DE202011000845U1 - Gas-tight packaging with controlled interior atmosphere - Google Patents

Abstract

Gas-tight packaging with a controlled internal atmosphere, characterized in that attached by at least one sealing seam, at least one functional unit regulating the oxygen content is arranged inside the packaging.

Description

The present invention relates to a gas-tight packaging with controlled internal atmosphere.

Out GB 989,831 is a packaging known for coffee in which a small inner bag is glued with carbon dioxide trapping active substances. The task of the packaging is to take coffee and to be evacuated and sealed. During storage, coffee produces CO ₂ after packaging, which negates the vacuum effect, expands the package which, in the worst case, can lead to its bursting due to inflation of the packaging. Therefore, the CO ₂ must be captured and bound so that it can not exist as gaseous CO ₂ in the packaging.

The described problem may be important in the packaging of coffee. Other goods to be packed, for example, do not emit CO ₂ , but react in the presence of oxygen by Verderb need other solutions to problems. This may also be the case if a vacuum packaging is not mandatory or not desired.

Object of the present invention is to propose a package that makes it possible to control the oxygen content in the interior, regardless of whether the package is evacuated or under normal pressure.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that, fixed by at least one sealed seam, inside the package an oxygen regulating functional unit is arranged. It is preferred that the packaging contains at least one side wall or a bottom and at least one side wall and at least one sealing seam is arranged between the outside of the oxygen regulating functional unit, at the bottom and / or at least one side wall, inside the packaging.

Packagings which can be used in the present invention are, for example, pouch packaging, such as tubular pouch packaging, stand-up pouches, stand-up pouches, block bottom packagings such as cross or block bottom packs, flat pouch packs, foil pouch packs, bag packs and other forms of film formed and formed by folds and / or welds. respectively. closed, packaging units.

Unless it is a vacuum packaging, the invention may also be in a cylindrical or polygonal spatial form, in which case a supporting framework of z. As cardboard, paper or plastic inside and / or outside may have a sealing sheath and / or inner shell.

The packages, wraps or inner shells are expediently produced from a packaging material in the form of films or films, preferably consisting of plastics or containing plastics.

As a packaging material for the realization of the bags or for inner bags or wraps, films or films are suitable, for example, polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous PET, polyolefins, such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), cyclic olefinic polymers and copolymers, such as COP or COC, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamides, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, etc., or consist thereof. It is also possible to use mixtures, copolymers or graft polymers of the stated plastics. The films may be unstretched or axially or biaxially stretched. The thickness of the individual films and foils is for example in a range of 5 to 50 microns and the packaging material may have a total thickness of 15 to 250 microns. For packaging materials containing paper or cardboard, this greatest thickness can be exceeded. The packaging materials may consist of a monofilm or are multi-layer films of a plurality of extruded, co-extruded, blown, cast, glued or laminated films or films. At least one surface of at least one plastic film can be metallised or coated with a ceramic layer, for example SiO _x , vapor deposited or sputtered in vacuum, where x is 1 to 2, or Al ₂ O ₃ , typically 2 to 200 nanometers thick , be coated. Such layers act as a barrier to the passage of flavors, oxygen and water vapor. Other suitable barrier layers are, for example, coatings of EVOH, a chlorotrifluoroethylene polymer, acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate Coplymerisate, partially aromatic polyamides or polyvinylidene chloride. As a barrier layer, at the same time as an opaque layer, the packaging material may contain at least one metal foil, in particular aluminum foil, for example in a thickness of 5 to 50 microns. Present packaging materials should have barrier effect with respect to water vapor and gas diffusion. For example, an oxygen permeability of less than 2 cm ³ / m ² bar is preferred for 24 hours.

The films or foils can be printed on one or both sides or counter-printed. The films, foils or printings can be covered with a topcoat or protective varnish, either partially or completely. The packaging material is expedient sealable with respect to one or both outside. Suitably, the packaging material on one or both outer sides of a sealing layer or sealable layer, such as a sealable plastic film or a sealing wax, on. This makes it possible to design over sealed seam packaging units, such as bags.

A particularly suitable packaging material has a layer sequence of PET / metallized PET / PE

The packaging material can be in the form of a tubular film which is shaped into a flat bag by sealing seams which are transverse to the direction of the tube. It can also be a film by a longitudinal seam and, for example, 2 terminal transverse seams are formed into a bag. The seams may preferably be sealed but also glued. In a preferred embodiment, it is a stand-up bag of a bottom part, z. B. with a bottom of a block, such as cross or block bottom, shaped bottom, otherwise folded bottom or a deepened or deep-drawn bottom and the bag can be closed at the bottom opposite end with a cross-seam. In order to form the packaging body, this can have, in addition to sealed, welded or glued bottom seams or bottom folds, no or at least one sealed, welded or glued side seam and / or one, two or more side folds.

Preference is given to pouches having a polygonal, preferably rectangular top view, block bottom and protruding therefrom, with, for example, alternately smooth and folded side walls. At the head end, the side walls can open into a lid or the side walls can fold and close, for example, form as Falzsiegelverschluss, the upper bag end. The side walls on the bottom side opposite end of the bag can taper to a lip or a single seal seam, respectively. taper. This lip can represent the filling opening. The lip can simultaneously represent the closing seam. The closure seam can be a sealed seam. The sealing seam can be the removal opening for the useful contents. Also, the closure seam can be designed to be closed again. Also possible are bags with a round or elliptical in the plan view of standing floor with it protruding endless side wall, wherein the side wall, at the bottom side opposite end of the bag, tapers in a wedge shape to form a lip. At the same time, the lip can represent the filling opening and, in some cases, the closable, closing seam and removal opening. The closure seam can be a sealed seam.

Packaging and packaging containers of the type described can have a removal opening, with or without tearing aids, for example attached to the head part or in the region of the head part of the packaging. The removal opening may be the closure seam. If, for example, the closure at the upper end of the container or in the region of the headspace of the packaging is shaped as a transverse seam, resp. formed in the lip by means of a sealed seam, the tear-open can be located within the transverse seam or lip seal. The tear aid can be a weakening of the material, an incision in a sealed seam, a perforation, individual precut layers within a film composite, a tear thread embedded in the film composite of the packaging material, etc. It is also possible to create a separable sealed seam, by means of layers which can be easily broken from one another in the packaging film, the choice of the sealing temperature and / or the sealing pressure. In some cases, sealing seams can be made resealable. The reclosability can be done for example with cold sealants, contact adhesives, so-called. Zip-lock closures or with adhesive tabs, etc. Withdrawal openings can also be located on the packaging container outside sealed areas and the opening of a package can be facilitated by said aids at that location.

Inside the package, at least one functional insert is attached to the bottom or at least one side wall. The functional insert may be a bag, a body in pillow, sachet or cuboid shape, or a different shaped insert. The insert may be, for example, an envelope or outer skin made of a gas-permeable nonwoven material, woven fabric, knitted fabric, paper, plastic film, etc., which encloses a functional content, for example a pasty, powdery, granular or block-shaped content, and the functional contents are released into the material Packaging interior hinders. The functional insert may also be a foam which is loaded with the functional content or may be a functional medium enriched storage medium such as a sponge or nonwoven or the like. The functional content in the functional use has the task of chemically or physically bind individual elements or compounds that are present in the form of gaseous in the package or by the packaging content. The functional content is particularly intended for binding gases, such as atomic, resp. molecular oxygen. The oxygen is produced by so-called scavengers, ie substance-consuming, in the present case in particular gases, such as oxygen-consuming substances, bound. To achieve an advantageous effect of sufficient gas and in particular oxygen absorption, the scavenger should receive at least 10 ml of oxygen per 500 g of product. An even better effect is achieved if a functional use in a package per 500 g of contents can absorb more than 50 ml of oxygen. The functional insert may occupy, for example, 1 to 30%, preferably 2 to 10%, of the inner volume of the packaging.

The functional insert according to the invention is in the interior of the packaging, for example in a bag, connected by at least one sealed seam with the packaging. The sealed seam is advantageously designed such that the functional use in product removal safely in the packaging, adhere and can not be separated by removing the contents of the package, or the functional use automatically dissolves and can be deployed with the contents of the package from the package. The sealing seam can be effected by sealing the functional insert, for example, on a sealing layer of the packaging film facing the interior of the packaging, and / or the functional insert itself can have a sealable outer shell or sealable outer skin parts. Also usable or combined with the mentioned sealing variants is the sealing of the functional insert to a packaging inner wall by means of an interposed strip of sealable material, in particular a strip of the packaging inner wall and / or the outer material of the functional insert identical material. Favorable is a seal or seal with a strength of more than 15 N / 15 mm. Also beneficial is a seal in a thickness that meets or exceeds the tearing force of the packaging material. It can thus be achieved that, should an animal, in particular a dog, unintentionally gain access to the contents of the package, the functional insert is not entangled with the food, but adheres to the packaging in a separable manner. For the same reason, the functional insert is advantageously arranged as far as possible from the discharge opening, in particular such that z. B. the dog's nose through the packaging opening can not penetrate to the functional use.

The functional insert can be sealed directly onto the film to be processed for packaging and then the package can be molded. A packaging can be made of a film partially, then the functional use on the inside of the resulting bag on, resp. sealed and the packaging finished. Or, a packaging is manufactured and filled by the filling resp. Removal opening is introduced the functional use and sealed in the interior. The filling of the packaging with the useful contents, a possible gas purging of the headspace and the closing follow. The gas purging and filling of the headspace with an inert gas can be done with, for example, nitrogen, CO ₂ , a noble gas, etc.

The sealing of the bag seams and in particular the sealing of the functional insert on the inside of the packaging can be carried out by thermal sealing or by ultrasonic or induction sealing.

The inventive packages are particularly suitable for filling with food for humans and animals. Preferably, the packages are filled with dry animal feed. The fillings are usually in the form of flakes, granules or lumpy. The packages are gas-tight, especially after factory filling and closing until they are opened by the consumer. With the filling or before the closing, an inert atmosphere, such as a protective gas, can be introduced into the packaging. With the described measures and with films with a high barrier effect, a long storage time can be achieved without loss of quality of the content of, for example, one year for dry animal feed. In all precautions to preserve the organoleptic properties and the nutrient content of the filled product, with a physiological degradation of the content by remaining in the headspace of the packaging oxygen and by with the content, eg. B. the Lebensmittelmitt, animal feed, etc. to be counted oxygen. The oxygen diffusion through the packaging material and the sealing seams should not be neglected. Particularly gas-tight packaging materials and seals are usually complex and expensive, so that there remains room for improvement in terms of the cost-effectiveness of controlling the oxygen in packaging. The problem of oxygen-related spoilage of the contents can be counteracted with chemical stabilizers. However, this is less or not at all desirable or at least the use of chemical stabilizers should be reduced to a minimum. Here, the present invention intervenes, which describes a packaging with a functional insert, in particular an oxygen-consuming insert. In the packaging remaining, as well as newly added or formed in the packaging of free oxygen, is reliably eliminated by the functional use. At the same time, the attachment of the functional insert by means of sealing by means of the seal layers already present in the packaging interior prevents the introduction of further substances, such as solvents and adhesives, into the packaging interior. Packaging of the type described can have a useful volume of, for example, 0.1 to 25 liters, wherein Packaging sizes with a useful content of 0.5 to 5 liters are predominant. Typical quantities of food in the packages are, for example, from 0.1 to 25 kg, and preferably from 0.5 to 5 kg.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to gas-tight packaging, the packaging preferably comprising a bag with pad bottom and folded sidewalls, occasionally one or more smooth sidewalls or alternately pleated and smooth sidewalls, a lip-shaped closure seam, at least one oxygen-containing functional unit housed within the bag and animal feed. Preferably, the packaging additionally contains an inert gas.

The packaging material can be processed, for example, in a bag-producing plant. A typical representative of such machines are packaging machines made by Totani. The packaging material, in particular a film or film is fed as a roll of the machine and there folded according to the content and provided with the required longitudinal and transverse seams. During the molding of the bag is on the packaging material on the inside of the molded or molded bag coming to lie, sealed the functional use. Finally, filled through a not yet sealed opening of the bag, occasionally flushed with an inert gas, the headspace, and the bag are finally sealed by sealing. Analogously, this applies to all types of bags and packaging of the type mentioned. If two bags are made identical, but in one of the bag, the functional unit is not sealed, and with the same content, eg. B. dry animal feed, filled in the same amount, it can be measured after a few days, the oxygen content in the bag inside. The measurement shows that the oxygen content in the bag with the functional unit is reduced by 50% compared to the comparative bag without a functional unit.

The present invention is explained in more detail with reference to two exemplary figures. 1 shows a bag with a floor standing and with a laterally mounted on the wall functional insert. 2 shows a stand-up pouch with a sealed on the bottom inside the bag insert.

In 1 is an example of a bag ( 1 ) having a bottom ( 2 ) and a front wall ( 3 ) and on the opposite side corresponding to a back wall ( 9 ) having. The bag ( 1 ) is designed as a folding bag with a floor stand accordingly, the side walls ( 4 ) with fold lines ( 8th ) fitted. Inside the bag ( 1 ) is a functional use ( 5 ) by means of a sealed seam ( 6 ) on one of the bag walls, here on the rear wall ( 9 ), appropriate. By way of example, the seal on a functional use ( 5 ) edge seal arranged seal shown. The functional use ( 5 ) can also with a to a larger than the part shown or completely circumferential seal on the inside of a wall, as shown here, the rear wall ( 9 ) of the bag ( 1 ) are sealed. The seal can be, for example, via the innermost layer of the film from which the bag ( 1 ) is formed. A suitable for sealing layer is z. B. a polyolefin layer, such as a polypropylene layer. The use ( 5 ) represents a cushion, essentially formed from a sheath ( 7 ) with punctured perforation holes ( 19 ) and the content. The pillow-shaped insert ( 5 ) itself has marginal sealing seams ( 10 ) on the envelope ( 7 ), which surround the cushion contents leak-proof. The cushion contents are, for example, an oxygen scavenger or oxygen absorbing material. For example, the outer layer of the envelope ( 7 ) and the sealing of the insert ( 5 ) and the wall ( 9 ) can be made via this sealable layer. Also, the outside of the envelope ( 6 ), as well as the innermost layer of the packaging film, resp. the bag wall (eg 3 . 9 ), and both sealable layers complement each other in the seal. The bag ( 1 ) tapers off the floor ( 2 ) against its upper conclusion ( 12 ), by folding in the gusseted areas ( 8th ). At the upper end ( 12 ) opens by touching the front wall ( 3 ) and the back wall ( 9 ) in a lip ( 11 ). In the area of the lip ( 11 ) can front wall ( 3 ) and back wall ( 9 ) are tightly sealed against each other and thus close the bag ( 1 ).

In 2 is an example of a bag ( 1 ) having a bottom ( 2 ) as well as front wall ( 3 ) and the back wall ( 9 ) having. The bag ( 1 ) is designed as a folding bag with a floor and the side walls ( 4 ) are with fold lines ( 8th ) fitted. Inside the bag ( 1 ) is a functional use ( 5 ) by means of a sealed seam ( 6 ) on the ground ( 2 ) sealed. By way of example, the seal on a functional use ( 5 ) edge seam seal ( 6 ). The functional use ( 5 ) can also with a larger than the part shown or a complete circumferential seal on the inside of the bag bottom, resp. a side wall to be sealed.

The seal can be, for example, via the innermost layer of the film from which the bag ( 1 ) is formed. An example of a suitable layer is a polyolefin layer, such as a polypropylene layer. The functional use ( 5 ) represents a cushion, essentially formed from a sheath ( 7 ) with perforation holes ( 19 ), which are drawn as dots, and the content. Marginal sealing seams ( 10 ) on the envelope ( 7 ) surround the pillow contents. The pillow content is for example, an oxygen-consuming material. As another example, the outer layer of the envelope (FIG. 7 ) and the sealing of the insert ( 5 ) to the ground ( 2 ) can be done with it. Finally, the outside of the envelope ( 6 ), as well as the innermost layer of the packaging film, resp. of the soil ( 2 ), the bag ( 1 ), and both layers complement each other in the seal.

Not shown are further embodiments, for example, the way that two or more functional inserts, occasionally with different functions, are arranged in a package.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• GB 989831 [0002]

Claims (6)

Gas-tight packaging with a controlled internal atmosphere, characterized in that at least one oxygen content-regulating functional unit is arranged inside at least one sealed seam, inside the packaging. A gas-tight package according to claim 1, characterized in that the package at least one side wall or a bottom and at least one side wall and arranged between the outside of the oxygen regulating functional unit, at the bottom and / or at least one side wall, in the packaging interior, at least one sealed seam is. A gas-tight package according to claim 2, characterized in that the package contains a bag with block bottom, folded side walls, a lip-shaped closure seam, at least one oxygen regulating functional unit and animal feed housed inside the bag. A gas-tight package according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the package contains a bag with block bottom, folded side walls, a lip-shaped closure seam, an oxygen regulating functional unit housed within the bag, animal feed and an inert gas. Gas-tight packaging according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the oxygen-regulating functional unit is an oxygen-absorbing unit. A gas-tight packaging according to claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the side walls or the bottom and the side walls of the packaging is formed from a laminate with the layer sequence PET / metallized PET / PE.

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