FR2926066A1 - Parallelepiped plastic container or cover for use as pot for solid food product, has layer made of material to affect adherence of central part with container/cover, where central part is covered on surface turned towards container/cover - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (100) or cover has a cylindrical/cone frustrum shaped peripheral wall exteriorly covered by a label (200) integrated by an in mold labelling overmolding method. The label has a film (210) with a central part (211) placed between lateral parts (212a, 212b). Presplitting lines (213a, 213b) delimit a boundary between the part (211) and each lateral part. The part (211) is covered on a surface turned towards the container/cover. A layer (230) is made of material such as paper or cardboard, to affect the adherence of the part (211) with the container/cover.

Description

The present invention relates to a container or a lid for a package and which is manufactured by injecting a plastic material into a manufacturing mold. Said container or lid is also covered, at least locally, by a label.

To manufacture a package whose constituents, container and / or lid, can be covered by a label, said label can be reported on the constituent (s) after manufacture thereof. This removable label can be made by providing it with a gripping tab. This is interesting when, for example, the label covers a vent hole of the container used to unmold its contents. Removal of the label facilitates demolding of the product contained in the container. However, since the wall of the component is no longer flat or if it has several faces, there are difficulties in performing the installation of the label. In order to manufacture a constituent of a packaging that can be provided with a label, it is still possible to use an overmolding process known as IML, which means In Mold Labeling in the English language. In this process, a label is placed inside the mold so that it can appear on the outer face of a wall of the finished component, then the mold is closed and the material is injected. plastic in it to make the package component. During this operation, the label is secured to the container. To make this label removable the applicant has chosen, for the manufacture of the label, a different material from that intended for the manufacture of said container or lid. This characteristic is described in detail in the patent application No. 06/06076.

The label of the container or lid can thus be entirely removed by hand when it is provided with a gripping tab. The applicant has, in the present application, sought to achieve localized peelability of the label, for example, to remove only the area of the label that covers an opening slot of a container, a vent release and so on. ., the other part of the label can then remain in place. Also, the object of the invention is therefore to provide a container or a cover for a package whose label which covers it, and which is secured by an IML type of manufacturing process, can be partially removed.

For this purpose, there is provided a container or a lid made by injecting a plastic material into a mold and at least one wall of which is covered externally by a label secured by an IML (In Mold Labeling) overmolding process, the label consisting of a film comprising a central part, placed between two lateral parts, two precut lines delimiting the boundary between the central part and each lateral part, the central part being covered on its side turned towards the container or the cover, d a layer of a material altering the adhesion of said. central portion with said container or lid. It is thus possible to remove the central part of the label while the lateral parts thereof remain attached to the container or to the lid. According to an additional feature of the invention, the layer extends beyond the precut lines. With this arrangement, the removal of the central portion of the label is facilitated.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the material in which the film is manufactured is selected from polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), paper, cardboard. According to an additional feature of the invention, the adhesion-altering layer consists of a transparent or colored varnish.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the bottom of the container is traversed by a demolding vent, the detachable central portion of the label covering said vent. By removing the lid of the container and removing the central part, the container can be unmolded.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the container consists of a peripheral wall comprising a plurality of facets and which is bordered on one side by a bottom wall and on the other by an opening which is surrounded by a rim, the container having a slot cutting it transversely, except on its flange so as to form two hinged portions at a fold on the flange, the detachable central portion of the label covering said slot. By removing the central portion of the label, the connection is removed between the two parts of the container which can then be hinged to unmold or extract the contents of said container.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the container consists of a peripheral wall having the shape of a cylinder or a truncated cone, bordered on one side by a bottom wall and on the other by a opening, a slot partially or totally surrounding it, delimiting two parts, the detachable central portion of the label covering said slot. By removing the central portion of the label, it removes the connection between the two parts of the container which can then be separated or articulated, where appropriate, to unmold or extract the contents of said container. According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the lateral parts of the label cover the entire external face of the peripheral wall of the container. According to an additional feature of the invention, the label is provided with a gripping tab. The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in connection with the attached drawings, among which: FIG. . 1 is a perspective view of a container-type container, openable and some walls are covered externally by a label according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a view of the container of FIG. 1 and a part of the label is being removed according to the invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in an open demolding or emptying position according to the invention, FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a mold for manufacturing a container and a label placed in the mold according to the invention, FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a label and a wall of a container for a package according to the invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a frusto-conical container whose peripheral wall is covered externally by a label according to the invention, FIG. 7 is a view of the container of FIG. 6 and a part of the label is being removed according to the invention and, FIG. 8 is a view of the container of FIG. 6 and a part of the label is removed according to the invention. The applications targeted by the invention relate to the field of food packaging. Although only these applications are described in the remainder of this disclosure, other applications covering all types of packaging are concerned by the present invention. On the packaging components presented in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 8, and for clarity, do not include the functions of stacking, sealing, closing generally provided thereon.

The container 100 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is parallelepipedic type. It should, for example, to contain any solid food in block or pieces. It consists of a peripheral wall 110 comprising a plurality of facets and which is bordered on one side by a bottom wall 120 and on the other by an opening which is surrounded by a flange 130. The container 100 is here presented in an upside down position. A label 200 at least locally covers some of the outer faces of the walls of the container 100. In FIG. 1, it covers the container transversely 100, on its slotted wall 120, on two opposite facets. The label 200 is provided with a tongue 220 which projects beyond the rim 130 so as to allow it to be grasped in order to facilitate its removal. In FIG. 2, this label 200 is placed to cover, before it is partially removed, a slot 150 cutting the container 100 transversely, except on its flange 130 thus forming two parts 100a and 100b articulated at the edge 130. The slot 150 is made here in a median plane of the container 100. The withdrawal by the user of a portion of the label 200 discovers the slot 150 to further open it by spreading the two parts 100a and 100b around a Folding 132 of the rim 130. This view of the open container appears in FIG. 3. The product that can be placed in the container 100 can thus be easily demolded or removed.

The association of the label with the container is carried out by a method of overmolding said IML, using a mold for manufacturing by injection of a plastic material. In FIG. 4, there is shown a mold 500 for manufacturing a container for a package such as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and its label 200 covering its separation slot implementing the so-called IML overmolding process. Although not described, a mold with similar operation but of suitable design to make a lid of a package is however within the scope of this invention. The plastic injection molding mold 500 comprises a first element 510 and a second element 520. A label 200 is placed in the mold 500 against a molding wall of the first element 510 so that the outer surface of the mold label 200 is brought into contact with a wall of this element, then the mold is closed by bringing the two elements 510 and 520 together. In this embodiment, one end of the label 200 is placed outside the molding cavity. and is here held captive in the joint plane existing between the first element 510 and the second element 520 and so as to form a tab 220 gripping the label 200 on the constituent at the end of its manufacture. In another embodiment, not shown, an end of the label is previously folded on its outer side to form a gripping tab and to prevent this tab is brought into contact with the injected plastic material. This folding is preferably performed just before the injection of the material. Plastic is injected through a nozzle 540 and then creeps into the mold cavity, i.e., into the free volume between the first member 510 and the second member 520 to make the container. The portion of the face of the label 200 exposed in the free cavity of the mold is covered by the flow of molten material so that the label becomes integral with the wall of the container. In FIG. 5, label 200 consists of a film 210 comprising a central portion 211, placed between two lateral portions 212a and 212b, two precut lines 213a and 213b formed, for example of dotted cutting, and materialized here by two lines fms interrupted, delimiting the boundary between the central portion 211 and each side portion 212a, 212b. It is also noted the presence of a layer 230 of a material applied to the central portion 211 being interposed between the latter and the wall 120 of the container which has been secured by overmoulding said label.

For the sake of clarity, the layer 230 is separated from the film 210 while in reality they form a single component. The label 200 is also presented above the wall 120 of the container 100 while in reality, it is linked by the so-called IML process with said wall.

The film 210 is made of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), paper or cardboard. It is intimately connected at the level of the side portions 212 to the wall 120 of the container 100 when they are made of the same material, for example a polypropylene film on injected polypropylene or it strongly adheres to said wall when the materials that are different, for example a paper film on injected polystyrene. The layer 230 attached to the central portion 211 is made of a material adapted to reduce its adhesion with the wall 120. It is advantageously made of a transparent varnish, or colored to guess its presence. This varnish is deposited, for example by an offset process or by a flexographic method.

Thus, the central portion 211 of the label can be easily removed by hand by detaching from the side portions 212 at the pre-cut lines 213, these side portions 212 remaining integral with the wall 120 of said container. It will be noted that the layer 230 extends beyond the precut lines 213 to facilitate the separation of the central portion 211.

The label 200 can completely cover the outer wall of the container 100 by extension of its side portions 212. In this way, the label can be used to reveal a decoration, a marking on the container. For example, one can print a text on the back of the central part or side parts of the label, this text may appear on the inner side of the container when the material constituting it is transparent. In Figs. 1 and 2, the lateral portions 212 of the label 200 transversely cover the container 100, on its bottom wall 120, on two opposite facets. The container 300 shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is of cylindrical or frustoconical type as appears in these FIGS. It is a pot intended to contain a food preparation. It thus consists of a peripheral wall 310 having the shape of a truncated cone, bordered on one side by a bottom wall 320 and on the other by an opening. A lid or a lid, not shown, normally closes the container opening to thereby constitute a food package.

The peripheral wall 310 is covered by a label 200 which is, again, partially removable type. It covers here the entire outer face of the wall 310. The label 200 is intended to present, for example, a decor and information for consumers or regulatory information. In FIG. 7, the central portion 211 of the label 200 normally covers, that is to say before its removal, a slot 350 which partially surrounds the container 300 thus defining two parts 300a and 300b capable of being hinged around a junction zone 332 has between the ends of the slot 350.

The removal of the label 200 by the user discovers the slot 350 to further open it by spreading the two parts 300a and 300b around the junction area 332. The product may be placed in the container 300 can thus be easily unmolded through its opening. This junction zone is optional if a requirement of perfect tightness of the container is not sought. In an alternative embodiment of a container, not shown, the bottom thereof is pierced with a release vent of its contents. This vent is normally covered by the central portion of a label and the withdrawal discovers said vent.

A lid for a package which is covered with a label such as that just described is also part of the invention. The container or lid for a package of the invention is covered with a label that can be removed in part only. It can cover the entire outer surface of the container or lid.

The structure of the film that constitutes it is in the form of a simple film of matter.

Claims (9)

1) Container: (100, 300) or cover manufactured by injecting a plastic material in a mold (500) and at least one wall (110, 120, 310, 320) of which is covered externally by a label (200) secured to by an IML (In Mold Labeling) overmolding process, characterized in that the label (200) consists of a film (210) comprising a central part (211), placed between two lateral parts (212a, 212b), two precut lines (213a, 213b) delimiting the boundary between the central part (211) and each lateral part (212a, 212b), and in that the central part (211) is covered on its side turned towards the container or the cover, a layer (230) of a material altering the adhesion of said central portion with said container or lid. 2) container (100, 300) or lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer (230) extends beyond the precut lines (213a, 213b). 3) container (100, 300) or lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the material in which the film (210) is manufactured is selected from polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene ( PP), paper, cardboard. 4) container (100, 300) or lid according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the layer (230) altering the adhesion consists of a transparent or colored varnish. 5) Container (100, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the container (100, 300) is traversed by a release vent, the central portion (211) detachable from the label ( 200) covering said vent. 6) Container (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a peripheral wall (110) comprising a plurality of facets and which is bordered on one side by a bottom wall ( 120) and the other by an opening which is surrounded by a flange (130), the container (100) having a slot (150) transversely cutting it except on its flange (130) so as to form two parts (100a and 100b) hinged at a fold (132) on the flange (130), the central portion (211) detachable from the label (200) covering said slot (150). 7) container (300) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it consists of a peripheral wall (310) in the form of a cylinder or a truncated cone, lined with one side by a bottom wall (320) and the other by an opening, a slot (350) encircling it partially or totally defining two parts (300a, 300b), the central portion (211) detachable from the label ( 200) covering said slot. 8) container (300) according to claim 7, characterized in that the side portions (212a, 212b) of the label (200) cover the entire outer face of the wall (310) device. 9) container (100, 300) or lid according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the label (200) is provided with a tongue (220) for gripping.