DE60307125T2 - CONTAINER WITH BUCKET CLOSURE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container suitable for aseptic packing of microbiologically sensitive food products comprising a blow-moulded container body ( 1 ) and neck ( 2 ) and a closure ( 3 ), characterised in that the closure ( 3 ) is a snap-on closure ( 3 ) wherein the snap-on closure ( 3 ) comprises a peripheral skirt ( 4 ) with a ridge ( 5 ), intended for engagement with the inner surface ( 6 ) of the neck ( 2 ) wherein the free outer diameter of the ridge ( 5 ) is slightly higher than the free inner diameter of the neck, characterised in that the snap-on closure ( 3 ) and the neck comprise means ( 7,8 ) for substantially fixing the ridge ( 5 ) in the axial direction of the neck, when the container is closed.

Description

Territory of invention

The The invention relates to a container according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein the container for the aseptic packaging of microbiologically sensitive food products suitable is.

background the invention

Lots Food products are against a microbiological Spoil prone. Such products are referred to herein as microbiologically sensitive food products designated. Microbiologically sensitive food products will have a limited shelf life if not suitable to be preserved. Usually Such products are treated to provide the relevant microbial load eliminate, e.g. Pasteurization or sterilization used become. To the storage life of pasteurized or sterilized products to extend, were procedures of hygienic or aseptic packaging of the Food products developed.

For non-carbonated liquid or pourable microbiological sensitive food products, e.g. Dairy products, fruit juices etc. are various ways of aseptic packaging known.

J. Goursaud describes in Food Packaging Technology, Vol. 2, chapter 35, publisher G. Bureau and J.-L. Multon, VCH Publishers Inc. (1996), Aseptic Packaging of Dairy Products. Some commercial methods, e.g. Tetra Brik, Aseptic Combiblock and Elopak, use a paperboard laminate structure to form a container the after filling sealed with sterilized milk. Other methods, e.g. those developed by Bottle-pack, Remy, Serac and Erca Plastic container. The plastic containers be using a heat-sealed aluminum foil (tin foil) or a screw cap closed. For yoghurt, jars or jars and goblets or goblets can be used which are usually sealed with (aluminum) foil (tin foil).

A The requirement for aseptic packaging is that the packaging is tamper-proof or original security as it occurs in a store. A heat sealed Slide shows whether a "Tampering" or a "handling" is done, since the Film attacked / damaged will, if it is handled. Screw caps can come with a ring or breaker be torn or broken when the container is to opened the first time becomes.

The known closures for the Aseptic packs have a number of disadvantages. heat-sealed Aluminum foils can Do not be resealed, so often an extra screw cap added is when a reclosability he wishes is. About that In addition, an aluminum foil (tin foil) is vulnerable. The screw cap must be unscrewed to open the container, and after use reapplied, making them difficult to use. Furthermore will a screw cap after opening from the container separated and can be lost and is prone to fouling.

It is known to use injection blow molded containers for aseptic packaging, using injection molded preforms. EP 1122168 describes a method for forming and filling aseptic containers. The method comprises the steps of sterilizing preforms, heating the sterilized preforms to a temperature suitable for orientation, forming the heated preforms into containers by an orientation blow molding process, filling the formed containers with an aseptic liquid, and hermetically sealing the filled containers with each aseptic closure. The containers are capped with sterilized caps, which are not described in detail.

CH 595255 describes a sterile sealable container with a snap-on cap suitable for packaging liquid or solid pharmaceuticals. The container is "tamper-proof" or safe from tampering, see column 2, lines 25-31, and is resealable The container is hermetically sealed because of threading 12 into the throat 9 the container is driven and the upper mount 8th of the cylindrical upper part of the container in the annular recess 13 is driven. As a result of this construction, a relatively large amount of material is used in the cap and, moreover, the cap is only suitable for closing small diameter necks. The upper part of the neck of the bottle must be very accurately dimensioned, otherwise the bottle will not be aseptic. The pressing force on the snap-in cap is also high. Moreover, the described bottle is preferably made of glass, which will result in a container with a high weight.

FR 2744100 describes a snap-in closure having a peripheral edge with a protruding ridge, intended for engagement with the inside of the neck, wherein the free outer diameter of the protruding ridge is slightly larger than the free inner diameter of the neck. Of the Closure shows original security, see the peel strip 4 , It can be opened with one hand after the tear strip has been removed. In FR 2744100 No use for aseptic packaging is described.

WO 99/61337 describes a plastic bottle comprising an extrusion blow molded body and an injection molded neck and injection molded cap assembly, the cap adapted to the neck to provide a leak free separable seal. The closure is covered with a foil ( 70 ) sealed. This bottle has the same disadvantages as described above for other film sealed closures. Moreover, according to WO 99/61337, a separate step is needed to connect the neck and cap assembly to the container body.

US 6260723 describes a plastic container according to the preamble of claim 1, a pack for fluid media with a snap-in lid which provides an aseptic closure. The aseptic closure is realized with an annular sealing lip which is sealingly engaged with the inner surface of the edge of the package. Since the sealing area is the inside of the edge, the seal can easily be damaged if this inside is damaged. Damage can easily occur in handling the package or preforms (blanks) because the edge is always exposed and therefore the sealing surface is not protected.

Summary the invention

Therefore It is an object of the invention to provide a container which for the aseptic packaging of microbiologically sensitive food products suitable is. Another object of the invention is to provide a container with a closure that reliably after the initial opening again can be closed. Another object of the invention is in the provision of a container with lock that is "tamper-proof" or shows original security. Another object of the invention is to provide a container with closure, which has a light weight. Other tasks exist in providing a closure that has a low snap-in pressure which is easy to recycle and which is a simple design has, and in providing a container in which the sealing surface against damage is protected. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container with lock after initial opening reliably opened with one hand and can be closed and connected to the opening after the opening remains.

One or more of these objects is achieved according to the invention in that the container comprises: a container body formed by an injection blow molding process (US Pat. 1 ) and -hals ( 2 ) and a closure ( 3 ), the closure ( 3 ) a snap closure ( 3 ), characterized in that the snap-in closure ( 3 ) a peripheral edge ( 4 ) with a protruding ridge ( 5 ), which is for engagement on the inside ( 6 ) of the neck ( 2 ), wherein the free outer diameter of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) is slightly larger than the free inner diameter of the neck, the snap-in closure ( 3 ) and the neck means ( 7 . 8th ) for a solid fixation of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) in the axial direction of the neck when the container is closed.

detailed Description of the invention

Of the Closure of the container according to the invention a snap closure. This means that the closure according to the invention on the neck of the container depressed must be after the container filled was to achieve an aseptic seal. This is in conflict for sealing with foil, crown corks or turning a screw cap, as disclosed in the prior art. According to the invention becomes a mechanical easy sealing of the container reached and the weight of the container and the closure is low. Cap and lock will be here used as synonyms.

The Details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which serves only as an example, explained with reference to the accompanying figures.

1 : Vertical section of the upper part of a container and the Einschnappverschlusses according to the preferred embodiment

2 : Section of the peripheral part of a snap-in cap, which has a bridge ( 8th ) shows.

3 : Enlarged floor plan of the snap-in closure

The snap closure ( 3 ) comprises a peripheral edge ( 4 ) with a protruding ridge ( 5 ), which is for engagement on the inside ( 6 ) of the neck ( 2 ), wherein the free outer diameter of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) slightly larger than the free inner diameter of the neck ( 2 ) and the snap-in closure ( 3 ) and the neck ( 2 ) Medium ( 7 . 8th . 9 . 10 ) for a solid fixation of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) in the axial direction of the neck ( 2 ) when the container is closed.

In a preferred embodiment, the length of the peripheral edge ( 4 ) so that when the snap closure ( 3 ) on the neck ( 2 ) and the projecting ridge ( 5 ) in engagement with the inside ( 6 ) of the neck ( 2 ), the projecting ridge ( 5 ) at a depth of 0.2 D or more, more preferably 0.3 to 0.5 D, where D is the inner diameter of the neck ( 2 ) and the depth from the top of the neck to the middle of the protruding ridge ( 5 ) is measured.

Preferably fix a series of webs ( 8th ) extending from the top of the closure towards the upper outwardly bent edge of the neck, the projecting ridge in the downward direction. These bridges ( 8th ) have a height such that the bottom touches the upper outwardly bent edge of the neck when the snap-in closure ( 3 ) on the neck ( 2 ) of the container is snapped.

In a preferred embodiment, as in 2 is shown, there is a projection ( 7 ) of the neck ( 2 ) on an oblique part ( 10 ) of the bottom part of the closure ( 3 ), indicating a downward movement of the projecting ridge ( 5 ), while a bridge ( 8th ) to the upper protruding ridge ( 9 ) of the neck ( 2 ), resulting in a fixation of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) results in an upward direction.

One close a container, filled with a sterile product, as described above Weise provides a commercially aseptically packaged product.

Preferably, the movement tolerance of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) in the axial direction of the neck, when the container is closed, smaller than the height (H in 5 ) the contact surface between the protruding ridge ( 5 ) and the inside ( 6 ) of the neck ( 2 ).

Advantageously, the neck ( 2 ) an inside ( 6 ), which has no grooves with a width of 0.5 mm or larger. These measures will further reduce the risk of microbiological contamination.

The closure according to the invention is made of a plastic material that is injection molded. The container is preferably made in two steps. In the first step, a preform is produced by injection molding, which ensures high accuracy in the neck of the container. The preform is designed so that the sealing surface can not be touched by other preforms during handling and transport from preform injection to blow molding. In a subsequent step, the container body is formed by blow molding. The sealing surface inside the preform neck is not touched by any object to prevent scratches. The sealing area is part of the inside ( 6 ) of the neck ( 2 ) in contact with the above burr ( 5 ) is when the container is sealed. The blowing, sterilizing, filling and capping operations must preferably be performed in one operation to avoid mechanical contact between the inside of the neck and the device. The method described above ensures an accurate smooth inside without scratches by handling. Preferably, the Shore D hardness of the material of the protruding ridge ( 5 ) lower than the Shore D hardness of the material of the neck ( 2 ). This causes the material of the protruding ridge to easily fill grooves or the surface roughness of the inside of the neck, resulting in an improved sealing of the container. The Shore D hardness of the material of the protruding ridge ( 5 ) is preferably 65 or less, more preferably 60 or less, and the Shore D hardness of the material of the neck ( 2 ) is preferably 70 or more, more preferably 80 or more.

The Shore D hardness can be measured with an apparatus known as Durometer and hence also known as "durometer" is due to the penetration of the durometer indenter foot into the Sample determined. Because of the rebound resilience of rubbers and plastics, the penetration reading can change over time - so will the penetration time is given together with the hardness number. The name The ASTM test method used herein is ASTM D2240 00. Related methods include ISO 7619 and ISO 868; DIN 53505 and JIS K 6301, which was abandoned and replaced by JIS K 6253.

Although the material of the protruding ridge for the sealing extremely relevant and it is different from the rest of the material of the snap closure it is preferred that the snap-in closure, including of the protruding ridge is made of the same material, namely for reasons simplicity and recyclability.

suitable Materials for the container body are elastic plastic materials molded by injection blow molds can be e.g. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC) or PEN or Mixtures thereof.

suitable Materials for the snap-in closure are plastic materials that are injection molded can be e.g. different types of polyethylene, for example polyethylene lower Density (LLDPE).

Preferably, the snap closure has a hinge ( 11 ). This allows the container to be opened with one hand after initial opening and removal of the tear strip. Advantageously, the hinge ( 11 ) a snap hinge ( 11 ), which is even more convenient to use because it fixes the shutter in two positions, open and closed.

Preferably, the snap-in closure comprises a circumferential tear strip (FIG. 12 ). This tear strip provides original security. The tear strip may preferably be provided with a handle ( 13 ) be provided.

Preferably is the container a bottle, however, the invention is not limited to bottles. Other container like glasses or cups, "Goblets" etc. can also Take advantage of the invention.

The The invention relates only to food products that do not must be packed under pressure, so that the packaging of e.g. Carbonated drinks excluded is.

After this the container and the closure have been made, they are preferably sterilized, e.g. by spraying with a disinfecting liquid (e.g., 4.5% by weight Oxinia, Henkel Ecolab Germany) and then rinsing with sterilized water.

It Another sterilization procedure can also be used.

To Sterilization becomes the container filled with a food product and by pressing on sealed the sterilized snap closure.

The Invention also relates on a container, which is described herein with a sterilized or pasteurized microbiologically sensitive food product is filled. The container according to the invention is special for a microbiologically sensitive food product with a pH between 6 and 8 suitable.

The Microbiologically sensitive food product can be any Condition or have any appearance: it can be a liquid, a pourable material, a spoonable or spreadable material or a solid paste or particle. Preferably, the food product a liquid, squeezable or pourable product.

example

Container with snap-in closure with a volume of 250 ml 1 to 3 have been produced. The material of the container was polyethylene terephthalate (PET) suitable for biaxial blow molding having a Shore D hardness of 83. The snap fit material was linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with a Shore D hardness of 53.

preforms were prepared by injection blow molding. Snap-in closures were injection-molded.

preforms were fed into a Husky blow molding machine and the preforms were blow-molded, with the neck of the preforms only on the outside was held.

The resulting bottles and the snap closures were by gamma-irradiation sterilized. After disinfection they were in a sterile environment until closed the bottles with the snap fasteners held.

The Bottles were filled with sterilized cream and with the snap locks in a high-hygiene environment. A cuff (foil out oriented polystyrene) was shrunk around the bottle, taking she the body and the neck of the bottle, including the fixation ring of the Cap under the tear strip, but not the cap, covered.

The thus prepared aseptic containers tested as follows.

Test the aseptic container

The Top of 32 bottles made as described above were introduced to a fresh culture of Serratia marescens sprayed, using a chromatography initiator (about 2 ml of 10E9 bacteria / ml). The spraying was during repeated two consecutive days. After every treatment were the sprayed Bottles at 30 ° C in total for 6 Incubated for days.

All Samples were examined microbiologically by dissimulation on plate count agar and there were no Serratia marescens bacteria or other bacteria in none of the 32 containers found. A repeat of this test with another batch out of 32 bottles in turn yielded the result that in none of the 32 containers Spoilage was found.

As a blind test, four bottles were opened and inoculated with the Serratia marescens culture. Within two days at 30 ° C, strong growth occurred and resulted in visible deterioration of the cream.

Claims (15)

Plastic container suitable for aseptic packaging of microbiologically sensitive food products, comprising a container body formed by an injection blow molding method ( 1 ) and -hals ( 2 ) and a closure ( 3 ), the closure ( 3 ) a snap closure ( 3 ), characterized in that the snap-in closure ( 3 ) a peripheral edge ( 4 ) with a protruding ridge ( 5 ), which is for engagement on the inside ( 6 ) of the neck ( 2 ), wherein the free outer diameter of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) is slightly larger than the free inner diameter of the neck, the snap-in closure ( 3 ) and the neck means ( 7 . 8th ) for a solid fixation of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) in the axial direction of the neck when the container is closed. A container according to claim 1, wherein the movement tolerance of the projecting ridge (FIG. 5 ) in the axial direction of the neck when the container is closed is smaller than the height of the contact surface between the protruding ridge and the inside of the neck. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the neck is an inner side ( 6 ), which has no pills with a width of 0.5 μm or larger. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the Shore D hardness of the material of the projecting ridge ( 5 ) is lower than the Shore D hardness of the material of the neck ( 2 ). A container according to claim 4, wherein the Shore D hardness of the material of the ridge ( 5 ) Is 65 or smaller and the Shore D hardness of the material of the neck ( 2 ) Is 70 or higher. container according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the container provided with a film around the bottle, which is a large part of the body and the neck of the bottle, but not the cap covered. container according to claim 6, wherein the film comprises oriented polystyrene. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the snap-in closure a hinge ( 9 ) Has. Container according to claim 9, wherein the hinge ( 9 ) a snap hinge ( 9 ). A container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the snap-in closure comprises a circumferential tear strip (14). 10 ). container according to one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the material of the protruding ridge substantially consists of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). container according to one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the container a bottle is. container according to one of the claims 1 to 12, with a sterilized or pasteurized microbiological sensitive food product is filled. container according to claim 13, wherein the microbiologically sensitive food product has a pH between 6 and 8. Use of a plastic container according to one of claims 1 to 14 for packaging a sterilized or pasteurized microbiologically sensitive Food product.