EP2867126B1 - Composite packaging with a pouring element and blank for manufacturing such a packaging - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates first to a composite package, in particular parallelepipede cardboard / plastic composite package for pourable products, with an opening provided in the packing gable opening portion which forms a pouring opening after severing by an applied pouring, wherein the pouring element comprises a base body, a movable therein arranged cutting element and a screw cap wherein the screw cap serves to first open the package by operating the cutting element and resealing, and wherein the opening portion has a weakening line in combination and a hinge portion at which the portion of the opening portion formed after severing the line of weakness is pivoted and held inside the package , Moreover, the invention relates to a cardboard / plastic composite blank for making such a package and a pouring element for use with such a package.

Composite packages with pouring elements, which simultaneously serve for initial opening, are known in practice in a great variety of variations. The composite material comprises at least one carrier layer of cardboard and outer layers of polyethylene which are sealed on the outside and which protects the cardboard from moisture. Since even thin PE films are very ductile, it is usually not readily possible to apply pouring elements, which are provided with a cutting element, at any point of the pack without a prior introduction of weakened areas.

It is therefore also known to prepare the opening area of the cardboard / plastic composite packages in question so that there, tuned to the geometry and size of the pouring element to be used, a weakened area is created to achieve a clean, easy and safe separation of a part of the packing wall at the first opening so as to form the pouring opening. For this purpose, it is known to introduce so-called weakening lines into the outer layers of the composite material, which in conjunction with the cutting element ensure that an easy, safe and complete separation takes place.

So that now the separated-out part of the pack can not hinder the pouring process, this on the one hand must not be completely removed and so get into the product and on the other hand not to close again and thus close the pouring completely or partially.

A generic composite package is from the EP 1 623 931 B1 known. There, when the screw cap is first actuated (unscrewed), a cutting element arranged in the interior of the pouring element is set in motion in such a way that it extracts a round pouring opening from the composite material of the pack along a prepared weakening line. In this case, a projecting into the circular weakening area projection ensures that the separated-out part is not completely detached from the composite material and it also serves as a hinge to pivot the separated-out part inside the pack.

From the EP 1 399 366 B1 For example, there is known a closure device having a puncture device for opening a composite package according to the preamble of claim 1. Here, the opening line is circular, wherein the opening operation is influenced by the selection of a displacement angle α, thereby ensuring that when opening a not yet severed area is flipped aside without it comes in this area to rupture of the composite material.

It is also known to weaken the later pouring apertures by punching a hole ("overcoated hole") in the carton prior to lamination, which is then resealed from both sides with the PE layer during lamination , Here then only the PE material must be separated from the spout. The disadvantage here is that the partially separated part of the PE layers is not rigid and therefore remains undefined in the package, so that it can cause problems during the pouring process.

To counter this problem, according to the teaching of EP 2 287 082 A1 the over-coated hole is no longer circular, but for example, as "C" designed to provide the widest possible material bridge, which allows a defined pivoting in and fixing the separated part into the package interior.

It has also been proposed to use asymmetric weakening lines in which the weakening line runs in a spiral and thus creates a material bridge between the ends thereof which can serve as a hinge ( WO 2006/000881 A2 ).

Based on this, the object of the present invention is to design and further develop the above-described composite package with regard to its opening area in such a way that a simple and reliable opening and keeping open of the pouring opening during the first actuation of the self-opening pouring element is achieved in a simple manner. Such a composite package should be as versatile as possible, i. also in the aseptic field and also for packaging sensitive products, such as orange juice, can be used, in which the composite laminate also contains an oxygen barrier layer, such as aluminum.

This object is achieved in a composite package with the features of the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the hinge region is formed by a straight line, the line of weakness a first round section and a second portion that is substantially straight between the first portion and the hinge portion, and that the first time the composite package is opened by the movement of the cutting member, the line of weakness in the first portion is cut and torn in the second portion.

In a blank of cardboard / plastic composite material for producing such a composite package, the solution of the problem is achieved in that at least one layer is weakened in the opening area by means of up or introduced weakening lines by a perforation or the like.

To solve the problem with respect to the pouring element used with such a composite package, a movable therein arranged cutting element and a screw cap is provided that the cutting element when opening the pouring element describes a rotation of about 360 ° and having a cutting tooth, which in the Actuation of the screw cap, the opening portion of the package along the line of weakness severed and pivots the part of the opening portion resulting from the cutting of the weakening line into the package interior and holds in this position. A corresponding pouring element is derived from the applicant EP 1 509 456 B1 known for itself.

According to the invention is achieved in a simple manner that the first time opening a pouring arises, the area is greater than the clear cross section of the spout and in which by the defined pivoting in of the herausgetrennten part of the composite material inside the package on the one hand unintentional release of this part is reliably excluded and on the other hand the pouring opening during pouring process can not be affected. It is therefore always the full cross-section of the pouring during pouring available.

The fact that the hinge area is formed by a straight line, a defined hinge axis can be achieved. For this, the hinge area in At least one layer of the composite material also be weakened formed, for example by means of a perforation or punching or creasing a bending line to further facilitate the pivoting and thus the opening process.

In a further embodiment of the invention closes in the extension of the hinge region of these the first portion of the weakening line, so that the hinge region is not formed centrally to the pouring opening, but laterally offset.

A further teaching of the invention provides that the first section of the weakening line describes approximately a three-quarter circle. It has been found that the defined cutting over a three-quarter circle is sufficient to facilitate the subsequent pivoting operation of the partially cut-out part. Conveniently, the end of the second portion of the weakening line extends to the free end of the hinge portion, so that upon further movement of the cutting tooth of the cutting element, the composite tears along this second line of weakness and the cutting tooth is used to pivot the partially severed portion of the composite material into the package interior can.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the first section of the weakening line describes a circular arc of 270 °. In this way, not only the circular cross-section below the cutting path of the cutting element, but also an adjoining approximately triangular region ("gusset") is exposed to the hinge within a closed contour of the line of weakness to form the pouring opening.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the angle between the hinge region and the end of the second section of the weakening line is designed to be right-angled or obtuse-angled. With such a geometric specification is achieved that the second portion of the weakening line reliably ruptures while the cutting tooth of the cutting element performs the pivoting operation of the separated part into the package interior.

Conveniently, the lines of weakness are generated by a laser. In this case, it has proven particularly useful to introduce perforated sections in one or more layers of the composite material. Alternatively, it is also possible to mechanically generate the weakening lines as a punching or creasing line.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Verbundpackung ohne appliziertes Ausgießelement in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 2

den Öffnungsbereich der Verbundpackung aus Fig. 1 in vergrößerter Draufsicht und

Fig. 3

eine erfindungsgemäße Verbundpackung mit appliziertem Ausgießelement nach dem erstmaligen Öffnen und Wiederverschließen des Schraubdeckels, zur besseren Darstellung in aufgeschnittener perspektivischer Ansicht.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only a preferred embodiment. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1

a composite package according to the invention without applied pouring element in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

the opening area of the composite package Fig. 1 in enlarged plan view and

Fig. 3

a composite package according to the invention with applied pouring element after the first opening and reclosing of the screw cap, for better illustration in a cutaway perspective view.

In Fig. 1 shows a composite package P, as it has long been known as parallelepipede cardboard / plastic composite packaging for pourable products for a long time. To achieve a clean pouring opening, the composite material is provided in the opening region 1 of the package with a line of weakness 2, which extends from one end of a hinge portion 3 to its other end.

From the enlargement in Fig. 2 It is more apparent that the weakening line 2 has a first bent portion 2A and merges into a second portion 2B which extends between the first portion 2A and the hinge portion 3. In this case, the hinge region 3 and the second section 2B of the weakening line encloses an angle α, which is 90 ° in the illustrated preferred embodiment. It is not shown that the first portion may also comprise a circular arc which is greater than 270 °, if only the remaining hinge region remains sufficiently large to form a stable bridge between the composite material and the detachable section 4.

To facilitate the pivoting process, the hinge region 3, which is described in the present and in this respect preferred embodiment as a straight line, may be weakened by means of a further weakening line.

The opening process is designed in this case such that an applied pouring element with a cutting element 5 and a screw cap 6 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) When the screw cap 6 is actuated for the first time, a cutting tooth 7 of the cutting element 5 penetrates into the composite material in the region of the weakening line 2 and is then guided around the detachable part 4 in a counterclockwise direction on a circular path. After reaching a rotation of about 270 °, the second section 2B of the weakening line 2 "leaves" the circular cross-section tangentially outwards, but due to the further circular movement of the cutting tooth 7, the second section 2B of the weakening line 2 tears.

The cutting tooth 7 acts as a guide element to initiate the pivoting movement of the part 4 of the composite material into the package interior and to end only when the separated part 4 projects approximately 90 ° into the package interior. This condition is in Fig. 3 shown, in which the cutting tooth 7 has reached its end position, which he no longer changed in the direction of rotation even after the further actuation of the screw cap 6.

Some known per se pouring elements are designed so that they move the cutting element even further into the package inside the first time screwing the screw to achieve a reliable obstruction of reaching into the package inside part and thus a reliable hold open the pouring. Such pouring elements can preferably also be used with the composite packing according to the invention.

Claims (11)

1. Composite package, in particular parallelepiped cardboard/plastic composite package for pourable products, having an opening area (1) provided in the package gable, which opening area (1) after being cut through by an applied pouring element forms a pouring opening, wherein the pouring element comprises a base body, a cutting element which is movably arranged in it and a screw cap, wherein the screw cap serves to open the package (P) for the first time by operation of the cutting element and to reclose it, and wherein the opening area (1) has a weakening line (2) in the composite and a hinge area (3), on which the part (4) of the opening area (1) formed after cutting through the weakening line (2) is pivoted into the inside of the package and held there,
   characterised in that the hinge area (3) is formed by a straight line, the weakening line (2) has a first round section (2A) and a second section (2B) which runs essentially straight between the first section (2A) and the hinge area (3), and in that when the composite package is opened for the first time through the movement of the cutting element the weakening line in the first section (2A) is cut and in the second section (2B) tears.
2. Composite package according to claim 1, characterised in that the hinge area (3) is also formed weakened in at least one layer of the composite material.
3. Composite package according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first section (2A) of the weakening line (2) adjoins the hinge area (3) in extension of it.
4. Composite package according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first section (2A) of the weakening line (2) approximately describes a three-quarter circle.
5. Composite package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the end of the second section (2B) of the weakening line (2) comes up to the free end of the hinge area (3).
6. Composite package according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the first section (2A) of the weakening line (2) describes an arc of a circle of 270°.
7. Composite package according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the angle (α) between the hinge area (3) and the end of the second section (2B) of the weakening line (2) is rectangular or obtuse-angled.
8. Composite package according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the weakening lines (2) are produced by a laser.
9. Composite package according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the weakening lines are mechanically produced as punched or creased lines.
10. Blank of cardboard/plastic composite material for producing composite packages according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the composite with the aid of weakening lines (2) applied onto or inserted into it is weakened in the opening area by a perforation or suchlike.
11. Pouring element having a base body, a cutting element (5) which is rotatably arranged in it and a screw cap (6) for use with a composite package according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the cutting element (5) when the pouring element (6) is first opened describes a rotation of approximately 360° and has a cutting tooth (7) which when the screw cap (6) is operated cuts through the opening area (1) of the package (P) along the weakening line (2) and pivots the part (4) of the opening area formed after cutting through the weakening line (2) into the inside of the package and holds it in this position.

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