EP3911580B1 - Recycling-friendly blister packaging - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a push-through packaging with a front wall and a rear wall, which are connected to each other over a large area, including a receiving space between them, according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention further relates to a polymer layer arrangement for forming a front wall and/or a rear wall of such Press-through packaging according to the preamble of claim 15.

A push-through packaging with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is from U.S. 2005/284789 A1 known.

Also from the WO 2009/143234 A1 a push-through packaging with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. Their material weaknesses are created by laser scribing, so-called "laser scoring".

Push-through packaging has been known for some time, for example for the individual packaging of tablets, chewing gum or other individually packaged chunky filling goods. So-called blister packs, for example, which were designed to be transparent or opaque and consisted of a combination of a plastic film and an aluminum cover that could be opened, have been customary for this purpose up to now. The aluminum cover was destroyed when the packaging was opened by the packaged item being pressed against the inside of the aluminum cover from the opposite side, ie from the plastic film side of the packaging, until it could no longer withstand the pressure exerted and burst or was separated from the plastic film. As a material for such known push-through packaging, deep-drawn polyvinyl chloride was generally used in combination with polyethylene to obtain polyvinyl chloride of various types, from which a packaging container was formed, which was then closed with the aluminum cover. For this purpose was the aluminum cover coated on one side with a thin sealing layer, usually heat-sealing lacquer.

The latter known push-through packs have several disadvantages. A considerable amount of force is required to open such known packaging, since the aluminum cover had to be broken through, but due to its metal structure and its thickness, which is necessary to produce a stable and tight push-through packaging according to the previously known structure, it had a high resistance to puncture .

Another significant disadvantage of this previously known push-through packaging is also the expensive use of materials, namely the use of aluminum foil with a high layer thickness and also in the fact that a variety of different materials, such as plastics in combination with aluminum are used, which due to their heterogeneity, but also the high layer thickness of the aluminum are difficult to recycle.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a technical teaching with which the aforementioned disadvantages of push-through packaging can be avoided.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a press-through packaging with all the features of claim 1. Such a press-through packaging comprises a front wall and a rear wall, which are connected to one another over a large area, including a receiving space between them, with a joining area in which the front wall and the rear wall are connected to one another are, completely surrounds the recording space. The front wall and the rear wall are each formed from a polymer layer arrangement, with at least one polymer layer arrangement as an opening layer arrangement in the extension area of the receiving space having a material weakening formation that reduces the tearing and/or bursting strength of the opening layer arrangement compared to an identically constructed but unweakened polymer layer arrangement. The opening layer arrangement has an unweakened area which runs closed around the material weakening formation and in which the opening layer arrangement is free of material weakenings. The combined front and back walls are made up of more than 95% by weight polymer layers from the same polymer family.

By forming the material weakening formation in one of the polymer layer arrangements, the tear strength and/or the bursting strength of the polymer layer arrangement then serving as the opening layer arrangement because it is intended for opening the receiving space can be reduced to such an extent that a solid body received in the receiving space can pass through the opening layer arrangement with local abandonment of the material connection of the Opening layer arrangement from the push-through ver pack can be removed. The opening layer arrangement of the press-through packaging can be loaded manually by the user with the solid body received in the receiving space to such an extent that it bursts or tears at the location of the material weakening formation.

By designing the front wall and the rear wall of the press-through packaging in such a way that, taken together, they are made up of more than 95% by weight of polymer layers from the same polymer family, a sufficiently homogeneous press-through packaging is obtained which, after use, i.e. after emptying its at least one storage space, effectively and can be extensively recycled efficiently and with relatively little effort. For example, the polymer of the same polymer family of the press-through packaging can be reclaimed as a material and reused to manufacture new products involving the polymer.

Due to the fact that the material weakening formation is formed in the area of the receiving space, but is surrounded in a closed, circumferential manner by an unweakened area of the opening layer arrangement, the polymer layer arrangement designed to open the receiving space, i.e. the opening layer arrangement, is weakened locally by the material weakening formation only where this is necessary. In areas in which opening the receiving space is not desired or not possible due to the design of the press-through packaging, the opening layer arrangement is not weakened and is provided with its maximum possible strength and tightness due to the design.

The material weakening formation does not completely penetrate that wall made up of the front wall and/or rear wall in the direction of thickness, so that the receiving space is hermetically sealed off from the outside environment by the front wall, the rear wall and their connection to one another. The material weakening formation for easier opening of the receiving space is therefore preferably formed in only part of the polymer layers of the opening layer arrangement.

The push-through packaging is formed only by the front wall and the rear wall, which is inseparably connected to it when used as intended. The permanent, non-peelable connection between the front and rear walls can be formed by heat sealing or by gluing. Each polymer layer arrangement thus preferably forms both an outside of the press-through packaging and an inside of the press-through packaging that delimits the receiving space.

The reduction in the tearing and/or bursting strength of the opening layer arrangement due to the formation of the material weakening formation can be adjusted in terms of amount by appropriate design of the material weakening formation. The depth of the material weakening formation, with which it locally eliminates a material connection in the thickness direction of the opening layer arrangement, can also be selected according to the respective requirements, as can the dimensions of a perforation of a thickness section of the opening layer arrangement. Thus, in the example of a perforation as the material weakening formation, the unweakened material webs remaining between two perforation weakenings can be selected in length according to the desired tearing and/or bursting strength.

The material weakening provided in the opening layer arrangement is advantageously formed mechanically, for example by blades and/or needles, for example by processing with a roller provided with blades and/or needles. In this way, a complex and expensive perforation or partial slitting of the opening layer arrangement by means of laser beams can be avoided and common mechanical tools can be used that are often used on conventional packaging machines, such as strip packaging systems, for example. However, a material weakening formation formed by lasers should not be ruled out.

Preferably, the front panel consists solely of said polymeric sheet assembly. Also preferably, the back wall consists only of said polymer layer arrangement. However, it is also conceivable that the front wall and/or the rear wall has further layers than just the polymer layer arrangement, which, however, are applied separately and subsequently to the front and/or rear wall, for example by arranging a separate label on the outside of the respective wall. The additional layer that is subsequently applied separately can take up a smaller area than the wall that supports it. The push-through packaging--without filling material--preferably also with a separately applied label consists of more than 95% by weight of one or more polymers of the same polymer family.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the material weakening extends over a central region of the receiving space and/or along at least one section of a receiving space edge that laterally delimits the receiving space. In this way, it can be determined structurally how and at what point the opening layer arrangement delimiting the receiving space bursts or tears as intended when pressure is exerted. Advantageously, this avoids the initially packaged object being ejected from the press-through packaging in an undirected manner when it is removed from the receiving space, as could be the case with previously known press-through packaging sealed with aluminum foil.

Advantageously, the weakening of the material either extends over a central area of the receiving space, so that the contents that are pushed out come to rest directly under the packaging in the case of a new type of push-through packaging that is held horizontally, or directly in the hand of a user through a film gap resulting from the pushing out falls.

According to an alternative embodiment, the material weakening extends along at least a portion of a track running adjacent to an edge of the receiving space. In this case, the opening gap resulting from the pressing out is produced at an edge of the receiving space, through which in turn the packaged goods can be removed in a targeted manner. The material weakening can also be designed to be completely closed all the way around, so that a section of the opening layer arrangement surrounded by it is completely removed or this section remains connected to the rest of the press-through packaging only along a partial area of the boundary of the receiving space.

In principle, purity of type is a helpful prerequisite for the recyclability of packaging made from polymer layers. The recyclability of the push-through packaging presented here can be further improved by the fact that not only the packaging as a whole, but also that each of its walls taken individually, i.e. that both the front wall and the rear wall individually account for more than 95% by weight. - % are formed from polymer layers of one and the same polymer family.

The specified limit of 95% by weight is only a lower limit for purity. Preferably, greater than 98% by weight of the combined front and back panels, more preferably each of the front and back panels individually, are formed from polymer layers of the same polymer family.

The polymer family can be polyester, for example preferably polyethylene terephthalate, which enables the formation of particularly thin polymer layer assemblies for a given strength of the polymer layer assemblies. However, the polymer family is preferably the family of polyolefins. On the one hand, these are inexpensive and, on the other hand, enable the formation of heat-sealable layers which can be used directly for connection to other polymer layer arrangements to form a press-through packaging. "Polymer layer" in the present application is therefore preferably to be understood as "polyolefin layer" and "polymer film" preferably as "polyolefin film". Polyolefin includes at least polyethylene, polypropylene and/or cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC).

In order to increase the environmental friendliness of the press-through packaging, preference is given to the press-through packaging, and thus both the front wall and the rear wall, being free from chlorinated polymers, in particular free from what is often the case in the prior art Push-through packaging used polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) plastics.

In order to provide push-through packaging with a barrier effect against the passage of water vapor and oxygen through the front and rear walls, it can be provided that the polymer layer arrangement of the front wall and/or the rear wall has an oriented polymer film.

Due to the barrier effects that can be achieved with oriented polymer films, push-through packaging, and thus both the front wall and the rear wall, can be free of metal layers and/or metallization layers, in particular free of aluminum layers, to improve its environmental friendliness.

The press-through packaging can be designed with a certain degree of security against unwanted opening by children in that the oriented polymer film is a biaxially oriented polymer film. This is particularly relevant when the blister pack contains medicines or active pharmaceutical ingredients.

In order to provide consumer information on the press-through packaging, the oriented polymer film can have a print application layer applied using the straight printing method and/or a reverse printing method. As a rule, the oriented polymer film will only have one of the two print job layers, although it should not be ruled out that first information should always be accessible when looking at the press-through packaging from the outside and second information after opening the receiving space.

As indicated above in connection with the childproofing of press-through packaging, the oriented polymer film, in particular the biaxially oriented polymer film, is generally the polymer film of a polymer layer arrangement with the greatest tear and/or bursting strength. It is therefore advantageous to facilitate opening of the press-through packaging if the opening layer arrangement has one or oriented polymer film as mentioned above, wherein the oriented polymer film has the material weakening formation. The material weakening formation can have one or more local reductions in the thickness of the oriented polymer film, such as incisions, and/or one or more local penetrations that completely penetrate the oriented polymer film in the thickness direction.

According to the invention, the polymer layer arrangement of the front wall and/or the rear wall has a non-oriented polymer layer, for example in order to provide a heat-sealable outer polymer layer and/or to provide an extrusion laminating layer arranged between two layers.

Most simply, and yet with very high precision, the non-oriented polymer layer can be applied by extrusion coating.

Since the opening layer arrangement should also be able to be connected by heat sealing to another polymer layer arrangement to form the press-through packaging or possibly have a further layer laminated on, it is advantageous if the opening layer arrangement has a non-oriented polymer layer. The non-oriented polymer layer is preferably closer to the receiving space than the oriented polymer film.

Advantageously, the non-oriented polymer layer is free of material weaknesses in the area of the receiving space, so that the above-mentioned oriented polymer film can be provided with the material weaknesses and the non-oriented polymer layer can be applied to it over the entire surface by way of extrusion coating. The unweakened polymer layer can thus reduce the reduction in the barrier effect caused by the weakening of the material in the oriented polymer film.

In order to compensate as extensively as possible or at least to limit the reduction in the barrier effect caused by the weakening of the material in the oriented polymer film, material protrudes from the non-oriented polymer film according to the present invention A polymer layer in the material weakening formation and fills the material weakening formation at least partially, preferably completely.

A parameter that affects the stability and shelf life of the product accommodated in the receiving space of the press-through pack is the accessibility of the product to water vapor. If only one of the polymer layer arrangements of the front wall and the rear wall forms an opening layer arrangement with a material weakening formation, the barrier effect of the unweakened polymer layer arrangement, which is not an opening layer arrangement, is generally not critical. With a suitable choice of material and layer thickness, this can always provide the necessary barrier effect. On the other hand, the opening layer arrangement, which is at least partially weakened in its integrity by the material weakening formation, is noteworthy. In this case, the oriented polymeric film and the non-oriented polymeric layer should be chosen such that the apertured layer arrangement more preferably has a moisture vapor transmission rate of no more than 0.7 g/m ² , preferably no more than 0.5 g/m ² no more than 0.25 g/m ² , most preferably no more than 0.15 g/m ² , measured according to ASTM F1249 at 38°C and 90% relative humidity.

A second relevant parameter for the stability and durability of the filling material accommodated in the receiving space is the accessibility of the filling material for oxygen. Here, too, an unweakened polymer layer arrangement free of material weakening formations is generally uncritical and essentially the opening layer arrangement must be observed. In this case, the oriented polymeric film and the non-oriented polymeric layer should be chosen such that the apertured layer arrangement more preferably has an oxygen transmission rate of no more than 1 cm ³ /m ² , preferably no more than 0.7 cm ³ /m ² of no more than 0.6 cm ³ /m ² , most preferably no more than 0.4 cm ³ /m ² measured according to ASTM D3985 at 23°C and 50% relative humidity.

The barrier effect of the polymer layer arrangement, which is not an opening layer arrangement, is also in the above-mentioned ranges in terms of absolute value. It is preferably as good as or better than the barrier performance of the non-apertured sheet assembly.

Although it can be considered that the polymer layer arrangements of the front wall and the rear wall each have a different layer structure, for example because one or more polymer layers of the opening layer arrangement are thicker than in the unweakened polymer layer arrangement because of the material weakening formation provided there, it is preferred to simplify the production of the press-through packaging it is contemplated that the polymeric sheet assemblies of the front panel and the back panel have an identical lay-up. This involves the layer structure, i.e. the sequence of layers of the polymer layer arrangement in the direction of thickness with regard to layer material and layer thickness. Any intended material weakening formation is not taken into account when assessing the layer structure.

Although it is preferred that a polymer layer arrangement is arranged in an unweakened state for applying force to it in order to locally puncture the other polymer layer arrangement as an opening layer arrangement by the force exerted, a press-through packaging can also be designed in such a way that it is attached equally to the front wall and to the rear panel can be opened. This is particularly advantageous when a product is packaged in the push-through packaging which, if necessary, must be able to be accessed in a very short time and/or without in-depth prior considerations. It can therefore be provided that the polymer layer arrangements of both the front wall and the rear wall each have a material weakening formation that reduces the tearing and/or bursting strength compared to an identically constructed but unweakened polymer layer arrangement, with each of the polymer layer arrangements having an unweakened one running around the material weakening formation Has area in which the respective polymer layer arrangement is free of material weaknesses. Preferably, when both polymer layer assemblies, both the front wall and the rear wall each have a material weakening formation, both polymer layer arrangements have the same material weakening formations. This allows both the front wall and the back wall to be formed from one and the same supply roll of polymer sheet assembly.

As an alternative to the above case in which the non-oriented polymer layer forms an outer heat-sealable layer, the non-oriented polymer layer can be arranged as an extrusion laminate layer between the oriented polymer film and another polymer film to produce a laminated connection of the oriented polymer film with the other polymer film. The other polymer film is also preferably formed from the same polymer family as the other polymer layers, in order to comply with the condition that at least 95% by weight of the front and rear walls taken together or even of the front and rear walls individually, are made of a polymer are formed from the same polymer family.

Preferably, the above polyolefin is polypropylene. The non-oriented polymer layer, whether in the unweakened polymer layer assembly and/or in the apertured layer assembly, may comprise polyethylene and/or polypropylene and/or cyclo-olefin copolymer. If the non-oriented polymer layer has two or more of these materials, these can be present as blends and/or as coextruded layers.

In principle, in the present application, a polymer film is also a polymer layer. In contrast to a polymer layer extruded on, which is only produced during its extrusion, the polymer film is integrated into the polymer layer arrangement as a prefabricated polymer layer. The polymer film already existed as a polymer layer before it was included in the polymer layer arrangement. Not every polymer layer is therefore a polymer film.

In order to provide a consumer with a plurality of products packaged therewith when purchasing a press-through packaging, the press-through packaging can, in a preferred embodiment, have a plurality of receiving spaces, each with one Have material weakening formation and an unweakened area surrounding it. In order to be able to single out a daily requirement or a single receiving space from such a large press-through packaging with several connected receiving spaces, different separating material weakenings can be provided between adjacent unweakened areas both in the front wall and in the rear wall of the material weakening formations of the receiving spaces, which are on site their training, compared to an identically constructed similar blister pack without separating material weaknesses, reduce the tear strength of the blister pack. The separating material weaknesses thus appear in addition to the material weakening formations in the area of the receiving spaces.

The object mentioned at the outset is also achieved by a polymer layer arrangement for forming a front wall and/or a rear wall of a press-through pack with all the features of claim 15 unweakened polymer layer arrangement reducing material weakening formation, wherein the polymer layer arrangement to minimize its loss of strength through the material weakening formation has an unweakened area surrounding the material weakening formation closed. In this unweakened area, the polymer layer arrangement is free of material weaknesses. More than 95% by weight of the polymer layer arrangement is formed from polymer layers of the same polymer family in order to achieve uncomplicated and extensive recyclability. In order to provide a desired strength, the polymeric layer assembly comprises an oriented polymeric film, which in turn has the material weakening formation. In order to maintain its barrier effect against the passage of oxygen and/or water vapor, the polymer layer arrangement comprises a non-oriented polymer layer free from material weaknesses, material of the non-oriented polymer layer being incorporated into the material weakening formation to at least partially compensate for the loss of barrier effect caused by the material weakening formation protrudes and fills the material weakening formation at least partially, preferably completely.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Draufsicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Durchdrückverpackung mit beispielhaft acht Aufnahmeräumen,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Querschnittansicht der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Durchdrückverpackung längs der Ebene II-II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Längsschnittansicht der Durchdrückverpackung von Fig. 1 längs der Ebene III-III in Fig. 1, mit herausgedrücktem Füllgut,

Fig. 4

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht, die veranschaulicht, wie ein stückiges Füllgut aus der erfindungsgemäßen Durchdrückverpackung herausgedrückt wird,

Fig. 5A

eine schematische Querschnittansicht einer im Schöndruck bedruckten Öffnungslagenanordnung der vorliegenden Erfindung, und

Fig. 5B

eine der Ansicht von Fig. 5A grundsätzlich entsprechende schematische Querschnittansicht einer im Konterdruck bedruckten weiteren Ausführungsform einer Öffnungslagenanordnung der vorliegenden Erfindung mit aufkaschierter weiterer Polymerfolie.

The invention is described below using exemplary embodiments which are explained in more detail using the figures. Here show:

1

a schematic plan view of a press-through packaging according to the invention with eight receiving spaces, for example,

2

a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG 1 illustrated push-through packaging along the plane II-II in 1 ,

3

a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the blister pack of FIG 1 along plane III-III in 1 , with pushed-out product,

4

a schematic perspective view illustrating how a lumpy product is pushed out of the push-through packaging according to the invention,

Figure 5A

Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a recto-printed aperture sheet assembly of the present invention, and

Figure 5B

a schematic cross-sectional view, corresponding in principle to the view of FIG. 5A, of a further embodiment of an opening layer arrangement of the present invention, printed in reverse printing, with a further polymer film laminated thereto.

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts and parts with the same effect.

1 shows a schematic representation of a push-through packaging 100 according to the invention with a total of eight separable packaging compartments 10 in two rows of four next to each other. The push-through packaging 100, and thus each packaging compartment 10, has a front wall 20 and a rear wall 30, which are connected to one another over a large area within the longitudinal edges 40 and the transverse edges 50 of the packaging compartments 10 in a joining area 52 by heat sealing in such a way that the push-through packaging 100 is held between the front wall 20 and the rear wall 30 defines a receiving space 60 . The viewer of 1 looks at the front wall 20.

In the example shown, the press-through packaging 100 has a material weakening formation 70 in one or more layers, but not in all layers, of the polymer layer arrangement 22 forming the front wall 20, which formation is formed in a central area 80 of the receiving space 60 of each packaging compartment 10. The area of each material weakening formation 70 is identified by a dashed rectangle.

The material weakening formation 70 can have any shape. In order to keep the extent of an impairment of the material integrity of the polymer layer arrangement 22 of the front wall 20, which forms an opening layer arrangement 24 within the meaning of the present application, caused by the formation of the material weakening formation 70 to a minimum, the material weakening in the exemplary embodiment shown is a punctiform perforation of a thickness region of the opening layer arrangement 24 in a regular dot pattern .

An unweakened area 90 surrounds each material weakening formation 70 in a closed manner, so that the material weakening formation 70 in the exemplary embodiment does not extend beyond the receiving space 60 . However, this does not have to be the case. The material weakening formations 70 may deviate from the representation of the 1 also reach into the joining area 52 . To ensure sufficient strength of the press-through packaging 100, however, an unweakened area 90, which is free of material weakening formations, always surrounds each individual material weakening formation 70.

The individual packaging compartments 10 can be separated along their mutually facing edges of the longitudinal edges 40 or the transverse edges 50 by a separating material weakening 54 . The weakening of the separating material 54 as a perforation completely penetrates the push-through packaging 100 in the joining area 52, ie at a distance from the respective receiving spaces 60.

2 shows a schematic representation of the in 1 Push-through packaging 100 shown in cross-section, it being easy to see how lumpy filling material 62, for example tablets, is arranged in the respective receiving spaces 60 of the push-through packaging 100. The filling material 62 is also in 1 recognizable because the in 1 shown push-through packaging 100 is shown transparent in the area of their respective receiving spaces 60 .

At 26 is in 2 designates the polymer layer arrangement of the back wall 30, which preferably has the same layer structure as the opening layer arrangement 24 of the front wall for reasons of as simple manufacture as possible. However, in the example shown, the polymer layer arrangement 26 is completely unweakened in the region of the receiving spaces 60, ie free of material weaknesses with the exception of the separating material weakness 54, which does not affect the packaged contents 62.

3 shows a schematic representation of the in 1 illustrated push-through packaging 100 in a longitudinal sectional view, which illustrates how the lumpy contents 62 can be pushed out of the push-through packaging 100 according to the invention. For this purpose, as in 3 is shown, a pressure is exerted on a section of the rear wall 30 delimiting the receiving space 60 . this is in 3 indicated by a bold arrow 56. The pressure on the section of the rear wall 30 delimiting the receiving space 60 results in a transmission of force to the lumpy filling material 62 , which in turn exerts pressure on a section of the front wall 20 delimiting the receiving space 60 . Since the material weakening formation 70 is formed in the central area 80 of the section of the front wall 20 delimiting the receiving space 60 , the weakened material formation 70 bursts when the strength limit of the central one is weakened by the material weakening formation 70 Area 80, the front wall 20 in the area of the pressure-loaded receiving space 60. The lumpy filling material 62 is accessible.

In 4 shows how such a pressure, which leads to the opening layer arrangement delimiting the receiving space 60 of the press-through packaging 100 bursting, can also be exerted from above onto the receiving space 60 with a thumb, for example, so that the press-through packaging 100 releases the lumpy filling material 62 again.

An exemplary embodiment of the polymeric sheet assembly 22 in the form of the aperture sheet assembly 24 of the front wall 20 of the press-through package 100 is illustrated in FIG. 5A. This opening layer arrangement 24 has a biaxially oriented polyolefin film 32 as the strength-determining layer, preferably as a biaxially oriented polypropylene film 32. This BOPP film 32, which can also be an OPE film, has a thickness of 10 to 60 μm, preferably from 20 to 40 µm up. It provides the essential barrier effect against permeation of oxygen and water vapor through the front wall 20 . On its consumer-facing side, the biaxially oriented polyolefin film 32 is straight-printed with a print job layer 34 . This print order layer 34 can have several printing colors in order to generate a multicolored printed image.

A non-oriented polyolefin layer 36 is applied to the biaxially oriented polyolefin film 32 in an extrusion process on its side pointing toward the receiving space 60 or the rear wall 30 . This extruded polyolefin layer 36 can be made of PE, PP and/or COC, either as a monolayer, as a non-oriented polyolefin layer 36 with several coextruded layers or as a blend, with the blend being both a monolayer and one or more of the above coextruded layers may be applied.

On the one hand, the use of COC in particular forms a good barrier against the passage of oxygen and water vapor through the opening layer arrangement 24, which supplements the barrier effect of the biaxially oriented polyolefin film 32. One from COC Formed or COC comprising polyolefin layer 36 may also be used as a heat seal layer for bonding to back panel 30.

In Figure 5A it can be seen how the material weakening formation 70 is only formed in the area of the biaxially oriented polyolefin film 32, namely as perforation openings 72 penetrating the polyolefin film 32 at regular intervals.

The perforation openings 72, which completely penetrate the biaxially oriented polyolefin film 32 in the thickness direction, would basically be suitable for significantly reducing the barrier effect of the polyolefin film 32, which is not particularly desirable in the area of the receiving space 60, where the packaged lumpy filling material 62 is located.

However, due to the extrusion application of the polyolefin material of the non-oriented polyolefin layer 36, it is possible during the formation of the layer 36 to fill the perforation openings 72 of the material weakening formation 70 at least partially or even completely with the extrudate. At least part of the reduction in the barrier effect of the polyolefin film 32 that is unavoidable as a result of the formation of the material weakening formation 70 can thus be compensated for again.

The opening layer arrangement 24 and likewise the polymer layer arrangement 26 (not shown) of the rear wall 30 each consist of at least 95% by weight, preferably at least 98% by weight, of polyolefin, ie of one or more polymers of one and the same polymer family. As a result, for example, the polyolefin film 32 and the polyolefin layer 36 can be applied directly adhering to one another without the interposition of adhesion promoters and the like.

The polymer layer arrangement 26 of the back wall 30 can have the same layer construction as the aperture layer arrangement 24 , with only one of the two polymer layer arrangements 22 and 26 typically having a material weakening formation 70 . However, it should not be excluded that the polymer layer arrangement 26 of the rear wall 30 also has a material weakening formation 70 in addition to the identical layer structure.

With the non-oriented polyolefin sheet 36, the aperture sheet assembly 24 is heat sealable to another polymer sheet assembly also having an outer polyolefin heat seal layer to form the bond area 52 to form a blister package 100.

An alternative embodiment of an aperture layer arrangement 124 is shown in FIG. 5B. Identical and functionally identical components and sections as in Figure 5A are provided with the same reference numbers in Figure 5B, but increased by the number 100.

While the material weakening formation 70 is not visible from the outside in Figure 5A, since the composite of polyolefin film 32 and polyolefin layer 36 was only provided with the print application layer 34 after it had been formed using the straight printing method, the biaxially oriented polyolefin film 132 of the opening layer arrangement 124 of Figure 5B is included in the reverse printing method a print job layer 134 is provided.

Since the reverse-printed biaxially oriented polyolefin film 132 of Figure 5B was only provided with the material weakening formation 170 after it had been reverse-printed, the perforation openings 172 of the opening layer arrangement 124 penetrate not only the oriented polyolefin film 132, but also the print order layer 134 and one on the Polyolefin film 132 pioneering side of the print order layer 134 applied primer layer 137, which is necessary to connect the non-oriented polyolefin layer 136 with the reverse-printed polyolefin film 132 on the printed side.

The non-oriented polyolefin layer 136 is in turn applied to the polyolefin film 132 in an extrusion process. Contrary to the representation of FIG. 5B, as in the embodiment of FIG. 5A, it can have an external heat-sealable Form polyolefin layer. What was said about the non-oriented polyolefin layer 36 applies in the same way to the polyolefin layer 136 in FIG. 5B.

A further polyolefin film 138 is shown in FIG. 5B on the side of the non-oriented polyolefin layer 136 facing away from the polyolefin film 132 merely to illustrate yet another modification. The non-oriented polyolefin film 136 can thus also serve as a laminating adhesive layer in order to permanently connect the polyolefin film 132 to the other polyolefin film 138.

As the heat-sealable layer on the outside, the polyolefin layers 36 and 136 preferably have a thickness in the range from 10 to 100 μm, preferably from 40 to 60 μm.

As a laminating adhesive layer, the polyolefin layer 136 has a thickness of 5 to 80 μm, preferably 15 to 30 μm.

If the polyolefin layer 136 is a laminating adhesive layer, this is generally made from a simple polyolefin, that is to say PP or PE, as a monolayer. The further polyolefin film 138 can then in turn be a layer of polyethylene and/or polypropylene and/or COC, again as a monolayer or as a multilayer coextruded polyolefin film, with the materials mentioned being able to be used as a blend or purely coextruded or as a monofilm.

The adhesive-laminated additional polyolefin film 138 can then in turn serve as a heat-sealing film or can be connected to the rear wall by using additional adhesives.

The aperture layer arrangement 124 is also composed of at least 95% by weight, preferably at least 98% by weight, of one or more polymers of the same polymer family, preferably the polyolefin family. This greatly facilitates the recyclability of the polymer sheet assembly 124 .

The press-through packaging 100 and thus both the front wall and the rear wall or the polymer layer arrangements 22 and 26 forming them are not only formed to an extent of at least 95% by weight from one or more polymers of the same polymer family, but are also free of metal layers and metallization layers as well free from chlorinated polymers such as PVC and PVDC. This also makes recycling the used push-through packaging 100 much easier.

Claims (15)

1. Blister packaging (100) with a front panel (20) and a rear panel (30), which while including an accommodating space (60) between them are bonded to each other in planar fashion, where a join region (52) in which the front panel (20) and the rear panel (30) are bonded to each other surrounds the accommodating space (60) completely, where the front panel (20) and the rear panel (30) are each formed from a polymer layer arrangement (22, 26), where at least one polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) as an opening layer arrangement (24; 124) exhibits in the extension region of the accommodating space (60) a material weakening formation (70; 170) that decreases the tearing and/or the bursting strength of the opening layer arrangement (24; 124) compared with an identically constructed but unweakened polymer layer arrangement (22, 26), where the opening layer arrangement (24; 124) exhibits an unweakened region (90) running completely around the material weakening formation (70; 170) in which the opening layer arrangement (24; 124) is free from material weakening, and the polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) of the front panel (20) and/or of the rear panel (30) exhibits a non-oriented polymer layer (36; 136),
   Characterized in that the front panel (20) and the rear panel (30) taken together comprise more than 95% by weight polymer layers (32, 36; 132, 136, 138) of the same polymer family, where material of the non-oriented polymer layer (36; 136) extends into the material weakening formation (70; 170) and fills the material weakening formation (70; 170) at least in part, preferably completely.
2. Packaging (100) according to Claim 1,
   Characterized in that both the front panel (20) and the rear panel (30) each taken separately comprise more than 95% by weight polymer layers (32, 36; 132, 136, 138) of the same polymer family.
3. Packaging (100) according to Claim 1 or 2,
   Characterized in that the polymer family is the family of the polyolefins, preferably of polypropylene.
4. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
   Characterized in that the polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) of the front panel (20) and/or of the rear panel (30) exhibits an oriented, preferably a biaxially oriented polymer film (32; 132).
5. Packaging (100) according to Claim 4,
   Characterized in that the oriented polymer film (32; 132) exhibits a print layer (34; 134) applied by a front-side printing process and/or a print layer (34; 134) applied by a reverse printing process.
6. Packaging (100) according to one of the Claims 4 or 5,
   Characterized in that the opening layer arrangement (24; 124) exhibits an oriented polymer film (32; 132), where the oriented polymer film (32; 132) exhibits the material weakening formation (70; 170).
7. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
   Characterized in that the non-oriented polymer layer (36; 136) is applied by means of extrusion coating.
8. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding Claims,
   Characterized in that the opening layer arrangement (24; 124) exhibits a non-oriented polymer layer (36; 136), where the non-oriented polymer layer (36; 136) is free from material weakening in the region of the accommodating space (60).
9. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
   Characterized in that the opening layer arrangement (24; 124) exhibits a water vapor transmission rate not exceeding 0.7 g/m², preferably not exceeding 0.5 g/m², more preferably not exceeding 0.25 g/m², most preferably not exceeding 0.15 g/m², measured in accordance with ASTM F1249 at 38 °C and 90% relative humidity.
10. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
    Characterized in that the opening layer arrangement (24; 124) exhibits an oxygen transmission rate not exceeding 1 cm³/m², preferably not exceeding 0.7 cm³/m², more preferably not exceeding 0.6 cm³/m², most preferably not exceeding 0.4 cm³/m², measured in accordance with ASTM D3985 at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity.
11. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
    Characterized in that the polymer layer arrangements (22, 26) of the front panel (20) and of the rear panel (30) exhibit an identical layer structure.
12. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
    Characterized in that the polymer layer arrangements (22, 26) both of the front panel (20) and of the rear panel (30) each exhibit a material weakening formation (70; 170) that decreases the tearing and/or the bursting strength compared with an identically constructed but unweakened polymer layer arrangement (22, 26), where each of the polymer layer arrangements (22, 26) exhibits an unweakened region (9) running completely around the material weakening formation (70; 170), in which the respective polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) is free from material weakening.
13. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims, taking into account Claim 7,
    Characterized in that the non-oriented polymer layer (136) is arranged as an extruded laminated layer (136) between the oriented polymer film (132) and a further polymer film (138) for producing laminated bonding of the oriented polymer film (132) with the further polymer film (138).
14. Packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
    Characterized in that it exhibits a number of accommodating spaces (60) each with a material weakening formation (70; 170) and an unweakened region (90) surrounding it, where preferably between neighboring unweakened regions (90) both in the front panel (20) and in the rear panel (30) of the material weakening formations (70; 170) of the accommodating spaces (60) various separating material weakening segments (54) are provided, which at the location of their formation decrease the tearing strength of the blister packaging (100) compared with an otherwise congeneric blister packaging (100) without separating material weakening segments (54).
15. Polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) for the formation of a front panel (20) or a rear panel (30) of a blister packaging (100) according to one of the preceding claims, where the polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) exhibits a material weakening formation (70; 170) that decreases the tearing and/or the bursting strength of the polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) compared with an identically constructed but unweakened polymer layer arrangement (22, 26), where the polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) exhibits an unweakened region (90) running completely around the material weakening formation (70; 170) in which the polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) is free from material weakening, where the polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) exhibits an oriented polymer film (32; 132) that exhibits the material weakening formation (70; 170) and a non-oriented polymer layer (36; 136) free from material weakening, Characterized in that the polymer layer arrangement (22, 26) comprises more than 95% by weight polymer layers (32, 36; 132, 136, 138) of the same polymer family, where material of the non-oriented polymer layer (36; 136) extends into the material weakening formation (70; 170) and fills the material weakening formation (70; 170) at least in part, preferably completely.

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