EP2551216B1 - Packaging container, production method and production device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a packaging container according to the preamble of claim 1 comprising a container body comprising at least one plastic layer or consisting of a plastic layer, a first chamber defining a first chamber with a first inner portion and a second chamber having a second inner portion, comprising a first sealing zone arranged inside the container body to which a foil separating the first chamber from the second chamber is sealed. Such a packaging container is out US 2003/0222089 known. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing such a packaging container according to claim 8 and to an apparatus for producing the packaging container or for carrying out the method according to claim 12.

Also from the EP 1 481 922 A2 It is known to apply barrier layers in a vacuum.

From the US 2001/0047724 A1 is a barrier-free multi-chamber packaging known.

The US 2002/0006485 A1 describes a method for coating tubular bag packaging, wherein here a barrier layer is printed in the rolling process, leaving a seal area.

Uncoated packaging containers are known on their inside, for example for the production of coffee, comprising a plurality of chambers, usually arranged one above the other in the direction of a vertical axis of a container, which are separated from one another by films which are sealed to the inner circumferential wall of the container. For packaging containers For brewing coffee, as a rule, one of the chambers comprises coffee powder as filling material and a chamber adjacent thereto a filter element for retaining the coffee powder.

In particular, if in at least one of the chambers a moisture-sensitive or oxygen-sensitive filling material, in particular a food, such as coffee powder is received, it is desirable that the packaging container has a barrier layer to increase the Durchtrittsperrwirkung against moisture and / or gases. Such applied in a vacuum barrier layers are for example in the EP 1 048 746 or the WO2009 / 030425 described. A disadvantage of the known layers is that conventional sealing materials adhere poorly to these, so that only a coating with the barrier layer from the outside comes into question for the described packaging container with internal sealing zone . Here, however, there is the problem that the usually only a few nanometers thick sealing layer is relatively shock and scratch sensitive and would be exposed to the outside unprotected such stresses. For this reason, the aforementioned suggests WO2009 / 030425 before over-coating the barrier layer designated there as a vacuum coating for the improvement of the mechanical stability.

Based on the aforementioned prior art, the invention has for its object to provide a better protected against the passage of at least one chemical compound and / or element packaging container with innenkleber film, wherein a barrier layer used for this purpose should be optimally protected against mechanical stress, without necessarily needing to over-coat the barrier layer. Furthermore, the object is to provide a method and an apparatus for producing such an improved packaging container.

This object is achieved with regard to the packaging container with the features of claim 1 and in a generic packaging container, in particular, that the first inner portion and the second inner portion with a generated in vacuum barrier layer to increase the average barrier effect against at least one chemical compound and / or a chemical element are provided, and that the first inner portion of the second inner portion is spaced over the first sealing zone, which is free from the barrier layer.

With regard to the method, the object is achieved with the features of claim 8 and with respect to the device with the features of claim 12.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. All combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims and / or the figures fall within the scope of the invention.

The invention has first recognized that the at least one inner film (preferably heat-sealing film) having packaging container by providing a vacuum generated barrier layer improved Durchtrittssperrwirkung against water vapor and / or gases and / or another chemical compound, eg. As essential oils or solvents and / or a chemical element may be to protect an internal product, in particular a food product, for example, a coffee powder from aging phenomena, in particular oxidation phenomena or other adverse effects. Furthermore, the invention has recognized that it is advantageous for protecting the barrier layer against external mechanical influences, to arrange this barrier layer in the interior of the container body, which basically Overcoating with a protective lacquer layer can be waived (but not necessarily). To overcome the problem that adhere poorly to a vacuum-generated barrier layer with today's sealing materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene, it is an essential idea of the invention to leave a subsequent seal zone forming area within the container body of the barrier layer, wherein on both sides Sealing zone a barrier layer area (coated inner sections) connects. Such a packaging container according to the invention is at first glance extremely difficult to produce, since during the coating process it must be ensured in a vacuum that the sealing zone provided between two inner sections to be coated with the barrier layer remains free of the barrier layer. This can be realized according to a method according to the invention in that the sealing zone is covered during the vacuum coating process with a mask, which is preferably placed in the region of the sealing zone in front of the entry of the packaging container to be coated in a vacuum chamber, in particular launched. The mask prevents deposition of the coating on or onto the masked area during the coating process.

The coating is preferably a functional coating which protects against the passage of moisture and / or gases. The coating is preferably chosen such that it reduces migration phenomena from the packaged product into the at least one plastic layer. Most preferably, the barrier layer is additionally or alternatively designed such that with this the entry of chemical substances and / or elements of the at least one plastic layer is minimized in the packaged product. Such properties are particularly advantageous in the case of the formation of the packaging container as a food packaging container. Especially in the case of packaging of spices, it is advantageous if the barrier layer has a penetration barrier action against essential oils. In particular, when technical products are to be packed in the packaging container, it is preferred if the barrier layer has a penetration barrier action against solvents.

Possible coating methods which can be used in the vacuum chamber are in particular CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) methods such as plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) or PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) methods such as sputtering into consideration. In such vacuum coating processes, the mask preferably rests so tightly and sealingly against the packaging body that the coating gases (in the case of CVD) can not reach the covered regions (sealing zone in the interior of the packaging body). Such a mask preferably comprises a seal, advantageously made of an elastomer, in particular a rubber coating and / or a silicone seal. This is preferably pressed under a weight force (and possibly under an additional contact force by means of pressing means) against the packaging body in order to minimize gaps between the seal and the packaging body and to ensure a high sealing effect. In a PVD method, the mask preferably prevents an impact of the electron beam on the surface of the packaging body in the region of the sealing zone, whereby it is not coated.

Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), cycloolefin copolymers (COC), cycloolefin polymer (COP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are particularly suitable as a plastic layer for producing the packaging container, for example by injection molding, injection blow molding, blow molding and / or deep drawing. , Polyamide (PA) or polysyrene (PS).

It is also possible, the packaging moldings of compostable polymers, in particular based on renewable raw materials polymers such as starch-based polymers (strong blends, PLA (polyazide), PAH polyester (polyhydroxyalkanoate), eg PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate), PHV (polyhydroxyvalerate), cellulosic materials made of chemically modified cellulose materials based on renewable raw materials polymers are in particular specific polymers, for example based on PDO (biopropanediol), specific polyamides, eg made of Ritzinusöl, and polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on Bio Ethanol, for example based on sugar cane, as well as specific synthetic polyesters produced from crude oil or natural gas, or laminates made from said materials.

The barrier layer, in particular for injection molded parts, preferably comprises a vacuum coating with metal oxides, in particular aluminum oxides, and / or silicon oxides because of their good penetration barrier effects. Preferred coating agents are designed so that the barrier layer (vacuum coating) is applied by means of a sputtering process as an oxide, nitridic or sulfidic layer. It is also possible by means of a plasma CVD, preferably a PECVD (plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition) method with HNDSO (hexamethyldisiloxane) or TEOS (tetraethoxysilane), in particular with plasma pretreatment with HNDSO and oxygen, HNDSO and nitrogen, to apply a ceramic layer as a coating. More preferably, the coating compositions are formed so that they are a vacuum coating by sputtering or evaporation, in particular of metal oxides, in particular aluminum oxides, or silicon oxides, in particular SIOX, where X is a number less than 2, preferably less than 0.9, or by plasma polymerization of silicon oxides, preferably starting from organosilanes, in particular from hexamethyldisiloxane (HNDSO) and tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDSO) or by plasma polymerization of highly crosslinked hydrocarbon layers, in particular starting from methane, ethylene or acetylene on the packaging body.

Advantageously, the coating compositions may also be formed so that the coating is a carbon layer, in particular an amorphous carbon layer (English "Diamond-Like Carbon" or DLC).

• Wasserstofffreie amorphe Kohlenstoffschichten "a-C" bestehen überwiegend aus sp²-hybridisierten Bindungen und werden deshalb auch als Graphitartige Kohlenstoffschichten bezeichnet.
• Tetraedrische wasserstofffreie amorphe Kohlenstoffschichten "ta-C" bestehen aus sp³-hybridisierten Bindungen, weshalb sie den Diamantschichten gleichzusetzen sind.
• Metallhaltige wasserstofffreie amorphe Kohlenstoffschichten, "a-C:Me"
• Wasserstoffhaltige amorphe Kohlenstoffschichten, "a-C:H" (H-Anteil > 35%)
• Tetraedrische wasserstoffhaltige amorphe Kohlenstoffschichten, "ta-C:H" (H-Anteil >25%) mit überwiegend sp³-hybridisierten Kohlenstoffatomen
• Metallhaltige wasserstoffhaltige amorphe Kohlenstoffschichten, "a-C:H:Me". Durch Dotieren mit Metallen bildet sich ein Verbund aus einer "a-C:H" Matrix und Metallkarbiden. Schichten aus diesem Material besitzen hohe Verschleißfestigkeiten, geringe Reibkoeffizienten sowie bessere Haftung der Schichten. Durch Veränderung des Metallgehaltes lassen sich die Materialeigenschaften stark beeinflussen.
• Modifizierte wasserstoffhaltige amorphe Kohlenstoffschichten, "a-C:H:X". Durch Dotierung mit Elementen wie Si, O, N, F und B können amorphe Kohlenstoffschichten je nach gewünschten Eigenschaften stark modifiziert werden. Silizium beispielsweise erhöht die Temperaturbeständigkeit in sauerstoffhaltiger Umgebung. Eine Dotierung mit Silizium und Sauerstoff kann die Oberflächenspannung stark herabsetzen (bis hin zu Werten in der Größenordnung von PTFE). Außerdem lassen sich transparente und äußerst kratzfeste Schichten herstellen.

In particular, the following amorphous carbon layers are suitable, which are subdivided according to the VDE 2840 guideline as follows:

• Hydrogen-free amorphous carbon layers "aC" consist predominantly of sp ² -hybridized bonds and are therefore also referred to as graphite-like carbon layers.
• Tetrahedral hydrogen-free amorphous carbon layers "ta-C" consist of sp ³ -hybridized bonds, which is why they are equivalent to the diamond layers.
• Metal-containing hydrogen-free amorphous carbon films, "aC: Me"
• Hydrogen-containing amorphous carbon layers, "aC: H" (H content> 35%)
• Tetrahedral hydrogen-containing amorphous carbon layers, "ta-C: H" (H content> 25%) with predominantly sp ³ -hybridized carbon atoms
• Metal-containing hydrogen-containing amorphous carbon layers, "aC: H: Me". By doping with metals, a composite of an "aC: H" matrix and metal carbides is formed. Layers of this Material have high wear resistance, low coefficients of friction and better adhesion of the layers. By changing the metal content, the material properties can be strongly influenced.
• Modified hydrogen-containing amorphous carbon layers, "aC: H: X". By doping with elements such as Si, O, N, F and B, amorphous carbon layers can be strongly modified depending on the desired properties. Silicon, for example, increases the temperature resistance in an oxygen-containing environment. A doping with silicon and oxygen can greatly reduce the surface tension (up to values of the order of magnitude of PTFE). In addition, transparent and extremely scratch-resistant layers can be produced.

In particular, for the inclusion of medical and / or biological materials, in particular liquids, offers a, preferably fluoridated, carbon layer, since this is among other things given by the good degradability in the body a high biological compatibility. It should be noted here that the recording can also take place only briefly, for example in a blood bag and / or a flow-through cannula.

Even when taking up foodstuffs, the coating with carbon layers can combine the advantages of high biocompatibility with an increased penetration barrier action against gases and / or moisture.

The packaging container can be used for different applications, in particular as a food packaging container, for example as a coffee cartridge for brewing coffee, in which case a coffee powder is preferably arranged in one of the chambers and in a further chamber, for example, a filter element. It is also possible to form the first film as a filter membrane, or alternatively as an impermeable, ie dense membrane. Another conceivable field of application is the use of the packaging container for storing multi-component adhesives or other chemical compositions which come into contact only when the first film is pierced.

With regard to the geometric design of the sealing zone forming inner portion of the packaging container, there are different possibilities. In particular, when it comes to a conical or cylindrical packaging body, it is preferred if the first sealing zone connects the first inner portion and the second inner portion steplessly with each other - in this case, the film is preferably flanged or folded so that they extend to the surface of the Foil extending, preferably annular sealing edge forms, with which it is sealed to the first sealing zone (preferably heat-sealed). Alternatively, it is possible to form the packaging container, at least on its inner circumference, with a step which extends at an angle to at least one of the adjacent inner sections. The provision of a step facilitates the placement of a mask during the coating step.

Preferably, the first film is the only film between the first and second chambers.

It is particularly expedient if, in addition to the first sealing zone arranged in the interior of the packaging container, at least one further sealing zone is provided which is free of the barrier layer. The at least one further sealing zone may be provided either inside the container body, like the first sealing zone, or alternatively on the outside, preferably on a circumferential sealing collar or sealing edge of the container body. It should be noted at this point that it is fundamentally possible to provide not only one additional sealing zone but a plurality of further sealing zones, of which preferably at least one, more preferably all sealing zones are free of the barrier layer. Sealing zones may be provided outside the packaging container and / or indoors. It is very particularly preferred if the at least one further sealing zone delimits the first or the second chamber, in particular in which the second sealing zone adjoins the first inner section or the second inner section.

During the coating process, at least two of the sealing zones, preferably all sealing zones with a common mask, can be protected against the coating process or against the deposition of the coating, or with separate masks. It is also possible to provide groups of masks, in which case at least one of the masks covers two sealing zones.

It is very particularly preferred if the first sealing zone separates the first chamber and the second chamber and a second sealing zone or a third sealing zone likewise separates two chambers, preferably the second from a third chamber or the first from a third chamber. In this case, the sealing zone is also located on the inner circumference of the packaging container, preferably along an axis, in particular a vertical axis spaced from the first sealing zone. Preferably, all sealing zones are arranged concentrically to a central axis of the packaging container.

The method according to the invention is characterized, as mentioned above, by the fact that the at least one sealing zone is marked with a mask, which is adapted to protect the sealing zone in the interior of the container body from the deposition of the coating and at the same time allows a coating of the first and second, adjacent to the sealing zone or the mask inner portion of the container. After placing the mask, the container body, more preferably exclusively, on its inside in vacuum with a barrier layer to increase the Durchtrittssperrwirkung against water vapor and / or gases and / or coated against other chemical compounds and / or elements, wherein the masked seal zone remains free of the coating. The container can be made for example by injection molding, deep drawing or blow molding.

As also already indicated, it is possible and even preferable to provide a plurality of sealing zones, wherein preferably a coated or to be coated inner portion adjacent to each of the sealing zones. The seal zones can be masked with separate masks or all seal zones with a common mask or at least groups of seal zones with a common mask.

Part of the method may also be the filling of the packaging container with at least one filling material, wherein the film is sealed to the at least one sealing zone before or after at least one of the chamber has been filled with filling material.

It has been found particularly expedient if the container body to be coated is produced inline - then container bodies are removed from a molding device, in particular an injection molding, deep drawing or blow molding device and then placed on transport means with which the container body to be coated is conveyed to masking agents , there provided in its interior with at least one mask and then coated, whereupon, such as will be explained later, preferably a demasking, ie a removal of the mask after the coating process takes place. The masking means are thus designed and driven to arrange the mask in the interior of the container body adjacent to or between two inner sections to be coated.

The device according to the invention is characterized by coating means, comprising a vacuum chamber which is designed such that at least one container body comprising at least one plastic layer or consisting of a plastic layer is provided on its inside with a barrier layer, preferably previously described, for increasing the Durchtrittsperrwirkung against moisture and / or gases and / or another chemical compound and / or element is coatable. According to the invention, provision is now made for masking agents to be arranged upstream of the coating means in a transport direction of the at least one container body, which are designed, activated and determined to be applied to the at least one sealing zone for protection of the same from a coating. The masking means for setting the masking may comprise, for example, a gripping arm.

In principle, it is possible to provide a separate mask for each sealing zone. At least one group, comprising at least two sealing zones, is preferably assigned a common mask. Even more preferably, all sealing zones are covered with a common mask. It is also conceivable to provide a separate mask for each container body, but it is preferable to assign at least one common mask to a group of at least two container bodies.

It is particularly advantageous if, in addition to masking agents, demasking means for removing the at least one mask from at least a sealing zone are provided after the coating process, wherein it is even more preferred to form masking agent and unmasking agent by a common unit. Particularly suitably, the masks are used directly after the removal of the coated container body again for masking to be coated container bodies. In this case, for example, a vacuum gripping arm is available, which surrounds the masks from a unmasking position to a masking position. As a result, temporary storage for masks are not necessarily needed and it is a reusability of the masks guaranteed, which brings economic and environmental benefits. It is also conceivable to provide, for example, a cleaning unit for the masks between the masking means and the unmasking means.

In order to ensure a high product throughput, it has been found to be advantageous to have the container body through the coating means in a geometrically linear (preferably translational) manner, ie to form the transport path such that the container bodies pass through a position of the coating agent only once. As a result, a continuous production is made possible and, in particular compared to turntables described in the prior art, an increased throughput possible by simultaneously container body from the coating agent can be supplied and removed.

Preferably, the coating means in the direction of passage (transport direction) of carrier units for the respective transport preferably comprise a plurality of container bodies, first an inlet lock, then a vacuum chamber with subsequent outlet lock. Due to the linear construction, the locks and the chambers need not be synchronized with one another at the same time, in particular the number of carrier units in the respective sections and / or the residence time of the individual carrier units in the respective sections may differ from one another.

It is very particularly preferred if the device according to the invention comprises means for sealing at least one film to at least one of the sealing zones, preferably for sealing a first film to the first sealing zone, so that the film can be sealed to the sealing zone downstream of the coating process.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

Fig. 1a

eine Schnittansicht einer möglichen Ausführungsform eines nach dem Konzept der Erfindung ausgebildeten Verpackungsbehälters mit insgesamt drei Siegelzonen, an die jeweils eine Folie angesiegelt ist,

Fig.

1 b eine Draufsicht auf den Behälterkörper des Verpackungsbehälters gemäß Fig. 1 a ohne Folien zur Verdeutlichung der Lage der Siegelzonen,

Fig. 2a

eine alternative Ausführungsform eines Verpackungsbehälters mit einer ersten Siegelzone, die auf einem nicht gestuften Abschnitt (innere Mantelfläche) eines Behälterkörpers angeordnet ist,

Fig. 2b

eine Draufsicht auf den Behälterkörper des Verpackungsbehälters gemäß Fig. 2a ohne Folien und

Fig. 3

in einer schematischen Darstellung einen möglichen Aufbau einer Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Verpackungsbehälters bzw. zum Beschichten eines Behälterkörpers.

These show:

Fig. 1a

a sectional view of a possible embodiment of a trained according to the concept of the invention packaging container with a total of three sealing zones, to each of which a film is sealed,

FIG.

1b is a top view of the container body of the packaging container according to FIG Fig. 1 a without foils to illustrate the location of the seal zones,

Fig. 2a

an alternative embodiment of a packaging container with a first sealing zone, which is arranged on a non-stepped portion (inner circumferential surface) of a container body,

Fig. 2b

a plan view of the container body of the packaging container according to Fig. 2a without slides and

Fig. 3

in a schematic representation of a possible construction of an apparatus for producing a packaging container or for coating a container body.

In the figures, like elements and elements having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1a a packaging container 100 is shown in a longitudinal sectional view, wherein the packaging container comprises a container body 8, for example, produced by injection molding, which consists in the embodiment shown of a plastic layer of PE. Alternatively, the container body may be made of a different material and / or a plastic laminate. In the embodiment shown, the container body 8 is formed rotationally symmetrical to an axis A, which forms a vertical axis of the packaging container 1 in the concrete embodiment.

The packaging container 100 comprises two chambers, namely a first (upper) chamber 101 and second (lower) chamber 102, wherein the two chambers 101, 102 are separated from each other by means of a first film 103, which is arranged in the interior of the container body 3 and to a first annular sealing zone 104 is sealed (preferably heat-sealed).

The container body 8 is coated on its inside with a vacuum-generated barrier layer 105, which is shown substantially thicker in relation to its actual thickness extension in the nanometer range in order to illustrate its position.

The barrier layer 5 for increasing the penetration barrier action against water vapor and / or gases is located both on a first inner section 106 of the container body 8, which is the first chamber 101 limited on the periphery and on a second inner portion 107, which peripherally bounds the second chamber 102. First and second inner portions 106, 107 are spaced apart from each other via the first sealing zone 104, which is free from the barrier layer, which can be achieved by vacuuming a mask on the first sealing zone 104 during the coating process on the first sealing zone 104.

With regard to the formation of the first film 103, there are different possibilities. For example, it can consist of a sealable material, such as PE, or it can be multilayered and comprise a sealing layer, at least in the later sealing region. For example, it can also be a metal foil with a peripheral PE coating or a full-surface PE layer. Of course, alternative sealing layers can also be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, the container body 8 is stepped in the region of the sealing zone 104 - in other words, the first sealing zone 104 is located on an inner ring stage 108, which in the embodiment shown extends both at an angle to the first inner portion and at an angle to the second inner portion. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sealing zone 104 is arranged in a radial plane relative to the axis A, ie runs at right angles to the axis A.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the packaging container 100 comprises, in addition to the first film 103, a second film 109 with which the first chamber 101 is closed on the side opposite the first film 103. The second film 109 is fixed to a second sealing zone 110, which is also free of the barrier layer 105 and which faces outward in the embodiment shown. Specifically, the second sealing zone 110 is the front side on a front side Ring collar 111 of the container body 108. Also this second sealing zone 110 is masked during the coating process to prevent deposition of the barrier layer 105.

It can be seen that the first and the second sealing zone are arranged concentrically to the axis A and spaced apart along the axis A.

Furthermore, a third foil 112 is provided, which closes the second chamber opposite the first foil 103. The third film is sealed to a third sealing zone 113, which is located on the inside of the container body 8 and directed towards the second chamber. The third sealing zone 113 is located on a circumferential, end-side inner ring 114 or bottom ring of the container body 8.

All films 103, 109 and 112 may be formed of the same material or of different materials or combinations of materials. It is essential that the films or at least one film layer is sealable in order to be sealed to the corresponding sealing zone.

In Fig. 1b is the container body 8 for producing the packaging container 100 according to Fig. 1a shown in a plan view. Slides are not (yet) available. The container body 8 is already coated with a barrier layer 105, wherein the barrier layer 105 is located exclusively on a first and a second inner section 106, 107, which each delimit a chamber 101, 102 on the circumferential side of the finished packaging container 100. Between the inner portions 106, 107 is the first annular sealing zone 104, which has been kept clear of the barrier layer 105 by masking, and adjacent to the inner portions 106, 107. Also recognizable are the second and the third Sealing zone 110, 113, each also adjacent to a coated inner portion and are free of the barrier layer 105.

In the following, the embodiment according to in Fig. 2a and 2b explained, to avoid repetition essentially only to the differences from the embodiment according to the Fig. 1a and 1b will be received. With regard to the similarities is on the Fig. 1 a and 1 b referenced with associated description of the figures.

It can be seen that the packaging container 100 according to Fig. 2a does not include any step in the central region, but is continuously conical in the exemplary embodiment shown. A continuous cylindrical design is alternatively conceivable. Consequently, the first sealing zone 104 is not located on a stepped shoulder but on the inner lateral surface, ie the first sealing zone 104 steplessly connects the inner sections 106, 107 coated with a barrier layer 105.

The further films 109, 112 and sealing zones 110, 113 are designed and arranged analogously to the first exemplary embodiment.

In order to be able to arrange the first foil 103 on the non-stepped region of the container body 8, the first foil 103 is cup-shaped and comprises a sealing rim 115 folded upwards in the illustrated embodiment.

Out Fig. 2b the position of the sealing zones 104, 110 and 113 results in a plan view.

In Fig. 3 schematically is an apparatus for producing exemplified in the Fig. 1a and 2a shown packaging containers or for coating container bodies 8 shown. The device comprises means of transport 1 with a first and second transport section 2, 4, formed in the concrete embodiment by two conveyor belts. On the conveyor belts carrier units 6 are transported. In these carrier units 6 there are container bodies 8 which are conveyed out into the carrier units 6 or out of the carrier units 6 by feed means 20 and removal means 24. The feed means 20 and the removal means 24 are realized in the concrete embodiment by a gripper arm with suction cups.

The device comprises masking means 10 and unmasking means 12 with which masks 14 attached to the container body, in particular can be placed on or removed from them. In addition, the device comprises coating means 16 on the first transport section 2, which comprise an inlet lock 17, a vacuum chamber 18, and an outlet lock 19.

For coating the container bodies 8, the container bodies 8 to be coated are supplied to a feeding position 22 by the feeding means 20 of the apparatus. The feeding means 20 place the container bodies directly in carrier units 6, which in turn are continued by means of transport, here formed by a first and a second conveyor belt 2 and 4, on a transport path.

The transport path is composed of two sections, preferably of equal length, which are further preferably arranged parallel to one another and which are rotated through 180 ° to each other, ie. run opposite, wherein the first portion of the first conveyor belt and the second section is associated with the second conveyor belt.

On the transport path, the carrier units 6 first pass through a masking position, in which the container bodies are provided with masks 14. The means are designed such that at least one mask in the interior of the container body can be placed on a first sealing zone to be kept clear of a barrier coating, which is arranged between two inner sections of the container body 8 to be coated. The masks 14 rest with bearing surfaces on the container bodies and thus cover the container bodies 8 so as to cause at least one first sealing zone 104 disposed inside not to be coated.

On the transport path, the carrier units 6 enter the coating means 16. First, the ambient pressure in the inlet lock 17 is adapted to the pressure of the vacuum chamber 18. In the vacuum chamber, for example, by means of a PECVD method, a silicon oxide layer is applied, which is shown in the drawing by hatching of the corresponding container body. It can be seen that a first sealing zone 104 of the container body is free of the barrier layer 105, which is located in two of the first sealed zone 104 inner portions of the container body 8.

After coating, the ambient pressure of the carrier units 6 in the outlet lock 19 is readjusted to the atmospheric pressure.

The carrier units 6 then change by not shown first transfer means from the first transport section from the second transport section.

Here, the masks 14 (mono- or multi-part masks) are removed again from the carrier units 6, and then the coated container bodies 8 are removed from the carrier units 6 by removal means 24. The coated container bodies can now be filled as well as with films be provided, which can be settled on the free of the barrier layer 105 sealed zones.

Corresponding filling and sealing apparatus for applying the films in the container body 8 are not shown.

The masking means 10 and the unmasking means 12 may preferably be formed by a common unit. This then preferably attaches the masks 14 to the container body 8 in the masking position 11 and removes the masks in the unmasking position 13. The masking position 11 and the unmasking position 14 are close to each other and are perpendicular to the transport direction on a line, whereby the common unit to Masking and unmasking the masks can promote with little effort from the masking 11 to the demasking 14, where they are used as directly as possible again for masking container bodies 8.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Mode of Transport

2

first conveyor belt

4

second conveyor belt

6

support unit

8th

container body

10

masking

11

Maskierposition

12

Demaskiermittel

13

Demaskierposition

14

mask

16

coating agents

17

inlet sluice

18

vacuum chamber

19

outlet lock

20

feeding

22

feeding

24

extraction means

100

packaging container

101

first chamber

102

second chamber

103

first slide

104

first seal zone

105

barrier layer

106

first interior section

107

second interior section

108

annular step

109

second foil

110

second seal zone

111

ring ring

112

third slide

113

third seal zone

114

inner ring

115

sealing edge

A

axis

Claims (15)

1. Packaging container with a container body (8) comprising at least one plastic layer or consisting of a plastic layer and limiting a first chamber (101) with a first inner section (106) and a second chamber (102) with a second inner section (107), the packaging container comprising a first sealing zone (104) arranged inside the container body (8), to which is sealed a first film (103) separating the first chamber (101) from the second chamber (102),
   characterised in that
   the first inner section (106) and the second inner section (107) are provided with a barrier layer (105) generated in a vacuum for increasing the leak-through barrier effect against at least one chemical element, and in that the first inner section (106) is spaced apart from the second inner section (107) via the first sealing zone (104), which is free from the barrier zone (105).
2. The packaging container according to claim 1, characterised in that the first sealing zone (104) steplessly connects the first inner section (106) and the second inner section (107) with each other, or in that the first sealing zone (104) is formed on a container body (8) inner circumference shoulder extending at an angle to the first and/or second inner wall section.
3. The packaging container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a second sealing zone (110) spaced apart from the first sealing zone (104) is provided which is free from the barrier layer (105) and is sealed to the one second film (109) which preferably limits the first or the second chamber (101, 102).
4. The packaging container according to claim 3, characterised in that the second sealing zone (110) adjoins the first inner section (106) or the second inner section (107).
5. The packaging container according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the second sealing zone (110) is arranged inside the container body (8) or in particular on a preferably annular-collar-shaped outer section arranged on the face thereof.
6. The packaging container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one third sealing zone (113) free from the coating is provided, to which a third film (112) is sealed, which limits the first or the second chamber or a third chamber limited by a third container body (8) inner section preferably provided with the coating, and/or which separates the second chamber (102) from the third chamber.
7. The packaging container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coating, on the inside and/or the outside of the container body, which is preferably not provided with the coating, is coated with a lacquer layer.
8. A method for manufacturing a packaging container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:

   - providing a container body (8), preferably injection-moulded, blown or deep-drawn and comprising at least one plastic layer or consisting of a plastic layer,

   - masking a first sealing zone (104) arranged inside the container body (8), to which a film (103) can be sealed in a later method step, which then separates a first chamber (101) limited by a first inner section (106) of the container body (8) from a second chamber (102) limited by a second inner section (107) of the container body (8),

   - coating the container body (8) on its inside in the vacuum with a barrier layer (105) for increasing the leak-through barrier effect against water vapour and/or gases, so that the inner sections (106, 107) (first and second inner sections) adjoining the first masked sealing zone (104) are coated with the barrier layer (105) and the first sealing zone (104) remains free from the barrier layer (105) due to the masking.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterised in that prior to the coating, several sealing zones (104, 110, 113), preferably adjoined by respectively at least one inner section (106, 107) to be coated, are masked, in particular with a common mask (14).
10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that a first film (103) is sealed to the first sealing zone (104), prior to or after the first or the second chamber (101, 102) has been filled with product.
11. The method according to one of claims 8-10, characterised in that the container body (8) is manufactured inline in conjunction with the coating.
12. A device for manufacturing, in particular for coating a packaging container (100) according to one of claims 7 or 8 and/or for performing the method according to one of claims 8 to 11, comprising coating means (16) with a vacuum chamber (18) which are configured such that using these means at least one container body (8) comprising at least one plastic layer or consisting of a plastic layer, can be coated on its inside with a barrier layer (105) for increasing the leak-through barrier effect against at least one chemical compound and/or a chemical element, as well as masking means (10) arranged upstream of the coating means (16) in a transport direction of the at least one container body (8), with which a mask (14) can be applied to a first sealing zone (104) arranged inside the container body (8) between a first and a second inner section (106, 107) to be coated, which mask keeps the sealing zone (104, 110, 113) free from the barrier layer (105) while the barrier layer (105) is being applied to the inner sections (106, 107) adjoining the first masked sealing zone (104).
13. The device according to claim 12, characterised in that the masking means are configured for masking a second sealing zone (110) spaced apart from the first sealing zone (104).
14. The device according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterised in that the coating means (16) are associated with de-masking means for removing the mask (14) from the first and/or the second sealing Zone (104, 110).
15. The device according to one of claims 12 or 14, characterised in that the device comprises means for sealing a first film (103) to the first sealing zone (104) and/or for sealing a second film (109) to the second sealing zone (110).

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