DK2729379T3 - packaging container - Google Patents

Description

Packaging container

The invention relates to a packaging container according to the preamble of claim 1.

Packaging containers of this kind are widespread in the form of side pleat bags or bottom pleat bags and not only provide minimal packaging expenditure with regard to space, volume and costs, but can also be manufactured, filled and closed effectively in highly developed machine passes. A rectangular block shape of the (filled) packaging that is usually desired for storage, shipping, and the display of goods can be produced for usual conventional packaging items only in approximation, however, because it requires complete filling, which is difficult to achieve, and because, for flowable products to be packaged, deformations happen easily overall. When, as is conventional, the packaging items are then brought together to form a removal opening at a (top) end, at which optionally also side pleats converge and possibly also a central transverse bottom seam forms the closure at the other end, packaging items that are incompletely filled tend to form variable shapes. The capability of the packaging to stand upright is uncertain in this context. Moreover, packaging items are difficult to access via a removal opening provided with a reclosure device if the removal slot is short and possibly also impaired by side pleats in the top closure.

Packaging containers of the aforementioned kind, having side pleat walls that can be folded out to a substantially rectangular block shape but end in gussets and are arranged between main walls which converge at opposite ends to form a central seam or strip, in particular a bottom seam or top strip, are disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2008 011 471 A1, US 6,481,183 B1, US 6,874,935 B1, US 7,396,163 B2, US 2006/0189467 A1, and JP 03240650 A. A packaging container having a bottom pleat wall and a top strip formed by a reclosure device is disclosed in EP 1 266 836 A1. DE 103 16 065 A1 discloses a method for various packaging containers which each have two adjacent pleats in one wall, of which one pleat forms an opening indicator in connection with a closure device. However, this causes the shape of the containers to have difficult and complex terminal and transitional regions. US 4,713,839 A discloses a packaging container made of (double-layer) film, which packaging container is open at the bottom for filling, is heat-sealed on both sides in each case by a side seam, without side pleats, and comprises a top fold, over which a reclosure device and a handle loop made of film are placed. This configuration is difficult to adapt to the desired rectangular block shape and laborious to open for emptying. WO 00/26101 and also EP 0 945 359 A2 disclose a rigid box-shaped packaging item having a flexible lid which is provided on a longitudinal edge with a reclosure device for filling and emptying. A packaging item of this type is complex in terms of material and production. EP 2 277 790 A1 discloses a packing container according to the preamble of claim 1, in which the main and side walls and a bottom wall are joined to one another in a box-like manner by means of sealed seams, and the top region is extended using excess film regions to form handle strips and is fitted in a handle strip with a reclosure device which extends over the entire width thereof. This configuration of the top makes it difficult to form a rectangular block shape following complete filling and can therefore stand upright only to a limited extent.

The object of the invention is to provide a packaging container which, in the case of a chunky or flowable product, allows an improved filling level, approximates in this context more closely to the desired rectangular block shape, can thus also stand upright well on side walls or end walls, and allows a removal opening that is as wide as possible and easily accessible and has a reclosure device.

The object is achieved by a packaging container according to the preamble of claim 1 having the characterising features of claim 1.

According to the invention, an important step for achieving this object consists in the fact that the removal opening extends along one of the longitudinal edges. In this context, the removal opening that is conventionally arranged, in terms of manufacture, in the top closure of a packaging container is moved to one of the longitudinal edges which, due simply to the edge length thereof, allows a larger or longer fill opening/removal opening which, accordingly, can also be opened wider and more easily. Yet this region of the packaging container can also be readily kept free from incorporation or termination of side pleat walls of the conventional type and, in this respect, can be easily accessed without impairment. In particular, moving the removal opening to the lateral edge and moving an arrangement away from a central region of the container walls has the result that the neighbouring walls of the container are bent open so as to be substantially flat when opened and are accordingly less bulky. This applies even when the packaging container having a rectangular block shape and having edge lengths that are not very different is intended to be a somewhat closer approximation of a cube shape. The more liberal design option of an end wall in the previous top region, owing to movement of the removal opening to a lateral edge, also allows improved filling of the packaging container, which is advantageous for a more exact rectangular block shape and upright positioning on a side wall or end wall.

The removal opening which extends “along” a longitudinal edge does not need, for this purpose, to be positioned exactly symmetrically on the longitudinal edge, but instead the design of the reclosure device can lead to said opening being positioned directly adjacently in one or the other (main or side) wall.

Preferably, the reclosure device is formed having two reclosure strips which have a connection that is irreversibly separated upon first opening. In sales, this has the advantage of the “guaranteed new” feature widely offered in distribution of packaging and also in connection with conventional reclosure devices, and delivery in an intact condition.

Moreover, reclosure strips can be additionally protected in this way against breaking open upon extreme loading of the packaging container during shipping and distribution. Reclosure devices, for example having two reclosure strips that are to be closed or opened using interlocking profile strips, optionally also using a slider that is longitudinally movable, can be secured and sealed by a separable connection between the reclosure strips. Up to the point of first opening, it is also possible for reclosure strips to be interconnected by a peelable (peel-off) film web which allows tool-free first opening.

The empty, and thus still to be filled, packaging bag can expediently be provided with a wide fill opening which is closed after filling, according to the invention, this fill opening not being conventionally positioned directly adjacently to the removal opening and adjoining the reclosure device but instead preferably extending along one of the other longitudinal edges or into one of the transverse edges. In this way, the fill opening which is to be closed only after filling, for example by means of a sealed seam, can be formed, independently of the removal opening and the reclosure device thereof, to be wide and easily accessible. This allows not only comfortable filling but also a high filling level which can be improved to a residual volume of significantly below 5 % instead of the conventional 10 % to 15%. Depending on the conditions of the machine-based filling process, it may be advantageous to form the fill opening initially having a projecting fill socket which, after filling, can be closed and cut off easily using a separating sealed seam. Such a fill socket can be formed, for example, by projecting film portions of the adjoining walls which are pulled out as strips contacting each other and are interconnected at the edges to form a tube shape.

In particular, if packaging containers of the type considered here surpass a “manageable” size owing to their large volume, they can expediently be provided with at least one handle which is advantageously collapsible together with the packaging container to form a flat shape. Such a handle is advantageous not only for the buyer for handling a filled packaging container during transport to his home, but also during opening in order to pull open, by means of the handle, one side of the removal opening. The handle can be a strip that is made of film and is attached to one of the walls so as to rest flat thereon. In order to be pulled open, said strip can be arranged on one of the walls at a predetermined distance from the reclosure device.

In order to avoid the shaping caused by central transverse seals or transverse seams at the top and optionally also at the bottom, which shaping is conventionally easily produced but is particularly disadvantageous for the filled state, the bottom can be provided with a strictly geometric shape in which the sealed seams as a whole extend only along the edges between the walls. This provides an inherent predetermined rectangular block shape that is not only achieved by means of appropriate and complete filling. In this context, preferably a tube shape is produced, for example by means of a tube-like extruded blown film, more generally, however, even a tube shape from a flat film which forms a tube by means of a longitudinal seam, and the open end-cross-sections thereof are positioned with mutual spacing in accordance with the rectangular block shape and are closed by end walls by means of edge seams on all sides.

In this context, the longitudinal seam for the tube can be advantageously positioned in the edge. The tube shape can also be achieved, however, in that the individual walls, for example the main and side walls, are sealed together by four lateral seams forming the longitudinal edges, the longitudinal seams contributing in a stiffening manner to the edge formation for the rectangular block shape.

The described packaging containers exhibit their special advantages in the case of larger packaging sizes in which the improved filling level and the more exact rectangular block shape are particularly advantageous. These packaging sizes can be produced with reduced material expenditure with respect to the packaging volume, can be transported and stored with a very low-loss space requirement, and primarily, in case of a sales display, can be presented effectively on the sales shelf by presenting a main surface to the buyer when stood up on a side wall (“transverse format”) or on an end wall (“upright format”). The presentation space that is available, for example the depth of the sales shelves, can be utilised by positioning the packaging items behind one other.

Four embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in the following in more detail. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an oblique view of a packaging container according to the invention in the filled state;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the packaging container according to Fig. 1, filled and opened at a removal opening;

Fig. 3 shows a packaging container in a second embodiment in the folded state;

Fig. 4 is an oblique view of the packaging container according to Fig. 3 in the unfolded state ready for filling;

Fig. 5 is an oblique view of another packaging container in the folded state;

Fig. 6 is an oblique view of the packaging container according to Fig. 5 in the unfolded state ready for filling. A packaging container, denoted as a whole by 1 in Fig. 1, has, according to the drawing (and in practice also in approximation), a rectangular block shape having three pairs of mutually opposed rectangular block sides which are typically differently sized from pair to pair. The packaging container is manufactured from a film material which is sealable at least on the inner side, that is to say it has a sealable plastics material at least on the inner side. As a whole, the film material can be monolithic but can also comprise layers of plastics or metal materials in order to fulfil various demands on the packaging with regard to moisture stability, vapour permeability, aroma tightness, tear resistance, etc.

The walls joined together to form the rectangular block shape will be referred to, depending on their size, as main walls 2, 3, side walls 4, and end walls 5. The main walls 2, 3 and the side walls 4 are to be separated from each other by longitudinal edges 6, 7, 8, 9 in each case. They are also consistently the longest edges of the rectangular block. The other edges that surround the end walls 5 are all transverse edges, denoted in the drawings by 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, even when they can be divided into two different lengths.

In Fig. 1, dash-dot lines 17 are also marked in the side walls 4 and the end walls 5, which lines extend in part parallel to the main surfaces 2, 3 and in part obliquely inwardly from the corners relative to the surface, and merely indicate fold lines or fold edges when the packaging container 1 is folded flat, ready for shipping, having V-shaped inwardly folded side walls and end walls, and main walls stacked on top of one another. The central lines which extend parallel to the main surfaces 2, 3 mark the actual fold line. The obliquely extending lines indicate that the V-fold in the corner region can only be carried out from one side as far as the edge while the fold from the other side is then to be adjusted by triangular backward folding.

However, as a whole, the packaging container 1 shown has no central seam as is usually present due to the manufacturing process in conventional side pleat or bottom pleat bags, which seam, however, then also causes unfavourable transitions when the main and side surfaces are joined to form a single seam for the rectangular block shape. Here, the film pieces that form the rectangular walls are interconnected by means of sealed seams which extend along all the longitudinal and transverse edges.

Although it is understood that the rectangular block shape can also be formed for example having a film piece which forms, as a single piece, the main and side walls 2, 3, 4 and which is then joined, only along a single longitudinal edge, e.g. the longitudinal edge 6, to form a tube shape in order to subsequently close the open tube ends with the end walls 5. The seams along the longitudinal edges that can be optionally dispensed with during manufacturing are also advantageous, however, in the more complex embodiment shown, in that the longitudinal edges are marked and stiffened and in that the rectangular block shape is more easily formed in this way.

The longitudinal edge 6 can be completely, or at least substantially, opened by a reclosure device 18, the sealed-in connection of which, between the main wall 3 and the side wall 4, thus replaces the sealed seam between the walls. The arrangement along a longitudinal edge, here longitudinal edge 6, has the general advantage that it allows a large opening, that the neighbouring walls can be moved away from one other across a large surface area during removal and that, during an emptying process through the removal opening, sliding surfaces are formed by the inner sides of the neighbouring walls.

Moreover, a handle 19 is arranged approximately centrally on the side wall 4, which allows handling of large-volume packaging containers in particular. The arrangement on the side wall 4 (instead of on one of the main walls) leads to a carrying position that does not protrude as much laterally. The handle 19 can be designed in a conventional manner, for example according to one of the embodiments disclosed in WO 2005 012 122, it being formed in the present arrangement on one of the fold lines at the centre so as to be not only flat but also foldable in the longitudinal direction. This design comprises a flat handle band 20 which can be gripped centrally from below and is sealed at the ends onto a carrier plate 21 which, in turn, is attached to a seal film 22 in order to transmit the load onto the thinner film of the side wall 4. However, the handle serves not only for transporting the (filled) packaging but also as a handling device during opening, as is illustrated in Fig. 2. The lateral surface 4 can be pulled open by means of the handle in order to reach the filling of the packaging which is accessible when the reclosure device 18 is open. In particular, however, in the case of packaging fillings that should not be contacted by hand, opening by means of the handle 19 and removal using a tool (spoon) 23 can be provided.

The reclosure device 18 in the present case is a “slider” closure as is conventional in film packaging, i.e. a pre-manufactured closure having two profile strips which, according to the length thereof, can be interlocked with each other, interlocking being additionally facilitated by a slider 18a. In a known manner, the profile strips are provided with connecting tabs of plastics material (not illustrated) by means of which said profile strips can be sealed into a film packaging item, as in this case, and which are also interconnected. Accordingly, the reclosure device is closed, independently of a possible sliding of the slider 18a, and secures the impermeability of the packaging container 1, even, for example, relative to loads on the packaging container in the filled state during transport.

As is conventional, the connection of the connecting tabs is to be torn or cut open so that a first opening of the packaging container can then also be identified. An alternative solution according to the invention for separating the reclosure strips or connecting tabs consists in forming the connection as a pull-open (“peelable”) strip so that a tool is not required here.

Owing to the particularly precise rectangular block shape, the packaging container 1 is advantageous with regard to the most extensive use of transport space, storage space, and presentation space. For example, said container can be set upright on a sales shelf in the position shown in Fig. 1, having the handle at the top and having a main surface (having the desired packaging design) that can be directly viewed and, for utilisation of the shelf depth, can also cover further packaging items of the same kind that are positioned in parallel therebehind.

For the exact rectangular block shape, a high degree of filling is advantageous, and at the same time, however, also ensures minimised packaging for a predetermined product quantity to be packaged. For filling, advantageous filling openings are to be provided that must be large enough for rapid machine-based filling and which have access to all corners of the packaging container.

In Fig. 3, a further packaging container 24 in the folded state is shown, which has a main wall 25 having a longitudinal edge 26 and a reclosure device 27 on said longitudinal edge. A fill opening 28 is formed at the top having a socket 29 and projecting past the actual main wall 25. The design of the packaging container 24 in the unfolded state is shown in Fig. 4, a side wall 30 and an end wall 31 having been unfolded adjacently to the main wall 25. The socket which projects upwardly past the actual main wall 25 and past the end wall 31 is formed by a projection of the film material of the main wall, on the one hand, and a projection of the film material of the end wall 31, on the other hand, both of which are sealed together along an extension of the longitudinal edges and thus provide a fill opening 28 which extends across the entire width of the main wall 25. In this way, comfortable and complete filling of the packaging container 24, for example with a flowable material, is easily possible, it also being possible to obliquely position the packaging container 24 to be filled, such that the end wall 31 also slopes obliquely away from the socket 29 and complete filling underneath it is possible during the filling process. After filling, the socket portion 29 can be cut off, for example by means of a separating sealed seam, the fill opening 28 then also being closed off.

Fig. 5 and 6 show a packaging container 32, which is slightly modified compared with the packaging container 24, in the folded form (Fig. 5) and unfolded form (Fig. 6) respectively, having a front-side main wall 33 and an end wall 34 as well as a fill opening 35 on a socket 36. Here, as in the packaging container 24, a reclosure device 37 is arranged on a longitudinal edge while the fill opening 35 is not, for example, provided directly at the reclosure device, as is frequently the case in conventional side pleat bags having a reclosure device, but instead at another surface or edge. While the fill opening 28 in the packaging container 24 is positioned in a transverse edge, the fill opening 35 together with the fill socket 36 is positioned in the centre of the end wall 34 in the embodiment of the packaging container 32 according to Fig. 5 and 6. Here, too, the fill socket is produced by projecting film material of the neighbouring wall, i.e. the end wall 34 here, the end wall consisting of two halves between which the projecting film converges and is then sealed at the edge. In particular in machine-based filling which does not provide oblique positioning of the packaging container, the central arrangement of the socket serves to improve filling of the upper corner regions.

Claims (14)

1. Packaging container (1, 24, 32, 38) for piecewise or pourable goods, which packaging container is of a foil material which can be sealed, at least on one side, which container has opposite rectangular head walls (2, 3, 25, 33, 40, 41), side walls (4) and end walls (5, 31, 34) adjacent to each other and alternating with longitudinal edges (6, 7, 8, 9) and transverse edges (10, 11, 12) , 13, 14, 15, 16) can be filled to a box shape and can be flattened flatly in the empty state with V-shaped folded side and end walls, and comprises a slit-shaped outlet opening provided with a reseal (18, 27, 37, 39), and a filling opening (28, 35) which, after filling, is sealed, characterized in that the main, side and end walls (2, 3, 4, 5) comprise surfaces which are placed in pairs above for each other, which surfaces are connected only along the rim at edges with sealing joints, and by the outlet opening extending along one of the longitudinal edges (6, 7, 8, 9). Packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the reclosing closure (18, 27, 37, 39) comprises two reclosing moldings which are closed via a connection which is irreversibly separated at the first opening. Packaging container according to claim 2, characterized in that the reclosing closure (18, 27, 37, 39) comprises two reclosing strips with profile strips for engaging one another. Packaging container according to claim 3, characterized in that the reclosing moldings are for connecting and separating by means of a longitudinally movable slider (18a). Packaging container according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the closure strips are provided with sealable closure tabs which, until opening, first intersect in one piece. Packaging container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filling opening (28, 35) extends along one of the longitudinal edges not connected to the outlet opening. Packaging container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filling opening (28, 35) is arranged in one of the transverse edges. Packaging container according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the filling opening (28, 35) is provided with a prominent filling strip (29, 36) of two film strips connected along the rim, which filling strip can be removed after filling the container and sealing the filling opening. Packaging container according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the foil strips (29) of the filling plug (29) is formed as projections on the adjacent main, side or end wall (25). Packaging container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is provided with at least one handle (19) which can be folded flat with the packaging container. Packaging container according to claim 10, characterized in that the handle (19) as a strip (20) formed of foil is fixed flat lying on one of the main, side or end walls. Packaging container according to one of Claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the handle (19) is arranged in an orientation parallel to the longitudinal edges (6, 7, 8, 9) at a distance to the reseal (18) on one of the main or side walls. (2, 3, 4). Packaging container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is formed of a hose-shaped foil element comprising the main and side walls (2, 4), which open end section of the foil element is closed with end walls (5) by means of edge joints. . Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the flat-shaped, superimposed head walls (2, 3) exhibit V-shaped inside folded side and end walls (4, 5), which under the corners of the head walls are folded over each other in such a way that the side or end wall of their choice extends V-shaped to the rim, while the adjacent side or end wall is triangular, overlapping fold back.