EP3802351A1

EP3802351A1 - Packaging comprising a plastic container with constant stacking pitch

Info

Publication number: EP3802351A1
Application number: EP19742835.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bruno HAON; Gauthier LEMAIRE; Jérôme MUGNIER; Stéphane Navoret
Original assignee: Roquette Freres SA
Current assignee: Roquette Freres SA
Priority date: 2018-05-28
Filing date: 2019-05-27
Publication date: 2021-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-27
Also published as: MX2020012821A; CA3100408A1; AU2019278696A1; US20230219716A1; CN112166077A; BR112020024031A2; CN112166077B; EP3802351B1; SI3802351T1; FR3081449A1; JP2021526111A; ES2944084T3; WO2019229342A1; HUE061645T2; JP7369721B2; FR3081449B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging comprising a plastic container (2), comprising side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) meeting in corners (24), an upper opening (25) and a bottom (26), as well as a detachable plastic lid configured to cover the upper opening of the container (2), and wherein said side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) of the container are divergent, together forming a truncated pyramid, configured so that said container can be stacked inside an identical container. According to the invention, said container has projecting portions (29) extending from side walls at the upper opening (25) of the container, said projecting portions (29) being external to the container, configured to guarantee a constant stacking pitch between the container (2) and said identical container, when said container is stacked in said identical container.

Description

Packaging comprising a plastic container with no constant stacking

The invention relates to a package comprising, on the one hand, a container, plastic, comprising side walls meeting in corners, an upper opening and a bottom, and on the other hand, a lid, plastic, detachable configured to cover the upper opening of the container.

The field of the invention is that of the packaging of powder products in the food and / or pharmaceutical industry.

By way of non-limiting example, the powders concerned may be Sorbitol NEOSORB®, Maltitol SWEETPEARL®, Xylitol XYLISORB®, Mannitol PEARLITOL® etc. (...) marketed by the Applicant.

In this industry, it is customary to pack these powder products with unit volumes of between 40 liters and 60 liters. As it stands, these powders are packaged in a package that includes a box body, typically a "kraft box" or more rarely a "kraft keg". The "crate kraft" consists essentially of a carton blank pre-cut and folded, with an automatic bottom, allowing the storage of the blank in a substantially flat position when not in use, and its setting volume by unfolding the automatic bottom. For comparison, the kraft drum has the defect of being more expensive, especially because of the use of metal strapping, and to be bulky when not used, namely that it can not be folded flat when Not used. In both cases, the powdered product is disposed inside the can body, inside a sealed flexible bag.

A first problem with these paper packaging is that they are fiber generators, which represents a source of nuisance pollution for some sensitive industries that would like to isolate this type of fibrous pollution.

These packages are also brought to be transported, in containers, by ship, over long distances, and come into contact with insects. A second problem encountered is that of the non-sealing of the insect box body, which can even to be developed in the cardboard embossing of the can body during the delivery time, with insect penetration into the internal volume. Occasionally we find Thysanoptera-like insects in inter-space between the soft bag and the box body, inside the box. In such a case, these packages are simply refused by industries (pharmaceutical or food) because of intruders, causing a dry loss for the manufacturer of powdery products, which is a second problem for this type of paper packaging.

A third problem of such paper packaging is their fragility, this can tear during impacts, or when they undergo too much stress, for example when stacked on top of each other. It is still important to note that the packaging of such powdered products must not degrade the specificities of said powders which may have, for important characteristic sought, for example a particular texture, texture which should not be degraded during delivery in Europe. because of the transport movements and the friction generated on these powders.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a package offering effective protection against insect intrusions, the packaging being non-fiber generating, and at a cost acceptable to the manufacturer, and which is very little bulky when storing the package when empty. More particularly, the object of the present invention is to propose such a packaging which does not attack the contents during the dynamic storage of the products inside the package.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a package whose opening can be achieved easily, namely without tools. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a package with easy opening (without tools), limiting accidental openings during shocks. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a package, having an opening indicator suitable for signaling a fraudulent opening.

Another object of the present invention is to propose, at least according to one embodiment, a package which can be stacked, in particular on several levels such as three superposed packages, or even four superposed packages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a package facilitating the control of the contents, and without the need to remove the contents, or even to remove the lid of the package.

Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it.

Also the invention relates to a package comprising, on the one hand, a container, plastic, comprising side walls meeting in corners, an upper opening and a bottom, and on the other hand, a cover, plastic, detachable configured to cover the upper opening of the container, and wherein said container is provided at its upper opening with a first engagement portion having an outwardly directed edge, and extending peripherally, said lid being provided with on its periphery a second, downwardly folded engagement portion provided with an inwardly directed ridge which is able to engage below the outwardly directed ridge of the container and wherein said side walls of the container are divergent, forming a pyramid trunk therebetween, configured so that said container is stackable within a container. An identical container.

According to the invention, said container has protruding portions extending from the side walls at the upper opening of the container and below said first engagement portion of the container, said projections being external to the container, configured to ensure a constant stacking pitch between the container and said identical container, when said container is stacked in said identical container, said protruding portions being configured to cooperate abutting with the upper edge of the upper opening of the same container within which is stacked said container to ensure said stacking step.

According to the invention, and moreover:

said protrusions take the form of external ribs, extending vertically below said first engagement portion of the receptacle, each external vertical rib having at its lower end a plate intended to cooperate in abutment with the upper edge; the upper opening of the identical container inside which said container is stacked,

the second portion of engagement of the cover has a skirt extending on the lower part of the second engagement portion and in which said edge of the container directed outwards, on the one hand, and the edge of the lid; inward direction, on the other hand, having curved corner sections at the corners where said side walls meet, where at least one of the curved corner sections of the inwardly directed ridge is provided with foldable skirt section, articulated via a folding zone to the upper portion of the engagement portion which is capable of folding from an engagement position to a clear position directed outwardly so that a central portion of said at least one arcuate angle section of the inwardly directed ridge being levered away from the ridge facing outward of the upper opening re and that the engagement between the edges is thus weakened on said central part;

Still more significantly, said protrusions are arranged outwardly projecting from the corners, at least one of the outer ribs extending at the corners, from its low end forming the flat and at least up to the height of said foldable skirt section when the inwardly directed ridge is in the engagement position with the edge of the container facing outward.

Advantageously, the vertical ribs then advantageously constitute obstacles limiting the risk of accidental opening of the foldable skirt sections, by deflecting the unfortunate support of an object that would accidentally press under the skirt section.

According to optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: - the stacking step ensures between the container and said identical container is such that the side walls of the container and the side walls of the identical container are spaced a distance between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm;

- The height of the outer rib following the vertical defines the stacking step, said outer rib extending from the flat function of the stop at its lower end to the upper edge of the container at its upper end;

said foldable skirt section is separated from the remaining section of the skirt by means of two grooves formed in the outer surface of the skirt and extending downwards from a folding zone to the lower edge of the skirt, said grooves reducing the wall thickness of the skirt so that the skirt can be broken along the grooves to fold the foldable skirt section into its outward facing position;

said outer rib at the right of the foldable skirt section is, in a horizontal direction passing through the plane of the outer rib, of increasing dimension between its lower end forming the flat and the lower end of the foldable skirt section, said outer rib thereby forming an outwardly diverging ramp as one approaches from the flat to the lower end of the vertical rib towards the lower end of the foldable skirt section;

the first engagement portion of the container carrying said edge of the outwardly directed container extends folded downwards, overlapping the side walls and the corners on the height of the container, with the presence of a peripheral cavity in inter-space between the outer surface of the side walls and corners, on the one hand, and the folded section of the engagement portion, on the other hand, and in which vertical reinforcing ribs, are distributed in said cavity on the periphery of the container, each rib of reinforcement connecting one of the side or corner walls, on the one hand, to said folded section of the first engagement portion, on the other hand;

the external ribs guaranteeing the constant stacking pitch each extend from their lower end forming the plate, located below the cavity and from said first engagement portion of the container and to the inside of said cavity where said vertical outer rib is extended to form one of the reinforcing ribs;

the first engagement portion of the container carrying the outwardly directed edge extends and extends below said first edge, and terminates below said first edge by a second edge also directed towards said first edge; the outside, and wherein the foldable skirt section carrying the inwardly directed ridge able to hook with the first door edge, in the engagement position of the foldable skirt section, a second directed ridge inward, able to hook with the second edge directed outwardly of the first engagement portion;

- The interior surfaces of the container, including those of the bottom, the side walls and the corners are smooth, devoid of ribs;

two handles extend, depending on the height of the container, each handle being positioned below the engagement portion of the container and above or below the lower ends with stop function of the projecting parts ensuring the stacking step constant, said handles extending laterally projecting from two opposing side walls of the container;

- The side walls are four in number, the section (in a horizontal plane) of the container being rectangular;

the container has a useful capacity of between 40 liters and 60 liters.

According to one embodiment: the dimension d1 being the overall dimension of the assembly in a first horizontal direction passing through the two handles and constituted by the distance separating the two handles,

the dimension d2 being the overall dimension d2 in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction and in which 0.95 dl <d2 <1.05 dl;

According to one embodiment, the thickness dimension of the side walls is between 2 mm and 2.2 mm, the container is capable of withstanding a compression force of between 40 kilograms and 105 kilograms, preferably of the order of 75 kilograms applied to the lid in the engaged position on the top opening of the container.

According to one embodiment, the wall of the lid has a pre-cut opening closed by a shutter, breakable, a breakable line, formed by a reduction of section of the lid wall defining the contour of the shutter and said pre-cut opening, said breakable line being configured so that a manual pressure on the breakable shutter ensures breaking of the breakable line and thus the release of the pre-cut opening.

Optionally, said breakable line extends around the periphery of the shutter with the exception of an area intended to form a shutter retaining tab once cut, said breakable line being configured so that a manual pressure on the shutter breakable shutter ensures the rupture of the breakable line and thus the release of the pre-cut opening, then the holding of the shutter under the cover wall via said flexible retention tab.

According to one embodiment, the cover is substantially rectangular in shape with four corners and in which the pre-cut opening and the breakable shutter are located on the cover, away from the corners, on an axis of symmetry of the cover, and off-center position with respect to the center of the lid. The invention will find particular use for the packaging of food or pharmaceutical powders, directly contained in the interior volume of the container of the package, or indirectly contained in a sealed flexible bag internal to said container of said package. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a package according to the invention, wherein the container and said lid are obtained by injection molding.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by the drawings, among which:

FIGS. 1a and 1b are respectively views of a plurality of lids, and a plurality of containers, belonging to packages in accordance with the invention, when not in use, the figure illustrating the stacking of the lids in the others, FIG. 1b stacking the containers one inside the other,

FIGS. 2a and 2b are respectively views according to section CC of FIG. 1a, and according to section BB of FIG. 1b; FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b are respectively perspective views of a cover and FIG. a container of a package according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a package comprising a pallet 1140 mm × 1140 mm on which four packaging beds are stacked one on top of the other, each bed being formed of 9 packages distributed side by side in a configuration in square (3 x 3), using a pallet 1140 x 1140, intermediate between the second bed and the third bed of the packaging,

- Figure 5 is a sectional view of the lower part of a container with the presence of a vertical rib, significantly inside the container, and as it is designed in the state of the art to ensure the step stacking between two containers stacked one inside the other, - Figure 6 is a sectional view illustrating the stacking step obtained between two containers according to Figure 5, the bottom of the upper container bears on the upper end of the inner ribs of the lower container and as known from the state of the technique to ensure the stacking pitch between two containers stacked one inside the other, - Figure 7 is a detailed view of two foldable skirt sections at an angle section and can be discarded each, manually, from an engagement position illustrated in Figure 7 to facilitate the removal of the lid, and below which are the vertical ribs protruding outwardly of the container, function of stacking step, - FIG. 8 is a detailed view illustrating the operation of the vertical ribs, the plates at the lower ends of the vertical ribs of the upper container bearing on the upper edge formed by the first part of engagement of the lower container,

FIG. 9 is a view from above of the lid, illustrating a pre-cut opening closed by a shutter, which can be broken off,

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the package,

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the assembly between the lid and the container, at a corner, FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view, at a corner, passing through the vertical rib. with stacking step function, when the lid covers the opening, the foldable skirt section in the engagement position,

- Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view through one of the side walls, illustrating the interlocking between the first engagement portion of the container and the second engagement portion of the lid. Also the invention relates to a package 1 comprising, on the one hand, a container 2, plastic, comprising side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 meeting in corners 24, an upper opening 25 and a bottom 26, and on the other hand, a cover 4, plastic, detachable configured to cover the upper opening of the container 2.

The plastic material used may be a polypropylene, or polyethylene, food grade, as non-limiting examples.

Said container 2 is provided at its upper opening 25 with a first engagement portion 34 carrying an edge 27 directed outwards, and extending on the periphery, said cover being provided on its periphery with a second portion of a downwardly-folded engagement 40 provided with an inwardly directed ridge 41 which is capable of catching below the edge 27 facing outwardly of the container.

The closure of the upper opening 25 of the container is obtained by positioning the second engagement portion 40 of the lid on the first engagement position 34 of the container, then exerting a force on the lid so as to obtain a nesting between two portions of engagement by elastic deformation of these portions (ie the first engagement portion, the second engagement portion or both), and until the edge 41 of the lid, facing inward, passes below the edge 27 directed towards the outside of the container. Once the lid thus "clipped", the interior volume of the package is isolated in a sealed manner insects in particular.

The side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 of the container 2 are divergent along the height, forming between them a truncated pyramid: these side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 are configured so that said container 2 is stackable at the top. inside of an identical container. When not used, and as illustrated in Figure lb for two packaging containers according to the invention, it is possible to stack one of the containers in the other.

Also noticeably, a stacking pitch marked Dep, constant, is provided between the two containers stacked one inside the other and so that the spacing between the walls lateral parts belonging to the two containers stacked one inside the other is between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, and in particular between 0.3 mm and 1.2 mm. This spacing between the side walls is illustrated by way of example in Figure 2b (value 0.49 mm), and measures the distance separating two side walls juxtaposed belonging respectively to the two containers stacked one inside the other. Such spacing allows the operator to grasp and extract the upper container of the lower container, and without suction effect, simplifying handling. This stacking step Dep measures the size according to the height separating two containers stacked one inside the other. This dimension is visible for the invention in Figure 8 and Figure 13 and Figure 6 for a container according to the state of the art. FIGS. 5 and 6 are views illustrating the way in which the containers of the state of the art, stacked one inside the other, guarantee the presence of a stacking step by means of vertical ribs, protruding towards inside. These vertical ribs with a stacking step function are marked N and extend from the bottom 26 'on the lower part of the corners of the container. When the upper container is stacked in a lower container, the bottom 26 'of the upper container abuts against the plates at the end of the inner ribs of the lower container, ensuring the presence of a stacking pitch. The stacking pitch is configured so that the gap between two sidewalls is 0.8 mm, as shown in FIG.

Notably, and according to this state of the art, the ribs are provided internal to the container, and therefore projecting towards the contents. The invention arose from the finding by the inventor that these protruding ribs to the content are incompatible with one of the objectives of the invention whose object is not to deteriorate the properties of the product contained during dynamic storage.

For example, and for a packaging of food or pharmaceutical powders, indirectly contained in a flexible waterproof bag inside said container of said package, such vertical ribs will create friction on the flexible bag during movements due to transport. This friction can cause weak points of the flexible knowledge that can go as far as tearing. Alternatively, and for the packaging of food or pharmaceutical powders, directly contained in the interior volume of the container of the package, such vertical ribs will create friction on the powder contained. These friction on the powder can cause a change in these properties, and in particular a change in their texture.

The container of the packaging according to the invention is advantageously devoid of such internal ribs with a stacking step function. The interior surfaces of the container, including those of the bottom 26, the side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 and the corners 24 are preferably smooth, devoid of ribs or other protuberances likely to attack the contents.

The container according to the invention has protrusions 29 extending from the side walls at the upper opening 25 of the container and below said first engagement portion 34 of the container, said projections 29 being noticeably, and according to the invention, external to the container, and not internal as in the prior art illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

These raised portions marked 29 are configured to ensure a constant stacking pitch between the container 2 and said identical container 2 ', when said container is stacked in said identical container, said projecting portions 29 being configured so as to cooperate in abutment with the upper edge 30 of the upper opening 25 of the same container within which is stacked said container to ensure said stacking step.

Said protrusions 29 take the form of external ribs 31, extending vertically below said first engagement portion 34 of the container. Each outer rib 31, vertical, has at its lower end a plate 32 for cooperating in abutment with the upper edge 30 of the upper opening of the same container within which is stacked said container. Said protrusions 29 are arranged outwardly projecting from the corners 24. When the side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 are four in number, four protrusions 29 may be provided protruding from the four corners 24 separating the side walls. According to one embodiment, the height of the outer rib 31 along the vertical defines the stacking step Dep, and as illustrated by way of example in the figures. The outer rib 31 extending from the flat 32 at its lower end to the upper edge 30 of the container at its upper end.

According to an embodiment that can be understood in FIG. 14, the first engagement portion 34 of the container carrying said edge 27 of the outwardly directed container extends folded downwards, in overlap of the side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 and corners 24 on an upper part of the height of the container, with the presence of a peripheral int cavity in inter-space. This cavity, which extends at the periphery of the container, is delimited between the outer surface of the side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 and wedges 24, on the one hand, and the folded section of the engagement portion 34, on the other hand.

It is also noted the presence of vertical reinforcing ribs 35 distributed in said cavity on the periphery of the container, each reinforcing rib 35 connecting one of the side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 or corner 24, on the one hand , to said folded section of the first engagement portion 34, on the other hand, and as visible in Figure 12. Each rib extends projecting substantially perpendicular to the wall forming the corner or to the wall forming the side wall .

According to one embodiment, it is noted that the outer ribs 31 guaranteeing the constant stacking pitch each extend from their lower end forming the plate 32, located below the Int cavity and said first engagement portion 34 of the and to the interior of said Int cavity where said vertical outer rib 31 extends to form one of the reinforcing ribs 37. In such a case, the outer rib 31 combines a dual function, namely a function for the realization of the stacking step and a reinforcing rib function 37 by connecting in particular the wedge 24 and the folded section of the first engagement portion 34.

According to the invention and as visible in FIG. 7, the second engagement portion 40 of the cover has a skirt 42 extending over the lower portion of the second engagement portion 40 and wherein said edge 27 of the directed container outward, from a on the other hand having the curved corner sections 28, 43 in the corners 24 where said side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 meet, where at least one one of the curved corner sections of the inwardly directed ridge 41 is provided with a collapsible skirt section 44 articulated via a folding zone 46 to the upper portion of the second engagement portion 40 of the cover.

This foldable skirt 44 is able to fold back from an engagement position to a disengaged position directed outwardly so that a central portion of said at least one curved angle section of the inwardly directed ridge 41 is levered out of the edge 27 directed outwardly of the upper opening 29 and the engagement between the edges 27,41 is thus weakened on said central portion. The passage of the folding skirt 44 from the engaged position to the disengaged position can be performed manually, facilitating the removal of the cover which can be achieved without tools.

According to one embodiment, said foldable skirt section 44 is separated from the remaining section of the skirt 42 by means of two grooves 45 formed in the outer surface of the skirt 42 and extending downwardly from a folding zone 46 to the lower edge of the skirt 42, said grooves 45 reducing the wall thickness of the skirt 42 so that the skirt can be broken along the grooves 45 to fold the foldable skirt section 44 into its directed position. outwards. The lid 4 may have four foldable skirt sections at the four corners of the lid, when the container has four side walls. For the realization of such folding sections 44, the skilled person can for example refer to the document EP 1.380.516 A1.

According to the invention, at least one of the outer ribs 31 extends at the corners 24, from its lower end forming the flat 32 and at least up to the height of said foldable skirt section 44 when the ridge 41 directed inwardly is in the engagement position with the edge 27 of the container 2 directed outwards. For example and as shown in Figure 13 by way of example, said outer rib 31 vertically to the foldable skirt section 44 is, in a horizontal direction passing through the plane of the outer rib 31, of increasing dimension between its lower end forming the flat 32 and the lower end 48 of the foldable skirt section 44. For example, and in FIG. 13, it can be seen that said outer rib 31 forms a ramp 33 projecting outwards as one approaches, from the flat 32 of the lower end of the outer rib 31 towards the lower end 48 of the folding skirt section 44 then in the engagement position. The position of the outer vertical rib 31, near and below the folding skirt section 44, or even the ramp 33 thus created, advantageously constitute an obstacle limiting the risks of accidental opening of the foldable skirt sections 44, by an unfortunate support of an object that would come accidentally, during an uncontrolled manipulation, under the skirt section 44. In particular and when the cover has four sections of skirt 44 foldable at these four corners, four vertical ribs 31, positioned at the four corners of the container extend respectively to the right of the four sections of skirt 44. Each of the vertical ribs 31 then extends at the corners 24, from its lower end forming the flat 32 and at least up to the height of said collapsible skirt section 44 when the inwardly facing edge 41 is in the engagement position with the edge 27 of the outwardly directed container 2. Each rib thus constitutes an obstacle limiting the risks of accidental opening of the folding skirt sections 44, by preventing undesired support under the folding skirt.

According to one embodiment, and as visible by way of nonlimiting example according to FIG. 13:

the first engagement portion 34 of the container bearing the outwardly directed edge 27 extends and extends below said edge 27, called the first edge, and ends below said first edge by a second edge; 35 also directed outwards,

the foldable skirt section 44 carrying the inwardly directed edge 41 able to hook with the first edge 27 carries, in the engagement position of the foldable skirt section 44, a second edge 47 directed towards the inside, able to hook with the second edge 35 directed towards the outside of the first engagement portion 34. The possible presence of a double edge 41 and 47 makes it possible to increase the resistance of the second engagement portion 40 of the cover 4 to the first engagement portion 34 of the container.

Increasing the holding of the lid on the container may be advantageous in many ways, and in particular to allow the handling and lifting of the package by means of a suction lift device engaging the lid of the package at its center, the connection between the lid and the container to be strong enough to support the weight of the package and its contents during the suspension of said package by its cover. According to one embodiment, the container has a useful capacity of between 40 liters and 60 liters. In the case of packaging with a capacity of 40 liters to 60 liters, the density of the powders being very often between 0.3 and 0.6, it is understood that the connection between the lid and the container should be able to lift a weight of the order of 20 kg to 30 kg to allow manipulation by suction pad.

According to one embodiment, two handles 36 extend, depending on the height of the container, each handle 36 being positioned below the engagement portion 34 of the container and above or at the lower ends of the stop function of the protrusions 29 guaranteeing the constant stacking pitch, said handles 36 extending laterally projecting from two opposing side walls 21,23 of the container.

According to an understandable embodiment of Figures lb and 2b, the side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 are four in number, namely a rectangular section container and in particular:

the dimension d1 being the overall dimension of the package in a first horizontal direction passing through the two handles and constituted by the distance separating the two handles 36,

the dimension d2 being the overall dimension d2 in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction and in which 0.95 dl <d2 <1.05 dl. For example and in Figure 2b, the dimension d1 is 386 mm and in Figure d2 the dimension is 387 mm, namely a substantially identical dimension. Providing an identical or nearly identical overall dimension in both directions allows nine packages to be placed side by side on a pallet 1140 mm xl 140 mm, divided into three columns and three rows, in a 3x3 configuration, optimizing the capacity of the palette.

In general, the dimension d1 and the dimension d2 may be between 380 mm and 390 mm. The height of the container from the bottom to the upper edge of the first engagement portion 34 may be between 450 mm and 550 mm and for example 517.7 mm as shown in Figure lb.

According to one embodiment, the thickness dimension of the side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 is between 2 mm and 2.2 mm such as 2.1 mm, the container being able to withstand a compressive force between 40 kilograms and 105 kilograms, and preferably 75 kilograms applied to the lid 4 in the engagement position on the upper opening of the container.

This makes it possible to stack three or even four packages (with the contained products) on top of each other. For example, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a package comprising a pallet 1140 mm × 1140 mm on which four packaging beds are stacked on top of one another, each bed being formed of 9 packages distributed side by side according to a square configuration (3 x 3), using a pallet 1140 mm x 1140 mm, intermediate between the second bed and the third bed.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the wall of the lid 4 has a pre-cut opening closed by a shutter 5, breakable. A breakable line 50, formed by a section reduction of the cover wall 4 defines the contour of the shutter 5 and said pre-cut opening, said breakable line 50 being configured so that a manual pressure on the shutter 5 ensures the rupture of the breakable line 50, and thus the release of the pre-cut opening. It is thus possible to retract the shutter 5 by a simple manual pressure on it. The opening thus released allows the introduction of an analysis probe, such as an analysis probe of a Raman spectrometer.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it is noted that said breakable line 50 extends at the periphery of the shutter 5 with the exception of a zone intended to constitute a retaining tab 51 of the shutter 5, once said line breakable 50 sectioned. This breakable line 50 is thus configured so that a manual pressure on the shutter ensures breaking of the breakable line 50 and thus the release of the pre-cut opening, then the holding of the shutter 5 under the wall of the cover 4 via said retaining tongue 51, flexible.

Note that the position of this pre-cut opening (with its breakable shutter) is not determined by chance, the latter being positioned at a distance from the corner areas of the lid where is likely to support the base of a container of a stacked packaging on the lid of the package: it prevents the action of the weight of a package on the lid does not cut the breakable line 50, and does not accidentally open the opening. Similarly, it is noted that the pre-cut opening is remote from the center of the lid: it is thus avoided that the press used to place the lid on the container does not cut the breakable line, or that the suction cup of a device of lifting used to lift the package and its contents by suction effect in the center of the lid does not weaken or even section said breakable line.

Note also that the patch forming the shutter can be embossed with a visual signaling the area of the shutter that must be pressed to release the pre-cut opening.

Also, the cover 4 is substantially rectangular in shape including four corners 49, and as shown in Figure 9, it is noted that the pre-cut opening and the shutter 5, are located on the cover at a distance from the corners 49 on an axis of A symmetry of the cover, and off-center position relative to the center C of the cover. Container 2 and cover 4 can be obtained, typically by injection molding. In such a case, the die and the punch will make it possible to obtain the different characteristics of the packaging during molding, such as the external vertical ribs with stacking step function, the foldable foldable skirt sections, the opening pre-cut with its breakable shutter, allowing the realization of a packaging at lower cost. Note also that the retaining tab 51 is positioned on the side of the shutter 5 facing the opposite direction to the center of the cover. This allows the insertion of the probe, through the opening, and while the shutter is held by the retaining tab 51, in a position where the probe can be inclined towards the center of the container, and without the retaining tab and the held shutter do not oppose such inclination.

The packaging according to the invention finds a particular application for the packaging of food or pharmaceutical powders, directly contained in the interior volume of the container of the package, or indirectly contained in a sealed flexible bag inside said container of said package.

The method of packaging the powder product can provide the following steps:

a step a) of inserting the powder product in a flexible bag, through an upper opening of the bag, - a step b) sealing the upper opening of the flexible bag, for example by thermo welding or else ultrasonic welding of the flexible bag,

a step c) of insertion of the filled flexible bag (or sealed seal) into the interior volume of the receptacle, through its upper opening 25,

a step d) of positioning the lid of the package on the upper opening of the container, a step e) of placing the lid, by a pressure exerted on the lid so that the first engagement portion 34 of the container 2 engages with the second engagement portion of the lid, and until said inward facing ridge 41 passes underneath and clings with said ridge 27 of the container. Alternatively, the flexible bag can be inserted empty into the container of the package, the step a) of inserting the powder product and the closing step b) then being carried out while the flexible bag is already positioned in the container. container, and before placing the lid.

Stage e) of placing the lid can be carried out by means of a jack, ensuring at the beginning of the stroke a slight pressure on the lid so as to allow a pre-nesting of the lid on the container (of the first portion of engagement 34 of the container with the second engagement portion 40 of the cover), and at the end of the stroke a much greater pressure ensuring the attachment of the edges 27 and 41 between them, or even edges 35 and 47.

NOMENCLATURE

Invention

1. Together,

2. Container,

20, 21, 22, 23. Lateral walls,

24. Coins,

25. Top opening,

26. Background,

27 Ridge (first),

28. Curved section (Ridge 27),

29. projecting part (with no stacking function),

30. Upper edge,

31. External ribs (protruding part with stacking step function),

32. Flat (lower end vertical rib),

33. Ramp (outer ribs),

34. First engagement portion (top opening 25 container),

35. Second edge pointing outwards,

36. Handles, 4. Lid,

40. Second commitment portion, 41. Inward pointing edge (first),

42. Skirt,

43 Curved section (ridge 41),

44. Foldable skirt section,

45. Breakable grooves,

46. Folding area (collapsible skirt section 44),

47. Second edge (facing inwards),

48. Lower end (foldable skirt section),

49. Corners (lid),

5. Breakable shutter,

50. Breakable line,

51. Retaining tab,

A. Cover symmetry axis,

C. Center cover,

Dep. No stacking.State of the art (Ligures 5 and 6) 2 'Container,

26 'Lond,

N. Internal ribs with stacking step function, Dep. No stacking.

Claims

A package (1) comprising, on the one hand, a plastic container (2) comprising side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) meeting in corners (24), an upper opening (25) and a bottom (26), and on the other hand, a detachable plastic cover (4) configured to cover the top opening of the container (2), and wherein said container (2) is provided at its upper opening (25). ) a first engagement portion (34) carrying an edge (27) facing outward and extending peripherally, said cover being provided on its periphery with a second engagement portion (40). extending downwardly with an inwardly directed ridge (41) which is capable of catching below the edge (27) facing outwardly of the container, and wherein side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) of the container are divergent, forming between them a truncated pyramid, configured so that said container is stackable within an identical container, said container having projecting portions (29) extending from the side walls at the top opening (25) of the container and below said first portion of the container engagement (34) of the container, said projecting portions (29) being external to the container, in the form of external ribs (31), extending vertically below said first engagement portion (34) of the container, each vertical rib (31), vertical, having at its lower end a plate (32) intended to cooperate in abutment with the upper edge (30) of the upper opening of the identical container inside which said container is stacked, said parts protrusions (29) being configured to ensure a constant stacking pitch between the container (2) and said identical container (2 '), when said container is stacked in said identical container, said parts the protrusions (29) being configured to cooperate in abutment with the upper edge (30) of the upper opening (25) of the same container inside which said container is stacked to ensure said stacking step, and wherein the second engagement portion (40) of the cover has a skirt (42) extending over the lower portion of the second engagement portion (40) and wherein said edge (27) of the container facing the outside, on the one hand, and the edge (41) of the inward facing cover, on the other hand, having curved corner sections (28, 43) in the corners (24) where said side walls (20) 21,22,23), where at least one of the curved corner sections of the inwardly directed ridge (41) is provided with a collapsible skirt section (44) articulated via a folding (46) at the upper portion of the engagement portion (40) which is capable of folding from an engagement position to an outwardly facing open position such that a central portion of the at least one a curved angle section of the inwardly directed ridge (41) is levered away from the ridge (27) directed outwardly of the upper opening (29) and that the engagement between the ridges (27,41) is thus weakened on said central portion and wherein said projecting portions (29) are arranged in an outward projection from the corners (24), at least one of the outer ribs (31) extending at the corners (24) from its lower end forming the flat (32) and at least up to the height of said collapsible skirt section (44) when the inwardly directed ridge (41) is in engagement with the outwardly directed ridge (27) of the container (2).

2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the stacking step (Dep) ensures between the container and said identical container is such that the side walls of the container and the side walls of the identical container are separated by a distance between 0 , 4 mm and 1.2 mm.

The package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the height of the outer rib (31) along the vertical defines the stacking step (Dep), said outer rib (31) extending from the dish (32) to function of the abutment, at its lower end, to the upper edge (30) of the container, at its upper end.

4. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said foldable skirt section (44) is separated from the remaining section of the skirt (42) by means of two grooves (45) formed in the outer surface of the skirt (42) and extending downwardly from a folding zone (46) to the lower edge of the skirt (42), said grooves (45) reducing the the wall thickness of the skirt (42) so that the skirt can be broken along the grooves (45) to fold the foldable skirt section (44) into its outward facing position.

5. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said outer rib (31) to the right of the foldable skirt section (44) is, in a horizontal direction passing through the plane of the outer rib (31), of increasing dimension between its lower end forming the plate (32) and the lower end (48) of the foldable skirt section (44), said outer rib (31) thus forming a ramp (33) diverging towards the exterior when approaching from the flat (32) at the lower end of the vertical rib (29) to the lower end (48) of the foldable skirt section (44).

6. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the first engagement portion (34) of the container carrying said edge (27) of the container directed outwardly extends folded downwards, covering the walls lateral portions (20, 21, 22, 23) and corners (24) on the height of the container, with the presence of a peripheral cavity (Int) in inter-space between the outer surface of the side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) and wedges (24), on the one hand, and the folded section of the engagement portion (34), on the other hand, and in which vertical reinforcing ribs (37) are distributed in said cavity on the periphery of the container, each reinforcing rib (37) connecting one of the side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) or wedge (24), on the one hand, to said folded section of the first portion of commitment (34), on the other hand.

Pack according to claim 6, wherein the outer ribs (31) guaranteeing the constant stacking pitch each extend from their lower end forming the flat (32), located below the cavity (Int) and said first engagement portion (34) of the container and to the interior of said cavity (Int) where said vertical outer rib (31) extends to form one of the reinforcing ribs (37).

8. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the first engagement portion (34) of the container carrying the ridge (27) outwardly extends and extends below said ridge (27). ), said first edge, and terminates below said first edge by a second edge (35) also directed outwards, and wherein the foldable skirt section (44) carrying the edge (41) facing the interior able to hook with the first edge (27) carries, in the position of engagement of the foldable skirt section (44), a second edge (47) directed inwards, able to s' hang with the second edge (35) directed outwardly from the first engagement portion (34).

9. Package according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the interior surfaces of the container, including those of the bottom (26), the side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) and the corners (24) are smooth , devoid of veins.

10. Package according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein two handles (36) extend, depending on the height of the container, each handle (36) being positioned below the engagement portion (34) of the container. and above or below the abutment-limiting lower ends of the projecting portions (29) ensuring the constant stacking pitch, said handles (36) projecting laterally from two opposing side walls (21,23). of the container.

11. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) are four in number, the section of the container being rectangular.

The package of claims 10 and 11, wherein:

the dimension d1 being the overall dimension of the assembly in a first horizontal direction passing through the two handles and constituted by the distance separating the two handles (36), the dimension d2 being the overall dimension d2 in a horizontal direction; perpendicular to the first horizontal direction and in which 0.95 dl <d2 <1.05 dl.

13. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the container has a useful capacity of between 40 liters and 60 liters.

14. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the thickness dimension of the side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) is between 2 mm and 2.2 mm, the container is likely to withstand a compressive force of between 40 kilograms and 105 kilograms, applied to the cover (4) in the engagement position on the upper opening of the container.

15. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the wall of the lid (4) has a pre-cut opening closed by a shutter (5), breakable, a breakable line (50), formed by a reduction of section of the cover wall (4) defining the contour of the shutter (5) and said pre-cut opening, said breakable line being configured so that a manual pressure on the breakable shutter ensures breaking of the breakable line (50) and thus the release of the pre-cut opening.

16. Packaging according to claim 15, wherein said breakable line (50) extends at the periphery of the shutter (5) with the exception of a zone intended to form a retaining tab (51) of the shutter. once severed, said breakable line being configured so that a manual pressure on the breakable shutter ensures breaking of the breakable line (50) and thus the release of the pre-cut opening, then the holding of the shutter (5) under the cover wall via said flexible retaining tab (51).

The package according to claims 11 and 15 or 16, wherein the cover (4) is substantially rectangular in shape including four corners (49) and wherein the pre-cut opening and the breakable shutter (5) are located on the remote cover of the corners (49) on an axis of symmetry (A) of the cover, and off-center position relative to the center (C) of the cover.

18. Use of the packaging according to one of claims 1 to 17 for the packaging of food or pharmaceutical powders, directly contained in the interior volume of the container of the package, or indirectly contained in a sealed flexible bag internal said container said packaging.

19. A method of manufacturing a package according to one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the container and said lid is obtained by injection molding.