EP0929455B9 - Process for producing a combination packaging beaker - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention concerns a process for producing a cup-shaped combination packing container (16) which consists of an inner cup-shaped plastic pan (1) which tapers inward moving downward and an outer casing-like plastic part (12) which lies adjacent to and surrounds the inner cup-shaped plastic part (1). The casing-like outer part (12) is pushed over the finished extruded cup-shaped plastic inner part (1) and subsequently affixed to it, which improves the rigidity of the completed container and simplifies production and logistics. Moreover, a combination packing container is disclosed which has a plastic inner part with a recess (19, 19') which stands back inwardly for receiving additional objects (20) between the plastic inner part and the outer part pushed over it

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of packaging. It relates to a method for producing a cup-shaped combination packaging container, which comprises an inner cup-shaped, downwardly tapering plastic inner part and the plastic inner part outside surrounding, fitting, coat-like outer part.

Combination packaging containers of the type mentioned are from earlier patents of the applicant, the EP-B1-0 102 522 or the EP-B1-0 408 515 , known.

STATE OF THE ART

Stackable combination packaging containers in which a cup-shaped, usually deep-drawn from a plastic inner plastic part of an outer part of a different material, eg

Paper, cardboard or any other plastic that has been encased has several advantages. On the one hand, the container can be optimally adapted to the respective application by using two different materials. For example, in the case of a frozen or hot pack contents, it is advantageous to use an outer part made of a material which has a thermally insulating effect. On the other hand, the use of a separate outer part has the advantage that the outer part can be printed separately from the container with pictures, text, advertising, instructions or the like., Which allows a much better print quality. Furthermore, the separation of the container into individual fractions provides significant advantages in terms of waste disposal (recycling). Finally, can be achieved by the two-layer construction of the container increased mechanical strength, which is particularly advantageous for transport in multi-layer containers.

These and other advantages have resulted in combi-packaging containers becoming more and more popular as yoghurt, ice or margarine cups or in other comparable applications.

In the production of the hitherto known combination packaging container, the coat-like, usually printed outer part is first produced. In a jacket made of cardboard material, we wound a corresponding blank around a mandrel and glued the side edges overlapping each other. The outer part is then inserted into the thermoforming mold of a plastic thermoforming device. Subsequently, the plastic inner part is deep-drawn into the outer part, as in the already mentioned EP-B1-0 102 522 is described. The deep-drawn plastic inner part connects in this way form-fitting with the outer part to the finished combined packaging container. Suitable additional embodiments of the outer part, such as a Umfalzung the lower edge (12 in Fig. 1 of the EP-B1-0 102 522 ) or an elevation in the form of a circumferential groove (16 in Fig. 1 of the EP-B1-0 102 522 ) ensure that the positive connection stable and durable and manages without a bond between the inner and outer part. In order to facilitate a later separation of both parts, additional separating elements such as those in the EP-B1-0 408 515 Described target separation strips are provided in the outer part.

However, the above-described known production method for combination packaging containers, although it has proven very successful in practice, but also some disadvantages: Due to the direct positive connection of the plastic inner part and the printed, matched to the subsequent container content outer part during the deep drawing process is the finished container set for its later use. Therefore, if, for example, in a manufacturer of different yogurt products necessary for a continuous production different printed yogurt cups are kept in stock, this requires a considerable amount of space because the finished molded cups must be stored separately by species. If the cups are produced at a different location and transported to the filling site, the transport costs are also increased.

Another major disadvantage of the known method lies in the complexity of the machines used. Instead of a simple deep-drawing device in which the cup-shaped container is made by deep drawing from a film, specially prepared, expensive and complicated machine sets are required for the known method, which in a first station of printed blanks the outer parts Forming and bonding, the finished exterior parts via a transfer station fit accurately into the special thermoforming molds of a special thermoforming device, and the deep drawing device finally the plastic inner parts into the outer parts deep draws.

Another disadvantage of the known method is the achievable axial compression strength of the finished container. The container usually has - as in Fig. 1 of the EP-B1-0 408 515 it can be seen - to improve the stackability a serving as a support shoulder, circumferential shoulder (3 in Fig. 1 of the EP-B1-0 408 515 ). The paragraph is due to the manufacturing process equally present in the outer part and in the molded plastic inner part. Due to the heel, despite the inherently stiffening composite structure of the container, there is a weakening of the container wall with respect to axial compression forces, that is to say perpendicular to the container bottom, because the container wall tends to buckle in the region of the shoulder. Such weakening of the container against axial compression forces is especially undesirable if the filled and sealed containers are to be stacked on a pallet or the like directly in several layers.

Also disclosed DE 295 13 093 U a method according to the preamble of claim 1.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a combination of plastic inner part and mantelartigem outer part combination packaging container, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and a simplification of the production devices, reducing the transport and storage costs for the finished Container, and an improved rigidity of the container in the axial direction allows.

The object is solved by the entirety of the features of claim 1. The essence of the invention consists in producing or molding the outer part and the inner plastic part separately and then connecting the two parts together by sliding the outer part over the inner part and fixing it on the inner part. In this way, it is possible with simple thermoforming devices to produce non-specific, cup-shaped plastic inner parts, which are then connected as needed with the correspondingly printed or otherwise assembled outer parts for the finished combination container. As a result, the flexibility in manufacturing is increased and storage and transport significantly simplified. At the same time, the possibility arises that the plastic inner parts are produced directly at the bottler of the containers on simplified machines in-line and then connected to the specific outer parts in stock.

In principle, it is conceivable to bond the outer and inner parts together to form the Kombi container. However, this would make the subsequent separation of the two parts more difficult. In addition, additional gluing stations would be needed in which the bonding process is performed. According to the inventive method therefore a cup-shaped plastic inner part is used, which comprises latching means, in which the shell-like outer part releasably engages for fixing to the cup-shaped plastic inner part. This has the advantage that the finished combination container can be obtained by a simple nesting of the two parts, and that the outer part can be very easily separated from the inner part later, for example, the printed inside of the outer part or to separate the different types of material of the container for separate disposal or reprocessing.

The method according to the invention is further distinguished by the fact that the latching means comprise a circumferential shoulder arranged in the bottom area of the cup-shaped plastic inner part, the outer diameter of which is greater than the inner diameter of the lower edge of the jacket-like outer part such that the jacket-like outer part pushes over the cup-shaped plastic inner part with its lower edge is pushed so far over the circumferential shoulder that it snaps behind the shoulder, that the latching means further comprise an upper, outwardly projecting edge of the cup-shaped plastic inner part, and that the shell-like outer part when Drüberschieben over the cup-shaped plastic inner part with its upper edge from below to the Edge abuts and is held after locking between the edge and the circumferential shoulder. In this way, a particularly simple fixation of the outer part is achieved. At the same time, the jacket-like outer part can absorb any unwanted axial compression forces applied to the container without weakening.

The coat-like outer part can be produced in different ways. In a first alternative embodiment, a blank is wound into a jacket to produce the jacket-like outer part, and the side edges in an overlapping area are glued together. The outer part can be pushed in this way without further action on the plastic inner part.

In a second alternative embodiment, a blank is folded along two fold lines for the production of the jacket-like outer part, and the side edges are folded in glued together an overlap area. The bonded outer part is then in a flattened form. It can be stacked, transported and stored in an easy and space-saving way. If necessary, the flattened outer parts are then stretched tubular and pushed over the plastic inner part.

The plastic inner part is characterized in that it is cup-shaped and tapered downwards, and that latching means are provided on the plastic inner part, in which the shell-like outer part can releasably engage for fixing to the cup-shaped plastic inner part.

In particular, it is characterized in that the latching means comprise a arranged in the bottom region of the plastic inner part circumferential shoulder, the outer diameter is greater than the diameter of the lower edge of the jacket-like outer part, and that the latching means further comprises an upper, outwardly projecting edge of the cup-shaped plastic inner part, in particular in the form of a sealing flange, comprise against which edge the shell-like outer part pushes when pushing over the cup-shaped plastic inner part with its upper edge.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, in order to improve the stackability in the bottom region of the cup-shaped plastic inner parts, a circumferential, inwardly projecting shoulder is provided. The circumferential paragraph forms the upper boundary of a circumferential trailing, which is bounded at the bottom by the encircling shoulder. At the same time the initiation of compression forces in the coat-like outer part is facilitated by the rear pull.

Further embodiments of the method emerge from the dependent claims.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1

in teilweise geschnittener Ansicht ein bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel für ein erfindungsgemässes Kunststoffinnenteil;

Fig. 2

in teilweise geschnittener Ansicht ein bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel für ein Aussenteil, welches mit einem Kunststoffinnenteil gemäss Fig. 1 gemäss dem Verfahren nach der Erfindung zu einem Kombi-Verpackungsbehälter verbunden werden kann;

Fig. 3

in teilweise geschnittener Ansicht einen fertigen Kombi-Verpackungsbehälter, wie er sich aus den Teilen gemäss Fig. 1 und 2 ergibt;

Fig. 4

in teilweise geschnittener Ansicht einen Stapel mit zwei Behältern der in Fig. 3 dargestellten Art,

Fig. 5

einen vergrösserten Ausschnitt aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, 7

in der Draufsicht zwei verschiedene, flach gefaltete und fertig verklebte Aussenteile mit Aufreisshilfen (Grifflappen, Perforation) für den Einsatz im erfindungsgemässen Verfahren; und

Fig. 8

ein Aussenteil gemäss Fig. 6 oder 7 beim Drüberschieben über ein Kunststoffinnenteil gemäss Fig. 1;

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.
Show it

Fig. 1

in a partially sectioned view of a preferred embodiment of an inventive plastic inner part;

Fig. 2

in a partially sectioned view of a preferred embodiment of an outer part, which with a plastic inner part according to Fig. 1 can be connected according to the method of the invention to a combination packaging container;

Fig. 3

in a partially sectioned view of a finished combined packaging container, as it is apparent from the parts Fig. 1 and 2 results;

Fig. 4

in partially sectioned view a stack with two containers of in Fig. 3 represented type,

Fig. 5

an enlarged section Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 6, 7

in plan view, two different, flat-folded and fully glued outer parts with tear-open (Grifflappen, perforation) for use in the inventive method; and

Fig. 8

an outer part according to Fig. 6 or 7 when pushing over a plastic inner part according to Fig. 1 ;

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows in a partially sectioned view of a plastic inner part, as it is suitable for the inventive method. The half of the figure to the left of the dot-dashed center line shows the longitudinal section, the right half of the figure an uncut side view. The cup-shaped plastic inner part 1 is simply conical in the reproduced example with a 9 tapering towards the bottom diameter. It is expressly understood that the simple conical cup represents only one embodiment, and that within the scope of the invention, of course, other stackable shapes such as four-, six- or otherwise polygonal or mixed eckigrunde forms are conceivable.

The conical wall 2 of the cup-shaped plastic inner part 1 is limited in the example shown at the top by a sealing flange 3, by means of which the cup can be closed. This can be done for example by sealing with an aluminum foil. But there are also other edge shapes conceivable, as for example in the left half of Fig. 1 from the EP-B1-0 102 522 are reproduced. The wall 2 of the cup, starting from the upper edge or sealing flange 3, down through into the bottom area without a shoulder continuously formed. Only immediately in the bottom area a circumferential pull 5 is provided, the top by an inwardly projecting, circumferential paragraph. 4 is limited, whose function later related to Fig. 4 and 5 will be explained in more detail. Towards the bottom 9, the rear train 5 is bounded by an outwardly projecting, circumferential shoulder 8, which merges directly into the bottom 9 and forms an annular bead. The pull 5 itself is divided into two pull-back portions 6 and 7, of which the upper pull-back portion 6 is substantially cylindrical, and the lower pull-back portion 7 is slightly opening to the floor.

This embodiment of the bottom region has several significant advantages: Firstly, paragraph 4 provides a support shoulder which allows the defined nesting of the cups. On the other hand, a "spring base" is realized with the pull 5, i. the bottom 9 can move resiliently in the axial direction when axial pressure forces occur. This property is important for the stiffness of the combination container, which will be discussed in more detail below. Finally, the geometry of the rear pull allows the plastic inner part 1 to be deep-drawn even without the use of complicated sliding molds when a plastic material with increased shrinkage behavior, such as, for example, is used. Polypropylene (PP) is used because the thermoformed cup despite the back pull 5 due to the shrinkage can easily remove from a solid thermoforming mold.

The bottom 9 of the plastic inner part 1 can be designed differently. Regarding the possibilities here on the EP-B1-0 102 522 directed. In the present example the Fig. 1 For example, the bottom 9 has an outer footprint 11 which annularly surrounds a central retracted bottom portion 10.

According to the inventive method, a plastic inner part 1 of in Fig. 1 illustrated type produced by deep drawing from a plastic film or other suitable manufacturing process. The finished cup is then then with a coat-like outer part 12, as exemplified in Fig. 2 is reproduced connected to a combination packaging container by the outer part 12 is pushed like a cuff from below over the cup-shaped plastic inner part 1 and fixed to the inner part. This has the particular advantage that only those adapted to the product to be packaged, product-specific printed exterior parts that fold easily and store space, must be kept in stock, while the (unspecific) plastic inner parts as needed directly at the bottler or on be made elsewhere on simple thermoforming devices and then combined with the outer part.

The shell-like outer part 12 may be made of different materials and manufactured in different ways. Regarding the possibilities be on the EP-B1-0 102 522 and the EP-B1-0 408 515 directed. If the outer part 12-which is frequently the case-is produced from a blank from outside and / or inside printed cardboard material, then the blank is wound like a jacket on a mandrel and then the side edges are glued together in an overlapping area 13. Of course, the outer part 12 for better separation of plastic inner part 1 and a predetermined separation strip with handle rafters and corresponding perforation lines are provided, as shown in the EP-B1-0 408 515 is described.

The fixation of the jacket-like outer part 12 on the cup-shaped plastic inner part 1 is preferably carried out by a releasable latching. The outer edge of the shoulder 8 is (slightly) larger than the inner diameter of the lower edge 15. The height of the outer part 12 in the axial Direction is slightly less than the (axial) distance between the bottom of the sealing flange 3 and the shoulder eighth

To form the combination packaging container 16 or 19 ', as in Fig. 3 is shown and in Fig. 5 can be seen in the enlarged section, the coat-like outer part 12 is according to Fig. 2 far beyond the plastic inner part 1 according Fig. 1 pushed until it abuts with the upper edge 14 on the underside of the sealing flange 3. At the same time, the lower edge 15 of the outer part 12 slides over the shoulder 8, which yields resiliently due to material and geometry and reduces its outer diameter. Simultaneously with the abutment of the upper edge 14 on the sealing flange, the lower edge 15 has slipped over the shoulder 8 and has released it again, so that the shoulder 8 springs back into its starting position latching. The shell-like outer part 12 is so releasably fixed between the sealing flange 3 and the shoulder 8 on the plastic inner part 1.

At the same time, the upper edge 14 is covered by the sealing flange 3 and the lower edge 15 by the shoulder 8 protective. This is advantageous if, for example, a coat-like outer part 12 of moisture-sensitive cardboard material is to be used. It is also possible to provide a Umfalzung to protect the edges, as shown in the EP-B1-0 102 522 is known. Depending on the design of the jacket-like outer part 12 in comparison to the cup-shaped plastic inner part 1, a more or less tight fit of the outer part 12 can be achieved on the inner part.

How out Fig. 2 can be seen, the outer part 12 has a largely smooth outer surface without debilitating paragraphs or the like. On. For this reason, the outer part 12 is able to absorb relatively large axial compressive forces. Accordingly, the outer part 12 in the finished combined packaging container 16 can absorb axial compressive forces acting on the bottom 9 and the sealing flange 3 of the plastic inner part. An essential role is played by the above-mentioned "spring floor". If axial pressure is applied to the plastic inner part 1 of the combination packaging container 16, the bottom 9 shifts resiliently in the direction of the sealing flange 3 until the shoulder 8 presses against the lower edge 15 of the jacket-shaped outer part 12. Does the outer part 12 at the same time with its upper edge 14 to the sealing flange 3, the axial pressure is largely introduced into the jacket-shaped outer part 12 and collected there. In this way, the rigidity of the combination packaging container 16 is significantly increased compared to the previously known containers, so that the filled containers can be stacked one above the other without additional aids in several layers.

The function of the circumferential paragraph 4 when nesting a plurality of combination packaging containers 16, 16 'is from the Fig. 4 and 5 clear. The parts of the second combined packaging container 16 'are provided with the same reference numerals - but in coated form - as the corresponding parts of the first combination packaging container 16. When stacking the containers 16 and 16', the upper second container 16 ', the as well as a coat-like outer part 12 ', a cup-like plastic inner part 1', Hinterzugabschnitte 6 ', 7', a shoulder 8 ', a footprint 11 ', a paragraph 4' and a retracted bottom part 10 ', with its footprint 11' on the shoulder 4 of the first container 16 from. The inwardly projecting paragraph 4 or 4 'ensures that an outer part 12 or 12' can be used with a smooth outer surface. The stack height, ie the increase in height by the nesting of two containers 16, 16 'depends significantly on the height of the rear train 5 from. If the height of the rear pull 5 and thus also the stack height is increased, the inner diameter increases on the shoulder 4, 4 '. This makes it possible to increase the outer diameter of the shoulder 8, 8 '. The shoulder 8, 8 'then protrudes beyond the lower edge 15 of the latched outer part 12, 12', whereby latching function and protection of the lower edge 15 can be improved.

It has already been mentioned above that for the production of the outer part 12, 12 ', a corresponding blank is wound into a jacket, and the side edges are glued together in an overlapping region 13. The resulting tubular outer part is in this way directly to Drüberschieben on the plastic inner part 1, 1 'ready. In other cases, however, it is desirable for space-saving storage and transport to have the outer parts in flattened form. This is achieved if - as in 6 and 7 can be seen - for the production of the coat-like outer part 12, a blank along two fold lines 24, 25 and 26, 27 folded and the side edges are glued together in an overlapping region 13. The fold lines 24, 25 and 26, 27 can be conveniently embossed in the manufacture of the blank in the material.

In the examples of 6 and 7 At the overlapping area 13 of the outer part 12 additional tear-open aids are provided. A handle flap 17 arranged at the top of the overlapping area can be pulled down by hand in order to separate the outer part 12 at the overlapping area 13. The separation is facilitated by the fact that the overlapping region 13 is bounded on one side by a perforation 18, which can also be introduced into the material during the production of the blank. In the example of Fig. 6 forms one of the fold lines (24) at the same time the other boundary line of the overlap region 13 and acts much like a perforation and supports the tearing process. In the example of Fig. 7 on the other hand lies the overlap region 13 in the middle between the fold lines 26, 27. According to Fig. 8 The outer parts 12 are after Fig. 6 or 7 pushed in the same way from the bottom 9 on the plastic inner part 1, as has already been described above. Differences arise only insofar as the flat folded outer parts of the 6 and 7 must first be stretched tubular before the Drüberschieben over the plastic inner part.

In principle, all materials and dimensions already described in the publications may be used for the present combination packaging container EP-B1-0 102 522 and EP-B1-0 408 515 have been described. It is particularly preferred that the plastic inner part 1 or 1 'by deep drawing from a PP film to produce, and to use for the outer part 12 and 12' blanks of printed cardboard material with or without breakaway strip. If the outer part 12 or 12 'made of a plastic, it is for a simplified processing advantage to use the same material as for the plastic inner part 1, 1'.

NAME LIST

1,1 '

Plastic inner part (cup-shaped)

2

wall

3

sealing flange

4,4 '

Paragraph (circulating)

5

Hinterzug (circulating)

6,6 ', 7,7'

Behind tension section

8,8 '

Shoulder (circulating)

9

ground

10.10 '

retracted bottom part

11.11 '

Contact area (circulating)

12.12 '

Outer part (coat-like)

13

overlapping region

14

Top edge (outer part)

15

Lower edge (outer part)

16.16 '

Combined packaging containers

17

gripping tab

18

perforation

24, .., 27

fold line

Claims (8)

1. Process for producing a combination packaging beaker (16, 16'), which has an internal beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1') tapering towards the bottom and an external sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') surrounding and abutting with the plastics inner part (1, 1'), the sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') being pushed onto the ready-moulded beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1') and then fixed to the beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1'), wherein the beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1') used has locating means (3, 8) in which the sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') releasably locates so as to fix it to the beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1), which locating means comprise a top, outwardly projecting ridge on the beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1') so that when the sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') is pushed up over the beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1') its top edge (14) hits the ridge from underneath, characterised in that the locating means further comprise a circumferentially disposed shoulder (8, 8') in the base region of the beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1'), the external diameter of which is bigger than the internal diameter of the bottom edge (15) of the sleeve-type outer part (12), and when the sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') is pushed up over the beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1') its bottom edge (15) is pushed far enough past the peripheral shoulder (8, 8') to locate behind the shoulder (8, 8') and once located, the outer part (12, 12') is retained between the edge and the peripheral shoulder (8, 8').
2. Process as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the top edge of the beaker-shaped plastics inner part (1, 1') is provided in the form of a sealing flange (3).
3. Process as claimed in one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that a sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') is used, which is made from a plastics material, in particular a plastics film of the same material as the plastics inner part (1, 1').
4. Process as claimed in one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that a sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') is used, which is essentially made from paper or board material.
5. Process as claimed in one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') has print applied to the external and/or internal face.
6. Process as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') is made by winding a cutting to form a sleeve and bonding the side edges to one another in an overlap region (13).
7. Process as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the sleeve-type outer part (12, 12') is made by folding a cutting along two fold lines (24, 25 or 26, 27) and bonding the side edges to one another in an overlap region (13).
8. Process as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that one of the fold lines (24) simultaneously forms a boundary line of the overlap region (13) and the overlap region is bounded by a perforation (18) at the other side.

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