FR2767512A1 - CONTAINER HAVING A FILLING OPENING - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container with a filling opening. This container (1) has a filling opening (10) closed in a germ-tight manner by a sealing element (11) which can be released and then closed by a closure element (12), and comprises a bonding layer (16), the closure element (12) being able to be fixed in a sealed manner to the container after filling. Application in particular to packaging containers of foodstuffs.

Description

The invention relates to a container having a filling opening.

  and a sealing element, which closes, in a sealed manner against germs, the filling opening, which can be released for filling and can be closed, after filling, by

a closing element.

  According to EP 0 741 087 A1, a container of the type indicated above is known. Such containers are closed in an empty state and the inner surface is sterilized. For filling, the previously sterilized container is opened and closed after filling. Since the interior space of the container does not have to be sterilized during filling,

  relatively simple filling machines.

  The container known from the cited document is arranged in the form of a plastic bag. Its wall is formed by the union of several plastic sheets, one of which can be metallized. A tube, which is closed by a plug, is inserted into the wall of the container in the area of the intended filling opening. It constitutes jointly with the

  cap, the closing element for the filled container.

  In the area of the intended filling opening, the tube passes through an opening formed in the outer plastic layer and is applied by a flange to the inner, unperforated plastic layer of the container. The diameter of the opening in the upper plastic layer corresponds approximately to the diameter of the tube, so that the outer plastic layer is overlapped on the flange. The tube is hermetically connected in the flange area to the outer layer of material

  plastic and the inner layer of plastic.

  Since the inner layer of plastic> 35 is continuous in the area of the tube inserted in the wall, it is used as a sealing element for

the intended filling opening.

  The container provided with the closure element and hermetically closed can be sterilized during or after manufacture. The container, the interior space of which is sterilized, can be brought to a filling installation. In the latter, the inner layer of plastic material is pierced in the area of the intended filling opening and the filling material is

  introduced into the sterile interior space of the container.

  Then the filling opening is closed by applying the cap, in a sterile and sealed manner,

on the tube.

  The invention aims to simplify the arrangement

  containers of the type indicated above.

  This problem is solved by the fact that there is provided in the container a bonding layer, to which the closure element can be fixed in a sealed manner

after filling.

  Therefore it is possible to make the container in a simple way. The previously necessary and relatively complicated fixing of the closure element already during the manufacture of the container is eliminated. This is why the container can be manufactured in the same way as usual containers, which are not hermetically sealed already during manufacture. The bonding layer, which is provided in the container according to the invention, makes it possible to use closure elements arranged very differently and which are fixed in a sealed manner in the area of the filling opening,

only after filling.

  The sealing element, the closing element and the bonding layer necessary for its fixing can be arranged in a very different way. Since the closure is only tightly secured to the container after filling, the area of

  the filling opening is freely accessible.

  The sealing element can be connected in a removable or non-removable manner to the container. It is possible to use an existing layer of material or a separate component for the sealing element. The same goes for the tie layer. The sealing element is arranged so that the filling opening can be released by the filling. Provision may be made to perforate or completely eliminate the sealing element. For the closing element, a flat component can be used,

  but it is also possible to choose another contour.

  In an advantageous alternative embodiment, the bonding layer is formed by a layer of heat-sealable plastic. This allows simple fixing, establishing a reliable seal, of the closure element. It is advantageous to have the bonding layer on the outer face of a wall of the container. As a result, the mounting of the closure element is even more simplified. In an advantageous embodiment, the

  bonding layer is disposed on the sealing member.

  Thereby a secure adhesion of the element is obtained.

closing.

  It is advantageous that the sealing element has a set rupture line which extends in the circumferential direction of the filling opening. The part, located above the filling opening, of the sealing element is jointly removed when the closure element is removed. The edges of the filling opening thus have an aesthetic appearance after the removal of the part of

  the sealing element located above the opening.

  This is advantageous especially when the filling opening is also to be used as a drain opening and the closing element is

  removed for emptying the container.

  In an advantageous embodiment, the sealing element also covers the cut edge of the filling opening. It is then also used as an edge protection element to be

  applied in a simple manner, for said cut edge.

  In an advantageous embodiment, the closure element is arranged in the form of a

  strip, which is attached to the container before filling.

  After filling, the closing element can be

then fixed tightly.

  In the case of an advantageous embodiment, the closure element and the sealing element are

arranged in one piece.

  In an advantageous alternative embodiment, the sealing element is arranged in the form of a strip which can be torn off from the container. The vacated space can be completely or partially covered by the element

closing.

  Other features and advantages of the

  present invention will emerge from the description given

  hereinafter taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a container comprising a lateral envelope, a bottom and a lid, which has an opening comprising a sealing element corresponding to a first embodiment and a closure element; - Figure 2 shows a partial view on a larger scale of the cover of Figure 1, in the case where the sealing element is perforated; - Figure 3 shows a partial view on a larger scale of a cover having a sealing element corresponding to a second embodiment and a closure element similar to the representation of Figure 2; - Figure 4 shows a partial view on a larger scale of a cover comprising a third embodiment of a sealing element and a closing element according to the representation of Figure 2, the filling opening being closed before filling; - Figure 4a shows the cover of Figure 4, the filling opening is opening; - Figure 4b shows the cover of Figure 4, the filling opening is closed after filling; - Figure 5 shows a partial view on a larger scale of a bottom, which has a filling opening provided with a sealing element corresponding to a fourth embodiment; - Figure 5a shows the bottom illustrated in Figure 5 whose sealing element is removed; and - Figure 5b shows the bottom of Figure 5, the sealing element is removed, while a

closing element is fixed.

  The container 1 shown in Figure 1 is arranged in the form of a box. It comprises a cylindrical lateral envelope 2, a cover 3 and a bottom 4, which form an integral wall 5 of the container, which surrounds a cylindrical interior space 6. The wall 5 of the container consists of several layers. It contains a support layer 7 and, on its inner face, a layer of heat-sealable plastic material 8, as well as, optionally, other layers of material, which must protect the contents of the container 1 against deterioration. The different layers of material, in particular the plastic layer 8, also serve to seal the interior space 6 with respect to the penetration of

germs from diseases.

  The cover 3 comprises, on its outer face, a layer of heat-sealable plastic material 9 which extends over the entire outer surface of the cover. It also has a filling opening 10, which also serves as a drain opening. The filling opening is covered by the plastic layer 9 so that only the support layer 7 and the inner plastic layer 8 and possibly the other layers of material present are crossed by the filling opening 10. The plastic layer 9 therefore forms in the region of the filling opening 10 a sealing element 11,

  which seals the interior space 6 vis-à-vis

  for the penetration of pathogenic germs.

  The cover 3 has, on its outer face, a closing element 12 which must seal the filling opening 10 after filling the container 1. The closing element 12 has the form of a strip 13 , which serves as a tear-off tab, which can be torn off to empty the container 1. It has, on its face facing the cover 3, a layer of material

14 heat-sealable plastic.

  In the position shown in Figure 1, the tear-off tab is thermally welded to the plastic layer 9 at the location of attachment 15. The tear-off tab can be brought into a position, in which it covers the filling opening 10 (see FIG. 2). In this position it can be fixed in a sealed manner to the cover 3. A heat-sealed connection, which is continuous in the circumferential direction of the filling opening 10, is established between the plastic layer 14 and the plastic layer 9. The plastic layer 9 is therefore used as the layer

  16 for the closing element 12.

  In the position shown in Figure 1, the container 1 is manufactured in the finished state, but is not yet filled. The interior space 6 is closed in a sealed manner with respect to germs and the sealing element 11 closes the filling opening 10 in a sealed manner with respect to germs. The interior space 6 is in a sterile state, which can be established during or after assembly of the container 1, for example by means of gamma irradiation. Container 1 can be stored in this state and

  if necessary be brought to a filling machine.

  Just before filling the container 1, the filling opening 10 is released. This can be obtained, for example, by piercing the sealing element 11. The filling material can then be introduced into the container 1 through the filling opening 10. After filling, the tab is placed

  tear in the position shown in Figure 2.

  The opening obtained during the perforation of the sealing element 11 is closed. The tear-off tab is fixed, in a sealed manner, by heat-sealing, to the connecting layer 16. A respective heat-sealing bead 17, 18 is formed in the region of the filling opening 10 and in the region which adjoins directly the filling opening 10. The two heat-sealing beads 17 and 18 are continuous in the circumferential direction, so

  that a sealed sterile connection is established.

  The bonding layer 16 has, in the region of the filling opening 10, a set point rupture line 19, which is continuous in the circumferential direction of the filling opening 10 and extends a short distance from the edge circumference of the filling opening 10. The set breaking line 19 can be obtained for example by means of a smaller thickness of material of the sealing element 11. When the container 1 is opened by the user, the closure element 12 is removed from the filling opening 10 by tearing off. The sealing element 11 is also torn off jointly along the set rupture line. We thus obtain a clean edge

  at the filling opening 10.

  In the case of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, there is provided a cover 21 comprising a sealing element 22 for the filling opening 10. The sealing element 22 is not formed by the plastic layer 9 of cover 21, but by a particular component. It extends through the filling opening 10, so that the edge of

  section 23 of the filling opening 10 is covered.

  The sealing element 22 thus forms an edge protection element 24, in the form of a rivet. The closure element 12 is fixed correspondingly, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, with a sealed and sterile manner to the bonding layer 16 and to the sealing element 22, with heat sealing cords which are continuous in the circumferential direction. The sealing element 22 is provided with a set point rupture line 25. When the closing element 12 is torn off by the user, the sealing element 22 is torn along the line of setpoint failure, the element 24 protecting the remaining edge connected to the

cover 21.

  In another embodiment not shown, the sealing element and the edge protection element are formed by the outer layer of plastic material 9 and by the inner layer of plastic material 8, the two layers of plastic material 8 , 9 being interconnected in the area of the opening of

filling 10.

  In the case of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a cover 27 has, on its outer face, a strip of plastic material 28. The strip of plastic material 28 covers only the part

  of the cover 27, which adjoins the filling opening 10.

  It is not detachable from the latter. The filling opening 10 is covered by a sealing element 29 and a closing element 30, which are made in one piece. The plastic strip 28 is used as a bonding layer 31 for the element of

  closure 30 as well as for the sealing element 29.

  In the position shown in FIG. 4, the sealing element 29 covers the filling opening 10 of the empty container 1. The sealed fixing with respect to germs is carried out by means of a heat-sealing bead 32 which is continuous in the circumferential direction of the filling opening 10. The heat-sealing bead 32 is relatively soft so that the sealing element 29 can be easily removed from the filling opening 10. After this removal, the the entire filling opening 10 is released for the

  filling, as shown in Figure 4a.

  After filling, the closing element 30 is placed above the filling opening 10 so that the position shown in FIG. 4b is obtained. A stable heat-sealing bead 33 is formed, which is sealed against germs and by means of which the element

  closure 30 is connected to the bonding layer 31.

  The closing element 30 has the form of a strip 34, which is used as a tear-off tab, which can

  be torn off for emptying the container 1.

  In the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 5, there is provided in a bottom 35 a filling opening 36 which is not used as a drain opening. Before filling the container, the filling opening 36 is made by a sealing element 37, which is arranged in the form of a tear-away strip 38. The strip 38 has, on its face facing the bottom 35, a layer of heat-sealable plastic. The bottom 35 comprises, on its outer face, a layer of heat-sealable plastic material 39. The sealing element 37 is connected in a sealed manner with respect to germs to the layer of plastic material 39 by a bead of heat seal 40 which is continuous in the circumferential direction of the filling opening 36. The heat seal cord 40 is relatively soft so that the sealing member 37

  can be easily removed from the bottom 35.

  After the sealing element 37 has been torn off, the filling opening 36 is released (see FIG. 5a)

  so that the container can be filled.

  After filling, the filling opening 36 is covered by a closing element 41. Since the filling opening 36 is not also used as a drain opening, the closing element 41 can be arranged to a simpler way than

  closure elements 12 and 30 in Figures 1 to 4b.

  The outer layer of plastics material 39 at the bottom 35 serves as a connecting layer 42 for the closure element 41. The germ-tight connection is established by means of a relatively stable heat-sealing bead 43 disposed between the closure element 41 and the layer of

link 42.

ilh 2767512

Claims (9)

  1. Container comprising a filling opening and a sealing element, which closes, in a sealed manner vis-à-vis germs, the filling opening, said opening being able to be released for filling and being able to be closed, after filling, by a closure element, characterized in that there is provided, in the container (1), a bonding layer (16; 31; 42), the closure element (12; 30; 41)   can be tightly attached to the container after filling.   2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the bonding layer (16; 31; 42) is formed by a layer of material   heat-sealable plastic (9; 28; 39).   3. Container according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in   the bonding layer (16; 31; 42) is arranged on the outside of a wall (5) of a container.   4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the bonding layer (16) is arranged on the element sealing (11; 22).   5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing element (11; 22) contains a set break line (19; 25), which extends in the circumferential direction of the opening of filling (10).   6. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the sealing element (22) covers the cut edge   (23) of the filling opening (10).   7. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the closing element (12; 30) is arranged under the   strip form (13; 34), which is fixed to the container (1) before filling.   8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the closing element (30) and the sealing element (29) are produced in one piece.   9. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that   that the sealing element (37) is arranged in the form of a strip (38)   can be torn from the container.