EP3194139A1 - Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device - Google Patents

Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device

Info

Publication number
EP3194139A1
EP3194139A1 EP15753939.6A EP15753939A EP3194139A1 EP 3194139 A1 EP3194139 A1 EP 3194139A1 EP 15753939 A EP15753939 A EP 15753939A EP 3194139 A1 EP3194139 A1 EP 3194139A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mold half
recess
package material
cavity
opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP15753939.6A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jonas BJÖRK
Anders Danielsson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Original Assignee
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from SE1451051A external-priority patent/SE1451051A1/en
Application filed by Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA filed Critical Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority claimed from PCT/EP2015/069099 external-priority patent/WO2016037818A1/en
Publication of EP3194139A1 publication Critical patent/EP3194139A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
    • B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
    • B65D5/74—Spouts
    • B65D5/741—Spouts for containers having a tubular body
    • B65D5/745—Spouts formed by deforming or tearing parts of the upper wall, combined with a deformation of a part of the body of the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/04—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B15/08—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
    • B29C45/1418—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
    • B29C45/14336—Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article
    • B29C45/14344—Moulding in or through a hole in the article, e.g. outsert moulding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/04—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B15/08—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
    • B32B15/085—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/20—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising aluminium or copper
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/06—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B27/10—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of paper or cardboard
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/32—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B3/00—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products having particular features of form
    • B32B3/02—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products having particular features of form characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions
    • B32B3/08—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products having particular features of form characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions characterised by added members at particular parts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B3/00—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products having particular features of form
    • B32B3/26—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/28—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness
    • B65D17/34—Arrangement or construction of pull or lift tabs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/70—Break-in flaps, or members adapted to be torn-off, to provide pouring openings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/70—Break-in flaps, or members adapted to be torn-off, to provide pouring openings
    • B65D5/701—Tearable flaps defined by score-lines or incisions provided in the closure flaps of a tubular container made of a single blank
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
    • B65D5/74—Spouts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D65/00—Wrappers or flexible covers; Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/38—Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/40—Applications of laminates for particular packaging purposes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
    • B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
    • B65D85/80—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials for milk
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
    • B29C45/14311—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles using means for bonding the coating to the articles
    • B29C2045/14327—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles using means for bonding the coating to the articles anchoring by forcing the material to pass through a hole in the article
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2711/00—Use of natural products or their composites, not provided for in groups B29K2601/00 - B29K2709/00, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
    • B29K2711/12—Paper, e.g. cardboard
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/22—Details
    • B65D77/30—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during filling or closing of containers
    • B65D77/32—Tearing-strings or like flexible elements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a molding apparatus.
  • the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an opening device on a package material blank.
  • Package containers of the single use disposable type for liquid foods are often produced from a packaging material based on paperboard or carton.
  • a packaging material based on paperboard or carton.
  • Such container is for example be employed for aseptic packaging of liquid foods such as milk, fruit juices etc, marketed and sold for long term ambient storage.
  • the packaging material in such package container is typically a laminate compris ⁇ ing a bulk layer of paper or paperboard, outer, liquid- tight layers of thermoplastics, a gas barrier layer, most commonly an aluminum foil and finally one or more inside layers composed of one or several part layers, comprising heat-sealable adhesive polymers and/or heat- sealable polyolefins.
  • Package containers of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines.
  • a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized in the packaging machine, and the sterilized web of packag ⁇ ing material is maintained in a closed, sterile environ- ment in the subsequent step.
  • the web is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a vertical tube.
  • the tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile- processed food product, and is sealed and subsequently cut along equal- ly spaced cross sections to form pillow packs, which are then folded mechanically to form respective finished, e.g. substantially parallelepiped- shaped, package containers .
  • the package container have an opening device in order to facilitate consumer opening, many different types of opening devices including pull-tabs or molded opening devices, as for example discussed in WO03/095199 25 and WO/2009/000927.
  • the latter type of package is a high-volume (in terms of packages per time unit) and low-cost package (due to the properties of the packaging material) , and such opening devices might hamper the production speed and be detrimental for the cost of the package.
  • the term "Package material blank” or “blank” shall include an individual sheet or a blank in a package material web.
  • Such package material web may comprise one or more "package material blanks” arranged after each other in a continuous web, some of those blanks in different processing stages, i.e. on one blank in such web may comprise an opening device, while other blanks on the web might still be unprocessed.
  • package material refers to a package material blank or a continuous web of package material.
  • container package and packaging container refer to the same struc- ture.
  • material material laminate structure or packaging material refers to the package material blank.
  • cellulosic material may comprise one or more layers of paper, cardboard or any oth ⁇ er cellulosic fiber based material.
  • lateral direction and transversal direction refer to directions parallel to the surface of packaging material arranged between the mold halves. Consequently both directions span a plane parallel to the surface of the packaging material. More particular, the term “transversal direc ⁇ tion” refers to a direction, substantially parallel to a moving direction of the packaging material. The term “vertical direction” refers to a direction perpendicular to said aforementioned plane.
  • the invention proposes a molding apparatus for manufacturing an opening device on a package material, enabling efficient and flexible manufacturing of such devices.
  • the molding apparatus comprises two mold halves movable arranged opposite to each other.
  • a first mold half is facing a first side of the package material arranged be ⁇ tween the halves in operation of the apparatus.
  • the first mold half comprises a recess and a displaceable cover element covering partly the recess thereby forming a cavity having an opening within the first mold half.
  • the term cavity refers to hollow in the mold half having an opening, wherein the area of the opening is smaller than a parallel area within the cavity.
  • a recess in contrast thereto is more similar to a groove and generally does not comprise and undercut and the like.
  • the second mold half comprises a recess and is ranged with the recess at least partly facing the opening on the surface of the first mold half.
  • the cavity in the first mold half allows to mold an opening device on packaging material, which comprises a part, for instance the opening tab displaced to a surface of the package material.
  • the tab can therefore easily be grabbed by a consumer when opening the device.
  • the movable cover element acts as a cover to displace the melt from the package material surface.
  • the recess in the second mold half enables the melt to adhere to the surface of the package material forming a tight con ⁇ nection between the opening device and the package material .
  • As the mold halves can easily be replaced different shapes for the opening device are possible, allowing flexibility in selection of shapes and functionalities.
  • the melt can be injected into the mold halves from one side, thereby penetrating due to the injection pressure through the package material filling both, the recess and the cavity, respectively.
  • the se ⁇ cond mold half comprises an injector for injecting a melt material into the recess.
  • a surface of the cover element may form a planar surface with a surface of the first mold half facing the package material outside the recess in the first mold half.
  • planar surface is advantageous to prevent deformation in the package material when the mold halves are closed and pressure is exerted onto the package material.
  • the first mold half comprises a cavity, which may be formed by the movable cover element placed over a recess in the first mold half.
  • the cover element extends in a lateral direc- tion from a proximal end towards a distal end.
  • the cover element thereby does not cover the recess completely, but leaves an area empty, thereby forming the opening accessing the now formed cavity.
  • the distal end of the cover is therefore adjacent to the opening, later forming part of the opening device.
  • the distal end may comprise different shapes depending on the needs and requirements for the opening device.
  • the cover element may comprise an arc-like shape, a half-circle, a parabolic shape, linear shape and the like.
  • the cover element and the first mold half are relatively movable to each other in a vertical direction, perpendicular to a surface of the first mold half. This allows separating the cover from the mold half, thereby opening the cavity to release the recess.
  • the first mold half may be movable in a direction perpendicular to the first side of the package material, thereby separating the cover element from the cavity to re-form the recess.
  • the second mold half is movable in vertical direction, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the second side of the package material. Consequently, one or more mold halves can be displaced from the surface of the package material during the operation of the apparatus.
  • the package material and the cover element may be movable relatively to each other in a direction substantially parallel to the package material.
  • the manufactured opening can be removed from the mold apparatus. It may be suitable in an embodiment to implement such move ⁇ ment away from a mounting element mounting the cover element movable to the first mold half.
  • Another aspect of the invention is related to a method for manufacturing an opening device.
  • Such method may comprise the step of providing a package material blank with a multilayer material structure having a layer of cellulosic material, one or more layers of plastic lami ⁇ nate and a penetration area.
  • the package material is arranged between two mold halves.
  • One of the mold half comprises a cavity with an opening on a first side of the package material blank, wherein an area of the opening facing a first side of the package material blank.
  • the opening is smaller than a pro ⁇ jection of an area of the cavity onto the first side.
  • a second mold half comprises a mold recess on a second side package material blank opposing the first side, wherein the opening partly overlaps the second mold half recess in said penetration area.
  • the second side of the package material is the side later being in contact with liquid food, when a package form the package material is formed and filled. Consequently the first side forms the outer side of a later formed package.
  • a plastic melt is injected into at least one of said cavity and said recess, wherein the melt, due to pressure being built up in said cavity or said recess, penetrates through penetration area and fills also at least said recess and cavity thereby forming an opening device.
  • a grip portion of said opening device in said cavity using the injected plastic melt is being formed.
  • the cavity of said first mold half is opened to release said grip portion and the said grip portion is removed from said cavity by a moving the first mold half and the package material blank relative to each other.
  • the opening of the cavity may be performed by moving the second mold half and the package material blank relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the package material blank.
  • the first mold half may be separated into a cover portion and a recess portion by moving the recess portion rela- tive to the package material blank and the cover portion in a direction perpendicular to the package material and the cover portion.
  • the cover portion is moved relative to the grip portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first side as to withdraw the cover portion between the grip portion and the first side.
  • Figure 1 shows a first cut-view of a molding apparatus with the cavities formed according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 illustrates the first cut-view with the filled cavities according to the embodiment
  • Figure 3 illustrates a second cut-view of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the cavities filled
  • Figure 4 shows the second cut-view of the embodiment with separated mold-halves according to the invention
  • Figure 5 shows second cut-view of the embodiment with separated mold-halves and displaced packaging material according to the invention
  • Figure 6 illustrates a cut-view of an opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 1 shows a molding apparatus for manufacturing the opening device according to the present invention.
  • the molding apparatus comprises a lower or first mold half 6A and an upper or second mold half 6.
  • the second mold half 6, for instance made of stainless steel, aluminum or other suitable material comprises a movable heated cone or similar arrangement 70 to press molten plastic or hot melt through channel 73 and nozzle 72 in ⁇ to a recess 43a.
  • Recess 43 is arranged in the lower side of second mold half 6 facing the package material blank 1. It resembles the structure of the second portion of the opening device.
  • the first mold 6A half is opposite the second half and the package material blank 1 is arranged between the two halves.
  • the first side of the package material 1 facing first mold half 6A is the outer surface of the package material, i.e. the side with the decor and print thereon.
  • the second side of the package material facing the second mold half 6 corresponds to the inner side of the later formed package and is in food contact later on.
  • Mold half 6A comprises two major portions, a mold portion 6B with a planar surface 60A facing package materi- al blank 1 and a movable cover 61.
  • Cover 61 is displace- able parallel to vertical direction VD.
  • the cover is arranged in a recess of mold portion 6B to form a cavity 42a for the grip element of the opening device.
  • cover 61 covers partly the recess of the mold portion to form cavity 42a.
  • Surface 610 of cover 61 is coplanar with surface 60A of mold portion 6B .
  • As a con ⁇ sequence a planar surface is formed, on which the package material is arranged upon.
  • the cover 61 extends from one end of the recess almost to the other end, leaving a small opening space 41a.
  • the distal end of cover 61 adjacent to said opening 41a is rounded and comprises an arc like shape, which corresponds to the shape for the opening device.
  • the distal end of cover element 6 can have different shapes depending on the re ⁇ quirements and needs.
  • Said opening space 41a resembles the first portion of the opening (see Figure 6), while cavity 42a is used for molding the grip portion.
  • cavity 42a is in its lateral dimension significant bigger than opening area 41a.
  • a projection of the planar dimension or area of cavity 42a onto the package materi ⁇ al is larger than the corresponding area of opening 41a, which corresponds basically to the area 3 of the package material blank.
  • the space 42a is called cavity, in contrast to space 43a in the second mold half 6 called a recess.
  • the package material blank 1 is moved along the transversal direction TD and arranged between the two mold halves covering the recess 43a of second mold half and opening 41a of the first mold half 6A. Both mold halves and the package material blank 1 are ar ⁇ ranged opposite each other in such way that opening 41a faces the recess 43 separated by the penetration area 3 of package material blank 1.
  • the molten plastic material 71 is injected into the recess 43a. This is shown in Figure 2. More particu ⁇ larly cone 70 is slightly retracted and molten plastic is pressed with high pressure through channels 73 and nozzle 72 into recess 43a. Recess 43a is filled with molten plastic forming a portion 43 of the opening device. Due to the high pressure, the plastic penetrates through the package material blank in area 3 and also fills cavity 42a. Part of the package material follows the shape of the recess and adjoins with the molten plastic. The melt in area 42a correspond to the grip portion of the opening device. During this procedure, the package material is not moved at all and both halves are pressed upon the package material.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the embodiment of the mold apparatus rotated around the axis X-X by 90 degrees.
  • the melt is injected through the nozzle 72 into the recess and has penetrated through the material.
  • the cover 61 extends in transversal direction and is coupled to a mounting element 62. Said mounting element is relatively movable to the mold half portion 6B in vertical direction .
  • Figure 4 illustrates another arrangement of the molding apparatus, after the melt operation has been performed and the melt is cooled down.
  • the first mold half 6 is displaced in vertical direction to separate the mold half from the package material 1.
  • the recess 43a is sep ⁇ arated from the mold opening device portion 43.
  • the cone 70 closes channels 73, as to prevent molten plastic from flowing through the nozzle 72.
  • the displacement or dis ⁇ tance between mold half 6 and package material 1 is larger than a height of portion 43.
  • the first mold half 6A is separated into the cover 61 and mold half portion 6B .
  • the cover 61 stays in contact with the surface 610 of the package material 1.
  • the mold half portion 6B is displaced, releasing recess 42A.
  • portion 6B is moved downwards along vertical direction VD . Thereby the molded grip portion 42 is separated from recess 42a.
  • Cover 61 provides stability for the package material to prevent undesired bending of ma ⁇ terial 1.
  • Figure 5 illustrates the final step of removing the molded opening device.
  • the package ma ⁇ terial is moved in transversal direction TD, away from the mounting element 62.
  • the cover 61 is withdrawn from the space between grip portion and package material blank forming the displaced grip portion.
  • mold half portion 6B can be moved upwards again to cover the recess 42A with the cover element 61 and likewise second mold half 6 displaced downwards.
  • a new package material blank 1 is fed into the apparatus.
  • Figure 6 illustrates the cut-view of an opening device manufactured by an apparatus of the foregoing.
  • Penetration area 3 comprises a smaller thickness than the surrounding area of package material blank 1.
  • the cellulosic layer has been removed and only one or more plastic layers and the aluminum layer remain in penetration area 3.
  • the penetration area 3 is larger than the material bridge 40 of the opening device penetrating area 3. Consequently the package material is arranged in the molding apparatus in such way, that area 3 is facing the opening 41a.
  • the pressure exerted by the mold halves of the molding apparatus is high enough to penetrate through the packaging material directly without having the need of a weakened penetration area 3.
  • the package material blank 1 is penetrated in the penetration area 3, ripping the material apart and bending a portion 1A of the package material blank upwards.
  • the bent material is attached to the first portion 41 on its surface.
  • the material bridge 40 adjoins and connects the first portion 41 with the second portion 43.
  • Second portion 43 does not only cover penetration area 3 completely, but also extends onto the surrounding areas on the lower side of the packaging material. It is rigidly attached to the package material facilitating the consumer opening area 2 to prevent the plastic material of the second portion just to be torn of, when a consumer pulls on the grip portion 42.
  • the first portion 41 is attached with its proximal end 41b to the material bridge 40 and with its distal end 41a to the grip portion 42. More particular, first por ⁇ tion 41 bends from its proximal end towards the consumer are 2 and its distal end.
  • the opening device is made in one piece, e.g.
  • first portion 41 merges on the one side into the material bridge 40 and on the other side into the grip portion 42.
  • the grip portion 42 is displaced from the surface of blank 1 by a distance D (not shown) .
  • Said distance can be in the range of less than a millimeter to up to some millimeter. For example it can be in the range of 1,5 mm to 3,5 mm and particular 2,5 mm. It de- pends on the protrusion of the first portion above the surface of package material blank 1.
  • first portion comprises a circular shape such that the surface of the distal end 41a is substantial perpendicular to the surface of blank 1.
  • the circular shape can be such that a focal or center point F lies in the space 61 between the grip portion and the surface of the blank 1.
  • other shapes like arcs, parabolic shapes and the like can be used.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates the various method steps for manufacturing an opening device according to the present invention.
  • the package material is moved be- tween the two mold halves.
  • the package material blank comprises a multilayer material structure having a layer of cellulosic material, one or more layers of plastic laminate and a penetration area.
  • the first mold half comprising the cavity with an opening on a first side of the package material blank.
  • Said cavity is formed by moving a cover portion relatively to a recess portion to partly cover a recess in the recess portion.
  • the cover portion is arranged such that it forms a co- planar surface with the surface of the recess portion 6A facing the package material blank.
  • An area of the opening facing the package material blank is smaller than a projection of an area of the cavity onto the blank.
  • a second mold half with a mold recess is then arranged on the other side of the package material blank, whereby the opening area partly overlaps the recess of the second mold half mold half recess in said penetration area.
  • the plastic mold is injected in step S4 into the recess or the cavity, for example it is injected into the re ⁇ cess at high pressures, thereby penetrating through the material in the overlapping areas.
  • the molten plastic or injection material fills the cavity and the recess and is at least partly hardened subsequently to form the opening device.
  • step S5 the cavity is opened to release the grip portion and the grip portion is removed.
  • the opening can be achieved in reversed order as step S3 and S2, respectively.
  • the recess portion may be moved downwards away from the package material blank, while the cover is kept facing the package material plank.
  • the package material blank may be moved in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract

A molding apparatus for manufacturing an opening device on a package material (1), comprises a first mold half (6A) and a second mold half (6) arranged opposite the first mold half and having a recess (43a). The first mold half comprises a recess and a displaceable cover element (61) covering partly the recess thereby forming a cavity (42a) with an opening (41a) within the first mold half (6A), wherein the opening (41a) is arranged at least partly opposite the recess (43a) of the second mold half (6).

Description

Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device
The present invention relates to a molding apparatus. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an opening device on a package material blank.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Package containers of the single use disposable type for liquid foods are often produced from a packaging material based on paperboard or carton. Such container is for example be employed for aseptic packaging of liquid foods such as milk, fruit juices etc, marketed and sold for long term ambient storage. The packaging material in such package container is typically a laminate compris¬ ing a bulk layer of paper or paperboard, outer, liquid- tight layers of thermoplastics, a gas barrier layer, most commonly an aluminum foil and finally one or more inside layers composed of one or several part layers, comprising heat-sealable adhesive polymers and/or heat- sealable polyolefins.
Package containers of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines. In one example, a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized in the packaging machine, and the sterilized web of packag¬ ing material is maintained in a closed, sterile environ- ment in the subsequent step. The web is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a vertical tube. The tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile- processed food product, and is sealed and subsequently cut along equal- ly spaced cross sections to form pillow packs, which are then folded mechanically to form respective finished, e.g. substantially parallelepiped- shaped, package containers .
Commonly, the package container have an opening device in order to facilitate consumer opening, many different types of opening devices including pull-tabs or molded opening devices, as for example discussed in WO03/095199 25 and WO/2009/000927.
However, the latter type of package is a high-volume (in terms of packages per time unit) and low-cost package (due to the properties of the packaging material) , and such opening devices might hamper the production speed and be detrimental for the cost of the package.
For this reason there is a need for an opening device having a high efficiency in regard of the amount of ma- terial used and the time needed for production of each opening device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For the purpose of the invention, the term "Package material blank" or "blank" shall include an individual sheet or a blank in a package material web. Such package material web may comprise one or more "package material blanks" arranged after each other in a continuous web, some of those blanks in different processing stages, i.e. on one blank in such web may comprise an opening device, while other blanks on the web might still be unprocessed. The term package material refers to a package material blank or a continuous web of package material.
For the purpose of the invention, the terms container, package and packaging container refer to the same struc- ture. In addition, the terms material, material laminate structure or packaging material refers to the package material blank. The term "cellulosic material" may comprise one or more layers of paper, cardboard or any oth¬ er cellulosic fiber based material.
For the purpose of this invention, the terms "lateral direction" and transversal direction refer to directions parallel to the surface of packaging material arranged between the mold halves. Consequently both directions span a plane parallel to the surface of the packaging material. More particular, the term "transversal direc¬ tion" refers to a direction, substantially parallel to a moving direction of the packaging material. The term "vertical direction" refers to a direction perpendicular to said aforementioned plane.
The invention proposes a molding apparatus for manufacturing an opening device on a package material, enabling efficient and flexible manufacturing of such devices. The molding apparatus comprises two mold halves movable arranged opposite to each other. A first mold half is facing a first side of the package material arranged be¬ tween the halves in operation of the apparatus. The first mold half comprises a recess and a displaceable cover element covering partly the recess thereby forming a cavity having an opening within the first mold half. In this respect, the term cavity refers to hollow in the mold half having an opening, wherein the area of the opening is smaller than a parallel area within the cavity. A recess in contrast thereto is more similar to a groove and generally does not comprise and undercut and the like. The second mold half comprises a recess and is ranged with the recess at least partly facing the opening on the surface of the first mold half.
The cavity in the first mold half allows to mold an opening device on packaging material, which comprises a part, for instance the opening tab displaced to a surface of the package material. The tab can therefore easily be grabbed by a consumer when opening the device. The movable cover element acts as a cover to displace the melt from the package material surface. The recess in the second mold half enables the melt to adhere to the surface of the package material forming a tight con¬ nection between the opening device and the package material . As the mold halves can easily be replaced different shapes for the opening device are possible, allowing flexibility in selection of shapes and functionalities.
The melt can be injected into the mold halves from one side, thereby penetrating due to the injection pressure through the package material filling both, the recess and the cavity, respectively. In an embodiment, the se¬ cond mold half comprises an injector for injecting a melt material into the recess.
To enable a smooth surface facing the package material, a surface of the cover element may form a planar surface with a surface of the first mold half facing the package material outside the recess in the first mold half. Such planar surface is advantageous to prevent deformation in the package material when the mold halves are closed and pressure is exerted onto the package material.
As mentioned previously, the first mold half comprises a cavity, which may be formed by the movable cover element placed over a recess in the first mold half. In an em¬ bodiment, the cover element extends in a lateral direc- tion from a proximal end towards a distal end. The cover element thereby does not cover the recess completely, but leaves an area empty, thereby forming the opening accessing the now formed cavity. The distal end of the cover is therefore adjacent to the opening, later forming part of the opening device. The distal end may comprise different shapes depending on the needs and requirements for the opening device. For example, the cover element may comprise an arc-like shape, a half-circle, a parabolic shape, linear shape and the like.
In an embodiment, the cover element and the first mold half are relatively movable to each other in a vertical direction, perpendicular to a surface of the first mold half. This allows separating the cover from the mold half, thereby opening the cavity to release the recess. In addition or alternatively, the first mold half may be movable in a direction perpendicular to the first side of the package material, thereby separating the cover element from the cavity to re-form the recess.
In a further embodiment, the second mold half is movable in vertical direction, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the second side of the package material. Consequently, one or more mold halves can be displaced from the surface of the package material during the operation of the apparatus.
To finally release a manufactured or molded opening, the package material and the cover element may be movable relatively to each other in a direction substantially parallel to the package material. Thereby the manufactured opening can be removed from the mold apparatus. It may be suitable in an embodiment to implement such move¬ ment away from a mounting element mounting the cover element movable to the first mold half.
Another aspect of the invention is related to a method for manufacturing an opening device. Such method may comprise the step of providing a package material blank with a multilayer material structure having a layer of cellulosic material, one or more layers of plastic lami¬ nate and a penetration area. The package material is arranged between two mold halves.
One of the mold half comprises a cavity with an opening on a first side of the package material blank, wherein an area of the opening facing a first side of the package material blank. The opening is smaller than a pro¬ jection of an area of the cavity onto the first side. A second mold half comprises a mold recess on a second side package material blank opposing the first side, wherein the opening partly overlaps the second mold half recess in said penetration area. The second side of the package material is the side later being in contact with liquid food, when a package form the package material is formed and filled. Consequently the first side forms the outer side of a later formed package.
In a subsequent step, a plastic melt is injected into at least one of said cavity and said recess, wherein the melt, due to pressure being built up in said cavity or said recess, penetrates through penetration area and fills also at least said recess and cavity thereby forming an opening device. By doing so, a grip portion of said opening device in said cavity using the injected plastic melt is being formed. After the melt has cooled down, the cavity of said first mold half is opened to release said grip portion and the said grip portion is removed from said cavity by a moving the first mold half and the package material blank relative to each other.
The opening of the cavity may be performed by moving the second mold half and the package material blank relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the package material blank. In addition or alternatively, the first mold half may be separated into a cover portion and a recess portion by moving the recess portion rela- tive to the package material blank and the cover portion in a direction perpendicular to the package material and the cover portion.
In a further aspect, the cover portion is moved relative to the grip portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first side as to withdraw the cover portion between the grip portion and the first side. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the following the present invention will be explained in greater detail using the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a first cut-view of a molding apparatus with the cavities formed according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates the first cut-view with the filled cavities according to the embodiment;
Figure 3 illustrates a second cut-view of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the cavities filled;
Figure 4 shows the second cut-view of the embodiment with separated mold-halves according to the invention;
Figure 5 shows second cut-view of the embodiment with separated mold-halves and displaced packaging material according to the invention;
Figure 6 illustrates a cut-view of an opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Same or similar features in the following embodiment bear the same reference signs. The various features of the embodiments can be combined in different ways with¬ out deviating from the scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows a molding apparatus for manufacturing the opening device according to the present invention.
The molding apparatus comprises a lower or first mold half 6A and an upper or second mold half 6. The second mold half 6, for instance made of stainless steel, aluminum or other suitable material comprises a movable heated cone or similar arrangement 70 to press molten plastic or hot melt through channel 73 and nozzle 72 in¬ to a recess 43a. Recess 43 is arranged in the lower side of second mold half 6 facing the package material blank 1. It resembles the structure of the second portion of the opening device.
The first mold 6A half is opposite the second half and the package material blank 1 is arranged between the two halves. The first side of the package material 1 facing first mold half 6A is the outer surface of the package material, i.e. the side with the decor and print thereon. The second side of the package material facing the second mold half 6 corresponds to the inner side of the later formed package and is in food contact later on.
Mold half 6A comprises two major portions, a mold portion 6B with a planar surface 60A facing package materi- al blank 1 and a movable cover 61. Cover 61 is displace- able parallel to vertical direction VD. The cover is arranged in a recess of mold portion 6B to form a cavity 42a for the grip element of the opening device. In other words, cover 61 covers partly the recess of the mold portion to form cavity 42a. Surface 610 of cover 61 is coplanar with surface 60A of mold portion 6B . As a con¬ sequence a planar surface is formed, on which the package material is arranged upon. The cover 61 extends from one end of the recess almost to the other end, leaving a small opening space 41a. The distal end of cover 61 adjacent to said opening 41a is rounded and comprises an arc like shape, which corresponds to the shape for the opening device. Despite the illustrated arc-like shapes, the distal end of cover element 6 can have different shapes depending on the re¬ quirements and needs.
Said opening space 41a resembles the first portion of the opening (see Figure 6), while cavity 42a is used for molding the grip portion. As illustrated cavity 42a is in its lateral dimension significant bigger than opening area 41a. One can say that a projection of the planar dimension or area of cavity 42a onto the package materi¬ al is larger than the corresponding area of opening 41a, which corresponds basically to the area 3 of the package material blank. Hence, the space 42a is called cavity, in contrast to space 43a in the second mold half 6 called a recess.
In Figure 1, the package material blank 1 is moved along the transversal direction TD and arranged between the two mold halves covering the recess 43a of second mold half and opening 41a of the first mold half 6A. Both mold halves and the package material blank 1 are ar¬ ranged opposite each other in such way that opening 41a faces the recess 43 separated by the penetration area 3 of package material blank 1.
After the mold halves are placed on the package material blank, the molten plastic material 71 is injected into the recess 43a. This is shown in Figure 2. More particu¬ larly cone 70 is slightly retracted and molten plastic is pressed with high pressure through channels 73 and nozzle 72 into recess 43a. Recess 43a is filled with molten plastic forming a portion 43 of the opening device. Due to the high pressure, the plastic penetrates through the package material blank in area 3 and also fills cavity 42a. Part of the package material follows the shape of the recess and adjoins with the molten plastic. The melt in area 42a correspond to the grip portion of the opening device. During this procedure, the package material is not moved at all and both halves are pressed upon the package material. Figure 3 illustrates the embodiment of the mold apparatus rotated around the axis X-X by 90 degrees. The melt is injected through the nozzle 72 into the recess and has penetrated through the material. The cover 61 extends in transversal direction and is coupled to a mounting element 62. Said mounting element is relatively movable to the mold half portion 6B in vertical direction .
Figure 4 illustrates another arrangement of the molding apparatus, after the melt operation has been performed and the melt is cooled down. The first mold half 6 is displaced in vertical direction to separate the mold half from the package material 1. The recess 43a is sep¬ arated from the mold opening device portion 43. The cone 70 closes channels 73, as to prevent molten plastic from flowing through the nozzle 72. The displacement or dis¬ tance between mold half 6 and package material 1 is larger than a height of portion 43. Likewise, the first mold half 6A is separated into the cover 61 and mold half portion 6B . The cover 61 stays in contact with the surface 610 of the package material 1. The mold half portion 6B is displaced, releasing recess 42A. More par- ticularly, portion 6B is moved downwards along vertical direction VD . Thereby the molded grip portion 42 is separated from recess 42a. Cover 61 provides stability for the package material to prevent undesired bending of ma¬ terial 1.
Figure 5 illustrates the final step of removing the molded opening device. For this purpose, the package ma¬ terial is moved in transversal direction TD, away from the mounting element 62. By doing so the cover 61 is withdrawn from the space between grip portion and package material blank forming the displaced grip portion. As soon as the newly molded opening device has left the molding apparatus and the space between the two mold halves, mold half portion 6B can be moved upwards again to cover the recess 42A with the cover element 61 and likewise second mold half 6 displaced downwards. A new package material blank 1 is fed into the apparatus.
Figure 6 illustrates the cut-view of an opening device manufactured by an apparatus of the foregoing.
The opening device is molded onto the packaging material in the penetration area 3. Penetration area 3 comprises a smaller thickness than the surrounding area of package material blank 1. For example, the cellulosic layer has been removed and only one or more plastic layers and the aluminum layer remain in penetration area 3. The penetration area 3 is larger than the material bridge 40 of the opening device penetrating area 3. Consequently the package material is arranged in the molding apparatus in such way, that area 3 is facing the opening 41a. In some other alternatives, the pressure exerted by the mold halves of the molding apparatus is high enough to penetrate through the packaging material directly without having the need of a weakened penetration area 3. In such alternative embodiment, the package material blank 1 is penetrated in the penetration area 3, ripping the material apart and bending a portion 1A of the package material blank upwards. The bent material is attached to the first portion 41 on its surface. The material bridge 40 adjoins and connects the first portion 41 with the second portion 43. Second portion 43 does not only cover penetration area 3 completely, but also extends onto the surrounding areas on the lower side of the packaging material. It is rigidly attached to the package material facilitating the consumer opening area 2 to prevent the plastic material of the second portion just to be torn of, when a consumer pulls on the grip portion 42. The first portion 41 is attached with its proximal end 41b to the material bridge 40 and with its distal end 41a to the grip portion 42. More particular, first por¬ tion 41 bends from its proximal end towards the consumer are 2 and its distal end. As the opening device is made in one piece, e.g. by injection molding, one can say that first portion 41 merges on the one side into the material bridge 40 and on the other side into the grip portion 42. The grip portion 42 is displaced from the surface of blank 1 by a distance D (not shown) . Said distance can be in the range of less than a millimeter to up to some millimeter. For example it can be in the range of 1,5 mm to 3,5 mm and particular 2,5 mm. It de- pends on the protrusion of the first portion above the surface of package material blank 1.
In this embodiment, first portion comprises a circular shape such that the surface of the distal end 41a is substantial perpendicular to the surface of blank 1. The circular shape can be such that a focal or center point F lies in the space 61 between the grip portion and the surface of the blank 1. Despite the circular shape shown here other shapes, like arcs, parabolic shapes and the like can be used.
Figure 7 illustrates the various method steps for manufacturing an opening device according to the present invention. In Step SI the package material is moved be- tween the two mold halves. The package material blank comprises a multilayer material structure having a layer of cellulosic material, one or more layers of plastic laminate and a penetration area. In step S2, the first mold half comprising the cavity with an opening on a first side of the package material blank. Said cavity is formed by moving a cover portion relatively to a recess portion to partly cover a recess in the recess portion. The cover portion is arranged such that it forms a co- planar surface with the surface of the recess portion 6A facing the package material blank. An area of the opening facing the package material blank is smaller than a projection of an area of the cavity onto the blank. In accordance with step S3, a second mold half with a mold recess is then arranged on the other side of the package material blank, whereby the opening area partly overlaps the recess of the second mold half mold half recess in said penetration area.
The plastic mold is injected in step S4 into the recess or the cavity, for example it is injected into the re¬ cess at high pressures, thereby penetrating through the material in the overlapping areas. The molten plastic or injection material fills the cavity and the recess and is at least partly hardened subsequently to form the opening device.
In step S5, the cavity is opened to release the grip portion and the grip portion is removed. The opening can be achieved in reversed order as step S3 and S2, respectively. For instance, the recess portion may be moved downwards away from the package material blank, while the cover is kept facing the package material plank. To remove the grip portion, the package material blank may be moved in a longitudinal direction.
REFERENCE LIST
1 package material blank
3 penetration area
4 opening device
40 material bridge
41 first portion
41a distal end,
41b proximal end
42 grip portion
42a cavity
43 second portion
43a recess
6 second mold half
6A first mold half
6B first mold half portion
60A surface
61 cover
610 surface
70 cone
71 molten plastic
72 nozzle
73 channel
F focal center
D distance
TD transversal direction
LD longitudinal direction
VD vertical direction

Claims

1. A molding apparatus for manufacturing an opening device on a package material (1), comprising:
- a first mold half (6A) facing, when in use, a first side of the package material (1);
- a second mold half (6) arranged opposite the first mold half and having a recess (43a), said recess (43a) facing, when in use, a second side of the package mate- rial (1) ;
wherein the first mold half comprises a recess and a displaceable cover element (61) covering partly the re¬ cess thereby forming a cavity (42a) with an opening (41a) within the first mold half (6A), wherein the open- ing (41a) is arranged at least partly opposite the recess (43a) of the second mold half (6) .
2. The molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the mold halves, particularly the second mold half comprises an injector nozzle (72) for injecting a melt material into the recess (43a), wherein, when in use, the melt material, due to pressure being built up in said recess (43a), penetrates through the package material and fills also said cavity (42a) for generation of an opening de- vice extending through the package material.
3. The molding apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein a surface (610) of the cover element (61) forms a planar surface with a surface of the first mold half (6B) facing the package material outside the recess in the first mold half (6A) .
4. The molding apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover element (61) extends in a lateral di¬ rection (LD) from a proximal end towards a distal end adjacent to the opening (41a).
5. The molding apparatus of claim 4, wherein the distal end of the cover element (61) comprises at least one of the following shapes:
- an arc-like shape;
- a parabolic shape;
- linear shape;
6. The molding apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover element (61) and the first mold half are relatively movable to each other in a vertical direction (VD) , perpendicular to a surface of the first mold half (6A) .
7. The molding apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein, when in use, a portion (6B) of the first mold half (6A) is movable in vertical direction (VD) , perpendicular to the first side of the package material (1), thereby separating the cover element (61) from the cavity (42a) to re-form the recess.
8. The molding apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein, when in use, the second mold half (6) is movable in vertical direction (VD) , perpendicular to the se¬ cond side of the package material.
9. The molding apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the package material (1) and the cover element (61) are relatively movable to each other in transversal direction (TD) away from a mounting element (62) cou- pling the cover element (61) movable to the first mold half () .
10. The molding apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the cavity (42a) of the first mold half (6A) comprises additional arc shaped recesses (42b) extending in transversal direction (TD) .
11. A method for manufacturing an opening device, com- prising the step of:
- providing a package material blank with a multilayer material structure having a layer of cellulosic materi¬ al, one or more layers of plastic laminate and a penetration area;
- arranging a first mold half comprising a cavity with an opening on a first side of the package material blank, wherein an area of the opening facing the first side is smaller than a projection of an area of the cavity onto the first side;
- arranging a second mold half comprising a mold recess on a second side package material blank opposing the first side, wherein the opening partly overlaps the second mold half recess in said penetration area;
- injecting a plastic melt into at least one of said cavity and said recess, wherein the melt, due to pressure being built up in said cavity or said recess, penetrates through penetration area and fills also at least said recess and cavity thereby forming an opening de¬ vice ;
- generating a grip portion of said opening device in said cavity using the injected plastic melt;
- opening the cavity of said first mold half to release said grip portion; - remove the said grip portion from said cavity by rela¬ tively moving the first mold half and the package material blank.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of opening the cavity comprises
- moving the second mold half and the package material blank relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the package material blank;
- separating the first mold half into a cover portion and a recess portion, by moving the recess portion relative to the package material blank and the cover portion in a direction perpendicular to the package material and the cover portion, wherein the cover portion is arranged between the package material blank and the grip portion;
- moving the cover portion relative to the grip portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first side as to withdraw the cover portion between the grip portion and the first side.
13. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein arranging the first mold half comprises
- providing a half mold portion having a recess;
- providing a cover portion partly covering the recess as to form a cavity having an opening, wherein a lid potion is relatively movable to the recess portion in a direction perpendicular to a plane substantially paral¬ lel to a surface of the cover portion facing the first side;
- arranging the cover portion in the recess as to from a planar surface of the first mold half, said planar sur¬ face facing the fist side.
EP15753939.6A 2014-05-07 2015-08-20 Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device Withdrawn EP3194139A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE1450541 2014-05-07
SE1451051A SE1451051A1 (en) 2013-12-30 2014-09-11 Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device
PCT/EP2015/069099 WO2016037818A1 (en) 2014-09-11 2015-08-20 Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3194139A1 true EP3194139A1 (en) 2017-07-26

Family

ID=53181251

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15722951.9A Active EP3140115B1 (en) 2014-05-07 2015-04-29 Packaging material laminate structure
EP15753939.6A Withdrawn EP3194139A1 (en) 2014-05-07 2015-08-20 Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15722951.9A Active EP3140115B1 (en) 2014-05-07 2015-04-29 Packaging material laminate structure

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US20170183120A1 (en)
EP (2) EP3140115B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2017514765A (en)
CN (1) CN106458364B (en)
DK (1) DK3140115T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2709385T3 (en)
MX (1) MX2016014009A (en)
PL (1) PL3140115T3 (en)
RU (1) RU2683828C2 (en)
TR (1) TR201900935T4 (en)
WO (1) WO2015169656A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3237293B1 (en) 2014-12-22 2024-01-17 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA Package material and package container formed with said material
TR201909404T4 (en) * 2015-02-09 2019-07-22 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Packaging material and packaging container formed with the material in question
EP3257770B1 (en) * 2016-06-17 2021-03-31 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. An opening system for a container, a method of making the same and a container comprising the opening system
WO2017220692A1 (en) 2016-06-23 2017-12-28 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Sheet packaging material for producing sealed packages of pourable food products
ES2802806T3 (en) * 2017-07-05 2021-01-21 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance A method of manufacturing an opening system for a container
AT520340B1 (en) * 2017-08-29 2019-06-15 Constantia Teich Gmbh Packaging film with weakening line and supporting lacquer
USD980066S1 (en) * 2020-11-16 2023-03-07 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Lid for packaging

Family Cites Families (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4155481A (en) * 1978-07-26 1979-05-22 Tokan Kogyo Co., Ltd. Container cover member having synthetic resin openable portion and method for making the same
JPS59152161A (en) * 1983-02-15 1984-08-30 東洋製罐株式会社 Easy open heat seal cover
SE451321B (en) * 1985-07-02 1987-09-28 Tetra Pak Ab VERY EDGE AT PACKAGING CONTAINER
JPH0688596B2 (en) * 1986-10-28 1994-11-09 大日本印刷株式会社 Packaging container dispenser
CH673821A5 (en) * 1987-06-17 1990-04-12 Tetra Pak Romont
DE3832412C2 (en) * 1987-09-24 2002-10-02 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Liquid-tight cardboard container with a liquid pouring device
JP2629023B2 (en) * 1988-07-06 1997-07-09 大日本印刷株式会社 Dispenser for paper containers
CH679850A5 (en) * 1989-09-05 1992-04-30 Tetra Pak Romont
JPH0627542Y2 (en) * 1990-02-28 1994-07-27 日本製紙株式会社 Closed paper container with opening device
DE4409947C2 (en) * 1994-03-23 1997-07-17 Pkl Verpackungssysteme Gmbh Cuboid flat gable packing with gable seam
DE4409946A1 (en) * 1994-03-23 1995-09-28 Pkl Verpackungssysteme Gmbh Cuboid flat gable composite packaging and method for its production
IT245909Y1 (en) * 1998-09-22 2002-03-26 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SEALED PACKAGE OF THE PERFECT TYPE FOR FOOD PRODUCTS.
DE10126742B4 (en) * 2001-05-31 2004-12-02 Sig Combibloc Systems Gmbh Resealable pouring element made of film material and pack with such a pouring element
SE523861C2 (en) 2002-05-07 2004-05-25 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Packaging laminate, method of manufacture thereof, and packaging container made of packaging laminate
SE0301102D0 (en) 2003-04-14 2003-04-14 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Method in connection with the production of an apckaging laminate thus produced and a packaging container manufactures from the packaging laminate
PL2008787T3 (en) 2007-06-28 2012-08-31 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Method of injection molding opening devices on sheet material for packaging pourable food products, and packaging material and package obtained thereby
DE102008002853A1 (en) * 2008-05-14 2009-12-03 Sig Technology Ag Opening-and effusion element for square shaped beverage package, has hinge line extending between origin and end of effusion element, and formed with opening element using composite material, during opening process
SE532765C2 (en) * 2008-06-19 2010-04-06 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Method and apparatus for injection molding in the manufacture of packaging containers

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *
See also references of WO2016037818A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2017514765A (en) 2017-06-08
CN106458364B (en) 2019-01-04
WO2015169656A1 (en) 2015-11-12
RU2016143533A3 (en) 2018-10-26
MX2016014009A (en) 2017-01-11
EP3140115B1 (en) 2018-11-14
PL3140115T3 (en) 2019-05-31
TR201900935T4 (en) 2019-02-21
US20170183120A1 (en) 2017-06-29
DK3140115T3 (en) 2019-03-11
RU2016143533A (en) 2018-06-13
CN106458364A (en) 2017-02-22
ES2709385T3 (en) 2019-04-16
EP3140115A1 (en) 2017-03-15
RU2683828C2 (en) 2019-04-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP3194139A1 (en) Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device
EP3089918B1 (en) Package material blank, package with such device and method for manufacturing an opening device
JP2017530876A (en) Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing unsealing apparatus
RU2550187C2 (en) Device and method of injection moulding of opening devices on sheet packaging material for packing of liquid food
EP3581355B1 (en) Molding apparatus configured to injection mold an opening device on a sheet of packaging material
EP2889116B1 (en) An apparatus and a method for forming opening devices on a sheet packaging material for packaging pourable food products
CN105682881B (en) Equipment for forming opening device on the sheet packaging material for packaging pourable food products product
US10293972B2 (en) Opening device and apparatus for moulding an opening device on a sheet packaging material
WO2016037818A1 (en) Molding apparatus and method for manufacturing an opening device
EP3237293B1 (en) Package material and package container formed with said material
CN114096418A (en) Packaging material and method for producing same
RU2669275C2 (en) Opening device, method for manufacturing such an opening device and packaging material for use in said method
EP4269267A2 (en) Packaging blank, method for molding a lid-spout assembly onto a packaging blank, lid spout assembly, package having a lid-spout assembly and method and apparatus for forming a packaging blank

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20170411

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20190515

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20190726