EP1264776A1 - Pivotable spout for a pouch - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure element for a packaging unit, in particular, a foil bag for liquids or pastes comprises a pivotable spout (2) which has an outlet channel (13), closes the outlet opening (3) in one pivot position, and connects it to the outlet channel in another pivot position.

Description

The invention relates to a closure element for a package for holding liquid or pasty goods, especially for a foil bag.

Packaging for holding liquid or pasty goods, in particular foil bags, are widely used, especially as beverage containers or but for cosmetics, detergents etc.

Beverage containers are still mainly made with the help of drinking straws that are in a puncture area is opened. However, this has the disadvantage themselves that such beverage containers cannot be closed again, as a result it easily leaks and quickly spoils the contents.

It has also already been proposed to close foil bags with the aid of screw closures. However, such screw closures have the disadvantage that their spout protrudes far from the edge of the bag, so that the bags are difficult to stack and use a lot of space during transport. Furthermore, such a closure element has the disadvantage that the closure element cannot be closed again if the cover is lost. Another problem with the known closure elements is, however, that they are not microbiologically tight after they have been filled, ie that these closure elements are not suitable for beverage packaging or unpreserved liquids, since they can quickly spoil after being filled into the film bag.
Screw caps can already be microbiologically tight, but there is always a certain risk that small scratches or manufacturing defects on the parts that are intended to seal against one another will cause leaks that remain unnoticed in the production process and lead to problems.

Another disadvantage arises from the fact that opening and closing screw caps both hands are needed.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a closure element, that is easy to open and close, takes up little space and the packaging closes microbiologically securely after filling.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a closure element according to claim 1 solved.

The fact that the closure element can be tilted means that it requires more space than it does Screw closures take up less space. Through the arranged according to the invention Sealing part, the closure element can fill the filling medium in the packaging microbiologically close tightly. This means a longer shelf life and microbiological safety of the filling medium, so that the closure element according to the invention also can be used reliably in the food sector. To open the packaging the tiltable spout is then tilted so that the sealing part attached to the Spout is attached, is torn open. This allows the liquid to come out of the packaging through the pouring opening and the pouring channel adjoining the pouring opening of the spout flow outwards. Should the packaging be closed again? , this is done by simply tilting the spout into its first tilt position, whereby the pouring opening is closed again. The invention further brings Closure element Advantage that the tiltable spout is operated with one hand can be.

If the tiltable spout is substantially tubular, i. H. z. B. a round or has a rectangular cross-section, it is particularly good as a drinking straw for beverage packaging suitable. This eliminates the need to provide a separate drinking straw, which saves costs and material on the one hand and also in relation to the Environmental protection is beneficial because less material is needed and beyond used straws or straw packaging are not simply thrown away.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing part is a membrane. The Membrane, which closes the pouring opening, is glued to the pourer or Welding connected. All common processes such as e.g. thermal welding, pulse welding etc. in question, preferably welding the membrane with ultrasound. Thus there is a firm connection between the membrane and pourer and thus a safe tearing guaranteed.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sealing part is a plastic part with a predetermined breaking point.

According to a special space-saving embodiment, the tiltable spout lies in the first tilt position in a recess of the closure element. So can be guaranteed that the closure element only to a very small extent or even does not protrude beyond the bag contour.

To ensure tamper-evident, the recess in which the tiltable spout is located can be sealed with a peelable film. It is therefore clear to the consumer whether a packaging is still originally sealed. Such a peelable Foil further prevents the spout from e.g. dirty during storage and in this way the contents can be contaminated during removal. In particular when using the spout as a drinking straw, it is hygienically perfect Condition of the spout is crucial.

So that the peelable film can be peeled off, lies next to the recess a trough to pull off the film, the peelable film at least partially in the Trough area protrudes. This makes it easier for the consumer to grasp the film.

In a simple manner, the peelable film is glued or around the recess welded. In order to ensure easy opening, the weld can be spot-welded or using peelable, i.e. easily separable sealing media respectively. Thus, the film can be removed well on the one hand, while on the other hand good hold is guaranteed.

According to a further embodiment, the closure element further comprises tubular part facing the exit opening on the opposite side of the spout Side connects. Such an extension of the pouring channel brings the The advantage with it that when a film bag is emptied, the front and back of the Bag can no longer stick together, which prevents the liquid from draining would be. As an alternative to a tubular part that extends the pouring channel, can also simply be a spacer that extends from the closure element the opposite side of the spout can be used.

Advantageously, the tiltable spout is perpendicular to the pouring channel running axis rotatably supported.

It is advantageous if the pouring opening is tight in connection with the pouring channel stands, so that liquid from the packaging from the pouring opening into the pouring channel the spout occurs and does not run into the recess of the closure element. The end of the spout facing the pouring opening and an area around the pouring opening can have a sealing surface that is between 0 and is 90 ° rotationally symmetrical with respect to the tilt axis. So there is no one uncontrolled leakage of liquid.

According to a preferred embodiment, the spout has at its the outlet opening end facing a rounded cross-section, this Fits snugly around the end of the pouring spout. The match is the Cross sections of the pouring end and the area around the outlet opening are not relevant. The smallest cross section of the spout essentially determines the maximum Flow rate. It can therefore make sense to round off a closure element To provide a region around the exit opening with a maximum cross section, the cross-section of the spout is then adjusted depending on the product and target group becomes. The round design of the pouring end enables that the spout can move well in the recess. By having the spout rounded, in the simplest way e.g. is a cylindrical surface, the Connection between pouring channel and pouring opening well sealed. Such Arrangement is also easy to manufacture.

The tilt angle between the first and second tilt positions is advantageously essentially 90 °.

According to a special embodiment, the membrane is an inner film of a film bag.

The membrane can, for example, be a polyethylene or polypropylene film a coextruded film with a well sealable outer layer.

The invention further relates to a film bag made of mono- or composite material with the closure element according to the invention. The inventive method is advantageous Closure element between the front and back of the film bag on an upper edge or welded or glued in a corner area. According to a preferred The exemplary embodiment is the film bag a beverage bag.

Fig. 1

zeigt schematisch einen Querschnitt durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Ver schlußelement in Original verschlossenem Zustand;

Fig. 2

zeigt schematisch eine Querschnitt des erfindungsgemäßen Verschlußelementes in einem geöffneten Zustand;

Fig. 3

zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht auf das in Fig. 1 gezeigte Verschlußelement;

Fig. 4

zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verschlußelementes mit einem rohrförmigen Teil;

Fig. 5

zeigt eine weitere Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verschlußelementes mit Abstandshaltern;

Fig.6 u. 7

zeigen Folienbeutel mit eingesetzten erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusselementen.

Fig. 8

zeigt schematisch einen Querschnitt durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Verschlußelement in original verschlossenem Zustand gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Fig. 9

zeigt schematisch einen Querschnitt des Verschlußelementes gemäß des weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels in geöffnetem Zustand.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the following figures:

Fig. 1

shows schematically a cross section through an inventive closure element in the original closed state;

Fig. 2

shows schematically a cross section of the closure element according to the invention in an open state;

Fig. 3

shows a schematic plan view of the closure element shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the closure element according to the invention with a tubular part;

Fig. 5

shows a further embodiment of the closure element according to the invention with spacers;

Fig. 6 u. 7

show foil bags with inserted closure elements according to the invention.

Fig. 8

shows schematically a cross section through an inventive closure element in the original closed state according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9

shows schematically a cross section of the closure element according to the further embodiment in the open state.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 3, FIG. 1 being a section along the line I-I of FIG Fig. 3 comprises the invention, e.g. Closure element made of plastic 1 a tiltable spout 2 with a pouring channel 13. The tiltable pourer 2 is in an original closed state within a recess 5 in the closure element 1. The spout 2 is rotatably mounted about an axis 14, which runs perpendicular to the pouring channel 13 of the pourer. The rotatable or tiltable Storage is shown only schematically in the figures. The rotatable bearing can but in a known manner e.g. through a hole in the spout 2 through which an axis extends, which in turn is fixed via fastening parts 15, take place.

As an alternative to this, the spout 2 can also have two opposite ones in the areas A. Have projections in two recesses in the closure element 1 (this embodiment is not shown) engage so that the spout 2 about an axis 14 is rotatably mounted.

As a further embodiment, also not shown here, the closure element 1 have two opposite projections, which in two recesses in Snap spout 2 into place. In this case too, the spout 2 can be rotated about an axis 14 stored.

The spout 2 has a length l of approximately 1 to 6 cm. In this exemplary embodiment, the upper region, which extends above the surface 10a of the closure element in the unfolded position, is tubular. The diameter d of the spout in this area is 2 to 12 mm, preferably 5 mm. The inside diameter i of the pouring channel 13 of the pourer 2 is between 2 and 10 mm. The height h _{1 of} the closure element is in a range between 0.5 and 3 cm, preferably 1 cm. The height h ₂ by which the outwardly tilted spout 2 protrudes from the surface 10a of the closure element 10 is in the range from 1 to 5 cm, preferably 2 cm. The width b is between 0.5 and 4 cm, preferably 1 cm.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pouring opening 3, which is the interior of the packaging is facing, closed by the spout 2 in a first tilt position and in a second tilt position in connection with the pouring channel 13 of the Pourer 2 brought so that filling material from the packaging through the pouring opening 3rd and can flow through the pouring channel 13. In this embodiment, the spout has 1 and 2, at its end facing the exit opening End 12 in the region of the recess 5 an essentially round cross section on.

The cross section could e.g. B. but also be substantially rectangular.

This end 12 is supported in an area of the recess, at least in the area 11 next to the pouring opening 3 complementary to the rounded end portion 12 of the Pourer 2 is formed. Thus, the spout 2 during its tilting movement slide precisely over the surface of the closure element and this, as in FIG. 1 can be seen, close. Due to the exact fit of the spout around the pouring opening it is also ensured that the sealing areas in addition to the pouring opening 3 11 arise, so that liquid is prevented from the packaging, from the Connection area between pouring opening 3 and pouring channel 13 into the recess 5 running.

It is important that the sealing surface of the spout and the area around the pouring opening is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis 14, at least for the tilting movement between 0 ° and 90 °. In the simplest case, the spout can be cylindrical Have surface that protrudes beyond the pouring opening to seal. however other areas such as a spherical surface or also wavy toothed Surfaces would be suitable as long as the sealing surfaces sliding on one another protrude beyond the pouring spout.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the spout 2 is in the original closed closure element 1 inside the recess 5. The spout 2 is in the region of the pouring opening 3 with a sealing part, here the membrane 4 connected. In this embodiment the membrane is welded to the spout 2. The membrane 4 is around the pouring opening 3 is welded or glued and sealed microbiologically tight. The material for the membrane 4 is, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene or a co-extruded material with a well sealable outer layer. The material for the spout 2 are, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene and a variety of modifications based on these raw materials or other thermoplastic Suitable materials. The recess 5 is in the closed state further closed by a film 6. The film is glued around the recess 5 or fully or spot welded and serves both as tamper-evident also as hygiene protection for the spout. In addition to the recess 5 is a trough 7 provided, over which the film 6 extends at least partially, so that the consumer can pull off the film more easily. The following are suitable as film 6, for example Materials: mono or composite foils made of plastic, foils based on paper or metals such as Aluminum with a sealable coating made of plastic or suitable paints. The use of peelable sealing layers is particularly advantageous, which on the one hand guarantee a good hold of the film, but on the other hand also allow easy removal of the film.

When opening a closure element of an originally packaged packaging, the Consumers first pull the film 6 in the area of the trough 7 and pull it off. After that he tilts the spout 2 around the axis 14 by 90 ° to the outside. A not shown Locking or stop element can limit the maximum deflection of the spout 2. During this first tilting movement of the spout 2, this becomes the spout 2 connected sealing part, here the membrane 4 torn open, so that the opening 3 is exposed to the inside of the packaging and also with the pouring channel 13 of the spout 2 comes into contact. Now the packaging can contain liquid either by suction on the spout 2 if this serves as a drinking straw, or else by pouring out the liquid or by drinking like from a bottle or Follow can.

If the packaging is to be closed again, this can be done by simply tipping it over of the spout 2 take place back into the recess 5, whereby the end region of the Pourer 2 seals the pouring opening 3.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This exemplary embodiment essentially corresponds to that in FIGS. 1 to 3 Embodiment shown, but the sealing part 4 is not a membrane, but is a plastic part with a predetermined breaking point 19. The sealing part, which here is the pouring opening 3, as can be seen in FIG. 8, shows a "bulge" on top of. This "bulge" protrudes when the spout 2 is folded down into a recess 20 of the spout and is glued to the spout, Welding or connected clamps or snapping. The bulge has one Predetermined breaking point 19, whereby it can be easily separated from the spout. By first tipping up the spout 2, the "bulge" tears off, causing the Pouring opening 3 is exposed. The broken part remains in the recess 20 of the spout 2 since it is connected to it. So the canceled Do not drop part into the pouring spout and get into or to the product Lead jamming of the tilt mechanism.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment, wherein the closure element according to the invention 1, as shown for example in Fig. 1 to 3 or 8 and 9, on one of the Pourer 2 opposite side 10b of the closure element further a tubular Part 8, which extends into the packaging and an extension of the Pouring channel 13 represents. The tubular part 8 prevents that if e.g. a foil bag is emptied, the front and back of the bag on each other during the emptying process come to rest, which makes further emptying difficult. The tubular Part 8 extends into a lower part of the bag.

5 shows a further embodiment, similar to that in FIG. 4 on the Page 10b of the closure element 1 spacer elements 9 are formed, which also should prevent the front and back of the bag from being emptied come to rest on each other.

6 and 7 show closure elements 1 according to the invention with foils 6 between Front and back of the film bag 17 either on an upper edge or in are welded or glued in a corner region of the film bags 17. It is also possible that an inner film of the packaging, here the film bag, as a sealing membrane is used for the pouring opening 3. The shape of the closure element 1 is boat-shaped, so that the closure element fits well between two sides of the film can insert.

Claims (21)

Closure element (1) for a packaging for holding liquid or pasty goods, in particular for foil bags, with: a tiltable spout (2) with a pouring channel (13), and a pouring opening (3), which is closed by the pouring spout (2) in a first tilting position, and in a second tilting position of the pouring spout (2) is in connection with its pouring channel (13), wherein the spout (2) is connected in the region of the pouring opening (3) to a sealing part (4) which closes the pouring opening (3) and which is opened when the pouring spout tilts. Closure element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing part is a membrane. Closure element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the tiltable spout (2) is substantially tubular. Closure element (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the membrane is welded to the spout (2), preferably ultrasonically welded. Closure element according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing part is a plastic part with a predetermined breaking point. Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tiltable spout (2) lies in a recess (5) of the closure element in the first tilt position. Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (5) in which the tiltable spout (2) lies is closed by a removable film. Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the closure element, in addition to the recess (5), a trough (7) is provided for removing the film (6), the peelable film (6) at least partially protruding into the trough area. Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peelable film is glued around the recess (5) or is peelable or spot welded. Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure element further comprises a tubular part which adjoins the outlet opening on the side opposite the spout (2). Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure element comprises a spacer (9) on the side opposite the spout (2). Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tiltable spout (2) is rotatably mounted about an axis running perpendicular to the pouring channel. Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pouring opening is tightly connected to the pouring channel. Closure element according to claim 12, d. that is, the one facing the pouring opening End 12 of the pouring spout (2) and an area around which the pouring opening one Have a sealing surface that is rotationally symmetrical for the tilting movement between 0 and 90 ° with respect to the axis (14). Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tiltable spout has an end (12) facing the exit opening, with a rounded cross section, which fits snugly on a rounded area around the exit opening (3). Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (4) is an inner film of the packaging. Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (4) is a polyethylene or polypropylene film or else a coextruded film with a well sealable outer layer. Closure element according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (4) is glued or welded around the pouring opening. Foil bags made of mono or composite material with a closure element after at least one of claims 1 to 18. Foil bag according to claim 19, characterized in that the closure element between the front and back of the bag is welded or glued to an upper edge or a corner area. Foil bag according to one of claims 19 or 20, characterized in that the foil bag is a beverage bag.

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