Patent Application
20200385159
The present invention generally relates to containers used in packaging industry, particularly to plastic containers having an upper opening for retrieving content of the container. The invention also concerns a pack comprising such containers and a method of producing the containers.
More particularly, the invention relates to a container, comprising a one-piece hollow body made of plastic material and a bottom portion, wherein said hollow body comprises:
Containers with a body and an access opening at the top of the body, generally provided with a cover member to seal the access opening, are produced in very large quantities. The annular base generally defines a bearing surface suitable to maintain the container in an upstanding position, parallel to the longitudinal axis. Such containers have a substantially flat bottom portion.
In the field of dairy products, the body, which is adapted to receive the dairy composition, is generally produced by thermoforming from a plastic sheet in a mold. The containers are formed simultaneously and their outer rims (at an outer flange) remain joined together. Such method makes it possible to produce particularly inexpensive packaging containers, while at the same time adhering to the hygiene standards necessary for food products. The technology FFS (Form, Fill and Seal) is typically used to produce at high rate conventional containers grouped in packs and each sealed conventionally by a flexible closure lid (membrane). Such containers are also of light weight as compared to glass containers.
The opening is typically a wide opening directly defined at the top of the hollow body. The opening is surrounded by a flat upper edge, also called flange that generally protrudes outwardly as compared to the annular side wall of the body.
When correctly emptied, such kind of containers can be sorted for recycling purposes. But they are often not collected by most municipal curbside collections for various reasons. In particular, it costs more money to recycle polypropylene than other plastics; so most utilities opt to skip recycling it altogether. And when yogurt containers are collected, they are melted down and mixed with other plastics to form “mixed plastics”. Ideally, the body of such containers should be systematically recycled.
Another difficulty to achieve such recycling is the fact that a flexible cover member is often introduced in the interior volume of the body (after consumption of the content), which makes efficient sorting more complicated. The flexible cover member is often not in same plastic as the body: it is typically defined by a composite material and/or aluminium.
Another drawback is that the bottom is a relatively thick, moderately stretched part, representing a significant amount of material with a cost and/or decreased sustainability footprint.
Accordingly, there is an interest for producing containers well adapted to be produced by efficient industrial processes, while being most suitable for recycling purposes.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide containers addressing one or more of the above mentioned problems.
To this end, embodiments of the present invention provide a container, comprising a bottom portion, a flexible top lid, a one-piece hollow body made of plastic material and provided with:
With such arrangement, an interior volume of the container may be axially closed at opposite ends, by a top lid and a base lid (which defines all or part of the bottom portion), the top lid and the base lid being removable in order to open the opposite ends. The base lid is typically a flexible base lid made of a plastic film.
With such container having opposite openings and a specific sealing flexible base lid to define all or a main part of the bottom portion, the plastic hollow body is easier to recycle. When made from PET, such body may be recycled exactly as a conventional PET bottle. Such easy separation of the tubular hollow body prevents rejection in recycling streams. When removing the flexible base lid, no lid or sealing element can be retained/caught in the interior volume.
The base lid, made of a thin film material, does not increase the bulk of the container and does not reduce the interior volume to be filled with container content. The same may apply for the top lid, preferably made of a thin film material.
Preferably, the hollow body, the flexible top lid and the flexible base lid delimit an interior volume suitable for receiving a product, the part of the flexible base lid covering the base opening being typically in contact with the product. The side wall extends around a longitudinal axis that intersects the flexible base lid.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the wording “wide opening” means that the opening has a diameter (if the opening is circular) or smaller size (if the opening is not circular) at least greater than half the inner diameter or similar radial size measured at a narrowest section of the side wall of the body. Optionally, such diameter or smaller size of the opening is at least greater than three quarters of the inner diameter or similar radial size of the side wall (i.e. with a length ratio of at least ¾ between such sizes). Preferably, the wide opening has diameter or equivalent characteristic size superior or equal to half the diameter or similar radial size measured at a maximum of section of the side wall of the body. Of course, the wide base opening is defined by a main opening of the container surrounded by the annular base, such wide base opening typically being the single opening at the base of the body.
The base of the hollow body has a free edge delimiting the wide base opening and forming, in the hollow body lower end, the annular area proximal to the longitudinal axis. However, such free edge remains radially closer to the side wall, and thus typically extends at a greater radial distance from the longitudinal axial, due to wide dimensions of the base opening. The annular base may be defined at a lowermost end of the hollow body. The flexible base lid may define a main outer face of the container bottom portion, while being maintained in a transverse position only by attachment to a narrow annular surface portion of the base, typically by a sealing contact on a base flange of the hollow body. The flexible base lid typically consists of a flexible foil, possibly an aluminium film, a metal-free plastic film or a multi-layered composite film with or without a metal layer. The flexible base lid can be optionally configured in planar manner, at least in a main portion thereof, for example in a central portion surrounded by an annular margin portion.
With such arrangement, plastic material can be saved due to the reduction of plastic amount used in the hollow body to define the bottom portion of the container. The hollow body may be simply tubular so that the annular base is defined at a lowermost end of the hollow body, at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis.
Of course, the term “annular” should not be here interpreted in any strict manner, provided that the corresponding shape defines a ring-like closed section, typically around a central axis. This does not exclude any straight segments as perceived in cross section and polygonal shapes or partly polygonal shapes may be interpreted as annular shapes in such context.
Optionally, the body is a blow molded piece made of a thermoplastic material, e.g. made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), or polyethylene furanoate (PEF), preferably a transparent PET material.
According to a particular feature, the hollow body is a blow molded piece made of PET.
The hollow body thus can be of lighter weight as compared to a side wall of a deep-drawn plastic packaging cup. The hollow body may be obtained with lower cost related to the plastic material in the one hand, and with lower environmental footprint on the other end.
The base comprises a base flange with which the flexible base lid is in sealing contact. Typically, the annular sealing contact between the base flange and the flexible base lid may be defined only between the base flange and the flexible base lid, in an annular region close or adjacent to the side wall.
Typically, the flexible base lid is continuously adhering to an upper face of the base flange. The flexible base lid thus easily withstands the weight of the content and there no risk of starting peeling the flexible base lid at an outer rim thereof. From the outside, there is preferably no access to such outer rim of the flexible base lid.
In a variant, the flexible base lid may be continuously adhering to a lower face of the base flange. In such case, the fixing of the flexible base lid may correspond to a force lower than force required to tearing the flexible base lid but sufficient to prevent accidental peeling.
Optionally, the annular base may extend axially farther downwardly as compared to the level of the base flange, so that the flexible base lid is in an offset position as compared to the bearing surface defined at the lower face of the annular base. Such option may be of interest, especially when the flexible base lid is fixed to a lower face of the base flange.
According to a particular, the top opening is surrounded by a top flange of annular shape extending radially inward from an upper end of the annular side wall. With such arrangement without any outer protruding edge as compared to the side wall, the bulk of the container is not perceived as thin as conventional, especially when the opening (which may be greater than 35 or 40 mm) is not wider than 60 or 70 mm. For dairy containers such as yogurt cups, an opening often has a maximal diameter strictly lower than 60 mm and higher than 40 or 45 mm.
An inner flange may be obtained so as to be not as thick that a not stretched part (that represents a significant amount of plastic material representing a cost and/or decreased sustainability footprint; more plastic being used, with more transportation needed for example).
Besides, in food industry as in other fields, plastic containers can often be stacked on top of one another so as to form stacks which can be layered on a pallet. When having such container, without an outer flange protruding outwardly as compared to the annular side wall of the body, a pallet may contain more containers as interspace between the containers may be reduced.
According to a particular, the base flange is ring-shaped or crown-shaped.
According to a particular, the top flange is ring-shaped or crown-shaped.
Optionally, the base flange is of annular shape and defines an annular free edge of the base to delimit the base opening.
Optionally, the base flange is a part of the base and continuously surrounds the base opening of the hollow body, the base flange defining all or part of the lower axial annular face of the hollow body.
According to a particular, an annular free edge defined by the base flange is comparatively less distant from the side wall and more distant from the longitudinal axis of the side wall.
Optionally, the base flange may be provided with one or more of the following features:
According to a particular, the base opening has a diameter or a maximal radial size that is superior to 30 mm and inferior or equal to 100 mm. This arrangement facilitates removal from the flexible base lid by an automatic process performed during recycling operations, as the flexible base lid may be easily detached, for example by a push member introduced through the top opening of the hollow body. Of course, the flexible top lid is also easily removable as it is easily peelable and typically provided with a pull tab.
In various embodiments of the container of the invention, recourse may optionally also be had to one or more of the following dispositions:
30 mm≤d≤100 mm.
d/D>0.5
S1/S2>0.3, preferably 0.5≤S1/S2≤8.
Regarding the flexible lid, sealed to the top flange:
Regarding the hollow body:
Optionally, the hollow body is provided with a top flange and a base flange at opposite ends and the side wall of the hollow body has an average thickness typically similar or identical to the average thickness in the top flange, preferably with a difference in thickness lower than 15 or 20%. An average thickness may be calculated in a known manner, without compressing the plastic material and by measuring in a plurality or regularly spaced locations (typically with at least five measurements).
Optionally, maximal radial extension of the top flange as measured in the opening plane, between the outer rim and the inner rim, is less than 5.0 mm, preferably inferior or equal to 4.0 mm. Such radial extension may be superior or equal to 2.0 mm.
The top flange may be provided with an angled area surrounding the top opening, the angled area being at annular junction between a (not cut) first flat portion and a (cut) second portion of the flange. The second portion may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hollow body and includes a flange inner edge.
The top flange may be slightly tapering upwardly, so that a shallow angle is defined between a horizontal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and an upper face of the top flange; such angle is typically inferior or equal to 7 or 9°, preferably strictly inferior to 6°, so that height of the top flange 5 is minimized.
Herein the term “vertical” can refer to the direction of the longitudinal axis (or central axis of a pre-container). The term “horizontal” can refer to the plane perpendicular to the “vertical”.
The invention also concerns the product comprising the container of the invention and the content, preferably a food composition (any edible composition), in the container. An exemplary food composition can be a liquid, viscous semi-fluid, or solid composition. The food composition is preferably a dairy composition, preferably a fermented dairy composition, for example a yogurt-based composition.
According to a particular feature, the hollow body, the flexible base lid and the flexible top lid have their respective inner faces each defined by a material suitable for food contact.
A further purpose of the invention is to provide a pack easy to be manipulated in a supermarket (before exposure of the containers by the operators and thereafter by the final consumer).
To this end, embodiments of the present invention provide, in a pack, optionally a food pack, a plurality of units arranged in at least one row, the units being each defined by a container or a product according to the invention.
It is also provided, according to the invention, a method for producing at least one container of the invention, the method comprising:
Step B) is typically performed using an annular margin portion of the flexible base lid (annular margin portion complementary and distinct from a central closing portion exactly covering the base opening), the outwardly orientated surface area of the closing portion of the flexible base lid being higher than the surface area of the annular margin portion as perceived from outside of the container.
Using such a method, a wide base opening may be firstly sealed before a filling step, and a wide top opening is then sealed to have a sufficient shelf life. Surprisingly, a flexible base lid is sealed with sufficient strength to the wide base opening, so as to allow such kind of storage on the one hand, and facilitate recycling of the hollow body on the other hand as there is no significant retention/bottom area after removing the two flexible lids. The hollow body may also be provided with a collapsible and/or crushable side wall, so that the hollow body may be collapsed/crushed more easily (as there is no integral transverse wall).
According to a particular, Step A) comprises the following steps:
Advantageously, a multi-ring or multi cell pre-container is formed as a single bottle-like piece and then trimmed into several pots or bodies, each of which is formed of one or multiple rings (sub-parts of the pre-container elongated body). Such way to cut a pre-container significantly lowers the cost and CO2 footprint per pot, as transformation costs are typically diluted. For instance, a single cutting equipment may be used to simultaneously or sequentially cut the pre-container, to directly obtain a plurality of the hollow bodies without any additional cut.
Preferably, the pre-container may be obtained by blow molding, optionally using a hollow preform of plastic material, so as to define a hollow pre-container of tubular and elongated shape extending between the bottom section and the opened section.
Step A2) is typically performed to define a base flange in the annular base of the hollow body, by a cutting step performed transversally to the central axis, so that the base flange is of annular shape and continuously surrounds the base opening of the hollow body.
Step A2) is also typically performed to define a top flange in the annular base of the hollow body, by a cutting step performed transversally to the central axis, so that the top flange is of annular shape and continuously surrounds the top opening of the hollow body.
In steps B) and D), a respective flange of annular shape is used to defined a rest area where an annular margin portion of the corresponding flexible lid is affixed, producing a continuous annular sealing contact, for instance by heat sealing.
In various embodiments of the method of the invention, recourse may optionally also be had to one or more of the following dispositions:
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art during the description which will follow, given by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings.
In the various figures, the same references are used to designate identical or similar elements.
Referring to
The hollow body 3 is here made of plastic material, typically a single plastic material, for example thermoplastic material, and can be obtained after cutting a pre-container 40 that is obtained by blowing a plastic material, for example by blow molding a preform. In this latter case, as illustrated in
A thermoplastic material for the body 3 may typically be polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, polyethylene (non-limiting examples) or other plastic material convenient for blow molding. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be preferred due to certain very advantageous properties of bodies made from this material (namely their good mechanical resistance, the facility to be filled with a hot liquid or substance, the good transparency of the PET which does not adversely affect the appearance of the content, a relatively good barrier effect to oxygen).
More generally, the body 3 can be made of any suitable thermoplastic material, possibly with at least one additional layer of a material suitable to be blow molded. Plastic suitable for other forming technologies may also be used. In such case, the plastic material is compatible with: thermoforming, injection molding, Extrusion Blow Molding (EBM), Injection Stretch Blow Molding (ISBM), Roll and Blow (R&B).
The top opening O1 of the hollow body 3 is defined at the top 31, at the opposite from a bottom portion extending transversally with respect to the longitudinal axis X. The top opening O1 may be intersected by the longitudinal axis X and allows content C3 of the container 1 to be retrieved by the consumer. Referring to
A top lid 20, here a flexible top lid, is in annular contact with the top 31 to seal the top opening O1. The cutting operation to obtain the opposite openings O1, O2 may be performed by transversally cutting a pre-container 40 or a bottle-like piece (partly cut piece of pre-container 40′), which is stretch blow molded from a preform (not shown).
Due to this specific method, PET may advantageously be used to define the hollow body 3. Indeed, PET is of interest to maximise material performance per gram in the stretched area. Regarding containers usually available for dairy products, it is observed that polypropylene or polyethylene are typically used, not PET. But PET may be advantageously used when the bodies 3 are obtained by trimming a pre-container 40. Such kind of polyester is of interest due to high scale (preforms), link into PET industry roadmap, recyclability, transparency with high quality (better than polypropylene or polyethylene for instance).
Referring to
The flexible base lid 10, distinct from the hollow body 3, is in annular sealing contact with the base flange 4 to close the base opening O2 and define all or part of the bottom portion. Such bottom portion and the side wall 30 delimit the interior volume V of the container 1, which is suitable for receiving a product. As the body 3 is here a blow molded piece, there is not partition wall integral with the body 3 to partition the interior volume V, as illustrated in
Referring to
Option of
The container 1 is provided with flexible top lid 20 of suitable size and shape to close the top opening O1. The flexible top lid 20 is arranged in sealing contact with the top 31, especially in annular contact with a top flange 5 defined entirely above the side wall 30. Such top flange 5 may be crown-shaped. When the top opening O1 has a diameter or maximal radial size D, greater than or equal to 30 or 35 mm, it is understood, that a central closing portion of the top lid 20 has same characteristic size. Such size D may be inferior or equal to 100 mm.
Similarly, when the base opening O2 has a diameter or maximal radial size d, greater than or equal to 30 or 35 mm, it is understood, that the central portion 10a of the base lid 10 has same characteristic size as it defines a closing portion. Such sized may be inferior or equal to 100 mm.
Here, the hollow body 3 is typically provided with two opposite axial ends defining the respective flanges 4 and 5, the container 1 being a double-lidded container as the top opening O1 and the base opening O2 are each sealed, without defining any passageway in the sealed state. The piece of plastic material used to define the bi-flanged body 3 is preferably easy recyclable material, for example material having shape memory properties so that a local pushing action on the side wall 30 can flex the material without causing significant cracks.
In the present application, the vacuum leak resistance is an indicator of how hermetically the body 3 and at least one of the lids 10, 20 are fastened. The higher the vacuum leak resistance is the better hermetically the body 3 and the container lid 10 or 20, respectively, are fastened. The vacuum leak resistance is measured by immersing a sealed container at atmospheric pressure into water, subjecting to vacuum to create in internal pressure inside the container 1, and determining the depression under which bubbles or product leak from the sealed container, per surface of sealing area. The absence of leaks indicates air tightness. Vacuum leak resistance can be determined according to the following procedure:
Material:
Procedure:
The vacuum leak resistance is preferably established as an average 5 samples, preferably 10 samples.
Referring to
In the option of
This option may be also of interest for a two-compartment container 1, when the two compartments such as shown in
Referring to
Besides, when the body 3 is provided with a cylindrical area, compatible with high speed handling, this also provides a suitable area (flat zone as perceived in a longitudinal plane) for defining an optional decoration surface. For instance, the cylindrical portion 30b is compatible with inline digital printing or other marking technologies.
The portion 30b may be adjacent to the base flange 4, adjacent to the top flange 5, and/or extend at a distance of at least one of the flanges 4, 5 defined at the opposite ends of the hollow body 3. The sizes D, d of the respective opposite openings O1, O2 may be identical, or slightly different when having a side wall 30 of generally cylindrical shape. The top opening O1 may be optionally greater than the base opening O2 when having such cylindrical portion 30b.
In the exemplary embodiment of
The base 32 may optionally define an oval base opening O2 or other non-circular shape for the base opening 32, while defining a substantially planar bearing surface for stability purposes. In a variant, as illustrated in
More generally, the side wall 30 may be provided with any ring-shape, either of circular cross-section, or including one or more portions with non-circular cross-sections or with non-symmetric shape.
Still referring to
A small step or shoulder appropriate for maintaining the decorative strip can be present or absent on the side wall 30 at the peripheral intersection line 33. Such a step does not protrude more than about 0.5 mm from the cylindrical surface defined by the cylindrical portion 30b.
The peripheral intersection line 33 is spaced and at a substantially constant distance from a support plane defined by the base 32 or by a bottom portion covering the base 32. The height of the lower portion 302 optionally corresponds to a minoritary fraction of the height H1 of the container 1. With such an arrangement, the upper portion 301 provided with the cylindrical portion 30b is particularly useful for displaying information and can be typically covered by a rectangular shaped strip St arranged in a form of a sleeve label. It is also compatible with e.g. inline digital printing.
Referring to
Alternatively, the base opening O2 may be larger than the top opening O1. Independently or additionally, the side wall 30 may be continuously curved in a convex manner (as perceived from outside the container 1), from the top 31 to the base 32. This option, as shown in
Referring to
In the embodiment of
0.70<d/D1<0.97.
Of course, the greater dimension D1 is not necessarily measured in a bulge 30c as in
The upper portion 301 may proportionally taper more, upwardly, than the lower portion 302 is tapering, downwardly. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular side wall 30 optionally comprises a peripheral bulge 30c at a junction between the upper portion 301 and the lower portion 302. Here, the annular side wall 30 comprises a bulge 30c having a circular cross section and maximal width of the upper portion is defined at the bulge 30c. Such bulge 30c may be of interest to prevent any slippage (downwardly or upwardly slippage) of a wrapping element or similar decorative banderol, without the need of forming an axial abutment shoulder or similar reliefs for maintaining such element.
Alternatively, the lower portion 302 may have a generally cylindrical shape and may entirely define the cylindrical portion 30b.
Regarding the flexible top lid 20, such lid is adapted to prevent use of any rigid cap or other cap means above the top 31 of the body 3. The flexible top lid 20 is thus the outermost upper element of the container 1 and may be directly used to form the primary surface for decoration. Digital inline printing or any kind of marking may be performed to define label information and/or decorative elements on the top surface S20 of the top lid 20.
In some options, using this arrangement with label information and/or decorative marks on the top surface S20 is of interest to provide a hollow body 3 that remains unwrapped and unmarked with printing material, whereby the body 3 is left “pure” for recycling valorization. The one piece hollow body 3 thus may entirely define the outer face of the side wall 30, without need for additional layer or marking material. The production method may also be simple as no labelling is required around the body side wall 30.
Referring to
Except at such optional single pull tab PT, the flexible top lid 20 does not protrude radially outwards as compared to the side wall 30.
While
The flexible top lid 20 forms here a single foil sealing system, only comprising a sealing foil that is fixed to an upper face 15b of the top flange 5, in order to seal the top opening O1. An appropriate cut is performed to define an outer shape of the sealing foil. The sealing foil may be a one-piece foil of a film material suitable for food contact. The material of the sealing foil allows the sealing foil to be bendable. The material or foil might be comprised of paper, plastic, aluminium and/or associations thereof. In a preferred embodiment the material and/or foil is metal-free. Preferably, the material and/or foil has low water permeability, is approved for food contact and is not flammable.
Same properties may be used to define the flexible base lid 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible base lid 10 is continuously adhering to an upper face 14b (see
In some options, at least one part of the flexible base lid 10, for example a part not in contact with the hollow body 3, may be provided with at least one rigid portion (not altering peelability of the base lid 10) or may be reinforced by at least one additional layer. Such part not in contact with the hollow body 3 is typically in contact with content C3, as illustrated in
Now referring to
Optionally, the opposite axial ends of the containers 1 are of similar or identical thickness and/or may be adapted to define a bearing surface during transport in a pallet. When the bodies 3 are provided with a tapering shape, the containers 1 may optionally be arranged in rows in a pack, in a tray or in a pallet, with alternation of:
This kind of arrangement may be advantageous to reduce interspace between two adjacent containers 1 in a same row, especially when the mutually facing concave conical sections and the convex conical sections extend parallel or almost parallel with a small gap inferior to 5 mm, possibly with a contact (close cooperation between the inclined portions facing each other). Of course, the containers 1 of the first group and of the second group may be obtained in a same production method.
In some options, the top flange 5 entirely defines the top 31 and is directly connected to the side wall 30. This may be the case when the top flange 5 is either an inner flange or an outer flange.
In other options, the top flange 5 defines an inner flange and is extended, outwardly, by a curved portion or a shoulder, of annular shape, which connects the side wall 30 to the top flange 5.
It can also be seen that the base flange 4, of annular shape, is typically an inner flange, which is not visible when observing the container 1 in a sealed state on store shelves. The base flange 4 is provided with an inner edge 4b, proximal to the longitudinal axis X, radially offset inward as compared to the side wall 30. With such kind of base flange 5, without any outer protruding edge as compared to the side wall 30, the container 1 is perceived as more compact.
In some options, the base flange 4 entirely defines the base 32. In other options, the base flange 4 is extended, outwardly, by a tapering or curved portion of the base 32, of annular shape, which defines an axial peripheral outer face around the lower face 14a of the base flange 4.
Each of the base flange inner edge 4b and the top flange inner edge 5b are preferably edges obtained by a cut performed in a transverse direction. As a result, the inner edges 4b and 5b may be arranged in a thinned part of the corresponding flange 4 or 5, opposite to a thick part closer to the side wall 30. Alternatively, the extension of each of the flanges 4, 5 may be reduced in such a way that the thickness is substantially constant or not significantly reduced, i.e. without variation superior to 15 or 20 μm in the thickness profile of the flange for instance.
Referring to
Such hinge effect is easily obtained when the top flange 5 is tapering upwardly (at least before the sealing of the flexible top lid 20), so as to define the angle a5, here a slope angle between 5° and 20°, preferably between 10° and 20°, to the horizontal at the ring portion 22. Typically, the slope angle a5 (in unsealed state of the flange 5) is between 13° and 17°, for example 15°.
The top flange 5 formed by the body 3 is provided with an exterior face, here the upper face 15b, having a flat portion of annular shape. “Flat” here means that the longitudinal profile (as perceived in any longitudinal plane including the longitudinal axis) is straight in the flat portion. Referring to
As illustrated in
After the sealing by the top lid 20, the first portion FP1 may extend parallel or nearly parallel to the second portion FP2 (adjacent to the first portion FP1). The second portion FP2 may be a horizontal edge portion (on the inner side of the top flange 5) that is horizontal before and after attachment of the top lid 20, while the first portion FP1 is sloped (with angle a5) at least before the sealing. Preferably the outer rim 5a is formed where there is a minimum radius of curvature in the longitudinal profile of the hollow body 3, such a radius of curvature RC being here comprised between 1.0 and 2.0 mm (at the outer rim 5a), before the sealing by the top lid 20.
The flat portion FP1 forms or is part of the ring portion 22 that is heated during the sealing. This is of interest to have efficient sealing, especially when PET material is involved.
When the hollow body is in PET or similar thermoplastic material, the flange 5 may have a radial extension Lt superior or equal to 2.0 mm, preferably 2.5 mm, and inferior or equal to 5.0 mm. The radial extension Lt is typically measured in a plane (for instance the opening plane) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.
In some variants, as illustrated in
The top flange 5 and/or the circumferential bead may be of interest to provide a protective barrier increasing shock resistance during transportation in a tray and/or in a pallet, and thus limiting deformation of the side wall 30 due to lateral impacts/shocks.
The base flange 4 may be provided with same structure as top flange and thus can be optionally sealed in similar manner.
As illustrated in
Referring to
The base rim 4a may be defined at a peripheral intersection between:
Here, the base flange 4 has a length Lb defined transversally between the base rim 4a and the base free edge 4b. This length may be substantially constant and such that:
1.0 mm≤Lb≤5.0 mm, preferably 1.5≤Lb≤4.0 mm, preferably 2.0≤Lb≤2.5 mm.
For example, the length Lb may be inferior or equal to 3 mm, while the base opening O2 is wide, typically with diameter d or equivalent size being more than 30 mm. More generally, the ratio Lb/d may be inferior to 1:10. This is of interest to prevent any retaining (even provisional retaining), by the base flange 4, of a detached base lid 10. It has been experienced that, when such ratio is higher than 2:10, probability of retaining one of the wide lids 10, 20 in the interior volume V quickly increases. As a result, the user has significant effort to do, to ensure that the lid 10 or 20 escapes from the interior volume V defined by the hollow body 3 when the opening O2 is too narrow and/or when the radial extension of the inwardly orientated base flange 4 is too great.
In some options, the base flange 4 may also extend slightly upwardly as illustrated in
Similarly, the top flange 5 is tapering upwardly, so that a shallow angle a5 is defined between a cut plane CP1 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and the upper face 15a of the top flange 5. The angle a5 is typically inferior or equal to 20°, preferably strictly inferior to 20°, so that height H5 of the top flange 5 is minimized. Such height H5 may be inferior to 2 or 3 mm and the ratio H5/H1 is preferably inferior to 2/100 or 3/100.
Angles a4, a5 may be ach between 10 and 40°, preferably between 20 and 40°.
Due to direct connection of the side wall 30 to the respective flanges 4 and 5, the side wall 30 may define per se more than 90%, preferably more than 95%, of total height H1 of the container 1. This is also due to the extremely low thickness of the flexibles lids 10, 20, each not thicker than 300 μm in preferred embodiments. Typically, maximal thickness of the top lid 20 is comprised between 5 and 200 μm for instance, and preferably between 10 and 100 μm, and even more preferably between 20 and 50 μm, for instance between 20 and 40 μm. Actually, the flexible top lid 20 is so flexible and sufficiently wide (with D superior to 30, 35 or 40 mm), so that it may be easily submitted to four consecutive folding in half operations, keeping a flat configuration in the multi-folded state. Such flexibility and low thickness if of interest to facilitate quick access to the interior volume V though the wide top opening O1.
The top flange 5 may have a same/constant transverse extension in a generally radial direction, i.e. same length Lt defined between the top flange free inner edge 5b and an outer rim 5a (formed on an upper axial face of body 3) defining a peripheral intersection between the top flange 5 and an upper end of the side wall 30. Of course, the extension or length Lt is here measured along the upper face 15b, between the outer rim 5a and the inner edge 5b.
The outer rim 20b of the top lid 20 may be defined in a margin portion that overlies the top flange 5, as illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the margin portion 10b may be provided without any pull tab or tongue, thus minimizing amount of material in the base lid 10.
While in
As the hollow body 3 is typically semi-rigid, for example as rigid as plastic bottles containing gaseous water or sodas, the body 3 may be provided with an annular part Z3 that acts as a hinge at a junction between the top flange 5 and the upper end of the side wall 30, i.e. in a region adjacent to the outer rim 5a as illustrated in
Of course, the hinge effect is only of low amplitude, as plastic material of the hollow body 3 is significantly more rigid than the foil material used for the flexible top lid 20 and the flexible base lid 10.
Typically, the side wall 30 is provided with a generally circular cross section in one or more portions or in its entirety. This may be of interest, for example to define touch points during rotary trimming operation and/or handling in manufacturing. While the body 3 is especially of light weight, rigidity may be locally invested to be a bit higher only at some key touchpoints or touch annular area (in correspondence with a handling and/or trimming machine).
When a preform is used to define a pre-container 40, such preform may optionally be dimensioned and designed to offer maximal strain hardening benefits at the outer touchpoints of a concentric ring. Such touch points are preferably provided at an intermediate axial location, between the base flange 4 and the top flange 5.
Referring to
Now referring to
In the sidewall SW of the multi-cell body (here, an elongated body part) of the pre-container 40, N+1 circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 may be provided. Such circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 are not too deep, thus limiting transverse extension of the flanges 4, 5 obtained after a cut through the groove 45, 46, 47, 48. Besides, the circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 are designed so that the angle of trimming is typically less than 10 or 20°, for example between 1° and 10°.
Here, each of the circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 is provided with a bottom line BL. Such bottom line BL is comprised in a virtual plane, corresponding to a cut plane CP1, CP2 perpendicular to the central axis Y. Here, the sidewall SW of the multi-cell body is provided with N+1 bottom lines BL. When cutting at the bottom lines BL, N hollow bodies 3, each made of a single cut piece, are directly obtained.
When a pre-container 40 is used to define the hollow body 3, respective cuts may be performed along respective cut planes CP1, CP2 that may be parallel to each other. The trimming equipment 60 or similar cutting means may be configured to cut the pre-container 40 at the bottom line BL of the respective grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 defined in the sidewall SW of the pre-container 40.
A two-sided concentric sealing zone, typically of width 0.5-3 mm as measured in a transverse direction, is formed by trimming the pre-container 40. As a result, a short transverse length Lt is obtained for the top flange 5 and a short transverse length Lb is obtained for the base flange 4, as illustrated in
Referring to
Such cut in grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 of generally circular shape or similar regularly rounded shape, which are not provided with high radius of curvature on the outer surface, is of interest since it enables blade access and provides a clean concentric trim. Flanges 4, 5 are obtained with a sufficient change of direction (change of more than 75° as compared to flat angle), as compared to the upper end of the side wall 30. Therefore, each of the flanges 4, 5 offer a full contact surface for the sealing head 50 in a step for sealing the corresponding flexible lid 10, 20, and such arrangement takes into account deformation due to force and temperature.
While the sealing head 50 illustrated in
The sealing of at least one of the lids, preferably the two lids 10, 20, may be performed with a variation of pressure values for the contact due to relative movement between the sealing head 50 and the hollow body 3. The sealing of the flexible top lid 20 is obtained with a vacuum leak resistance of at least 0.2 mbar/mm2, preferably from 0.2 to 2.0 mbar/mm2. Similarly, the sealing of the flexible base lid 10 may be obtained with a vacuum leak resistance of at least 0.2 mbar/mm2, preferably from 0.2 to 2.0 mbar/mm2. Such high vacuum leak resistance allow to package contamination sensitive products, such as wet and/or fresh products, preferably wet and/or fresh food products. Powdered dried products are less sensitive, containers comprising such products may not have such high vacuum leak resistance.
Referring to
Referring to
A pre-container top groove 45 and a pre-container bottom groove 46, also defined in the pre-container, as illustrated in
In a variant as illustrated in
a base flange 4; and
a top flange 5 initially connected to the base flange 4 at a groove bottom line BL, in the sidewall SW of the pre-container 40 before trimming operation.
Referring to
H4=D4/2 H5=D5/2
may be satisfied when the corresponding groove 47, 48 symmetrically extends from either side of the cut plane CP1, CP2.
Similarly, the following relation can be satisfied: a4=b4/2; a5=b5/2 where b4 is the aperture angle defined between the symmetrical flanks of the intermediate circumferential groove 48 (here suitable to define the two base flanges 4), measured in a longitudinal plane and where b5 is the aperture angle defined between the symmetrical flanks of the intermediate circumferential groove 47 (here suitable to define the two top flanges 5), measured in a longitudinal plane.
Referring to
It is understood that some bodies 3 may be obtained by cutting a pre-container 40 in circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48, while still having a circumferential groove G extending in the side wall 30.
In some options, the circumferential groove G may be of interest to form an additional seat or similar interface for attachment of an additional closure lid 55, flexible, distinct from the base lid 10 and distinct from the top lid 20.
The arrangement with two or more compartments C1, C2 may be obtained using a hollow body 3 defined by at least two adjacent rings R of similar height, after trimming a pre-container 40 such as illustrated in
The flexible closure lid 55 may be in annular sealing contact with an annular surface 35 formed on an interior face of the side wall 30, between the base flange 4 and the top 31 of the hollow body 3. When sealing the top opening O1 by the flexible top lid 20 that here defines an uncovered top surface S20 of the container 1, an upper compartment C2 is defined between the additional flexible closure lid 55 and the flexible top lid 20.
The annular surface 35 is here defined by an inner shoulder IS that defines a slope. From the outside of the two compartment container 1, it can be seen the circumferential groove G. The compartments C1 and C2 are respectively defined above and below such groove G.
The additional flexible closure lid 55 comprises a central covering portion 55a that defines an upper limit of the lower compartment O1, an annular rim 55b and an annular outer portion 55c that comprises the annular rim 55b. Optionally, the annular outer portion 55c extends upwardly from the central covering portion 55a to the annular rim 55b, while the annular outer portion 55c is in continuous annular contact with the annular surface 35 defined by the inner shoulder. Alternatively or additionally, a tab 56 may be provided as an extension protruding upwardly, for example from the annular rim 55b or directly from the central covering portion 55a. Such tab 56 facilitates pulling of the additional flexible closure lid 55.
In some options, a tongue or similar tab 56 may be used for pulling up and releasing product from one compartment to another.
In order to provide a multi-compartment container 1, it is understood that two or more rings R of an initial pre-container 40 may be used to each define one of the compartments C1, C2. The circumferential groove G between two adjacent rings R thus can be useful to have an interface lid defined by the flexible closure lid 55, internally sealed onto the corresponding inner shoulder IS. Of course, a compartment may be possibly defined by at least two or three adjacent rings R, for example if one of the compartments C1, C2 has to be more elongated.
Optionally, more than one interface closure lid 55 is used, for example to define two or more compartments C1, C2 in the interior volume V of the container 1.
Now referring to
Referring to
Examples of an elongated blow molded pre-container 40 are shown in
The pre-container 40, of the kind having a long body defined by the sidewall SW, is obtained by blowing in a mold. It may be may be produced by means of stretch blow molding preforms containing PET or similar polymer plastic material. The method to obtain the pre-container 40 may be an injection blow molding method, for example an injection stretch blow molding method (both being referred to as l(S)BM), or an extrusion blow molding method (EBM). Such method is suitable to produce a pre-container 40 having a first end provided with a single opening 40a (optionally a narrow opening of smaller size as compared to any of the top opening O1 and the base opening O2).
When ejected from the blow molding machine, the elongated pre-container 40 is provided with a bottom section 42 and a section 41 having an open end, such opened section 41 optionally includes a shoulder and a neck. In other words, the pre-container 40 has here a first end having an axial opening, a second end provided with a bottom section 42, at the opposite from the first end, and a multi-cell elongated body 40b comprising the bottom section 42 and a side wall SW of tubular shape. The multi-cell elongated body 40b extends longitudinally between the bottom section 42 and the first end, around the central axis Y. The central axis Y typically defines a longitudinal stretching axis.
A connectable end 43 may be provided at one of the ends, here in the bottom section 42. Such connectable end 43 may form a part easy to be engaged by a driving part and/or guiding elements during handling of the pre-container 40. In particular, the connectable end 43 may have a polygonal cross section (specific and significantly distinct from cross-section in the side-wall SW that may be more rounded). Such polygonal cross section is suitable for driving the pre-container 40 in rotating manner, around the central axis Y, or for maintaining the pre-container 40 when cut by at least one rotating cutting element 63. This kind of bottom section is useful for conveying the pre-container 40 and/or any pretrimmed article defined by a partly cut piece 40′ that can be still trimmed to define at least one hollow body 3.
More generally, it is understood that the pre-container 40 may be produced as an optimized intermediary blow-molded piece, ready to be cut thanks to a plurality of circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 or similar relieves facilitating the cut.
Each of the circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 are configured with such a depth that a base flange 4 and/or a top flange 5 typically has a radial extension (Lb for the base flange 4, Lt for the top flange 5) superior or equal to 2.0 mm, preferably superior or equal to 2.5 mm, and optionally inferior or equal to 5.0 mm.
The average thickness of the pre-container sidewall SW may be typically inferior to 450 μm, preferably 400 μm, preferably 300 μm, for instance inferior to 260 or 300 μm when produced by means of stretch-blow molding.
Optionally, the preform may also be elongated, in order to obtain a pre-container 40 suitable to produce at least three or four hollow bodies 3 used in different containers 1.
Having an elongated preform may be of interest to have a longitudinal stretching ratio inferior to the radial stretching ratio, which often preferred to optimally reduce amount of plastic material in the sidewall SW.
Regarding the N-1 or more intermediate circumferential grooves 47, 48, defined in the sidewall at a distance from the section 41 and 42, it can be seen that the N-1 or more corresponding bottom lines BL are each defined as an intersection line between:
The V-shape is defined with a determined apex angle also called the aperture angle b4, b5, b45 (see
The pre-container 40 shown in
Here in
Now referring to
The elongated pre-container 40 may be provided with intermediate circumferential grooves 47, 48 that extend at a different distance from the central axis Y, and which may be arranged in alternation along the longitudinal direction of the pre-container 40, as shown in
In such case, the trimming equipment 60 may be provided with cutting elements 63, for example with straight blades or concave blades, that are more or less distant from the central axis Y, depending on location of the bottom lines defined in the respective circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48. In
In such trimming operation, the opened section 41 of the pre-container 40 is cut away from the elongated body of the pre-container 40, while the bottom section 42 is severed from a lower end of the sidewall SW of the pre-container 40. Typically, the opened section 41 and the bottom section 42 are internally recycled (which means zero industrial scrap).
In some options, the bottom section 42 may be directly retrieved to form another kind of container, for example a container having a single top opening. Besides, the opened section 41 may also be retrieved to form a bottle, possibly a bottle to be mounted on sub-recipient, the lower opening of the opened section 41 being a wide mixing port or being covered by a rigid bottom cap.
When trimming the elongated pre-container 40, a plurality of hollow bodies 3 are obtained. Here in the example of
Referring to
Referring to
Such embodiments show circumferential grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 each suitable to define a transverse cut planes CP1 or CP2, thus providing an inwardly turned flange 4 or 5. But a container such as illustrated in
Of course, any kind of separator may be used to separate the hollow bodies 3. The trimming equipment 60 that provides such separation function may optionally be stationary and rapidly slice through the pre-container body with a rough cut, like a guillotine, or it may move periodically move along with the pre-container body during separation. The separator or trimming equipment 60 may be mechanical or may involve laser cutting. When a mechanical separator is used, rough cut may be typically performed in a heated state (for example 65° C.).
While the cut is here called “rough cut”, there is typically non need for an additional precision trimming step or other additional cut. This is advantageously obtained by the design of the grooves 45, 46, 47, 48 and/or the kind of blade used in the cutting elements 63. Multi-trimming operation may be preferred to accelerate the trimming operation.
The pre-container 40 may optionally be trimmed along multiple parallel trimming lines of the trimming equipment 60, by a relative rotary motion between each pre-container 40 and the blades or similar cutting elements 63. This option is schematically illustrated by
Alternatively or additionally, all or part of the pre-container 40 may be trimmed along multiple parallel trimming lines concurrently being retained and rotated by the opened end 41 (for instance at a neck thereof) and stabilized by other touch points on the elongated body of the pre-container 40.
In other options, the pre-container 40 is cut along multiple parallel trimming lines sequentially being retained & rotated, by ate last one of the opened section 41 and the bottom section 42, and stabilized by other touch points on the elongated body of the pre-container 40.
Referring to
Referring to
The rotation axis, allowing a 360° movement of the cutting elements 63 is parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the pre-containers 40 that are typically maintained in a stationary position by anti-rotation guiding element, until the cutting elements 63 reach the initial position. Then the guiding elements, which are movable, are unlocked and selectively disengaged by displacement toward a retracted position. When the following pre-container 40 is received in the working area, the guiding elements are moved to a lock position with respect to the pre-container 40 and the rotatable cutting means 61 can be driven to perform the trimming operation.
Now referring to
For example, opposing finger elements having respective cutting edges may engage the sidewalls SW of the elongated pre-containers 40, in the region of the grooves 45, 46, 47, 48. As illustrated in
As the rollers 62 and the blade holder 64 are especially adapted to guide a part of the pre-containers 40 where a groove 45, 46, 47, 48 is defined, such part may be gripped, for example at three points (two points defined by the rollers and the other point defined on the stationary knife side), eliminating the risk of any unwanted movement of the pre-container 40 during the trimming operation. Such configuration is of interest to obtain efficient cut and allowing use of the flanges 4, 5 as sealing surfaces.
Here in the example of
At each end of the hollow body 3, a circumferential flange 4, 5 extending inwardly from the corresponding end of the side wall 30 is defined. This is due to the fact that the cutting element 63 is inserted through the pre-container sidewall SW at the bottom line BL of respective grooves 45, 46, 47, 48, as shown in
The rotation of the elongated pre-container 40 (or partly cut piece 40′) along the cutting element 61, here a knife having a slightly curved cutting edge, may optionally be limited to the diameter or circumference required for fully cutting the plastic material at a bottom line BL of the groove 45, 45, 47, 48, which prevents the generation of chips or plastic particles.
The cutting element 61 may be a non-heated cold knife, possibly with a re-sharpenable blade. Of course, the trimming operation may be implemented in various manners. It is understood that such trimming operation is of interest to prepare in a Step A) a plurality of one-piece hollow bodies 3, at a high rate of production.
In illustrated embodiments, the flanges 4, 5 in the hollow bodies 3 have each a radial extension Lb, Lt comprised between 2.0 mm and 5.0 mm, measured between the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim (outer rim adjacent to the corresponding annular axial end of the body side wall 30). Referring to
Referring to
Step B), essentially consisting of sealing the flexible base lid 10, may be performed as illustrated in
The flexible top lid 20, made of a thin film or layered material (typically foil material), does not increase the bulk of the container and does not reduce the interior volume to be filled with container content. The same may apply for the flexible base lid 10, also made of a thin film or layered material (typically foil material).
Referring to
But in a variant, the heat ring in the sealing head 50 may be designed, for instance by use of folding flaps; to operate at a diameter d′ wider than the entry dimension of the sealing head 50 into the top opening O1. As the base lid 10 is flexible, it remains quite easy to introduce such base lid through the top opening O1 even if the diameter d is greater than diameter D.
In some variants, the flexible lids 10 and 20 are each externally sealed.
Step D), essentially consisting of sealing the flexible top lid 20, may be performed as illustrated in
The sealing of the lid 10 or 20, may be performed by applying the sealing head 50 at a temperature that may be maintained at a temperature level comprised between 140° C. and 200° C. The sealing can be divided into at least two sealing sub-steps, preferably from two to four sealing sub-steps. For instance, in order to seal the lid 10, 20 onto the corresponding face (face 15b of the top flange 5 for the top lid 20), a pushing action from the sealing head 50 may be repeated, with two, three, four or five repetitions.
Each time, pressure is released and the top flange 5, respectively the base flange 4, may oscillate between a pressed state and a release state (which optionally corresponds to a state with a lower pressure from the sealing head).
Due to the heat treatment and deformation pressure, the slope formed by the top flange 5 is decreased. For instance the angle a5 of about 15°+/−5° (illustrated in
In preferred embodiments, the sealing is performed by at least two pushing actions from the sealing head 50. When the sealing of the flexible lid involves PET material at the ring portion 22, it is typically performed with a variation of pressure values for the contact. This is due to relative movement between the sealing head 50 and the hollow body 3. Hinge effect at hinge area Z3 (illustrated in
The slope angle a4 and the slope angle a5 (formed in unsealed state of the respective flanges 4, 5) is typically decreased (progressively) in this manner.
The top flange 5 has here a maximum thickness, which is typically located in region of the ring portion 22 provided with flat surface portion, for contact with the sealing head 50. The maximum thickness is preferably at least 400 μm and may be higher than an average thickness e of the side wall 30, preferably at least 100 μm higher.
In preferred embodiments, the flexible top lid 20 is sized and shaped so that only one pull tab PT of the lid is laterally shifted away from the active face of the sealing head 50. As a result, the pull tab PT is not adhered to the body 3 and radially protrudes outward to be laterally shifted relative to the annular top 31 of the side wall 30.
After the sealing, the annular outer rim 20b of the flexible lid 20 may extend not beyond 1 mm (except in region of the pull tab PT) from the outer rim 5a of the top flange 5 having the final slope as illustrated in
The top flange 5, as obtained after the sealing, may be provided with a low radius of curvature RC' in the region adjacent to the top 31 of the annular side wall 30. The radius of curvature RC' may be lower than 2 mm and is here slightly lower than the corresponding radius of curvature RC before sealing (illustrated in
While the sealing head 50 illustrated in
Regarding step C), it is understood that a single filling may be performed if the hollow body 3 defines a single compartment. Alternatively, a sequential filling and sealing by an inner lid defining the interface closure lid 55, may be performed if the hollow body 3 defines two superposed compartments C1, C2. Typically, sealing may be less strong for the interface closure lid 55 than for the flexible base lid 10.
In some options, the top lid 20 may be automatically and selectively folded on itself due to an actuation, for example a pushing action exerted radially inward close to the lower end of the body side wall 30.
Referring to
Now referring to
The ring-like shape of the hollow body 3 makes side wall 30 suitable to be folded after use, preferably after entirely removing the top lid 20 and the base lid that may be in other material than the plastic material of the body 3. The folding may occur due to reduced size for the length Lb of the top flange 5 and reduced similar transversal size of the base flange 4 (typically less than 3 or 5 mm, while being superior or equal to about 0.5 or 1 mm).
In some options, the side wall 30 may be designed to fold into itself along a line or plane of symmetry. Two opposite folding lines FL are optionally provided for that purpose. Of course, the folding action may be facilitated by the shape and material distribution in the side wall 30 and optionally in at least one of the flanges 4, 5. For example, the folding action is facilitated by specifically designed ribs of the side wall 30 that may extend parallel or in same general direction, defining each a folding line FL. A hinge effect may be obtained at each of the folding lines FL. Ribs may be defined during a molding process, for example when forming the pre-container 40 in options where the hollow bodies 3 are obtained from a larger size, elongated, pre-container 40.
Etching or at least one precut may also be used to define ribs or folding lines. More generally, it is understood that the hollow body 3 may be provided with any suitable means for initiating a folding action along a folding line FL, typically a longitudinal folding line. Preferably, the folding is also obtained by using weakness areas in the respective flanges 4, 5, such areas being designed as axial extensions of a corresponding folding area defined in the side wall 30.
The containers 1 may be grouped in a food pack. For example, a wrapping element made of cardboard or plastic may be used for packing the containers 1 in two rows. The wrapping element, such as disclosed in document EP 0461947, may define a top panel, a bottom panel and at least two side panels. Spacing elements, for example a beam member or folded members, may be optionally provided to maintain the containers in parallel rows.
More generally, such food pack may be provided with at least one row of containers. In some options, an additional covering element may be used to protect the bottom portion of the containers 1, thus covering the flexible base lid 10. The covering element may be used to group at least two containers, for example by defining respective cavities for receiving with a small play the lower parts of the containers 1.
The container 1 can be for example a container having a capacity of, or containing a content of a volume of (or mass of) of 50 ml (or 50 g), to 1 L (or 1 kg), for example a container of 50 ml (or 50 g) to 80 ml (or 80 g), or 80 ml (or 80 g) to 100 ml (or 100 g), or 100 ml (or 100 g) to 125 ml (or 125 g), or 125 ml (or 125 g) to 150 ml (or 150 g), or 150 ml (or 150 g) to 200 ml (or 200 g), or 200 ml (or 200 g) to 250 ml (or 250 g) or 250 ml (or 250 g) to 300 ml (or 300 g), or 300 ml (or 300 g) to 500 ml (or 500 g), or 500 ml (or 500 g) to 750 ml (or 750 g), or 750 ml (or 750 g) to 1 L (or 1 kg).
The container 1 can be used for product comprising the container and a content in the container. Thus at least a part of an interior volume V of the container is filled with a content. The container can be a packaging element of the content, useful to transport, protect, preserve, and/or otherwise procure said content.
The content can be any kind of content to be procured to a user, for example a consumer, in moderate quantities. The content can for example a food or beverage composition, a drug, a personal-care composition, a home-care composition, a home improvement composition, a toy, a small part good.
Examples of personal care compositions include hair care compositions such as shampoo compositions, conditioner compositions or hair coloring compositions, skin compositions such soap compositions, body wash compositions, sun protection compositions, hydrating compositions or anti-aging compositions, and make-up compositions.
Examples of home-care compositions include, fabric care compositions such as laundry compositions or softener compositions, dish-washing compositions such as manual dish washing compositions or automatic dish washing compositions, hard-surface cleaning compositions, such as kitchen cleaning compositions, bathroom cleaning compositions, wood floor cleaning compositions or tiles cleaning compositions.
Examples of home improvement compositions include paints, glues, plasters or cements compositions.
Examples of small parts goods include nails, screws and the like.
Food or beverages are compositions that are to be orally consumed. This can be in various forms including liquid, viscous semi-fluid, or solid, optionally as a powder. The food can be a spoonable viscous semi fluid composition or spoonable solid. It can be for example or scoopable solid, as opposed to a spoonable powder.
The beverage can be water, carbonated or non-carbonated, non-alcoholic beverages (also referred to as soft drinks), carbonated or non-carbonated, alcoholic beverages, carbonated or non-carbonated, milk or vegetal milk substitutes.
The food can be cereals, dairy compositions, vegetal dairy substitute compositions, deserts compositions such as creams, mousses, gels, puddings, ice-creams compositions, fruits, vegetables, or fruit or vegetables compositions for example whole fruits or whole fruit parts, fruit purees or jams, meat of meat substitutes, confectionary compositions, sauces compositions, soups compositions, infant nutrition compositions, medical nutrition compositions, coffee creaming or whitening compositions, coffee or chocolate compositions, for example instant coffee or chocolate, or other grocery compositions.
The food can be a frozen composition, chilled or fresh, typically with a storage at a temperature of from 0° C. to 10° C., or long shelf ambient temperature food, typically with a storage at a temperature of higher than 15° C.
In some embodiments the food is a wet food compositions, comprising substantial amounts of moisture or water, as opposed to dehydrated food compositions, for example at least 20% by weight, or at least 30% by weight, or at least 40% by weight, or at least 50% by weight, or at least 60% by weight, at least 80% by weight. Such compositions can be more sensitive to contaminations and a high resistance sealing, for example with a high vacuum leak resistance can be appropriate.
Dairy compositions or vegetal dairy substitute compositions typically comprise of dairy material or a dairy substitute material. Herein, unless otherwise provided “dairy” or “milk” can encompass vegetal substitutes, for example based on soy, oats, almond, rice, coconut and mixture thereof.
The dairy composition can be for example a dessert, a fermented dairy composition such as yogurt or kefir, a cheese, butter.
The dairy material is typically comprised of milk and/or ingredients obtained from milk. It is also referred to as a “milk-based composition”. Herein milk encompasses animal milk, such as cow's milk, and also substitutes to animal milk, such as vegetal milk, such as soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk, almond milk, oats milk etc. . . .
Dairy compositions are known by the one skilled in the art of dairy products, preferably of fermented dairy products. Herein a milk-based composition encompasses a composition with milk or milk fractions, and compositions obtained by mixing several previously separated milk fractions. Some water or some additives can be added to said milk, milk fractions and mixtures. Preferably the milk is animal milk, for example cow's milk. Some alternative animal milks can be used, such as sheep milk or goat milk.
The milk-based composition can typically comprise ingredients selected from the group consisting of milk, half skimmed milk, skimmed milk, milk powder, skimmed milk powder, milk concentrate, skim milk concentrate, milk proteins, cream, buttermilk and mixtures thereof. Some water or additives can be mixed therewith. Examples of additives that can be added include sugar, sweeteners, fibers, and texture modifiers.
Fermented dairy compositions typically comprise bacteria, preferably lactic acid bacteria, preferably alive. Appropriate bacteria for fermentation are known by the one skilled in the art. It is mentioned that lactic acid bacteria are often referred to as ferments or cultures or starters. The lactic acid bacteria preferably comprise, preferably essentially consist of, preferably consist of, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (i.e. Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus i.e. (Streptococcus thermophilus) bacteria. The lactic acid bacteria used in the invention typically comprise an association of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus bacteria. This association is known and often referred to as a yogurt symbiosis.
Fermented dairy compositions are typically obtained by a process involving a fermentation step with at least one lactic acid bacteria. In this step the dairy material is inoculated with the lactic acid bacteria, and the mixture is then allowed to ferment at a fermentation temperature. Such inoculation and fermentation operations are known by the one skilled in the art. During fermentation, the lactic acid bacteria produce lactic acid and thus cause a pH decrease. With the pH decreasing proteins coagulate to form a curd, typically at a breaking pH. The fermentation temperature can be of from 30° C. to 45° C., preferably from 35° C. to 40° C., with a pH decrease to a breaking pH at which proteins coagulate to form a curd. The breaking pH is preferably of from 3.50 to 5.50, preferably of from 4.0 to 5.0, preferably from higher than 4.5 to 5.0.
The present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments. These embodiments, however, are merely for example and the invention is not restricted thereto. For instance, the flanges 4, 5 used for the containers 1 shown in
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2017/001730 | 12/29/2017 | WO | 00 |
