according to the steps of the process as described in the present application, the first part and the third part being assembled with the second part for example as illustrated in the figures.
In the description of the invention, the term “structural layer” 2 is used to designate the part of the component (such as a tube head/shoulder 1 or a base 9) based on cellulose or recycled material representing most of the mass thereof, and on which the mechanical strength thereof is mainly dependent. According to the invention, this structural part can itself be composed of a plurality of layers (for example at least two layers). Advantageously, the structural layer 2 is composed of a plurality of layers based on cellulose fibres, each layer being able to be characterised by the size, orientation and density of the fibres.
In the description of the invention, the term “functional layer” 4 is used to designate a layer with a narrow thickness which provides the functionality of the packaging, such as the barrier against humidity, aromas or oxygen, such as the suitability for contact with the packaged product, and such as the weldability in the area of assembly with the tubular body. According to the invention, this layer can itself be composed of a plurality of layers in order to provide all of the functionalities required.
In the description of the invention, the inner face represents the face of the component which is situated in the interior of the packaging, and is potentially in contact with the product contained in the packaging. On the contrary, the outer face represents the face which is situated on the exterior of the packaging.
In the description of the invention, the term “end” is used to designate the part of the component which is situated on the periphery at the section. Within the context of the invention, it is important to cover the end of the component with the functional layer 4, since the said end is in the interior of the packaging after assembly on the tubular body 3.
The shoulder 1 can also be associated with complex elements for extraction of the product, such as pumps which make it possible to measure out the product extracted from the packaging.
The functional layer 4 makes it possible to provide the properties necessary at the shoulder 1 for preservation of the packaged product, and in conjunction makes it possible to protect the structural layer 2 based on cellulose or recycled material against any deterioration caused by the packaged product. For example, when the packaged product is water-based, the functional layer 4 makes it possible to protect the structural layer 2 against the humidity contained in the packaging and/or in the packaged product. The protection of the section of the structural layer 2 based on cellulose at the end 5 is a key point of the invention.
The structure and production of the tubular body 3 based on cellulose or recycled material is not described in the invention, since these are already described in the prior art and in particular in the publications EP2007567, EP284389, EP2630052. The tubular bodies 3 based on cellulose or recycled material advantageously comprise at least one structural layer based on cellulose or recycled material, and a functional layer situated at least on the inner face of the tubular body, the barrier properties of which depend on the packaged product (for example barrier against humidity and/or oxygen and/or aromas). The functional layer in the interior of the packaging is in contact with the packaged product. The said structural and functional layers generally comprise a plurality of layers. The tubular body 3 based on cellulose is advantageously produced from a multiple-layer sheet, the ends of which are assembled end-to-end, preferably with the addition of reinforcement strips at the assembly position. Alternatively, the tubular body is produced by covering edges of the sheet based on cellulose or recycled material.
The assembly between the end of the shoulder 1 and the end of the tubular body 3 is carried out at the assembly area 10. In this area, the inner face of the tubular body 3 is superimposed on the outer face of the shoulder 1, such that the inner functional layer of the tubular body 3 is directly in contact with the functional layer 1 of the shoulder 1. The invention thus permits continuity of the functional layers between the shoulder 1 and the tubular body 3 at the assembly area 10, thus guaranteeing the continuity of the barrier properties of the packaging. The assembly between the shoulder 1 and the tubular body 3 is preferably carried out by welding. An alternative method consists of carrying out the assembly by gluing. It will be appreciated that other, equivalent methods are possible and can be envisaged.
The functional layer 4 makes it possible to provide the properties necessary at the base for preservation of the packaged product, and in conjunction it makes it possible to protect the structural layer 2 based on cellulose against any deterioration caused by the packaged product. For example, when the packaged product is water-based, the functional layer 4 makes it possible to protect the structural layer 2 against the humidity contained in the packaging and/or in the packaged product. The protection of the section of the layer 2 based on cellulose at the end 5 is a key point of the invention.
The assembly between the end of the base 9 and the end of the tubular body 3 is carried out at the assembly area 10. In this area, the inner face of the tubular body is superimposed on the outer face of the base, such that the inner functional layer of the tubular body 3 is directly in contact with the functional layer 4 of the base. The invention thus permits continuity of the functional layers between the base 9 and the tubular body 3 at the assembly area 10, therefore guaranteeing the continuity of the barrier properties of the packaging. The assembly between the base 9 and the tubular body 3 is preferably carried out by welding. An alternative method consists of carrying out the assembly by gluing. It will be appreciated that other, equivalent methods are possible and can be envisaged.
The functional layer 4 can be single-layer or multiple-layer. Examples of structures of the functional layer 4 are as follows:
The layer 4 can be based on biodegradable and/or bio-sourced resins, or combinations of materials.
Alternatively, the functional layer 4 can be based on natural or synthetic products applied by spraying (spray coating) or dipping (dip coating) directly onto the structural layer 2 based on cellulose.
The first step of the process, illustrated in
The second step illustrated in
Finally, the third step of the process illustrated in
The functional layer 4 is preferably secured by welding on the structural layer 2 based on cellulose or recycled material. In addition, for example, welding by means of hot air of the additional part 16 can be envisaged.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the functional layer 4 is secured only locally on the structural part 2.
b illustrate a second embodiment of a process for the production of components (such as a tube head 1 or a base 9) having a structural layer 2 which is completely encapsulated in the functional layer 4. In this example, the functional layer 2 is in the form of a prefabricated film.
The first step of this process illustrated in
The second step of the process illustrated in
The third step of the process consists of cutting the supplementary part 16 which is unnecessary and/or to be folded, and securing the supplementary part 16 (or a part thereof after the cutting) on the outer (
According to another embodiment, not illustrated, the first process is carried out in order to obtain the component illustrated in
According to another embodiment of a process according to the invention, the functional layer 4 can be extruded directly onto the structural layer 2 based on cellulose or recycled material.
According to another embodiment of a process according to the invention, the functional layer 4 is deposited by spraying (spray coating) or by dipping (dip coating).
It will be appreciated that the above-described assembly process applies in a corresponding manner to other components such as, for example, a base 9 as represented in
The connection element 11b can for example be a wire element or a hinge or another equivalent structure.
The clipped-on elements 11a have a geometry suitable for ensuring sealing of the packaging after clipping on has taken place.
The advantage of clipping on is the speed of assembly on the production lines, and optionally the possibility of separating the clipped-on parts 11a from the remainder of the packaging during recycling. The principle of clipping on of the neck 6 is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in
In embodiments of the packaging according to the present invention:
The stopper can be a cap.
The stopper can be clipped on.
The stopper can be screwed on.
The stopper can be pushed into the neck.
The stopper can comprise a hinge.
The stopper is preferably secured on the packaging.
The invention can be applied to the packaging illustrated in the present application (tubes, containers) or to other types of packaging not represented. The embodiments in the present application are described by way of illustrative examples, and they must not be considered as limiting. Other embodiments can use means equivalent to those described, for example. The embodiments can also be combined with one another according to the circumstances, or means used in one mode can be used in another mode.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21170468.9 | Apr 2021 | EP | regional |
The present PCT application claims the priority of the prior European application no. 21170468.9 filed on 26 Apr. 2021 in the name of AISAPACK HOLDING SA, the content of this prior application being incorporated by reference in its entirety in the present PCT application.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/053783 | 4/22/2022 | WO |
