EP3887268A1

EP3887268A1 - Plastic container with reinforced panel

Info

Publication number: EP3887268A1
Application number: EP19835453.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michel Boukobza
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2018-11-26
Filing date: 2019-11-19
Publication date: 2021-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-19
Also published as: FR3088912B1; EP3887268B1; US20220097899A1; WO2020109697A1; FR3088912A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plastic container (1) comprising a panel (14) having at least a radius of curvature greater than 100 mm, the panel (14) having reinforcing means (16), characterised in that the reinforcing means (16) include: - a peripheral groove (160) defining a reinforcing contour; - a plurality of internal grooves (161; 162) extending inside the reinforcing contour, each internal groove (161; 162) having two ends (161a; 161b; 162a; 162b) which each lead into the peripheral groove (160), or at least one end (162a; 162b) which leads into another internal groove (161).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title: Plastic container with reinforced panel.

The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of plastic containers obtained by blow molding or stretch blow molding in a forming mold.

More specifically, the invention relates to a container having a shape of substantially rectangular or oval section. This type of plastic container generally has at least one wall provided with a so-called “flat” panel, that is to say a panel representing a surface generally used to receive a label.

It is noted that by "flat panel" is meant an effectively flat panel, but also a slightly curved or curved panel having one or more radii of curvature such that the panel appears flat (for example one or more radii of curvature or equal to 100 mm).

To ensure good rigidity in the container, it is known to increase the thickness of material in the container walls. However, the tendency is particularly to reduce the weight of the containers, and in particular to reduce the thickness of the walls of the container.

In fact, by reducing the thickness of the walls and therefore the material consumed, it is possible to reduce the weight of the containers, but also to reduce their production cost.

Furthermore, reducing the material and therefore the weight of the containers is beneficial in terms of ecology since less plastic is used, and the energy required to manufacture a container is also reduced. This is explained in particular by the fact that the air pressure to be injected to form a container can be reduced while maintaining the good quality of the container obtained.

However, the reduction in the thickness of the walls of the containers gives rise to problems of mechanical strength of the containers. This is particularly the case for containers which include a flat panel. In particular, when the container leaves the forming mold, the flat panels are deformed, in particular by being curled. This phenomenon is all the more masked for containers comprising, in addition to the flat panel, a handle, the presence of the handle generating a

increased stresses in plastic, especially PET.

To avoid deformation of flat panels, at least two solutions have been considered.

A first solution consists in heating the walls of the mold which define the shape of the container formed.

The heating of the mold walls, generally between 10 ° and 65 ° (and more

particularly around 35 °), facilitates · the coming of the plastic in contact with the mold.

However, heating the mold increases the phenomenon of shrinkage of the plastic at the mold outlet.

Thus, if the material conforms properly to the walls of the mold during molding, it shrinks when the container formed leaves the mold. This results in a loss of definition of the details of the container, in particular details of structured patterns comprising curves of small radii, which are the most difficult to obtain. The container formed then generally corresponds to the imprint of the mold with the exception of certain details which form in the mold, but which disappear from the container removed from the mold following the shrinkage of the material.

In other words, the fact of heating the mold prevents the plastic material, in particular the PET, from congealing against the walls of the mold. On leaving the mold, the phenomenon of withdrawal then causes the disappearance of precision shapes from the container.

The second solution is to make reinforcing means on the flat panel. These reinforcing means conventionally take the form of grooves made on the flat panel, the grooves being generally parallel to each other and equidistant from each other.

This second solution makes it possible to keep a manufacturing cost substantially equal to that of conventional manufacturing.

On the other hand, these grooves, in order to be effective, most often have a significant depth, so that they are visible under the labels of the containers. In addition, these grooves are generally positioned so that the deformation of the panel is only ensured along a single axis of deformation. Therefore, deformation along another axis of deformation is possible. Generally, when the grooves are positioned substantially

perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, the deformations are marked between the grooves. On the other hand, when the grooves are positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, the deformations are marked at the ends of the grooves.

The invention particularly aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide a plastic container having a flat panel whose deformation is limited, or at least controlled, so as not to cause a quality defect which would be perceived by a consumer, as well as to allow labeling of the container.

The invention also aims to provide such a container which is simple to manufacture, and in particular adaptable to a conventional manufacturing process.

The invention further aims to provide such a container, the flat panel of which has reinforcing means which are invisible, or almost invisible, under the label.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention, which relates to a plastic container of the type comprising a panel having at least a radius of curvature greater than 100 mm, the panel having reinforcing means, characterized in that the reinforcing means include:

- a peripheral groove defining a reinforcement contour;

- a plurality of internal grooves extending inside the contour of

reinforcement, each internal groove having two ends each opening into the peripheral groove, or into another internal groove.

The peripheral groove defines a reinforced area of the flat panel. An area thus delimited ensures that the deformation constraints will be concentrated there, which will make it possible to increase the quality perceived by the consumer.

The internal grooves allow the area surrounded by the peripheral groove to be stiffened so that the entire flat panel is stiffened. In addition, the fact that the internal grooves open out is either in the groove

peripheral, or in another internal groove, also allows the flat panel to contribute to preserving the shape of the container (that is to say that the flat panel contributes to preventing the overall deformation of the container).

According to a first advantageous embodiment, the peripheral groove defines a closed reinforcement contour.

The closed contour offers an additional guarantee of security in terms of resistance to deformation of the flat panel.

In addition, the closed contour makes it possible to delimit a labeling area, that is to say an area reserved for the bonding of the label around the means of

enhancement.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the peripheral groove defines an open reinforcement contour.

An open reinforcement contour also gives good rigidity to the flat panel. Short openings of the contour are however favored compared to long openings which increase the risk of deformation of the flat panel.

Consequently, the discontinuity of the peripheral groove ensures this voluntary deformation of the container for the extraction of the product that it contains.

Advantageously, the internal grooves are arranged to form a pattern of braces.

The cross pattern makes it possible to stiffen the flat panel along several axes. Thus, the braces increase the perceived quality of the container by the consumer. In addition, if a label is torn off, or the label is peeled off, the spider pattern provides an aesthetic appearance to the container.

In this case, the internal grooves are advantageously rectilinear.

The straightness of the internal grooves contributes to the perceived quality of the container, and in particular to the rigidity of the flat panel.

As a variant, the internal grooves are curvilinear.

Such internal grooves then retain their stiffening power while providing a fantasy, especially in the case where the label is torn off and made appear the reinforcing means, or for containers having particular shapes such as rounded shapes.

Preferably, the internal grooves include:

- A first series of grooves parallel to each other and oriented in a first direction having an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container;

- A second series of grooves parallel to each other along and oriented in a second direction having an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container.

Such an arrangement of the internal grooves allows the production of the cross pattern. In addition, such an arrangement of the internal grooves ensures a regular mesh, that is to say surfaces between the internal grooves which are substantially identical.

According to a preferred embodiment, the peripheral groove has a depth of between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm.

This depth range makes it possible to give the peripheral groove both good stiffening power, without being visible under the label.

For these same reasons, it is preferable that each internal groove has a depth of between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm.

Advantageously, the reinforcement means have a PRP / PRI ratio of between 0.8 and 2.4, with:

- PRP: depth of the peripheral groove;

- PRI: depth of internal grooves.

This ratio between the depths of the internal grooves and the peripheral groove makes it possible to obtain good homogeneity of stiffening and, in particular, to prevent either the peripheral groove or the internal grooves from being too flexible with respect to each other. to others. Thus, a phenomenon of combined rigidity and flexibility is avoided, which could affect the good quality perceived by the consumer of the container.

Preferably, the peripheral groove has a width of between 100% and 300% of its depth, and preferably equal to 200% of its depth, and / or, each internal groove has a width of between 100% and 300% of its depth, and preferably equal to 200% of its depth. Such a correlation between depth and width of the grooves makes it possible to obtain internal and external grooves having good rigidity. The stiffening of the flat panel is thereby improved, and its deformation reduced.

Advantageously, the cross pattern defines a plurality of solid surfaces each delimited by four internal grooves, each solid surface having an area between 150 mm ² and 1000 mm ² .

The area of the solid surfaces of between 150 mm ² and 1000 m ² allows both to achieve a tighter mesh and without it being too rigid.

Preferably, an area ratio between two semi-detached solid surfaces is between 0.5 and 1.5.

This makes it possible to ensure a certain uniformity in the stiffening of the flat panel while allowing manufacturing tolerances which can make the areas of the solid surfaces different.

Preferably, the plastic container comprises a label covering the panel, the reinforcing means extending over an area between 55% and 90% of the surface of the label.

Thus, the reinforcing means are entirely concealed under the label.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and of the appended drawings among which:

[Fig. 1] is a front view of a plastic container according to the invention, the container having a panel comprising reinforcing means;

[Fig. 2] is a schematic front view of reinforcement means according to a first embodiment;

[Fig. 3] is a schematic front view of reinforcement means according to a second embodiment;

[Fig. 4] is a schematic front view of reinforcement means according to a third first embodiment;

[Fig. 5] is a schematic sectional view of the reinforcing means, according to a first embodiment; [Fig. 6] is a schematic sectional view of the reinforcing means, according to a second embodiment;

[Fig. 7] is a schematic sectional view of the reinforcing means, according to a third embodiment.

Figure 1 illustrates a plastic container 1 according to the invention.

The container 1 comprises a neck 1 1, a bottom 12 and a body 13 joining the bottom 12 and the neck 1 1.

The neck 1 1 has a drink 1 1 1 intended to bring the interior of the container 1 into contact with the exterior. The neck 1 1 also has retaining means 1 12 (such as a net) intended to cooperate with closure means (such as a screw cap) not shown in FIG. 1.

Finally, the neck 1 1 has a collar 1 13 intended to allow the gripping of the collar 1 1 at the outlet of a container manufacturing unit 1. This collar 1 13 is present on the preform from which the container 1 is obtained and is also used for handling the preform before manufacturing the container.

The bottom 12 has a laying plane 121 on which is intended to rest the container 1, for example on a table.

The body 13 has a substantially parallelepiped section having two long sides and two short sides, the long sides and the short sides being opposite in pairs.

In Figure 1, the container 1 is shown seen from the front. The visible side in FIG. 1 has a panel 14 intended in particular to be covered by a label 15.

The panel 14 has a radius of curvature greater than 100 mm.

In addition, the body 13 has a handle 131 intended to facilitate the gripping of the container 1 by a user.

A flat container according to the prior art, often called a flat bottle because of its geometry and in particular of its parallelepipedic section, may have certain appearance defects and in particular a curling of its panel.

In order to avoid this and to give it good general aesthetics, the container 1 according to the invention comprises means 16 for reinforcing the panel 14. Preferably, the ratio between the coverage area of the means of

reinforcement 16 and the total area of the panel 14 is between 55% and 90%.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the reinforcing means represent approximately 75% of the surface of the label 15.

In general, as illustrated in the figures, the reinforcement means 16 comprise a peripheral groove 160 defining a reinforcement contour of substantially rectangular shape, and a plurality of internal grooves 161, 162. By convention, in the following the description, the side of the rectangular shape defined by the peripheral groove 161 which is visible at the top of this shape in the figures will be called "high side" of the outline; we will call "low side", the one visible at the bottom of this shape in the figures; we will call "left side", the one that is visible to the left of this shape in the figures; finally, we will call "right side", the one that is visible to the right of this shape in the figures

More particularly, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the peripheral groove 160 is continuous and defines a closed rectangular contour with rounded vertices.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 4, the peripheral groove 160 is discontinuous and defines an open contour.

Furthermore, the reinforcement means 16 comprise a plurality of internal grooves 161, 162 extending in two series, inside the groove

peripheral 160, and which can be produced in several ways, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the internal grooves 161, 162 are arranged to form a pattern of cross-pieces defining a plurality of solid surfaces 17 and truncated surfaces 18, that is to say surfaces cut by the peripheral groove 160.

Preferably, each solid surface 17 has an area between 150 mm ² and 1000 mm ² , and an area ratio between two solid adjoining surfaces 17 is between 0.5 and 1.5.

More specifically, the internal grooves 161, 162 are all rectilinear and distributed according to:

- A first series S1 of internal grooves 161 parallel to each other extending in a first direction A;

- A second series S2 of internal grooves 162 parallel to each other extending in a second direction B perpendicular to the first direction A.

Preferably, the first direction A has an angle relative to the longitudinal axis X of the container. The second direction B is perpendicular to the first direction A, so that it also has, but in another direction, an angle relative to the longitudinal axis X of the container. In other words, the internal grooves 161 of the first series S1 are perpendicular to the internal grooves 162 of the second series S2.

Preferably, the first direction A has an angle of about 45 ° relative to the longitudinal axis X of the container, so that the second direction B has an angle of similar value.

According to a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the internal grooves 161, 162 of each series are produced along curved lines. In other words, unlike the first embodiment, the internal grooves 161, 162 no longer extend straight.

More specifically, the reinforcing means 16 according to this second embodiment comprise a first series S3 of internal grooves 161 parallel to each other and a second series S4 of internal grooves 162 parallel to each other, the first series S3 and the second S4 series being positioned substantially 90 degrees to each other.

According to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the internal grooves 161, 162 of the reinforcement means 16 comprise a first series S5 of internal grooves 161 which are parallel to each other and a second series S6 of internal grooves 162 which are also parallel to each other, and perpendicular to those of the first series.

Unlike the first embodiment, the internal grooves 162 of the second series S6 are staggered on either side of an internal groove 161 of the first series S5.

In other words, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, the internal grooves 161 of the first series S5 each connect two sides of the contour formed by the peripheral groove 160. It can be two opposite sides or from two adjacent sides. The internal grooves 162 of the second series S6, for their part, are arranged, for some, between two internal grooves 161 of the first series S5 and, for others, between an internal groove 161 of the first series S5 and the either side.

Thus, the following arrangement is represented in FIG. 3, which is purely illustrative:

- A first internal groove 161 of the first series is illustrated with its two ends 161 a and 161 b ending respectively on the top side and the left side of the contour formed by the peripheral groove 160;

a second internal groove 161 of the first series is illustrated with its two ends 161 a and 161 b ending respectively on the right side and the bottom side of the contour formed by the peripheral groove 160.

- the internal grooves 162 of the second series S6 are arranged, for some, between two internal grooves 161 of the first series S5, and, for others, between an internal groove 161 of the first series S5 and a side (or else another vertex of the outline).

It should be noted at this stage that in the case of an effective embodiment of the third embodiment, the first series S5 would have a number of internal grooves 161 markedly greater than the two internal grooves 161 shown in FIG. 3; similarly, an effective embodiment would have many more internal grooves 162 of the second series S6 than those shown in the figure.

It should also be noted that, instead of ending on two adjacent sides of the contour, an internal groove 161 of the first series S5 could:

- be arranged on a diagonal of the contour, and end on two opposite vertices or even;

- have one of its ends, 161 a or 161 b, ending on a vertex of the contour and the other, 161 b or 161 a, ending on one of the sides opposite to this vertex;

Furthermore, or in addition to the previous remark, one or more internal grooves 161 of the first series S5 could end on two opposite sides of the contour, while one or more others would end on adjacent sides. According to a fourth embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the groove

peripheral device 160 has an open outline in several places (top (s) and / or side (s)) and the reinforcing means 16 form a pattern of cross-pieces similar to that of FIG. 1. At least two additional internal grooves164 are added extending substantially along the longitudinal X axis of the container 1, which can be seen in Figure 1 and directed from bottom to top considering the normal position of a container placed on its seat. In the example only two grooves have been added.

All the internal grooves of this fourth embodiment thus make it possible to form different surfaces, among which at least:

- a triangular surface 171 delimited either by a portion of the groove

peripheral 160 and portions of two of the internal grooves, namely two of the internal grooves 161, 162, or 164, or by portions of three internal grooves 161, 162, 164;

- A quadrilateral surface 172 delimited either by a portion of the peripheral groove 160 and portions of three internal grooves 161, 162, 164, or by portions of two internal grooves 161 and two internal grooves 162;

- A pentagonal surface 173 bounded either by a portion of the peripheral groove 160 and four portions of internal grooves 161, 162, 164, or by five portions of internal grooves 161, 162, 164;

a hexagonal surface 174 delimited, either by the peripheral groove 160 and five portions of internal grooves 161, 162, 164, or six portions of internal grooves 162.

With reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, each internal groove 161, 162, 164 has a depth PRI of between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm. Advantageously, each internal groove 161, 162, 164 has a depth PRI of 0.5 mm.

Likewise, the peripheral groove 160 has a depth PRP of between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm. Advantageously, the depth PRP of the peripheral groove 161, 162, 164 is 0.8 mm.

According to one aspect of the invention, the reinforcement means 16 define a relationship between the depth PRP of the peripheral groove 160 and the depth PRI of the internal grooves 161, 162, 164 between 0.8 and 2.4. Preferably, the PRP / PRI ratio of the PRP depth of the peripheral groove divided by the PRI depth of the internal grooves 161, 162, 164 is equal to 1.6.

Advantageously, the internal grooves 161, 162, 164 each have a width of between 100% and 300% of their depth PRI and preferably a width equal to 200% of their depth PRI.

Likewise, the peripheral groove 160 has a width of between 100% and 300% of its depth PRP and preferably equal to 200% of its depth PRP.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the internal grooves 161, 162, 164 have a depth PRI less than the depth PRP of the peripheral groove 160.

According to a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the internal grooves 161, 162, 164 have a depth PRI equal to the depth PRP of the peripheral groove 160.

Finally, according to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the internal grooves 161, 162, 164 have a depth PRI greater than the depth PRP of the peripheral groove 160. However, according to this third embodiment, the internal grooves 161 , 162, 164 have at each of their ends opening into the peripheral groove 160, a tapering portion 165 allowing said end opening into the peripheral groove 160 to have a depth PRI equal to the depth PRP of the groove

device 160. Thus, any difficulty in molding is prevented thanks to the declining portions 165.

The reinforcing means 16 make it possible to create a stiffening structure preventing the panel 14 from deforming at the outlet of the molding, that is to say when the constituent material of the container 1 is close to its glass transition temperature at which it easily distorts.

In addition, although this is not the primary objective, when the container 1 is cooled and then filled and capped, the reinforcement means 16 can participate in the conservation of an aesthetic silhouette of the container 1 made of plastic.

In the absence of the reinforcing means 16, the container 1, in particular the panel 14, can curl making the container 1 unsightly. The reinforcing means 16 are in particular intended to be covered by a label 15 having in particular the characteristics and / or the brand of the product contained in the container 1. However, the reinforcing means 16 can also be located in an area of the container 1 which has a panel not covered with a label 15.

Advantageously, the dimensions of the reinforcing means 16 are smaller than the dimensions of the label 15 and more particularly have a setback of between 0.5 mm and 1 mm relative to the dimensions of the label, which corresponds for example to a cover. about 90% of the label area 15.

Although FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate embodiments in which the peripheral groove 160 has a substantially rectangular shape, any other shape, for example ovoid, round or indeterminate, can be used to form the closed or open outline of the reinforcing means.

Likewise, the reinforcement means 16 can be integrated into a container 1 without handle 131.

Furthermore, the container 1 according to the invention may also have a second peripheral groove, not illustrated in the figures, surrounding the first peripheral groove 160.

Finally, the internal grooves 161, 162, 164 can also be both straight for some and curved for others.

The plastic container 1 according to the invention has the advantage of better reinforcement of the panel 14 than in the prior art.

Indeed, the presence of the peripheral groove 160 and of the internal grooves 161, 162, 164 opening into the peripheral groove 160 or into another internal groove 161, 162, 164, makes it possible to stiffen the panel 14 to prevent in particular that it gondola at the exit of the mold.

Furthermore, the depths PRP, PRI of the peripheral and internal grooves 160 and internal 161, 162, 164 are chosen so as not to be visible when the label 15 is affixed to the container 1.

Claims

1. Plastic container (1) of the type comprising a panel (14) having at least a radius of curvature greater than 100 mm, the panel (14) having reinforcing means (16), characterized in that the means of reinforcement (16) include:

- a peripheral groove (160) defining a reinforcement contour;

- a plurality of internal grooves (161; 162) extending inside the reinforcement contour, each internal groove (161; 162) having two ends (161 a; 161 b; 162a; 162b) each opening into the groove peripheral (160), or at least one (162a; 162b) in another internal groove (161).

2. Plastic container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral groove (160) defines a closed reinforcement contour.

3. Plastic container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral groove (160) defines an open reinforcement contour.

4. Plastic container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the internal grooves (161; 162) are arranged to form a pattern of braces.

5. Plastic container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the internal grooves (161; 162) are rectilinear.

6. Plastic container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the internal grooves (161; 162) are curvilinear.

7. Plastic container (1) according to any one of claims

previous, characterized in that the internal grooves (161; 162)

include:

- A first series (S1) of internal grooves (161) parallel to each other and oriented in a first direction (A) having an angle relative to a longitudinal axis (X) of the container (1);

- A second series (S2) of internal grooves (162) parallel to each other and oriented in a second direction (B) also having an angle relative to a longitudinal axis (X) of the container (1).

8. Plastic container (1) according to one of claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises at least two additional internal grooves (164), extending substantially along the longitudinal axis (X) of the container (1 ).

9. Plastic container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral groove (160) has a depth (PRP) of between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm.

10. Plastic container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each internal groove (161; 162) has a depth (PRI) of between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm.

1 1. Plastic container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcing means (16) have a ratio (PRP / PRI) of between 0.8 and 2.4, with:

- (PRP): depth of the peripheral groove (160);

- (PRI): depth of internal grooves (161; 162).

12. Plastic container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral groove (160) has a width between 100% and 300% of its depth (PRP), and preferably equal to 200% of its depth (PRP).

13. Plastic container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each internal groove (161; 162; 164) has a width of between 100% and 300% of its depth (PRI), and preferably equal to 200% of its depth (PRI).

14. Plastic container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the spider pattern defines a plurality of solid surfaces (17) each delimited by four portions of internal grooves (161; 162), each solid surface (17) having an area between 150 mm ² and 1000 mm ² .

15. Plastic container (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that an area ratio between two solid adjoining solid surfaces (17) is between 0.5 and 1.5.

16. Plastic container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a label (15) covering the panel (14), the reinforcing means (16) extending over an area between 55% and 90% of the area of the label (15).