ES2300702T3 - CONTAINER OF BAG TYPE WITH MOUTH CLOSED HERMETICALLY. - Google Patents

Abstract

In a flexible envelope-like or bag-like container (1) made of composite material, provided with a delivery spout (11) made of rigid plastics material heat-sealed to the composite material of the envelope or bag, the exposed end (12) of the delivery spout, which may be inserted in a user's mouth, is closed by a membrane seal (17) which is heat-sealed on the top of the end and folded around the entire exposed portion for the protection thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

Bag-type container with closed mouth hermetically.

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The present invention relates to a container flexible bag type for liquids or pasty substances, in particular food substances, provided with a mouth of discharge.

Rigid disposable containers, semi-rigid and flexible are commonly used in distribution to  Large scale food products.

For example, semi-rigid containers are known in the shape of a parallelepiped made of a composite material, cardboard, metal, or plastic material for the distribution of beverages and fruit juices

These containers have a small opening tightly closed by a thin piece of aluminum or material compound.

For distribution, these containers are wrapped in thin plastic envelopes that include both the container like a drinking straw that is used by the user to pierce the seal and then drink the contents of the container

The outer envelope is necessary to make sure that the straw cannot be lost until the moment of its use and to protect the straw against external contamination, as required according to hygiene standards.

Such a container involves a fairly cycle production complex and an appreciable cost and cannot be used very easily by the user.

Moreover, the operations that are necessary to open the envelope make it impossible to use the product during other activities, for example, while walking, or at least they make it very difficult.

Other type of disposable container for liquids and pasty substances that have recently spread a lot and has been favored by consumers is constituted by a flexible bag made of composite film and provided with a rigid discharge nozzle closed by a screw cap, equipped generally a ring seal.

The plug, which is screwed over the mouth by the exterior, ensures effective hygienic protection of the end of the mouth.

In European patent EP751081 it is described with greater detail an example of this type of container.

Although this type of container allows a use Easier and faster content, it also has disadvantages.

The operation to close the container during the filling and sealing process requires the use of a quite complex machinery to screw the cap with a couple of controlled tightening and implies a fixed plant cost that is added at the cost of molding the screw cap and has an effect considerable over the total cost of the product package, particularly for individual portion packages in which  The function of the screw cap is purely protect and preserve the product until the time of use.

Although the product is easier to use in comparison with the containers described above, the unscrewing the cap implies, however, some care and effort which is not compatible with the execution of other activities.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages and offers a flexible low-cost container, whose production is simplifies and which is easier to use; the container is equipped with a discharge mouth that is hygienically protected and hermetically sealed by a membrane, preferably constituted by a film composed of multiple layers, which is welded to end of the mouth and squeeze leaving it flat around all the mouth to form a hygienic protective skirt.

The welded membrane seals that can be detached for opening are well known in the rigid and semi-rigid containers, but the objective of protecting the external surfaces of the container.

Moreover, to allow the opening, they have a loose tongue outside the weld, which provides  minimal tightening and is particularly fragile.

The detachment operation is particularly laborious and, as a result of the fracture of the tongue, it is often necessary to break and remove the seal with a pointed or sharp instrument.

For example, JP 2000 033 958 teaches a flexible container according to the pre-characterization part of independent claim 1.

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This problem is also solved by the present invention, since the peripheral skirt of the closure Airtight you can easily "tear off" and it's easy grab it once it has opened out, allowing it to exert a detachment action in several directions at along the entire region of the seal, ensuring the desired result without difficulty or particular effort.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment and variants thereof, which is given by reference to the attached drawings, in the
which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the flexible bag-type container with the discharge mouth closed by a membrane seal according to the present invention,

Figure 2 shows, in a view in perspective, the mouth of the container of Figure 1 in a first Closed stage with a membrane seal,

Figure 3 shows, in a view in perspective, the mouth of the container of Figure 1 in a second Closed stage with a membrane seal,

Figure 4 shows, in a view in perspective, the mouth of the container of Figure l with the operation closed closed,

Figure 5 shows, in a view in perspective, a variant of the seal configuration with the closing operation completed,

Figure 6 shows, in a view in perspective, a variant of the discharge mouth for the container of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a first variant of the flexible container with the discharge mouth hermetically sealed according to the present invention,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second variant of the flexible container with the discharge mouth hermetically sealed according to the present invention,

Figure 9 is a schematic front view of a third variant of the flexible container with discharge mouth hermetically sealed according to the present invention,

Figure 10 is a schematic section through of the container of Figure 9, made by the line A-A of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a perspective view from below the container of Figure 9, once it has been filled,

Figure 12 is a schematic front view of a fourth variant of the flexible container with the mouth closed tightly according to the present invention,

Figure 13 is a schematic section through of the container of Figure 12, made by the line B-B of Figure 12,

Figure 14 is a schematic front view of an additional variant of the flexible container with the mouth of hermetically sealed discharge according to the present invention,

Figure 15 is a schematic section through of the container of Figure 14, made by the line C-C of Figure 14, and

Figure 16 is a perspective view from above the container of Figure 14, once it has been fill.

Referring to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a flexible container similar to a conventional type bag known by itself (for example, from the document EP751081), the innovative aspect consisting of the system of closing.

The container 1 is constituted, conventionally, by a pair of juxtaposed sheets of material composed, front and rear, and by two side panels that are fold like a bellows and stand between the two sheets, front and rear.

The two sheets and the side posters are thermally weld each other on the periphery and, once it has filled the container, it takes the form indicated in the drawing in which the front sheet 2 and a side sign are visible 3.

Broken line 4 indicates the fold line of the carton 3.

The bands between the edges of the container and the broken lines 5, 6, 7, and 8 and the continuous line 9 correspond to the heat seal regions.

A material commonly used to produce containers of this type is a polyester composite film (PET) externally superimposed on an aluminum foil (AI), the which is covered internally by a polyethylene film (PE), possibly with the interposition of a connection film of nylon (n).

The thermal sealing material, with a point of lower softening, is constituted by the film of polyethylene.

The container is conventionally provided with a discharge mouth consisting of a drinking straw made of a plastic material, preferably polypropylene, with a portion 10 housed inside the container and an outer portion 11 in which an externally smooth end part 12 is marked, in order externally threaded part 13, a toothed part 14 provided for irreversible lace with a hermetic ring closure screw cap, and a part with flanges externally provided with minus one, usually two, polygonal tabs 15, 16 that serve for the relative placement of the bag and mouth during assembly process and as a rigid grip and element of location during the filling and closing process.

Unlike the known containers of this type to be closed by screw caps, the container described is closed by a membrane seal 17 which is thermally weld at the upper end of the mouth by techniques Conventionals that are used for container production (hot iron, ultrasound, high induction frequency).

The seal 17 is constituted preferably for a piece of composite, laminated sheet that It basically comprises an outer layer of polyester (optionally printed inside), which ensures strength necessary tear mechanics, an intermediate layer of aluminum, and a layer of varnish or highly adhesive plastic film that joins with the upper part of the mouth.

By way of indication, the aluminum layer can have a thickness of 40 µm, the polyester layer a thickness of 12 µm, and the varnish layer is 5 µm thick.

The essential aspect of the invention is that the Hermetic closure is constituted by a piece of sheet, which preferably has a disk shape, with a diameter significantly larger than the outside diameter of the mouth and preferably not less than the sum of the outer diameter of the cylindrical part 12 of the mouth and more than twice the axial extension Of the same.

Figures 2 to 4 show this aspect clearly.

In Figure 2, which shows a first stage of the operation to tightly close the container (which, naturally, it takes place immediately after the filling of the same), the seal 17, which is pressed on the part upper 12 of the mouth by mechanical devices conventional, it is welded to it thermally (with an iron hot ring, ultrasound or induction), which ensures the perfect adhesion of the seal to the top of the mouth.

The welding area is identified by the ring circular 18.

As shown in Figure 3, in the course of the same welding operation or immediately after, a sleeve properly shaped bends and presses crushing the ring of the hermetic seal 17 arranged outside the welding region, wrapping it tightly around the cylindrical end part of the mouth, as shown in Figure 4.

The end of the mouth is thus protected against any direct contact with the outside during handling subsequent.

Although not essential, since the roughness of the pressure-crushed seal surface allows you easily open again, the seal 17 can be crush completely so, for example, that it forms some tabs 19 that project as shown in Figure 5, what which further facilitates the deployment operation.

Naturally, the use of a seal 17 disk-shaped is simply preferred, mainly by aesthetic reasons; there is nothing against use, like closures hermetic, polygonal or even square pieces, which, in any case, have dimensions such that they include a circle with a diameter at least equal to the one indicated above.

Figures 1 to 5 refer to a container conventional in which a threaded mouth is provided and which can therefore be closed by means of a screw cap or, without modification, by means of a hermetic closing of folded membrane in the manner provided by the present invention.

This allows considerable economies of scale to production level since you can use the same type of mouth just as well to produce multi-portion containers, whose content is consumed at various times and which are they can be closed again by means of threaded closure caps, or single portion containers in which the membrane seal.

It is clear, however, that the invention, in its simplicity, allows diversification and simplification Additional product.

For example, if the container of Figure 1 is available exclusively for closure by means of a closure airtight membrane, you can use, in its structure, a mouth such as the one shown in Figure 6, in which the externally threaded part; if desired, this allows advantageously a longer axial extension of the smooth end portion than, among other things, you can adopt an oval cross section the which can fit more comfortably in the mouth, since it is no longer the limitation of the circularity of the thread is applicable.

On the other hand, the flexible container with mouth discharge closed by a membrane seal according to the The present invention may clearly consist of a container of type envelope, as shown in Figure 7, simply formed by two juxtaposed sheets welded together by their periphery, more good that the bag-type container.

This leads to the consideration of an advantage significant technique offered by the invention.

In an envelope type bag or bag with a mouth closed by a membrane seal, since it is not it is necessary to exert any torque to unscrew a plug, the mouth structure shown can be further simplified in Figure 6.

In known containers, the mouth has two rigid fins 20, 21 that stand between the walls of the container and are welded to them, basically to form a rigid structure for the grip of the container, allowing it to exert a suitable torque to unscrew between the container and screw cap without running the risk that the flexible container is damaged.

If you close your mouth by a tight seal of membrane, this is no longer necessary and you can use a mouth without one or without both fins 20.21.

This makes it possible to produce a container extremely simple, very low cost, type envelope (or even bag type) such as the one shown in Figure 8.

A single sheet, for example, a sheet bent rectangular material (for example, PET, Al, PE) bent  on itself along a fold line 28, it forms an envelope with three faces 22, 23, 24 that are thermally welded together, after interposition, along the folded side, of a drinking straw 25, which extends out of the envelope through a mouth 26 provided with tabs for handling the container.

Once the container has been filled with product, the mouth is closed with a membrane seal 27 as already described.

This type of container is suitable for serial production starting with a single film band compound that, during the production process, is folded over itself same and cut into sections in the course of the operation of welding of the edges by an extremely simple device.

Empty containers can be stored in large quantities with an extremely small volume for distribution to the food packaging industry where, to the completion of the filling operation, sealing is performed with a membrane seal by conventional means (iron hot, ultrasound, etc.).

On the other hand, they can obviously be introduced Many other variations.

For example, as shown in the view front schematic of Figure 9 and in the cross section of Figure 10, if a carton 30 folded over itself along the continuous line 31 (with the face that can be thermally closed arranged on the outside) gets in the lower parts of two juxtaposed sheets 29A, 29B, and the two juxtaposed sheets and the interposed carton are welded together along the line peripheral 32, shown by a dashed line, is possible to produce a combined envelope / bag type container with a bellows type expansion base, which, after filling, opens out to form a support surface relatively flat that is clearly visible in the view in perspective of Figure 11.

This constructive solution can be considered a variant of that shown in Figure 7.

A similar variant can be produced. beginning with the envelope of Figure 8, as shown in the front view of Figure 12 and in cross section Figure 13.

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In this case, the bottom bracket 35, which is it bends over itself along line 33, it gets in the way, diagonally with respect to the vertical extension of the container, between the two juxtaposed faces of the single, folded sheet 34.

The thermal sealing of the various elements each other, which is done along line 36, shown as dashed line, produces a combined container of envelope / bag type with a bellows type expansion base, which it opens out to form a support surface that is relatively flat, although somewhat inclined with respect to the vertical expansion of the container.

However, the inclination of the surface of support with respect to the vertical expansion of the container can obviously be reduced or completely eliminated giving a conicity to the container on top, as shown in Figure 12.

In an additional variant shown in the view front of Figure 14 and in the cross-section of Figure 15, each of the two sides of the sheet 37 that bends over itself along the fold line 38 it is extended at the bottom by a triangular scalene appendix 39 with an obtuse angle vertex 42 (preferably 120º).

A cartouche 40, folded over itself along a line 41 that passes through vertex 42 of the appendix triangular is interposed between the two faces, in the region of the edges away from fold line 38.

The fold line 41 can go over the edge top 43 of folded sheet 37 at any point but preferably, as shown, at its far end of the mouth.

When the various elements have been sealed thermally along line 44, shown as the line of dashed line, a bag-type container is obtained in which the lower part constituted by triangular appendages and by the interposed part of the cartouche 40 bends, when the container, to form a triangular support surface.

The perspective view of Figure 16 shows Such a container once it has been filled.

Claims (7)

1. A flexible container (1) of type envelope or bag type made of a composite material, provided with a mouth of Discharge (11) made of rigid sealed plastic material thermally to the composite material of the envelope or bag, the mouth extended out of the container by at least one cylinder (12) of smooth end arranged for insertion in the mouth of a Username, the smooth cylinder (12) being closed by a membrane seal (17) made of a composite material that is thermally welded at the end of the cylinder and a part of which is crushed being flat around the cylinder to cover its outer surface, characterized in that:

the part of membrane seal (17) is completely crushed and fold over itself to form at least one grip tab (19).

2. A container according to claim 1, in which the cylinder (12) has an oval cross section and the membrane seal is formed by a disk of material compound that has a diameter not less than the sum of the diameter of the cylinder plus twice the axial extension of the cylinder. 3. A container according to claim 1, in which the cylinder (12) has an oval cross section and the membrane seal is formed by a disk of material compound that has a diameter not less than the sum of the diameter main oval cross section plus double the axial extension of the cylinder. 4. A container according to any of the preceding claims, formed by two sheets (29A, 29B) juxtaposed with the interposition, between the ends of the leaves away from the discharge mouth, of a carton (30) that folds on itself to form an expansion bellows. 5. A container according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, comprising a sheet of composite material folded over itself along a line bending (28) to form two opposite walls of the container, and in which the discharge mouth (25, 26) is inserted between the walls opposite in the region of the fold line. 6. A container according to claim 5, in which interposes a carton (35) folded on itself and that form an expansion bellows between the ends of the walls away from the discharge mouth. 7. A container according to claim 5 in the which end of each wall (37) away from the discharge mouth it is extended by a triangular scalene appendix (39) with a top obtuse angle vertex (42), and a cartouche (40), folded over each other same along a fold line (41) that passes approximately by the vertex (42), it interposes between the walls (37), the chart forming an expansion bellows and forming also, together with the triangular appendages (39) of the walls, a triangular base of support of the container.