EP1228972A1 - Method for forming an outlet opening in a packing having an inner liner - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for opening a carton (1) with an internal bag (2) comprises inserting a drill with cutting edges (9) at the front. The drill is inserted through an adapter ring (3) attached to the bag. The drill has a longitudinal bore (10) which allows it to be used as a spout. An independent claim is included for the drill.

Description

The invention relates to a method for introduction an outlet opening in an inner film Packaging, in particular a folding box, for emptying powdery, granular or pasty products or liquids. The invention also relates to a device for performing of the procedure.

For environmental reasons and for recycling are folding boxes known from cardboard with a glued in Composite film, generally of a polyester-polyethylene composite, are provided. Through the Composite film becomes a barrier against water vapor, Loss of flavor, oxygen, nitrogen, fats and the like reached.

On packaging machines that are generally used in one The cartons or boxes are bottlers with the glued-in composite film that still has a tubular shape and therefore at both ends is open on the packaging machines in the form brought and with a pouring / pouring spout (see e.g. EP 0 273 102 B1). Then after a Seal the inner film with the packaging desired product or liquid over the spout filled. Finally, the spout is closed.

The disadvantage of this method is that it does not Sterility should be guaranteed can, which creates problems with products that are sensitive to germs, e.g. Juices and Milk. The relative complexity is also disadvantageous this packaging process.

Systems are known in which sterility guaranteed to a consumer, but this can only be guaranteed by complex procedures which is generally followed by a freezer chain must become. This is why this procedure is only intended for large containers.

A so-called "bag-in-box" system is also known, being bag-shaped foils with sealed filling and Outlet spout filled with the product and then Add a cardboard box for transport become. This method is also relative in practice cumbersome to use and only for larger containers (e.g. over 10 l).

The present invention is therefore based on the object a method and apparatus for insertion an outlet opening in a packaging of the to create the kind mentioned at the beginning, by the one Sterility up to the consumer is guaranteed is, the packaging is very space-saving should be and the introduction of an outlet opening in addition to emptying the packaging in a simple manner should be possible.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the 1 mentioned features solved.

Devices for performing the method are in claims 3 to 14 disclosed.

The method according to the invention ensures sterility or sterility up to the end user guaranteed. All that is required is that when filling the product or the liquid Adequate sterility must be observed. Thereby, that no outlet openings, outlet nozzle or the like are provided, is the invention Packaging sterile and next to a simple one Handling can also be transported to save space.

According to the invention, the packaging is only at the consumer with the previously undamaged inner film Make an opening in the inner film and through Attaching an insertion part, e.g. an injection spout, which results in an outlet nozzle in one brought ready for use.

To make a tight connection and at the same time accidental loosening or loosening of the injection nozzle can be avoided in one configuration the invention provide that the tight connection by an external thread arranged in the piercing part is created that in threaded sections that itself in the area of the inner peripheral wall of the adapter ring when inserting the grooved part cuts a thread.

An essential feature of the invention is the invention Grooving part, especially in the form of a Grooving nozzle with its constructive design represents which or which with the invention Adapter ring, which is also new and according to the invention is designed, works together.

In the dependent claims and in the following based on the drawing described embodiment result features and configurations according to the invention.

Fig. 1

in perspektivischer Darstellung ausschnittsweise eine Verpackung mit einem Adapterring und mit einem Einstechteil vor dem Eindrehen in die Verpackung;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Einstechtülle;

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des vorderen Bereiches der Einstechtülle gemäß Ausschnittsvergrößerung III nach der Fig. 4;

Fig. 4

einen Längsschnitt durch die Einstechtülle;

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt nach der Linie V-V der Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

eine Frontansicht der Einstechtülle aus Pfeilrichtung A gemäß Fig. 4;

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt nach der Linie VII-VII nach der Fig. 9;

Fig. 8

eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung gemäß VIII der Fig. 7; und

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht auf den Adapterring.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a section of a package with an adapter ring and with a piercing part before screwing into the package;

Fig. 2

a side view of the spout according to the invention;

Fig. 3

an enlarged view of the front area of the spike according to detail III according to FIG. 4;

Fig. 4

a longitudinal section through the spout;

Fig. 5

a section along the line VV of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

a front view of the spout from arrow direction A of FIG. 4;

Fig. 7

a section along the line VII-VII of FIG. 9;

Fig. 8

an enlarged detail according to VIII of FIG. 7; and

Fig. 9

a top view of the adapter ring.

A packaging in the form of a folding box 1 is included an inner film 2, in the interior of which a sterile product or liquid located. In the folding box 1 is in the upper area a hole 1a is provided in a narrow wall side, to enable later emptying. The Folding box 1 is manufactured in a known manner and at the same time with an inner film 2, in generally a composite film made of polyester and polyethylene, provided in tube form. At a clothing manufacturer or filler, the folding box 1 is then in brought upright form, the inner film is sealed, in the meantime the product or the liquid is introduced. Filling the Product or the liquid can e.g. of the still open top when the inner film 2 is already sealed on the underside.

Before the inner foil 2 is completely sealed an adapter ring 3 sealed on the inside to the inner film 2. The sealing is done by a Sealing flange 4 of the adapter ring 3. A sleeve-like Inner part or a cylinder part 6 of the adapter ring 3 extends from the inner peripheral wall of the sealing flange 4 from inside into the folding box 1. The inner opening of the adapter ring 3 forms an outlet opening 5, which, however, up to the end consumer is covered by the inner film 2. In this way can the interior of the inner film 2 with the product or keep the liquid sterile. At a Use, e.g. in a drinks machine, the Outlet opening 5 through a preferably supplied Grooving part 7, e.g. a spike, only through opened to the end user.

In Figures 2 to 7 the piercing part is in shape an insertion spout 7 explained in more detail. She assigns one Through hole 8 on with one or two cutting edges 9 in the front area and an emptying opening 10 in the back. Instead of just one cutting edge 9 can of course also add another Cutting edges or possibly one circular cutting edge can be provided. The cutting edge 9 and thus the front area of the Piercing spout 7 is towards the front 11 tapered.

The spike 7 is in the front area on the outer circumference provided with an external thread 12. Behind one radially outwardly extending ring shoulder 13 there is a twist grip part 14. The twist grip part 14 is seen in cross-section (see Fig. 5) corrugated or polygonal, so that for the operator good grip for screwing in the spigot 7 is given in the package 1.

Another ring shoulder 15 in the area of the rear end the spout 7 provides a clamping ring for one drain hose to be pushed on (not shown) with which the leaking from the interior Product or the liquid passed on e.g. to a sampling station. Instead of one Connection hose can of course also be a Thread provided with a cap or a dosing pump. Also a spray head or a tap or outlet valve are possible.

In Figures 7 to 9, the adapter ring 3 is enlarged shown.

That which extends inwards from the sealing flange 4 Cylinder part 6 is on the inner peripheral wall with four arranged evenly distributed over the circumference provided inwardly projecting ribs 16. Between the individual ribs 16 are in the Cylinder part 6 recesses 17. Set the ribs 16 Thread sections represent. As soon as the piercing nozzle 7 with its tip 11 in the outlet 5 of the Adapter ring 3 is pierced up to this Time spanned by the inner film 2 and thus is covered, and a subsequent one Rotation of the spout 7 in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1, is not only the outlet opening 5 from the inner film 2 cut free, but at the same time a thread 18 (enlarged in FIG. 8) shown) in the ribs 16 by the external thread 12 cut into the spout 7. For this it is only necessary to choose an appropriate material between the external thread 12 and the To provide ribs 16, the material of the ribs 16th and thus also the adapter ring 3, if this with the ribs 16 is in one piece, correspondingly softer or is more flexible than the external thread 12.

The type of thread can be chosen arbitrarily. For example, a sawtooth can be used for this Threads are created by a very good Form fit is achieved. Generally you become one Use thread type that is against an accidental Loosening is secured and at the same time a good one Sealing guaranteed. The ring paragraph 13 of the Grooving spout 7, the outside with an intermediate layer the inner film 2 rests on the sealing flange 4 to support one in a directly in front Groove inserted elastic seal, e.g. one O-ring. Likewise, the ring shoulder 13 itself an integrated sealing lip performs a sealing function.

The cutouts 17 in the cylinder part 6 serve to together with the threads or thread sections 18, the parts cut free from the outlet opening 5 to record the inner film 2. That way prevents the cut off Inner film 2 during the later pouring the outlet opening 5 completely or partially covers again. As a result of that parts of the separated inner film 2 into the thread 18 pinching, will also be a better one Sealing reached. The recesses in between 17 ensure that it does not become one complete jamming or overuse the thread 18 or ribs 16 comes.

Due to the deformability of the material of the ribs 16 and cutting the thread 18 in the ribs 16 a positive connection is achieved. The thread 18 digs practically into the ribs 16, with a high Surface pressure and thus a good connection an unintentional turning off and one out of it resulting leakage is created.

The recesses 17 between the ribs 16 serve not only to take up residual material from the cut Inner film 2, but also at the same time as emptying channels for residual products or residual liquids.

Inside between the sealing flange 4 and the cylinder part 6 of the adapter ring is located at the transition a rounding 19. The rounding 19 serves to to avoid shearing the inner film 2, which otherwise could occur with a sharp edge. The Sealing of the inner film 2 in this area may namely not rise or must not come off.

The piercing spout 7 can preferably be made from an injection molded part made of polyamide, polypropylene, polycarbonate or polyester. In general, one becomes the four ribs 16 distributed over the circumference form relatively narrow in width, so to Screwing in the spout 7 not too great a force required are.

The ribs 16 can - seen in cross section - different Have shapes. They can also be beneficial Way obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder part 6 run. Such an embodiment has the advantage that for the screwing process of the spout 7th then only a little effort is required because in this way a larger one is projected Surface created, the screwing with a pulling Cut and therefore with less effort he follows.

If the external thread 12 of the spout 7 in cross section seen not circular, but slightly triangular or is in the form of a polygon, a high occurs when the thread 18 is cut Contact pressure only on smaller areas, which is why only lower forces for screwing in the spigot 7 with simultaneous cutting of the thread 18 may be required.

Instead of a conventional thread, a asymmetrical thread, e.g. a sawtooth thread is used be designed such that the Restoring force or the releasing force is greater.

Basically, this can be done in the form of an injection spout 7 described part of any Be a construction. It is only essential that with cut the outlet opening 5 becomes. With an appropriate design the insertion part on the back with various further Pipes, outlet ports and the like get connected.

Claims (14)

Method for introducing an outlet opening (5) in a packaging provided with an inner film (2), in particular a folding box (1) for Emptying powdery, granular or pasty products or liquids, whereby with an insertion part (7) into one of the inner foil (2) covered outlet opening (5) on the inside on the inner film (2) arranged adapter ring (3) is inserted, after which the injection part (7) twisted, the outlet opening (5) at least largely cut free and a dense Connection with the adapter ring (3) created becomes. Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the tight connection is created by an external thread (12) arranged in the insertion part, in particular an insertion spout (7), the thread sections located in the area of the inner peripheral wall of the adapter ring (3) each have a thread when the insertion spout (7) is screwed in (18) cuts. Device for carrying out the method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the piercing part (7) is provided with a through hole (8), has at least one cutting edge (9) in the front area and is provided with an emptying opening (10) in the rear area. Device according to claim 3,
characterized in that
the piercing part (7) with the at least one cutting edge (9) is conically tapered towards the front. Device according to claim 3 or 4,
characterized in that
the piercing spout (7) runs out in at least one tip (11) in the front region. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5,
characterized in that
the piercing part (7) is provided with an external thread (12) on the circumference. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6,
characterized in that
the piercing part (7) is provided with a twist grip part (14). Device according to claim 7,
characterized in that
the twist grip part (14) is polygonal in cross-section or has a rough or corrugated surface. Device according to one of claims 3 to 8,
characterized in that
the piercing part (7) is provided in the rear area with a ring shoulder (15) onto which a drain hose or a drain line can be pushed. Device according to one of claims 3 to 9,
characterized in that
the piercing part (7) is provided with a ring shoulder (13). Device according to one of claims 3 to 10,
characterized in that
the adapter ring (3) is provided with ribs (16) to form threaded sections, which extend inwards in a cylinder part (6) of the adapter ring (3) on its inner circumferential wall from a sealing disk (4) of the adapter ring (3). Device according to claim 11,
characterized in that
the ribs (16) run at least approximately axially to the cylinder axis. Device according to claim 11 or 12,
characterized in that
at least three ribs (16) distributed over the circumference with recesses (17) in between are provided in the cylinder part (6). Device according to one of claims 11 to 13,
characterized in that
the cylinder part (6) of the adapter ring (3) is provided with a rounding (19) at the transition to the sealing disc (4).

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