EP1534592B1 - Method for applying a resealable pouring element to a container and corresponding container - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for applying a reclosable pouring element comprising a pouring opening and a flange and having a removable cap, to a container having an opening. The method comprising the steps of connecting the pouring element to a lid of the container having an opening by affixing the flange of the pouring element to the lid in a liquid-tight fashion. Sealing a section of a closure film on the pouring element so that the pouring opening of the pouring element still remains open. Connecting the lid to the container body in a liquid-tight fashion. Sterilizing an interior of the container. Filing the container with a product through the pouring opening. Closing the container by sealing the closure film onto the pouring element in such a fashion that the pouring opening of the pouring element is closed in a liquid-tight fashion and applying the cap to the pouring element.

Description

• Verbinden des Ausgießelements mit einem die Öffnung aufweisenden Deckel des Behälters durch flüssigkeitsdichtes Befestigen des Flansches des Ausgießelements am Deckel,
• flüssigkeitsdichtes Verbinden des Deckels mit dem Korpus,
• Verbinden des Bodens mit dem Korpus,
• Sterilisieren des Behälterinnenraumes einschließlich der Gießöffnung,
• Füllen des Behälters mit einem Produkt durch die Gießöffnung,
• Verschließen des Behälters durch Ansiegeln der Verschlussfolie an das Ausgießelement in der Weise, dass die Gießöffnung des Ausgießelements flüssigkeitsdicht verschlossen ist, und
• Aufbringen der Kappe auf das Ausgießelement.

The invention relates to a method for applying a casting opening and a flange and having a removable cap resealable spout on a container having an opening and a container produced by such a method, which consists of a sleeve-shaped body, bottom and lid, with the following Steps:

• Connecting the pouring element to a lid of the container having the opening by attaching the flange of the pouring element to the cover in a fluid-tight manner,
• liquid-tight connection of the lid to the body,
• Connecting the floor to the body,
• Sterilizing the container interior including the pouring opening,
• Filling the container with a product through the pouring opening,
• Closing the container by sealing the sealing foil to the pouring element in such a way that the pouring opening of the pouring element is closed in a liquid-tight manner, and
• Applying the cap to the pouring element.

If in the following of 'container' is mentioned, then it should be understood as any container, without Restriction on their nature, cross section, shape or material. The same applies to the pouring elements to be used. The invention encompasses all types of reclosable pouring elements, one-piece or multi-piece, those with screw caps, snaps or the like.

The invention also relates to a container according to the preamble of claim 5.

DE 690 21 078 T2 describes a method for attaching a pouring spout having a flange to a cardboard container made of a cardboard / plastic composite material. The pouring spout is inserted into a cut-out opening of the cardboard wall with a sealing membrane (sealing film) already fastened to it and a preassembled screw cap, where it is fastened to the cardboard container by means of an ultrasonic horn and an anvil.

A similar prior art is disclosed in DE 692 06 903 T2. Also in the method described there, the sealing film is sealed liquid-tight before applying the pouring element to the cardboard container on the pouring.

A disadvantage of the aforementioned prior art is that the container must always have a prepared opening for receiving the pouring or emptying element and a further opening for filling. This leads to a relatively high design effort in the Applizier- or filling machines and is also in terms of hygiene requirements of disadvantage, since - as quickly apparent - the sterilization of the known containers always take place after the introduction and liquid-tight closing the pouring or emptying can.

From the registered documents of the German Utility Model G 90 05 581 a generic method for applying a resealable pouring spout on a container having an opening is already known in which after the liquid-tight connecting the pouring element with the lid of the container of the container with a product through the pouring opening is filled, after which the container is sealed by sealing a sealing foil to the pouring element such that the pouring opening of the pouring element is sealed liquid-tight, wherein the pouring element is finally closed with a cap. However, the packaging container produced by the known method can not be readily used for the storage of food. For this purpose, a great deal of effort is necessary because after filling the previously sterilized container, the supplied sealing film must also be sterilized, which leads to a great design effort. The utility model also discloses a generic container.

The present invention is therefore the object of the above-mentioned and explained in more detail above method for applying a pouring element to a container for drinks or other flowable product and a container produced by the method in such a way and further that with a structurally small structure a reliable Sterilization and the applied film seal is guaranteed.

This object is achieved by a method with the method specified in the preamble of claim 1 Characteristics solved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

The invention has recognized that the sterilization process, which is anyway necessary for sterilizing the interior of the container, can also be used simultaneously to sterilize the closure film to be sealed after the filling process in the same operation, without having to increase the amount of sterilizing medium. While in the prior art the space to be sterilized is always relatively large due to the feed tools located therein, it is limited to a small area in the method according to the invention.

A further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention consists in that the container with the pouring element attached thereto and the sealing foil affixed to the pouring element with the pouring opening of the pouring element open at least with the lid of the container having the pouring element is introduced into an area delimited by sidewalls Supplying a sterilizing agent in the direction of the container serves and encloses the periphery of the container in the region of the pouring element having the lid tightly or with little clearance.

A high level of protection against contamination of the product or product-carrying parts filled in the container is achieved, in particular, if according to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the container at least with the lid having the spout during filling of the container and the liquid-tight closing of the pouring opening Sealing the sealing film on the pouring element remains in the demarcated area.

The container according to the invention with a pouring opening and a flange and reclosable with a removable cap pouring, wherein the pouring element are designed as screw socket and the cap as a screw cap, characterized by the characterizing features of claim 5.

A "division" of the container in the lid, sleeve-like body and bottom leads to a simplified production of 'more complicated' parts such as the connection of the lid with the pouring. It is possible that the floor before or - alternatively - is connected liquid-tight after application of the lid to the body.

The containers produced by the process according to the invention can be used both for fresh and for aseptic products. In the case of aseptic products, the container and the parts which come into contact with the product filled therein can be sterilized before the filling process. It is, however possible to sterilize the container according to the invention also after closing together with the bottled product, for example in an autoclave.

In the pouring spout to be attached is a spout with a cap designed accordingly as a screw cap. In this case, the pouring element preferably has on its outer circumference a thread-free region for sealing a portion of the sealing film. The area for sealing the portion of the sealing film is formed as a flattening.

Further preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention and in particular of the container according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Fig. 1

einen Deckel eines Behälters mit einer Öffnung zur Aufnahme eines Ausgießelements vor dessen Einbringen, schematisch in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

den Deckel aus Fig. 1 mit dem Ausgießelement nach dessen Einbringen,

Fig. 3

den Gegenstand aus Fig. 2 mit darauf aufgesiegelter Verschlussfolie

Fig. 4

einen Behälter mit appliziertem Ausgießelement während der Sterilisierphase, schematisch im Querschnitt und um 90° gedreht dargestellt,

Fig. 5

den Behälter aus Fig. 4 während der Füllphase,

Fig. 6

den Behälter aus Fig. 4 mit verschlossenem Ausgießelement, und

Fig. 7

den Behälter aus Fig. 4 mit verschlossenem Ausgießelement und aufgesetzter Kappe.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a schematic drawing, which merely represents a preferred exemplary embodiment. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1

a lid of a container having an opening for receiving a pouring element before its introduction, schematically in side view,

Fig. 2

1 with the pouring element after its introduction,

Fig. 3

the article of Fig. 2 with sealed on it sealing film

Fig. 4

a container with an applied pouring element during the sterilization phase, shown schematically in cross-section and rotated by 90 °,

Fig. 5

the container of Fig. 4 during the filling phase,

Fig. 6

the container of Figure 4 with a closed pouring element, and

Fig. 7

the container of FIG. 4 with a closed pouring element and attached cap.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pouring element 1 of a pouring element is first introduced into an opening 2 of a container lid 3. The shape of the container lid 3 is matched to the cross section of a container, not shown, to be filled and has an upwardly angled edge 4 for connection to this container. The pouring element 1 is integrally provided with a flange 5, which rests against the inner side 6 of the container lid 3, so that the pouring element 1 penetrates the opening 2 in the container lid 3. Subsequently, the flange is liquid-tightly connected to the container lid 3 by gluing or welding to the unit shown in Fig. 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen that in the preferred embodiment shown here, the pouring element 1 has on its outer periphery a thread-free region 7 for sealing a section 8 of a closure film 9. The thread-free region 7 is formed as a flattening, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be seen. The Closure film 9 is first sealed only with its (in the illustration lower) section 8 at the unthreaded region 7 of the pouring element 1, in such a way that the closure film 9 is aligned substantially perpendicular to the lid 3 and flange 5 of the pouring element 1 (See Figures 3 to 5).

For better illustration, the object according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in FIGS. 4 to 7 is shown rotated by 90 °. The container may have any cross-section and has in the illustrated embodiment substantially in the form of a can. It is accordingly formed from the lid 3, a body 10 and a bottom 11, which preferably consist of a cardboard-based, liquid-tight cardboard / plastic composite material. The base 11, like the cover 3, has an angled connecting edge 4, which engages in a flanged connecting edge 12 of the body 10 (compare FIGS. 3 and 4).

Preferably, the flange 5 of the pouring element 1 is attached to the lid 3 before it is connected to the body 10. However, it is also possible to attach the flange 5 of the pouring element 1 to the inside 6 of the lid 3, after the latter is already connected to the body 10, provided that the body 10 is not yet closed by the bottom 11 to be joined thereto.

The sealing of the section 8 of the sealing film 9 at the unthreaded region 7 of the pouring element 1 takes place either before the connection of the cover 3 and the body 10 or only after their connection.

In the event that the container is to be sterilized before filling, in Figs. 4 to 7, for example, a limited area designated by the reference numeral 13, which od through side walls 14 may be formed. Like. The area 13 serves to guide a sterilizing agent, for example superheated steam, in the direction of the container. As already mentioned, it is also possible to use the method according to the invention without a sterilization of the container.

After the section 8 of the sealing film 9 is sealed to the unthreaded region 7 of the pouring element 1 and the container is formed by liquid-tight connection of lid 3, body 10 and bottom 11 at the angled connecting edges 4 and the flanged connecting edge 12, the container with the attached thereto pouring element 1 and the sealing film 9 sealed thereto with the pouring opening 16 open of the pouring element 1 in the demarcated area 13, and to the extent that at least the substantially perpendicularly from the lid 3 and flange 5 projecting sealing film 9, the pouring element 1 and the protrude upper part of the container with the lid 3 in the region 13.

As indicated schematically in FIG. 4, the interior of the container and the pouring element 1, including the closure film 9, are sterilized by means of superheated steam or another sterilizing agent. The sterilizing agent is indicated in Fig. 4 by curved lines 15. The area 13 encloses the circumference of the container to the container lid. 3

After sterilization, the container is filled via the pouring element 1 with the product to be filled, which is indicated in Fig. 5 by downwardly directed arrows 17. Following the filling of the container, the sealing film 9 is folded over and sealed at the upper edge of the pouring element 1 such that the pouring opening 16 of the pouring element 1 is closed in a liquid-tight manner. 18 denotes a gripping flap of the sealing film 9 which is not sealed to the pouring element 1 (see FIG. 6) and which is intended to facilitate the removal of the sealing film 9 by the end user.

After the pouring opening 16 of the pouring element 1 is closed by sealing the sealing film 9, a cap, in the exemplary embodiment, a screw cap 19 is finally applied to the pouring element 1, as shown in FIG. 7.

Figs. 4 to 7 show that - in the case of sterile filling shown alone - the container with the pouring element 1 having the lid 3 during filling of the container, the liquid-tight closure of the pouring opening 16 by sealing the sealing film 9 on the pouring element 1 and Applying the screw cap 19 on the pouring element 1 in the demarcated by the side walls 14 area 13 remains inserted.

In the case shown, the container is removed from the region 13 only after the application of the screw cap 19. The essential elements of the container are thus during the filling of the container and the Closing the pouring port 16 arranged in a sterilized environment. However, it is also possible to remove the container already after the liquid-tight closing of the pouring opening 16 by sealing the sealing foil 9 on the pouring element out of the region 13 and to apply the screw cap 19 outside the region 13 onto the pouring element 1.

If it does not need to be filled in a sterile manner, the application of the sealing film can preferably take place in one lane and the subsequent filling can be multi-lane. It is clear that the one-lane process has to run at a higher speed than the multi-lane one.

Claims (9)

1. Method for applying a pour-out element (1) which has a pouring aperture (16) and a flange (5) with threaded socket (1') and provided with a closure film (9) and capable of being closed again by a removable cap (19) on a container having an aperture (2), the container consisting of a body (10), base (11), and cover (3), with the following steps:

   - connecting the pour-out element (1) to a cover (3) of the container having the aperture (2) by the fluid-tight securing of the flange (5) of the pour-out element (1) to the cover (3),

   - fluid-tight connecting of the cover (3) to the body (10),

   - connecting the base to the body (10),

   - Sterilizing the interior of the container, including the pouring aperture (16),

   - filling the container with a product through the pouring aperture (16),

   - closing the container by sealing the closure film (9) to the pour-out element (1) in such a way that the pouring aperture (16) of the pour-out element (1) is closed fluid-tight, and

   - fitting the cap (19) onto the pour-out element (1), characterised in that, before the sterilization, a section (8) of the closure film (9) is sealed to the pour-out element (1) in such a way that the pouring aperture (16) of the pour-out element (1) still remains open until filling, and in that the section (8) of the closure film (9) is sealed laterally to a thread-free area of the threaded socket (1'), this area being designed as flat.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the closure film (9) is sealed after applying the pour-out element (1) and before sterilizing.
3. Method according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the container, with the pour-out element (1) secured to it, and the closure film (9) sealed to the pour-out element (1), with the pouring aperture (16) of the pour-out element (1) still open, is introduced, at least with the cover (3) having the pour-out element (1), into an area (13) delimited by side walls (14), this area serving to conduct a sterilization medium in the direction of the container and surrounding, tightly or with a slight degree of play, the circumference of the container in the area of the cover (3) having the pour-out element (1).
4. Method according to Claim 3, characterised in that the container, at least with the cover (3) having the pour-out element (1), during the filling of the container and the fluid-tight closure of the pouring aperture (16) by sealing the closure film (9) to the pour-out element (1) remains in the delimited area (13).
5. Container with a pour-out element which has a pouring aperture (16) and a flange (5) and which can be closed again by means of a removable cap (19), the pour-out element (1) being designed as a screw socket and the cap (19) as a screw cover, characterised in that the pour-out element (1) has on its outer circumference a thread-free area (7) for the sealing of a section (8) of a closure film (9), and in that the area (7) for the sealing of the section (8) of the closure film (9) is designed as flat.
6. Container according to Claim 5, characterised in that this is formed from a cover (3), a body (10), and a base (11), the cover (3) having an aperture (2) and the pour-out element.
7. Container according to Claim 6, characterised in that the cover (3), the body (10), and/or the base (11) consist of a fluid-tight cardboard/plastic composite material which has a carrier layer made of cardboard.
8. Container according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the cover (3), the base (11) and/or the body (10) have a circumferentially beaded connection periphery.
9. Container according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the cover (3) and/or the base (11) have an angled connection periphery (4), which engages into a circumferentially beaded connection periphery (12) of the body (10).

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