EP0921985B1 - Method of producing a filled container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a filled, closed, sterilized, from at least one Fuselage body and at least one closure part existing Container that can be opened without the use of tools can.

Containers in general and packaging in particular (although in used in a broad sense the term "container" will be) without the use of tools such as e.g. knives, can openers etc., can be opened, i.e. so-called easy-open systems, have been in recent years the significant simplification of handling by the Consumers are becoming increasingly important.

For example, especially with can-like packaging in food or so-called animal feed sector on a large scale Ring pull cover inserted. Here, however, there are many Cases, especially when using metal as Base material, the risk of sharp edges after opening the can.

A particular problem arises with container or packaging contents, after filling and closing the container, for example a can, made durable by sterilization have to be, because in this case at the elevated temperatures the internal pressure in the container resulting from the sterilization must be kept by this, the connection between Lid and body in the case of an easy-open system can naturally represent a special weak point.

From the U.S. 3,883,033 is one without tools along lines of weakness in the container wall opening can disclosed.

In the patent CH 544696 is a method for sterilization and for the production of Negative pressure in airtight closed containers containing a product, according to the generic term of claim 1.

The invention is therefore based on the object of the generic type To further develop methods in that the Disadvantages of the prior art can be avoided and without the risk of unintentional destruction of the filled Container during the sterilization process an easy-open system is made available.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with a generic Process solved in that after filling with the intended Container contents, sterilization-proof closure and Sterilization of the container at temperatures leading to preservation of the container contents are sufficient, a weakening the connection between predetermined or through this process step defined container parts in the manner that a separation of these container parts without the help of Tool can be done.

In one embodiment it is provided that a weakening or cutting through the container wall.

Alternatively, it can be provided that a weakening or The basic material of the container wall is cut.

It can further be provided that weakening or severing the container wall in an area where empty Condition after the basic material has been separated the container wall, the container by means of a Basic material of the container wall of different materials again has been put together.

It is preferred that it is the base material of the Container different material is an adhesive material.

It is further preferred that weakening or severing in the area of the trunk.

In an alternative, the weakening or severing takes place of the fuselage body in an area adjacent to the closure part.

It is preferred that the body of the container in the area the weakening or severing of the container wall on its inside with a substantially complete one sealing material encircling the circumference of the fuselage body is deposited.

It can be provided that the Fuselage body in the area of the deposit with sealing material with at least two, essentially horizontal Beads is provided.

It is preferred that the weakening or severing of the Body between two beads.

In an even more preferred embodiment, the weakening takes place or severing the trunk body on one of the sikken.

In an alternative embodiment, at least three beads are provided and the weakening or The fuselage body is severed on the central bead.

It is preferably provided that the deposited sealing Material down to the intermediate area between the Fuselage body and the closure part extends into it.

It can also be provided that a weakening or Cut in the area of the closure part.

In a further embodiment, the weakening is provided or severing the closure part in the area of a Folding of the closure part takes place.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention The procedure envisages that in the area of weakening or cutting the closure part on the outside the fold of the closure part or the outside of the closure part a substantially complete around the scope of the Fold the closure part or around the circumference of the closure part circumferential sealing material is attached.

It can be provided that a sealing material suitable plastic is used.

The invention proposes that the edge region of the closure part with the outside of the outer surface of the trunk body of the Container is not releasably connected.

The invention proposes that both in the trunk body and an interlocking thread in the closure part for opening of the container is provided.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention the interlocking thread above the weakening or Cut line arranged.

Furthermore, the invention proposes that the interlocking Thread below the weakening or severing line is arranged.

It is preferably provided that the weakening or Cutting the container wall by mechanical cutting he follows.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the weakening or The container wall is cut using laser technology.

In one embodiment it can be provided that after the Weakening or severing the container wall a corrosion surface treatment the cut surface is made.

It can be provided that the weakening or severing the container wall on a substantially horizontal circumferential line.

It is also preferably provided that the weakening or Cutting through the container wall on a wave-like circumferential Line is done.

The invention proposes that the connection is weakened between the fuselage body and the closure part.

Alternatively, the invention proposes that one essentially fully circumferential deformation in the area of the fold, the trunk body and locking part connects, takes place.

In one embodiment it is provided that the deformation such that the angle of the plane in which the radially at farthest outer contact surfaces of the fuselage body and Closure part run, is changed so that a separation between the fuselage body and the closure part without the aid of Tool is made possible.

In one embodiment, the plane in which the radial runs outermost fuselage body contact surfaces and the closure part run essentially after the deformation parallel to the wall of the fuselage body.

In an alternative embodiment, is on the inside of the fuselage body and / or on the inside of the closure part at least in the area in the fuselage body or closure part when the container is in contact with each other stand, one under pressure and possibly heat at least partially deformable coating provided.

It is provided that as a material for the coating a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer is used.

It is also preferably provided that the filled container before closing the same with the closure part with a Foil made of heat-sealable lacquered aluminum, plastic or a corresponding composite material is sealed.

With the method according to the invention, it is possible in a surprisingly simple manner to provide an easy-open system for containers, especially can-like packaging, and in particular cans made of metal or the like, without requiring special precautionary measures for the sterilization process, since the Measures for providing the easy-open system are carried out according to the invention only after the sterilization process. In this way, tried and tested methods for filling the fuselage body with the intended container contents, for the sterilization-proof closure of the filled fuselage body with a closure part and for sterilizing the container at temperatures sufficient to preserve the container contents can be used, so that no time-consuming retrofitting is required existing production equipment is required for these process steps.

In the context of this application, the term "closure part" any type of container closure is meant to be dependent on the shape of the container and the type of filling and the Closure of the container. In the case of a can, the closure part therefore, for example, the lid body or the base part be, for the sake of illustration largely on the lid body is referred to.

This can weaken or sever the container in an alternative a weakening or severing of the Base material of the container wall, for example the Metal from which the can is made. In a second Alternatively, the base material, for example, the trunk body of the Metal box, fully rotating in an upstream step be severed, whereupon the two parts of the container by means of a material different from the base material, such as or a sterilization-resistant adhesive material become. In this way an area can be created in which the intended weakening or severing the container wall as a final step after sterilization the sealed can be carried out more easily can as the base material of the container wall itself.

In the event that the weakening or severing the trunk body concerns, it is to ensure the success of the The inventive method is only required in the intended area of the inner wall of the fuselage body a sealing material, for example a strip of the corresponding Plastic material to be applied after the final Weakening or severing of the trunk body in it Area continues for a secure sterile closure of the container.

In the event that the weakening or severing the lid body such a deposit is required of the fuselage body with a sealing material, if the said weakening in the area of the fold of the lid body takes place and more precisely affects only the part of the fold, which is provided by the lid body. The security the sterile seal of the packaging is in this Fall through that usually between that through the trunk body on the one hand and the cover body on the other provided sealing component ensures the sealant introduced, even after the weakening according to the invention or severing in the area of the fold of the lid body still remains functional and for a safe sterile Closure provides. Alternatively, here too in the area of Weakening or severing a sealing material, e.g. a strip of appropriate plastic material for covering attached to the line of weakness or severing become.

The above also applies to the case that the lid body placed or fastened across the trunk body is so that the inside of the lid body with the outside of the fuselage part is at least partially in contact and the edge area of the lid body with said outside is not detachable, for example by soldering.

The weakening or severing of the container wall can be done in any way, in particular to a circumferential mechanical cutting or the Application of laser technology is intended. To prevent corrosion in the Avoiding the cutting area is preferably provided Area of final surface corrosion treatment to undergo.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a at least partially deformable coating from, for example a copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene based on the inside of the fuselage body and / or the lid body of the Container is provided when closing the container with the lid body compressed and under this pressure and if necessary deformed additional heat and thus forms another sealing closure of the interior of the container. This is particularly so advantageous when sterilizing the filled and closed Can, as further security against the fact that the Sterilization by the pressure inside the can the can is leaking. In this case, it is definitely possible to weaken or sever the base material set deeper so that opening the can is simplified becomes.

In addition, the one provided in this embodiment Internal coating has the advantage that - if the lid body after opening the can and partially emptying it again should be - a closer seal is possible.

Similar advantages result in a further embodiment, i.e. before sealing the container with a film Close with the lid body. In this way, the actual hermetic closure of the container already through the film, while the lid body only the counter pressure prepare for the internal pressure that occurs during sterilization got to. Even in this case, it is possible to weaken or cutting through the container wall, if necessary, to make it easier to open the container later enable.

For the position of the weakening or severing of the container wall are just like for the lines of the severing or weakening as well as for that in a number of embodiments required arrangement of the deposited sealing Various variants of materials inside the can possible in a non-limiting selection in the following Examples shown with the accompanying drawings are.

In a further alternative of the method according to the invention, a weakening of the connection between the fuselage body and the closure part, such as the cover part, is provided. This weakening preferably takes place in that essentially fully circumferential deformation takes place in the region of the fold which connects the body of the body and the closure part. This deformation must be carried out in such a way that there is still a sufficiently firm closure between the body of the body and the closure part, which, however, no longer has to have the strength to withstand the internal pressures during sterilization, since the corresponding process step according to the invention is only provided after sterilization.

In this way it is possible to see deformations in the fold area make that allow the closure part and body part without the use of tools to open the container from each other to disconnect without weakening the connection there is a risk of accidental opening during Storage and transport is to be feared.

Fig. 1-8

Teilquerschnittsansichten der für die vorliegende Erfindung maßgebenden Bereiche verschiedener Ausführungsformen der erfindungsgemäß hergestellten dosenartigen Verpackungen;

Fig. 9

eine schematische Gesamtansicht der in Fig. 5 dargestellten Teilquerschnittsansicht der dosenartigen Verpackung;

Fig. 10

eine schematische Gesamtansicht der in Fig. 7 dargestellten Teilquerschnittsansicht der dosenartigen Verpackung;

Fig. 11

eine schematische Gesamtdarstellung der in Fig. 8 dargestellten Teilquerschnittsansicht der dosenartigen Verpackung;

Fig. 12

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 13

eine weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsform der Erfindung; und

Fig. 14

den Falzbereich einer Dose vor dem erfindungsgemäßen Verformungsschritt und zwei Alternativen für eine Verformung im Falzbereich.

The drawings show:

Fig. 1-8

Partial cross-sectional views of the areas relevant to the present invention of various embodiments of the can-like packaging produced according to the invention;

Fig. 9

a schematic overall view of the partial cross-sectional view of the can-like packaging shown in FIG. 5;

Fig. 10

a schematic overall view of the partial cross-sectional view of the can-like packaging shown in FIG. 7;

Fig. 11

an overall schematic representation of the partial cross-sectional view of the can-like packaging shown in FIG. 8;

Fig. 12

a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13

another preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 14

the fold area of a can before the deformation step according to the invention and two alternatives for deformation in the fold area.

In all figures the can body is 10 and the one on it crimped lid designated 20.

In a first embodiment (Fig. 1) is in the upper area the can body 10 just below the lid 20, the inner wall of the can body with a circumferential strip 30 sealing material, preferably made of plastic. At 11 there is a weakening or severing of the can body shown. The weakening at this point must be sufficient be that with mutual rotation of the upper section 10 'of the can body together with the lid 20 against the lower part 10 "of the can body this over the Detach the entire circumference of the can. Regarding the deposited plastic strip 30 can with this shear movement either tearing open in the area of weakening or Cutting line of the can body especially if at a complete cut through the plastic strips has already been "scratched", or a detachment from the Boundary layer 30 'between the can body 10 and the plastic strip 30 done.

If detachment occurs at interface 30 ', it should preferably in the area below the weakening or Cut line, because in this case a reclosability the opened cans is simplified. To This purpose could be thought of inside the can deposited plastic strips in the upper area more fix as in the lower area.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 2, in which the deposit with the plastic strip 30 in the area of two essentially horizontally extending beads 16 and 17 is done. The weakening or In this embodiment, the can body is severed at a point 12 between the two beads. To this In particular, the guidance of the cutting tool can Attach the weakening or severing line easily adjusted or guided.

3 are a total of three in horizontal beads running at substantially the same distance 16, 17, 18 provided with a plastic strip 30, the weakening or severing of the base body on the middle bead 17. Because in this area deposited plastic material has its greatest thickness, there is a particularly high degree of certainty that if severed the base body does not include the deposited plastic material severed or damaged too much to another To ensure secure closure of the can in this area.

In this embodiment in particular, it would be advantageous if at the shear movement to open the cans a detachment the boundary layer 30 'between the can body 10 and the Plastic material 30 in the lower area, i.e. below the Line of weakness or severing would take place because in in this case by the design of the deposited plastic material and the bead arrangement is particularly light and secure reclosing by simply introducing above and snap the plastic lip into the bead would.

In the variant of Fig. 4 is also the plastic material 30 as far up on the inside of the can or the Cover 20 pulled down so far that the plastic material what protrudes into the area between the can body and the lid a particularly firm connection of the plastic material in the Guaranteed upper area 10 'of the can body and thus greater certainty that separation at the boundary layer 30 'below the weakening or severing line.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, at 11 Weakening or severing of the can body below the Beading 16, 17 and plastic material 30 is on the inside of the can body 10 arranged.

In a further embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, a fold is formed, both the edge area of lid 20 as well as of can body 10 involved is. Sealing material is located between the two components 15. The weakening or severing of the invention Container, in this case the can, takes place in the area of the fold at 11, the weakening or severing the component of the fold supplied by cover 20 relates. Not least due to the presence of sealing material 15 it is ensured that after the weakening or Cutting through the base material of the can lid in the rebate area the can is still tightly closed.

In this embodiment, too, the location 11 of the Weakening or severing the can body with a rotating one Plastic material 30 are covered.

In a further embodiment (Fig. 7), which with respect the location of the weakening or severing of the base material 6 may be similar be provided that cover 20 and can body 10 with a Interlock thread 40. In this case the Weakening or severing of the can body above the highest point of the thread.

In another embodiment shown in FIG Cover 20 is pushed over the upper region 10 'of the can body and closes it, the seat of the lid on the Can body is secured by thread 40. In the contact area between the upper area 20 'of the lid and the upper one Area 10 'of the can body contains sealing material 15 and ensures the sterilization-proof closure of the can.

The lower area 20 '' of the lid, especially its edge area, is soldered to the socket body 10 and is therefore not detachable connected. The point 11 of weakening or severing the can-like packaging is in the present case in lower area 20 '' of the cover. Similar to that in Fig. 7 embodiment shown is plastic material 30 so far not required for the sealing material 15 to seal Closure after applying the weakening according to the invention or cutting through the base material of the can-like packaging guaranteed.

9 shows an overall schematic view of the embodiment 5, with instead of one - as previously described - essentially horizontal circumferential weakening or cut line a wavy line provided so that over certain areas of the can circumference a slope and thus a corresponding stroke when opening the can is created, which means the effort required to open the Can can be reduced.

10 shows an overall schematic view of the embodiment 7 consisting of can body 10 and lid 20, with cover 20 and can body 10 with a thread 40 mesh. With such a conception, this provides Thread for the reliable reclosability of the can-like packaging required closing force, whereas the far greater mechanical stress as it during of the sterilization process occurs, picked up by the fold after sterilization without the Negatively affect the functionality of the packaging, can be weakened or severed according to the invention. to Minimization of the effort when opening such The can can preferably have a gripping bead in the central region of the lid 20 25 may be provided, as indicated in the drawing.

11 shows a schematic overall view of FIG 8 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a can-like one Packaging, here also the packaging from the can body 10 and cover 20 there. Similar to that shown in FIG. 7 The concept is also thread in this embodiment 40 responsible for absorbing the locking force. The Inclusion of those occurring during the sterilization process In the present case, force is given by the lower area 20 '' of the lid soldered to the can body 10 edge area guaranteed. In the embodiment presented here lends itself to the can body provided with lid 20 10, which is not yet closed at the bottom, by the Bottom opening of can body 10 to fill and after completion of filling the can body with a bottom conventional way to close. Only after that Packaging and its contents have been sterilized, is according to the invention a weakening or severing of the base material of the Cover 20 brought about, said point of weakening or cutting below the lowest point of Thread 40 is.

In Fig. 12 is the upper edge area of a container, for example a can.

In this particular embodiment, the rest of those of Fig. 6 is both on the inside of the Lid body 20 as well as on the inside of the fuselage body 10 applied coating 50. This coating, which preferably made of a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer exists when the trunk body is closed by the Lid body compressed and under this pressure and possibly additional heat deformed, which is what is indicated in the drawing Bead 52 leads so that there is a better seal in this area results in addition to the outer seal the weakening or severing and the between Lid body and fuselage body introduced in the rebate area Sealing material 15 a further security for the tight closure the can yields.

13 of the drawing shows a further embodiment, in which the fuselage body 10 with a (sealable) Foil 70 made of, for example, a composite material made of aluminum and plastic is closed before the further closure done with the lid body. The closure with the sealable film is done by sealing in the edge area of the Fuselage body 10, for example, by sealing on the inside of the fuselage body in the specified area A.

14 shows two different possibilities of deformation in the fold area 80 of a sterilization-proof sealed can. The illustration on the left shows the typical fold closure a can that is suitable for sterilization to withstand occurring internal pressures, on the other hand What is certain is that this closure can be opened without assistance of tools is not possible.

By applying a deformation tool in the upper area of the fold area 80 is, according to the invention, after sterilization made a deformation in this fold area 80, such as them in two alternatives in the middle and right representation 14. This essentially takes place pressing the upper area of the fold area 80 inward, whereby essentially the flanging 81 at the top of the Can body 10 deformed, i.e. pressed more or less flat becomes. This will engage between the flare 81 of the can body 10 and the flanging 82 of the lid 20 weakened to such an extent that without the use of tools, i.e. by simply unscrewing and opening the can can. At the same time, the weakening of the connection between can body 10 and lid 20 not so extensive that accidental opening of the can during storage and transport is to be feared.

Of course, there are also other (not shown) Possibility of deformation in the fold area of the can that serve the same purpose. For example, Thought about that be that the engagement between the flanging of the can body and the lid for the sterilization step at an angle is inclined outwards, i.e. the flanging of the can body that of the lid extends radially outwards, and in subsequent deformation step is a correspondingly sufficient Weakening can already be achieved in that the arrangement of the flanges is erected, i.e. the Flanging the can body essentially directly over the Flanging the lid is arranged. In this case the respective flanges are of course made flatter 14 than in the left illustration of FIG Condition easy opening of the can without the help of tools to allow.

Claims (33)

1. Method of producing a filled, closed and sterilized container which comprises at least one body part (10) and at least one closure part (20) and can be opened without the aid of tools, characterized in that, following filling with the envisaged container contents, closure in such a way as to be resistant to sterilizing temperatures, and sterilization of the container at temperatures which are sufficient for preserving the container contents, weakening (11; 12) of the connection between predetermined container parts, or container parts which are defined by this method step, takes place such that said container parts can be separated without the aid of tools.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that weakening or severing (11; 12) of the container wall takes place.
3. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that weakening or severing (11; 12) of the basic material of the container wall takes place.
4. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that weakening or severing (11; 12) of the container wall takes place in a region in which in the empty state, following initial severing of the basic material of the container wall, the container has been joined together again by means of a material which differs from the basic material of the container wall.
5. Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that an adhesive material is used as material which differs from the basic material of the container wall.
6. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that weakening or severing (11; 12) takes place in the region of the body part (10).
7. Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that weakening or severing (11; 12) of the body part (10) takes place in a region adjacent to the closure part (20).
8. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that, in the region of the weakening or severing (11; 12) of the container wall, the body part (10) of the container is backed on its inside with a sealing material (30) which runs essentially all the way around the circumference of the body part (10).
9. Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that, in the region of the backing with sealing material (30), the body part (10) is provided with at least two essentially horizontally running beads (16, 17).
10. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that the weakening or severing (12) of the body part (10) takes place between two beads (16, 17).
11. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that the weakening or severing of the body part (10) takes place on one of the beads (17).
12. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that at least three beads (16, 17, 18) are provided, and the weakening or severing of the body part (10) takes place on the central bead (17).
13. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the backing sealing material (30) extends into the intermediate region between the body part (10) and the closure part (20).
14. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that weakening or severing (11) takes place in the region of the closure part (20).
15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that the weakening or severing (11) of the closure part (20) takes place in the region of a folding rim of the closure part.
16. Method according to Claim 14 or 15,
    characterized in that provided in the region of the weakening or severing (11) of the closure part (20), on the outside of the folding rim of the closure part or the outside of the closure part, is a sealing material (30) which runs essentially all the way around the circumference of the folding rim of the closure part or around the circumference of the closure part.
17. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 13 and 16, characterized in that the sealing material used is a suitable plastic.
18. Method according to one of Claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the border region of the closure part (20) is connected non-releasably to the outside of the lateral surface of the body part (10) of the container.
19. Method according to one of Claims 14 to 18, characterized in that provided both in the body part (10) and in the closure part (20) is an interengaging thread (40) for opening the container.
20. Method according to Claim 19, characterized in that the interengaging thread (40) is arranged above the weakening or severing line (11).
21. Method according to Claim 19, characterized in that the interengaging thread (40) is arranged beneath the weakening or severing line (11).
22. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 2 to 21, characterized in that the weakening or severing of the container wall takes place by mechanical cutting.
23. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 21, characterized in that the weakening or severing of the container wall takes place by means of laser technology.
24. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 23, characterized in that, following the weakening or severing of the container wall, the cut surface is subjected to a corrosion surface treatment.
25. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 24, characterized in that the weakening or severing of the container wall takes place on an essentially horizontally encircling line (11; 12).
26. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 24, characterized in that the weakening or severing of the container wall takes place on a line (11; 12) which runs around in wave form.
27. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that there is weakening of the connection between the body part (10) and closure part (20).
28. Method according to Claim 27, characterized in that there is an essentially fully encircling deformation in the region of the folding rim (80) which connects the body part (10) and closure part (20).
29. Method according to Claim 28, characterized in that the deformation takes place such that the angle of the plane which contains the contact surfaces of the body part (10) and closure part (20) which are located furthest outward in the radial direction is changed so as to allow the body part and closure part to be separated without the aid of tools.
30. Method according to Claim 29, characterized in that the plane which contains the contact surfaces of the body part (10) and closure part (20) which are located furthest outward in the radial direction, following the deformation, runs essentially parallel to the wall of the body part.
31. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a coating (50) which can be at least partially deformed under pressure and, if appropriate, heat is provided on the inside of the body part (10) and/or on the inside of the closure part (20), at least in the region in which the body part and closure part are in contact with one another when the container is closed.
32. Method according to Claim 31, characterized in that the material used for the coating (50) is a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer.
33. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, before being closed by the closure part, the filled container is closed by a sheet (70) of heat-sealable aluminium, plastic or a corresponding composite material.

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