CN116390677A

CN116390677A - Paper straw for beverage container and beverage container

Info

Publication number: CN116390677A
Application number: CN202180070865.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·科尔布曼; B·谢赫尔
Original assignee: Kepeili Sun Co ltd
Current assignee: Kepeili Sun Co ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-20
Filing date: 2021-09-30
Publication date: 2023-07-04
Also published as: EP4231879A1; US20230389738A1; WO2022083995A1; EP3987983A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a paper straw (1) for a beverage container (81, 83) having a through opening (80, 84) for inserting the paper straw, wherein the paper straw comprises a paper tube (2) having a beveled front end (7) at a first end (3), wherein the paper of the paper tube is compressed more at the first end than other sections of the paper tube.

Description

Paper straw for beverage container and beverage container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a paper straw for a beverage container and a beverage container.

Background

Beverage containers having a through opening for inserting a straw are known from the prior art. The straw may be made of plastic or paper. However, the straw made of paper has a disadvantage in that mechanical rigidity is not easily achieved. This is particularly effective in the case of a straw which opens the penetration opening with a beveled front end at one of its ends. The front end needs to be sufficiently sharp and rigid to penetrate the wall of the container.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a paper straw and a beverage container in combination with a paper straw that provides sufficient mechanical rigidity to enable proper opening of the beverage container with such a paper straw.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a paper straw having the following features and a beverage container having the following features.

Alternative embodiments are disclosed in the following schemes.

The paper of the paper tube is compressed more at the first end with the beveled front end than the other sections of the paper tube. Mechanically more rigid is obtained by allowing the paper to be compressed more. This helps to provide a sufficiently rigid and sharp beveled front end for opening the beverage container. Other sections of paper may not be compressed at all or less. Typically, the paper is compressed to some extent by passing the paper through a roll, a paper production process such as a compression roll.

The higher degree of compression of the paper is generally related to the higher density of the paper, which can be in g/cm ³ And (5) marking.

The paper may include at least one of the following: wood fibers, bamboo fibers, bagasse fibers, alginate fibers, banana plant fibers, abaca plant fibers, synthetic fibers, polymer-based fibers, and plastic fibers.

For example, the paper of the paper tube may be compressed more at its first end than at its second end. It may also be compressed more than other sections of the paper tube, such as between a compressed section at the first end and any section between the second end.

The paper of the paper tube is compressed such that it has a reduced wall thickness at its first end compared to its other sections. This enables starting with a paper tube having a uniform wall thickness and increasing the stiffness of the paper, although having a reduced wall thickness, by the paper being compressed at the first end.

The portion of the paper tube where the paper is compressed at the first end may be only a part (section) of the circumference of the tube, or may be the entire circumference of the tube. Compressing the entire circumference provides enhanced mechanical stability and rigidity to the entire first end of the tube, while compressing only a portion (section) of the circumference provides an easier way to compress the section (section) and may be sufficient to obtain a sharp and rigid beveled front end. In the case of a compressed circumferential section only, there is the option of a transition from a compressed circumferential section to the rest of the non-compressed section to a stepped transition or to an otherwise continuous transition. The continuous transition provides a less pronounced transition.

Optionally, the compressed paper is provided only in a range of up to or less than 5%, 10% or 20% of the length of the paper tube, starting from its first end, along the length of the paper tube. Thus, increased mechanical stability is provided only in the region starting from the first end and extending to some extent into the direction of the second end, while the rest of the paper tube remains flexible as a result of being uncompressed or less compressed. This flexibility can help the remainder of the tube to adapt to the shape of the flexible beverage container. Since the beverage container may be, for example, a beverage carton, foil bag or stand-up pouch, some Xu Rouxing of the main section of the paper tube helps the paper straw adapt to the package to which it is attached. Thus, if the beverage container is deformed, the paper straw may be adapted to the deformation at least to some extent without breaking or otherwise damaging.

Alternatively, the density of the compressed paper may be 1.2, 1.5, 2.0 or 3.0 times the density in the other sections of the paper tube. The density can be, for example, in g/cm ³ And (5) marking. These other sections may be the second end, or any section between the first end and the second end or between the compressed section and the second end.

The thickness of the compressed paper may be less than 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6 or 0.5 times the thickness of the other sections of the paper tube, such as the thickest section of the paper tube. The higher the degree of compression of the paper tube of uniform thickness prior to the compression step, the thinner the thickness thereof. However, as more compressed, it provides a higher hardness, albeit with a smaller thickness.

In addition, a portion of the compressed paper or the entirety of the compressed paper may be impregnated with a moisture barrier, such as silicate or sodium silicate. The moisture barrier may further increase the stiffness of the beveled front or first end or section of compressed paper.

Optionally, the paper tube has a circular cross section along its entire length, or at least in the section where the compressed paper is present. Paper tubes with a circular cross section are relatively easy to manufacture and at the same time they provide an optimal resistance to radial compression in different radial directions. However, it may also have a non-circular cross-section along the entire length or at the first end or at a section of compressed paper.

Optionally, the paper tube comprises a wrapped paper layer. The winding of the paper layer enables the paper tube to be manufactured in a continuous manner so that the suction tube can be cut from the continuous tube or from a continuously manufactured tube.

It is possible to cut a length from a continuous tube or a continuously manufactured tube and then cut itself into two paper drinking straws by an oblique cut, thereby providing a beveled front end for the two paper drinking straws.

Paper tubes comprise a single kind of paper, which may be provided in a single layer or in multiple layers attached to each other. Optionally, the paper tube comprises a plurality of paper layers, some of which are of different kinds. This enables, for example, combining different kinds of paper to improve the mechanical resistance and moisture resistance of the paper straw. The different layers themselves may have different densities due to their production, their composition, etc. The different layers may be joined by some adhesive.

In the case of a paper tube made up of a plurality of different layers, each of those layers is compressed more at the first end than the corresponding layers of the other sections of the paper tube. For example, the outermost layer of the paper tube is compressed more at the first end than the outermost layer of the paper tube of the other sections of the paper tube. The same applies to the innermost layer and/or any intermediate layer between the innermost layer and the outermost layer.

A beverage container is configured to receive a liquid product, such as a beverage, that is hermetically sealed by the beverage container. The beverage container comprises a through opening arranged for introducing a paper tube as described above or as described below. For example, due to the reduced wall thickness or the layers of less material (which constitute the beverage container) or weakened sections of the wall of the beverage container, the penetration opening generally has a reduced mechanical stability compared to the rest of the beverage container, which may be prepared, for example, by laser perforation of the wall or some layers of the wall of the beverage container. The through-going opening may also be prepared by providing a through-hole through the wall of the beverage container, which is closed by other materials, such as foil material, which may be opened by perforating the other materials with a paper straw. The user may drink the beverage in the beverage container through the paper straw.

The beverage container may be a beverage carton, foil bag or stand-up pouch.

Drawings

The following drawings are provided to better understand the present invention.

The drawings show:

FIG. 1 shows a cut-away view of a first embodiment of a paper straw;

FIG. 2 shows a cut-away view of a second embodiment of a paper straw;

FIG. 3 shows a cut-away view of a third embodiment of a paper straw;

FIG. 4 shows a cut-away view of a fourth embodiment of a paper straw and a three-dimensional view thereof;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a method of manufacturing a paper straw in a first embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a method of manufacturing a paper straw;

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the manufacture of a paper straw;

figure 8 shows a beverage container in combination with a paper straw.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1a, the paper straw 1 is shown in cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the paper straw.

The paper straw has a first end 3 and a second end 4 opposite the first end.

The paper straw 1 comprises a paper tube 2. At the first end 3 the paper tube is provided with a beveled front end 7. In the section 5 at the first end 3, the paper tube has compressed paper. This can be seen by the denser cross-sectional line (catch) and the reduced wall thickness 9 compared to the wall thickness 8 in the section (other section) 6 having the greater wall thickness 8.

By having a bevel cut of the paper suction tube 1, a beveled front end 7 is provided at the first end 3.

In fig. 1b, a view of the paper straw 1 along its longitudinal axis from its first end 3 towards its second end 4 is shown. The inner circumference 11 of the paper suction tube 1 is shown together with its outer circumference 10. Between the inner circumference 11 and the outer circumference 10, the circumference of the stepped section between the compressed section and the other sections of the paper tube is shown with reference numeral 12.

As can be seen from fig. 1a and 1b, the compressed paper is arranged over the entire circumference of the paper tube 2.

The paper is compressed more in the section 5 than in the section 6, the section 5 extending along the length of the paper suction tube from its first end 3 towards the second end 4. The length L of the section 5 is less than 5%, 10% or 20% of the length of the paper tube. The length L may be a few millimeters, such as at least or no more than 5, 10, or 15 millimeters.

As can be seen in fig. 1a, the transition from the compressed section 5 to the further section 6 is provided in a stepwise manner. However, the transition may also be continuous such that the wall thickness increases over the extension section from a reduced wall thickness 9 to a larger wall thickness 8 along the length of the tube. This continuous transition facilitates insertion of the paper straw into the beverage container, as the stepped transition may impede insertion of the paper straw through the material of the pierced opening.

Another embodiment of a paper straw is shown in fig. 2. The paper straw 15 has a paper tube 2 with a first end 3 and an opposite second end 4. At the first end 3 a beveled front end 7 is provided. The paper of the paper tube 2 is compressed more in the section 5 at the first end 3 than in the other sections 6. The difference compared to fig. 1 is that the variation in thickness 8, 9 between the

sections

5 and 6 is given by a step on the inside of the tube 2, whereas in fig. 1 the step is on the outside of the paper tube 2. On the outside of the paper suction tube 15 the transition from the smaller thickness 9 to the larger wall thickness 8 is smooth.

As can be seen in fig. 2b, the inner circumference 17 is provided by the inner circumference of the other section 6, the inner circumference of the compressed paper in section 5 is given by reference numeral 18, while the outer circumference 16 is the outer circumference of both section 5 and section 6. As can be seen in fig. 2b, the three circumferences are concentric, and the circumference 18 of the compressed paper in the section 5 is between the inner circumference 17 of the other section 6 and the outer circumferences 16 of the

sections

5, 6.

As already explained with reference to fig. 1, also in the embodiment of fig. 2, the transition of the reduced thickness 9 to the greater thickness 8 of the other section 6 is not necessarily provided in a stepwise manner, but may also be a smooth transition extending along the length of the paper tube 2 over a section.

Although in fig. 1 the circumferential variation is provided on the outside of the paper tube 2 and in fig. 2 the circumferential variation is provided on the inside of the paper tube 2, the variation may also be present on both sides (inside and outside), which means that for example a (smaller) step is provided on the outside and another (smaller) step is provided on the inside. Also in this case, the transition from compressed paper in section 5 at first end 3 to paper of other sections 6 of paper tube 2 is not necessarily provided by a step, but may also be provided by a smooth transition along the length of paper tube 2.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment, which shows a paper suction tube 20 with a paper tube 2, which has a first end 3 and a second end 4, wherein a beveled front end 7 is provided at the first end 3. In this case, the paper is compressed more in the section 5 at the first end 3 than in the section 6, which however does not lead to a change in the wall thickness 23 in the section 5 compared to the wall thickness 24 in the section 6. This can be achieved, for example, by making the paper tube thicker in the section 5 at its first end 3, which thicker section is then compressed to have the same thickness as the other sections 6. The more compressed paper is shown in fig. 3 by the denser cross-sectional lines than in section 6.

As shown in fig. 3b, the paper tube 2 has only one inner circumference 22 and one outer circumference 21.

In fig. 4, a further embodiment of a paper straw 25 is shown, having a second end 4 and a first end 3 opposite the first end 4, the first end 3 having a beveled front end 7 at its distal end. In this embodiment, only one section of the circumference of the first end 3 has paper compressed in section 5. The thickness 26 of this section is smaller than the wall thickness 27 of the other section 6. The transition between the thickness 26 to the thickness 27 is stepped here, but as explained with reference to fig. 1 and 2, the thickness variation may also be a smooth transition extending along the paper tube 2 over a certain length.

Also, as explained with reference to fig. 1 and 2, the change in wall thickness from the smaller wall thickness 26 to the larger wall thickness 27 (the stepwise transition or the continuous transition or the smooth transition as explained above) does not necessarily have to be provided on the inner side of the paper tube 2, but may also be provided on the outer side of the paper tube 2 or on both the inner and outer sides of the paper tube 2.

In the embodiment of fig. 4, the especially beveled front end 7 is provided with increased mechanical strength by the paper being compressed more in the section 5 at the first end 3 than in the section 6.

As can be seen in fig. 4b, the compressed paper is only provided in sections of the circumference of the paper tube 2. A section of the circumference having a geometry that varies from circular is denoted by reference numeral 30, while the outer circumference of the tube is denoted by reference numeral 28 and the inner circumference of the paper tube 2 is denoted by reference numeral 29.

In fig. 4c, a three-dimensional view of the embodiment of fig. 4a and 4b is shown, which identifies the section 5 in which the paper is compressed, thereby providing a hardened beveled front end 7.

The wall thickness of the paper in the sections of compressed paper may have a uniform density or a uniform wall thickness. However, it may also have a non-uniform density and/or a non-uniform wall thickness (not shown). This may be given by a specific portion of the inner side of the section 5 being compressed more than other portions in the section 5, for example. For example, a band may be provided in the section 5, which extends for example along the longitudinal axis of the paper tube 2. The ribbon is formed by having elongated sections adjacent to each other, which have varying or different densities and extend, for example, in the direction of the length of the paper tube 2 (although not along the entire length). Such a ribbon may provide increased mechanical stability.

The manner in which the paper drinking straw 1 is produced is schematically shown in fig. 5. The paper suction tube 1 is arranged in the hollow tool 50. The paper suction tube 1 fits exactly in the opening of the hollow tool 50. Inside the paper suction tube 1, a tool 51 is provided comprising three

sections

51a, 51b and 51c, which can be moved outwards as indicated by the arrows in fig. 5 a). When these

tool sections

51a, 51b and 51c are moved outwards, the paper of the paper tube of the paper suction tube 1 is compressed as the paper is pressed against the wall of the hollow tool 50. Instead of having three

sections

51a, 51b and 51c, the tool inside the paper suction tube 1 may also have only two sections or four or more sections that can be moved outwards. By any gaps between the three

sections

51a, 51b and 51c, a ribbon of less densely packed paper extending along the length of the tube can be provided.

This method results in a paper suction pipe 15 as shown in fig. 2, wherein the transition from compressed paper in section 5 to paper in the other section 6 is located inside the paper tube 2.

In fig. 6, another embodiment for preparing a paper straw 1 is shown. Inside the paper suction tube 1a tool 61 is provided, which tool 61 optionally completely fills the paper tube 2 of the paper suction tube 1. Two

external tools

60a and 60b may be provided which are relatively movable towards the tool 61, as indicated by the arrows in fig. 6. As the

tools

60a and 60b move towards the tool 61, they compress the paper of the paper tube 2 outside the paper tube 2. In the closed configuration shown in fig. 6b, the space provided between the

tools

60a and 60b and the tool 61 is smaller than the space required by the paper of the paper tube of the paper straw 1 before it is compressed. Instead of two

external tools

60a and 60b, more than two external tools may be used, each covering a section of the circumference of the internal tool 61. By any gap between the external tools, a ribbon extending along the length of the tube can be created.

This means of producing a paper tube can be used to produce a paper suction tube 1 according to fig. 1, in which the transition from the reduced thickness 9 to the greater thickness 8 in fig. 1 is arranged outside the paper tube 2.

The paper straw shown in fig. 3 can be prepared with the tool of fig. 5 or the tool of fig. 6 or a corresponding method.

Fig. 7a shows another embodiment showing the way of preparing the paper drinking straw 1. Here, the beveled front end 7 at the first end 3 of the paper suction tube 1 is arranged between two

tools

70a and 70b, which can be pressed against each other. By pressing the two

tools

70a and 70b against each other, the section with the beveled front end 7 is compressed. This method can be used to prepare paper pipettes as shown in figure 4.

Although in fig. 7a the tools have a smooth surface, they may also have a patterned surface, whereby the pattern is embossed into the paper. This can be used to create a ribbon in any kind of section 5 extending, for example, in a direction along the length of the paper tube 2.

In fig. 7b, another way of preparing a paper straw is disclosed, having paper compressed only in one section along the circumference of the paper straw. Here a pin 71 or a tool 71 is used which is (partly) inserted into a paper suction tube 1 arranged on some kind of support 72. The support 72 may be flat or it may be concave to receive the convex exterior form of the paper straw 1.

In the top part of fig. 7b, it can be seen that the suction tube 1 is arranged on a support 72. In the middle part of fig. 7b, the tool 71 has been (partly) inserted into the paper suction tube 1. A view along the longitudinal axis of the paper suction tube 1 in the upper part of fig. 7b and in the middle part of fig. 7b can be seen in the upper part of fig. 7 c. In the lower part of fig. 7b, the tool 71 has been moved towards the support 72, so that the paper is compressed between the tool 71 and the support 72. Thereby, along the length of the tool 71 in contact with the paper straw 1, a section 73 of the paper straw 1 is created in which the paper is compressed. Since the section not in contact with the tool 71 is not compressed, this section does not extend along the entire circumference of the paper suction tube 1. In the lower part of fig. 7c a view along the longitudinal axis of the paper suction tube 1 can be seen. The section 73 extends along only one section of the paper suction tube 1 and not along the entire circumference. The thickness of the paper in section 73 first continuously decreases from the uncompressed portion 75 to a minimum thickness in the circumferential direction and then continuously increases to the thickness of the uncompressed portion 75.

The section 73 extends from the front end of the paper straw 1 along the longitudinal axis of the paper straw 1 towards the opposite end of the paper straw 1 (not shown in fig. 7 b), but not up to the opposite end. However, the length of the section 73 extending along the paper suction tube 1 is at least up to the point in which the cross section comprising this point has a completely closed circumference of paper material. The inner end of the section 73 in the lower part of fig. 7b (in this case the thickness varies stepwise), which is the end opposite the front end of the paper straw, is located at the point where the cross section of the paper straw has paper material in the fully closed circumferential state. The compressed section in fig. 7a does not extend into the straw up to this point.

In fig. 7b and 7c, the tool 71 has a circular cross section. However, it may also have a non-circular cross-section. Thereby, other shapes of the compressed section 73 may be achieved. An embodiment of this other shape is shown in fig. 7 d. The compressed section 73 has a constant thickness in the circumferential direction. In this circumferential direction two transition zones 74 are provided, in which transition zones 74 the thickness of the paper increases continuously from the reduced compressed thickness in the section 73 to the uncompressed thickness in the section 75.

Also, different shapes are possible in the longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis of the paper suction tube 1. As can be seen in the lower part of fig. 7b, the inner end of the section 73 ends with a stepwise change of the thickness of the paper in the compressed section 73 to the uncompressed part. With another tool 71, which is not flat in cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the paper suction tube 1, a transition zone 76, for example, can be realized in the portion that comes into contact with the paper, wherein the thickness of the paper can be continuously increased from the reduced thickness in the compressed section 73 to the thickness in the uncompressed portion 75.

Instead of first moving only the tool 71 along the longitudinal axis of the paper suction tube 1 and then only in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis as depicted in fig. 7b, the tool 71 may also be moved in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis. In this way, the tool 71 can be moved from the position in the upper part of fig. 7b to the position in the lower part of fig. 7b in a single movement.

Fig. 8 shows two embodiments of a beverage container. Fig. 8a shows a beverage carton 81 with a through opening 80 through which the paper straw 1 has been inserted. The paper suction tube 1 has a paper tube in which the paper is more compressed in the region 82.

Fig. 8b shows a foil bag or stand-up pouch 83 with a through opening 84 through which the paper straw 1 has been inserted, the paper straw 1 having a section of compressed paper 82.

The paper straw 1 may be attached to the outside of the beverage container, for example sealed into a packaging material, such as a paper packaging material, so that the beverage container is easy to open by inserting the paper straw into the through

openings

80, 84.

Claims

1. A paper straw (1) for a beverage container (81, 83) having a through opening (80, 84) for insertion of the paper straw (1), wherein the paper straw (1) comprises a paper tube (2) with a beveled front end (7) at a first end (3),

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the paper of the paper tube (2) is compressed more at the first end (3) than the other sections (6) of the paper tube (2).

2. Paper straw according to claim 1, wherein the paper tube (2) comprises a second end (4) opposite the first end (1), and the paper is compressed more at the first end (3) than at the second end (4).

3. Paper straw according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the paper of the paper tube (2) is compressed at the first end (3) to a reduced wall thickness (9, 26) compared to the other sections (6) of the paper tube (2).

4. A paper suction tube according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the paper of the paper tube (2) is compressed in only one section (30) of the circumference of the paper tube (2) at the first end (3), wherein optionally the transition in the circumferential direction from compressed paper in the section to uncompressed paper outside the section is a continuous transition.

5. A paper straw according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the entire circumference of the paper tube (2) is compressed.

6. A paper straw according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the compressed paper is provided only in a range of up to 5%, 10% or 20% of the length of the paper tube (2) starting from the first end (3) along the length of the paper tube (2).

7. Paper straw according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the compressed paper is for example in g/cm ³ The measured density is at least 1.2, 1.5, 2.0 or 3.0 times the density in the other section (6) of the paper tube (2).

8. A paper suction tube according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the thickness of the compressed paper is smaller than 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6 or 0.5 times the thickness of the other sections (6) of the paper tube (2), such as the thickness (8, 24) of the thickest section of the paper tube (2).

9. The paper straw of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a portion of the compressed paper or the entirety of the compressed paper is impregnated with a moisture barrier, such as a silicate salt, e.g., sodium silicate.

10. Paper suction tube according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the paper suction tube (1) has a circular cross section along the entire length of the paper tube (2), or at least in the area where the compressed paper is present and/or in the other sections (6).

11. Paper straw according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the paper tube (2) comprises a wound paper layer.

12. Paper straw according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the paper tube (2) comprises a single paper layer or a plurality of paper layers.

13. Beverage container for receiving a liquid product, wherein the beverage container (81, 83) comprises a paper straw (1) according to any of claims 1 to 11 and a penetration opening (80, 84) for introducing the paper straw (1).

14. Beverage container according to claim 13, wherein the beverage container is designed as a beverage carton (81), a foil pouch (83) or a stand-up pouch (83), for example made of foil.