EP0770555A1 - Kartonverpackungssystem - Google Patents

Kartonverpackungssystem Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0770555A1
EP0770555A1 EP96307506A EP96307506A EP0770555A1 EP 0770555 A1 EP0770555 A1 EP 0770555A1 EP 96307506 A EP96307506 A EP 96307506A EP 96307506 A EP96307506 A EP 96307506A EP 0770555 A1 EP0770555 A1 EP 0770555A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carton
dispensing device
line
weakness
carton system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP96307506A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0770555B1 (de
Inventor
Rebecca Jane Hill
Brian Robert Law
John Edward Sheppard
David Iain Young
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP0770555A1 publication Critical patent/EP0770555A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0770555B1 publication Critical patent/EP0770555B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
    • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
    • B67B7/24—Hole-piercing devices
    • B67B7/26—Hole-piercing devices combined with spouts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
    • B65D5/74—Spouts
    • B65D5/746—Spouts formed separately from the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2231/00—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents
    • B65D2231/02—Precut holes or weakened zones

Definitions

  • cartons for packaging consumer products is widespread.
  • the products thus packaged include detergents, foods, and many others.
  • the cartons are typically formed from a blank of material folded to form a container and sealed to retain the product.
  • cartons tend to be difficult to open without spilling some of the product, a particular disadvantage where the nature of the product is such that contact with human skin should be avoided. Additionally, once opened, cartons typically fail to provide any means by which the product may be satisfactorily dispensed in a controlled manner, free from mess.
  • each carton used in the present invention requires only a line of weakness to be formed. Since the dispensing device may be transferred from one carton to another the additional unit cost, compared with a conventional carton, is minimal. Additionally, the line of weakness facilitates rupture of the carton, so avoiding the need to provide the dispensing device with a sharp and potentially dangerous formation, while enabling easy access by a user and providing a reliable pouring spout.
  • the product packaged in a system of the present invention may be in many forms including liquid, gel or granular solid.
  • the blank is typically formed of a laminated board.
  • the particular board composition is determined primarily by the nature of the product that the carton is intended to store.
  • the board may comprise an outer layer and an inner composite layer between which is disposed a board layer of cellulosic material.
  • the outer layer may be PE
  • the composite layer may be EVOH/PE.
  • Such a material may be suitable for use with a liquid detergent product.
  • Such a board material is conventional, so the blank may be formed by a step carried out by an existing machine for carton blank production, and a separate or integrated step in which the line of weakness is formed.
  • the line of weakness may be constituted by a line of reduced thickness of the material of the blank.
  • a line of weakness could be formed by mechanical stamping, scoring or etching.
  • the line of weakness is advantageously formed by laser etching, which offers greater control over the disposition, cross-section, and depth of line formed.
  • the line of weakness is formed to penetrate the outer layer and substantially or entirely through the board layer, but not so far as to penetrate through the composite layer.
  • the line of weakness may be a closed curve. More preferably, it includes at least one interruption at which the integrity of the board is preserved. Since rupture is resisted at such an interruption, once open, the material of the opening region will not become detached and fall into the carton.
  • composition of the blank within the opening region is typically substantially identical to the composition of the blank outside of the opening region.
  • the entire blank (including the opening region) can be formed from a unitary piece of material.
  • a carton system embodying the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to gable-top cartons, the opening region being formed, for example, in a sloping surface of the gable, or in a gable end.
  • the dispensing device has, by preference, an externally threaded portion shaped and dimensioned for engagement with the periphery of the opening region following rupture thereof.
  • the dispensing device may be threadingly engaged with the carton.
  • the thread serves to align and locate the dispensing device in position on the carton, and interengagement of the thread and the board of the carton may provide a primary seal between the device and the carton.
  • the thread is formed on a tapered core which increases in diameter away from the rupturing formation.
  • the thread may have one or more regions of increased depth remote from the rupturing formation. Such a region or regions may be continuous or may comprise a plurality of discrete regions.
  • the dispensing device carries a secondary sealing means for enhancing the fluid-resistant seal with an external surface of the carton.
  • This arrangement is especially advantageous in combination with the above-mentioned threading.
  • the secondary sealing means may be formed integrally with the body of the dispensing device.
  • the dispensing device carries a closure by means of which the flow passage may be selectively closed, so allowing the carton to be effectively resealed after opening.
  • the body may be tubular, the flow passage typically being coaxial with the body.
  • the dispensing device may have an inner portion which, in use, penetrates within the carton and an outer portion which, in use, projects from the carton.
  • a shroud may surround the outer portion.
  • a flexible plastics sealing element may be disposed in contact with or integral with the shroud, this being advantageous in that the sealing element can be compressed between the shoulder and the material of the carton. Such compression can be readily achieved if the inner portion is provided with an external thread extending at least partially along its length.
  • a carton system embodying the invention may further incorporate retaining means for retaining the dispensing means with the carton prior to use.
  • the retaining means may comprises an overcap for mounting on the carton within which the dispensing device may be stored, and optionally positively held, prior to use.
  • the overcap may have indicia for measuring a quantity of liquid dispensed from the carton, and may have a spout for pouring product.
  • a carton system embodying the invention comprises a gable-top carton 10, a dispensing device 12 and an overcap 14.
  • the carton 10 is of a general design, well known for use in packaging liquid products, liquid fabric detergent compositions being one example of many such products.
  • the carton 10 is formed from an initially flat blank, as shown in Figure 5.
  • the blank is formed of a laminated board which is folded and secured by heat sealing to form the carton, in a substantially conventional manner.
  • the board has an outer layer of PE and an inner composite layer of EVOH/PE.
  • the invention is applicable to a system in which the carton is formed from a wide range of other materials.
  • an opening region 20 is formed in a diagonally upwardly directed face 22 of the carton 10.
  • the opening region 20 is defined by a generally circular line of weakness 24 formed in the blank by laser etching. There is a small interruption in the line of weakness shown at 26. This is disposed to be uppermost when the carton 10 is standing in its normal upright orientation.
  • the line of weakness 24 constitutes a line at which the thickness of the material of the blank is reduced by a controlled amount. This must be sufficient to weaken the material to allow the opening region to be ruptured when required by a user, but must retain sufficient strength to ensure that rupture will not occur accidentally during transit or storage. In the present embodiment, this can be achieved by etching through the outer layer, and substantially or entirely through the board, but without weakening the composite layer.
  • the dispensing device comprises an integral body of plastics material having a flow passage through it.
  • the body has a carton piercing portion 30 formed as a cylindrical tube coaxial with an axis A of the body.
  • An open end of the tube constitutes an inlet for the flow passage.
  • the open end is formed with a face which is offset by approximately 30° to the axis so as to form a rounded cusp at 34.
  • the carton piercing portion 30 projects from an intermediate part 32 of the body which has an external thread 36.
  • the diameter of the intermediate part 32 and the thread increases from the piercing portion 30, and its pitch decreases from the piercing portion 30.
  • the variation along the thread 36 facilitates alignment of the dispensing device 12 upon the carton 10, and enhances the seal formed between the thread 36 and the material of the carton.
  • radial apertures 38 extend through the intermediate part to communicate with the flow passage, these permitting product to be dispensed from the carton when only a small amount of product remains at insufficient depth to enter at the open end.
  • the body extends from the intermediate part 32 generally as a smooth cylinder, as shown at 40 to terminate at an outlet of the flow passage.
  • An outer end portion of the cylinder has reduced wall thickness and onto this is mounted a closure assembly comprising a skirt 42 secured to the body and a cap 44, secured to the skirt, for hinging movement between a closed position in which it seals the flow passage and an open position in which it allows a free flow of product therethrough, this latter condition being shown in Figure 2.
  • the skirt 42 is secured to the body such that it can be rotated about it. This permits the cap 44 to me moved to a convenient orientation whereby it does not impede flow of product from the carton 10, irrespective of the rotational orientation of the body.
  • a shroud 50 is carried on the body.
  • the shroud 50 is a thin-walled body of rotation and is disposed coaxially with the body.
  • the shroud has an upper circular opening at 52 which surround the body at its cylindrical section 40. From there, the shroud 50 curves outwardly to a cylindrical portion which surrounds the body and extends to the intermediate part 32 to be disposed radially outwardly of an upper part of the external thread 36.
  • a secondary sealing element 54 of resilient plastics materials is carried on the body immediately adjacent the shroud 50. This may be formed integrally with the shroud 50 or, as in the present embodiment, may be a separate component.
  • the secondary sealing element 54 has an annular web region 56 which extends between the body and the shroud 50 to form a seal therebetween, an end portion of the shroud 50 being received within a retaining groove 58 of the secondary sealing element 54.
  • the secondary sealing element 54 Outwardly of the shroud 50, the secondary sealing element 54 has a sealing lip 60 which extends radially and axially away from the shroud 50.
  • a complete product package embodying the invention includes and overcap 14 mounted on the carton 10 and in which the dispensing device 12 is contained.
  • the overcap 14 mounted on the carton 10 and in which the dispensing device 12 is contained.
  • the overcap 14 there is substantially no limitation to the shape or configuration of the overcap 14, other than it must be sufficiently large to contain the dispensing device 12 and must meet the dimensional and aesthetic requirements for a package appropriate to the product.
  • the overcap 14 is made of a transparent or translucent material in order that the dispensing device 12 is visible through it.
  • the overcap 14 can serve a dual purpose. It is provided with gradations, shown at 70, in order that it can be used as a measuring container for obtaining a required dose of the product, in an orientation as shown in Figure 6. Additionally, it has a pouring spout 72 to facilitate pouring of liquid from it.
  • the overcap 14 has side walls 74 each of which, when mounted on the carton 10, lies adjacent a respective gable end of the carton 10. Within each side wall 74 there is formed a depressed zone 76, which projects into the gable end so as to retain the overcap 14 in position on the carton 10.
  • a product package embodying the invention will typically be sold in a form substantially that shown in Figure 1.
  • the overcap 14 is first removed.
  • the cusp 34 is then urged against the opening region 20 to cause rupture around the line of weakness 24.
  • the dispensing device 12 is then pushed towards the carton, whereupon the thread 36 of the intermediate portion 32 engages with and seals against the periphery of the carton material where it has ruptured.
  • Rotation of the dispensing device then causes it to be drawn towards the carton until the sealing lip 60 of the secondary sealing element 54 comes into contact with it. Rupture does not take place at the interruption 26 of the line of weakness 24 so the material of the opening region 20 remains attached to the surrounding carton at this point.
  • the cap 44 In order to dispense a quantity of the product from the carton 10, the cap 44 is moved to its open condition, as shown in Figure 2. A quantity of the product can then be poured from the carton, passing through the flow passage of the dispensing device 12.
  • the cusp 34 is not sharp. Its function is not to cut the material of the carton 10, but simply to concentrate applied force to the line of weakness 24. In practice, the cusp may be omitted, the end face of the tube being transverse to the axis.
  • an alternative dispensing device suitable for use with a carton such as that of Figure 5 comprises a body of plastics material with a flow passage running axially through it.
  • the body comprises a one-piece, hollow, generally cylindrical outer part 100, on a free end of which is carries a re-closable cap 102.
  • the hollow interior of the outer part defines a part of a flow passage which can be selectively sealed or opened by means of the cap 102.
  • the body has walls formed from a single thickness of plastic material.
  • the body has a tapered threaded portion 104 extending from the cylindrical outer part 100.
  • the taper is at an angle of approximately 15° and the thread 108 has a pitch of approximately 3mm.
  • An end surface of the tapered threaded part 104 remote from the flange portion 120 is cut at an angle approximately 15° from a right angle with respect to the axis of the body such one side of the body projects beyond the other, to form a cusp at 106.
  • a plurality of slots 110,112 are formed which extend radially through the material of the body. There are two groups of slots 110,112. A first group 112 extend such that each has a centre line which lies in alignment with the cusp 106. The second group 110 is circumferentially opposite. Each of the slots 110,112 extends through the material of the body between adjacent turns of the thread 108, as shown in Figure 9.
  • the thread 108 has portions 114 of increased depth on its turns closest to the flange portion 120. These are generally in alignment with the groups of slots 110, 112. When viewed from the end face, these portions 114 present readily extending curved "wing" porions of the thread.
  • the cusp 106 is urged against the line of weakness in the carton 22, sufficiently firmly to cause the carton to rupture along the line of weakness.
  • the body can then be screwed into the hole thus formed in the carton.
  • the present embodiment may, in some circumstances, be less likely to tear the material of the carton due to the lesser angle of the taper of the thread. Furthermore, the projections 108 of the thread aid retention of the body on the carton, without disadvantages which could arise through increasing the thread depth along its entire length. Also, in this embodiment, a primary seal is formed between the thread and the aperture in the carton, with a separate external sealing member being rendered unnecessary.
  • the line of weakness may define an opening region which is other than circular.
  • more than one interruption may be provided, it being believed that both of these variations can be employed to control the speed of rupture of the line of weakness, and the strength of the opening region prior to rupture.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
EP19960307506 1995-10-24 1996-10-16 Kartonverpackungssystem Expired - Lifetime EP0770555B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9521799.8A GB9521799D0 (en) 1995-10-24 1995-10-24 Carton system for a liquid product
GB9521799 1995-10-24

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0770555A1 true EP0770555A1 (de) 1997-05-02
EP0770555B1 EP0770555B1 (de) 2001-12-19

Family

ID=10782850

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19960307506 Expired - Lifetime EP0770555B1 (de) 1995-10-24 1996-10-16 Kartonverpackungssystem

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0770555B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69618143T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2168445T3 (de)
GB (1) GB9521799D0 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0947433A1 (de) * 1998-04-03 1999-10-06 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA Öffnungseinrichtung für Behälter mit fleissfähigem Lebensmittel
EP1970322A1 (de) * 2005-12-07 2008-09-17 Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd. Extraktionswerkzeug
WO2009019564A2 (en) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-12 Isabella Franzoni A device for removing liquid foodstuff substances from a container

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1173866A (en) 1967-08-14 1969-12-10 Alwin Weber Improvements in Pouring Spouts Applicable to Thin-Walled Containers
US3768698A (en) * 1971-09-20 1973-10-30 Cor Sen Plastic Ltd Pour spout
AU4053278A (en) * 1977-10-07 1980-04-17 Nanev N V Pak
US4429828A (en) * 1980-10-04 1984-02-07 Plk Papier- Und Kunstoff Werke Linnich Gmbh Beverage package
US4537809A (en) * 1979-04-09 1985-08-27 Avery International Corporation Van label having non-linear discontinuous score lines in the backing
US4646961A (en) * 1985-11-21 1987-03-03 Hy Wald Reusable closure device for cartons for gable tops
US4712714A (en) * 1986-05-21 1987-12-15 Domenick Mucciarone Sealing spout for paper cartons
GB2210359A (en) 1987-09-24 1989-06-07 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Carton equipped with liquid pouring-out device
US4881662A (en) * 1988-05-27 1989-11-21 Tallman Gary C Dispensing spout
EP0385603A1 (de) * 1989-02-13 1990-09-05 Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. Papierbehälter mit Öffnungsstöpsel
WO1992000883A1 (en) 1990-07-05 1992-01-23 Jung Min Lee Carton pack attached with built-in plug
US5090596A (en) 1991-09-09 1992-02-25 Knight Robert W Plastic perforative spout device
EP0543119A1 (de) 1991-09-30 1993-05-26 Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. Flüssigkeitsbehälter mit Ausguss
WO1995007680A1 (en) * 1993-09-17 1995-03-23 Baby Pack Holding Aps A teat unit and a disposable package as well as a method of making the teat unit

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1173866A (en) 1967-08-14 1969-12-10 Alwin Weber Improvements in Pouring Spouts Applicable to Thin-Walled Containers
US3768698A (en) * 1971-09-20 1973-10-30 Cor Sen Plastic Ltd Pour spout
AU4053278A (en) * 1977-10-07 1980-04-17 Nanev N V Pak
US4537809A (en) * 1979-04-09 1985-08-27 Avery International Corporation Van label having non-linear discontinuous score lines in the backing
US4429828A (en) * 1980-10-04 1984-02-07 Plk Papier- Und Kunstoff Werke Linnich Gmbh Beverage package
US4646961A (en) * 1985-11-21 1987-03-03 Hy Wald Reusable closure device for cartons for gable tops
US4712714A (en) * 1986-05-21 1987-12-15 Domenick Mucciarone Sealing spout for paper cartons
GB2210359A (en) 1987-09-24 1989-06-07 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Carton equipped with liquid pouring-out device
US4881662A (en) * 1988-05-27 1989-11-21 Tallman Gary C Dispensing spout
EP0385603A1 (de) * 1989-02-13 1990-09-05 Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. Papierbehälter mit Öffnungsstöpsel
WO1992000883A1 (en) 1990-07-05 1992-01-23 Jung Min Lee Carton pack attached with built-in plug
US5090596A (en) 1991-09-09 1992-02-25 Knight Robert W Plastic perforative spout device
EP0543119A1 (de) 1991-09-30 1993-05-26 Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. Flüssigkeitsbehälter mit Ausguss
WO1995007680A1 (en) * 1993-09-17 1995-03-23 Baby Pack Holding Aps A teat unit and a disposable package as well as a method of making the teat unit

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0947433A1 (de) * 1998-04-03 1999-10-06 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA Öffnungseinrichtung für Behälter mit fleissfähigem Lebensmittel
WO1999051502A1 (en) * 1998-04-03 1999-10-14 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Device for opening packages of pourable food products
US6364164B1 (en) 1998-04-03 2002-04-02 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Device for opening packages of pourable food products
EP1970322A1 (de) * 2005-12-07 2008-09-17 Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd. Extraktionswerkzeug
EP1970322A4 (de) * 2005-12-07 2013-11-27 Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd Extraktionswerkzeug
WO2009019564A2 (en) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-12 Isabella Franzoni A device for removing liquid foodstuff substances from a container
WO2009019564A3 (en) * 2007-08-07 2009-04-02 Isabella Franzoni A device for removing liquid foodstuff substances from a container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0770555B1 (de) 2001-12-19
ES2168445T3 (es) 2002-06-16
DE69618143D1 (de) 2002-01-31
GB9521799D0 (en) 1996-01-03
DE69618143T2 (de) 2002-06-20

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