FR3099755A3 - THERMOS-WELDING FILM FORMING A SOFT POCKET WITH A SCREW CAP THE ASSEMBLY BEING BIODEGRADABLE AND COMPOSTABLE - Google Patents

Abstract

Device relating to a biodegradable and compostable assembly made from a transparent or printed film totally or partially and heat-sealable composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and plant materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, covered with an oxide film of silicon (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i) integrating a cut out area (integrated handle), the pocket is closed by a screw cap composed of two parts crimped on a base (ii), the cap and the base are composed of polylactic acid (PLA) that can be reinforced by a double-product whose specificities have been developed in the previous paragraphs, which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product, this set is made of 100% vegetable materials , biodegradable and compostable conform to European standard EN 13432. The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for applications industrial food packaging or not, the bottling of any non-gaseous liquid, fatty substances, viscous substances intended for human consumption or not, packaging containing sugar, flour, coffee, sauces, liquid creams , cosmetic creams and liquids, packaging and packaging for pharmacology and cosmetology, automobile interiors, covers for multimedia and telephony computer devices, disposable items.

Description

HEAT-WELDABLE FILM FORMING A FLEXIBLE POUCH WITH A SCREW CAP, THE WHOLE BEING BIODEGRADABLE AND COMPOSTABLE

The set consists of a flexible bag with screw cap made of vegetable, biodegradable and compostable materials in accordance with European standard EN 13432.

The state of the art and the prior technique offers a pouch and a cap entirely made of plastic with a possible aluminum-based overlay.

The invention and the manufacturing process are part of an eco-responsible approach with the use of new materials of plant origin and compostable that can replace single-use plastics.

The range of products concerned has the main characteristic of being able to come into contact with foodstuffs that may or may not be edible.

Thanks to a particular filling and heat-sealing process for the bag and injection molding for the cap, the invention allows the control of the various technical constraints allowing the manufacture of a range of single-use, disposable products, in accordance with the standards compostable and biodegradable.

The invention complies with the European standard EN 13432, which defines the characteristics that a material, a product, must have to be considered compostable and biodegradable.

The invention relates to a biodegradable and compostable assembly made from a totally or partially transparent or printed, heat-sealable film composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a pocket flexible (i) incorporating a cut-out area (integrated handle for the passage of the fingers and facilitating handling by the end user) that can contain all types of water and flavored drinks, oils, any viscous or non-viscous liquid product, pasty, any non-gaseous and alcohol-free liquid product, the bag is closed by a screw cap composed of two parts crimped on a base (ii), composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double product which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product.

These double products can come from waste from the agri-food industries (such as shellfish, fruits and vegetables, various pits); agriculture (wheat, corn) and can also come from various plant fibers (wood, hemp, bamboo).

The invention relates to a manufacturing process to be implemented for the manufacture of a biodegradable and compostable assembly made from a transparent or printed totally or partially heat-sealable film composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and plant materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i) incorporating a cut-out area (integrated handle for the passage of the fingers and facilitating handling by the end user), the pocket is closed by a cap screw composed of two parts crimped on a base (ii), the cap and the base are composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double-product which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product .

The flexible bag is a solution adapted to the liquid, while allowing a significant saving of space in the logistics of the product at the beginning and at the end of the life cycle.

The current state of the art offers bags made of petroleum-based plastic material, used for packaging many types of products.

Characteristics to be respected in the manufacture of the transparent or printed totally or partially heat-sealable film made of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx)

The invention provides the essential technical solutions for filling a flexible bag made from a transparent or printed totally or partially heat-sealable film composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide. (SiOx) forming a flexible bag (i) incorporating a cut-out area (integrated handle for the passage of the fingers and facilitating handling by the end user, the bag is closed by a screw cap composed of two parts crimped onto a base (ii), they are composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double product which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product.

There must be no liquid retention zone when returning the contents in order to eliminate the presence of air and therefore the risks resulting from contamination or oxidation of the contents. During the bag filling phase, there must be no zone that has not been in contact with the liquid. [FIG.18]

The invention and the manufacturing method make it possible to eliminate the recurring problem of existing plastic bags, the formation of folds and air pockets during the filling phases, and the appearance of said folds as the content is empty. This is highly problematic in the case of water or other products contaminated with air.

(i) The invention and the manufacturing process are applicable to films composed of PLA materials which can be reinforced by a double product which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product, covered with a silicon oxide film (SiOx).

Silicon is very abundant in nature. It is the second element in quantity, after oxygen and before aluminum. It represents about 28% of the earth's crust. It is found abundantly in the mineral world, where it plays an essential structuring role (like carbon in organic matter). It is also found in plants and animals where it occupies a secondary place, most often related to structure or protection.

The film composed of PLA and SiOx is perfectly suited for the flexible pouch, and is suitable for sterilized and non-sterilized applications.

Silicon oxide (SiOx) substrates present fewer problems during the conversion process than other transparent barrier films.

During the manufacture of this film based on PLA and plant materials covered with a thin layer of silicon oxide, a certain number of technical rules must be put in place in order to allow the film obtained to retain its mechanical properties. , physical and pleasant in terms of biodegradability and composting.

The film manufacturing process must incorporate the use of silicon oxide, which is deposited on the film layer of PLA or plant materials, in a low temperature plasma environment.

Monomer and process gases are introduced into the vacuum chamber as natural gas; a special nozzle ensures an even distribution of the process gases over the entire width of the machine and therefore an even coating of the SiOx.

The film created via this process is very thin and to obtain good barrier levels, the quality of the coating must be optimized. The use of alternating current leads to a massive migration of ions and electrons towards the coating drum, causing a densification of the silicon oxide on the film, which thus acquires better barrier properties to oxygen and water. .

The barriers thus created thanks to the superposition of a layer of silicon oxide on that based on PLA and plant materials, prevent interactions between packaged food products and their environment.

The main recognized effects are against dust, contamination, light, mechanical impact, gases, humidity and aromas.

The food product itself can also influence its direct environment when it is spicy or contains essential oils or harsh ingredients.

The aluminum foil used in the current state of the art offers a barrier against humidity and gas fumes, but it nevertheless offers very little protection against mechanical impacts during the various welding phases and therefore remains very fragile.

In metal cans and glass jars, the dense nature of the material provides the barriers against moisture and oxygen.

With traditional thin plastic films, the situation is different. The molecular structure of polymer plastic films is in the form of chains, oriented like a grid. The more these chains are linked together, the better the barrier will be.

Although not visible to the human eye, there are still many tiny holes through which gas and moisture molecules can penetrate. The finer the grid, the better the barrier.

Thus the application of a coating of SiOx on a layer of film based on PLA and biodegradable plant materials, closes the holes and tiny spaces and forms a uniform, smooth and impermeable layer. In this way, the final film offers a high barrier against gases, aromas, water vapor and oxygen.

The solid silicon oxide must be heated by an electron beam to sublimate, allowing the vapor to condense, forming a very thin barrier layer on the film which is conveyed over a chill roll.

The thickness of the transparent thin layer is between 40 and 80 nanometers depending on the applications, ie around 1000 times thinner than a human hair.

When silicon oxide is melted, it changes from a crystalline state to an amorphous state. In the amorphous state, it becomes clear and transparent. Upon cooling, the silicon oxide remains in an amorphous state and remains clear.

The invention and the manufacturing process are therefore based on the use of a film with a layer of PLA and plant materials, covered with a thin layer of silicon oxide. The combination of the two materials according to the process described above, allows to obtain a very high clarity associated with the highest barrier. External components protecting against ultraviolet rays can be associated with the described formulation.

The SiOx coating constitutes the barrier necessary for the use of PLA films and vegetable materials for storage-stable food and non-food packaging.

The manufacture of barrier films in PLA and vegetable materials, being based on annually renewable resources, biodegradable films have no negative impact on the environment after their use, because the packaging is completely compostable.

The invention describes the manufacturing phases, making it possible to obtain a heat-sealable flexible film, in PLA and vegetable materials, the addition of a layer of silicon oxide of which makes it possible to obtain the qualities expected of the final product.

The invention makes it possible, from the film composed of the materials described above, to obtain a high degree of transparency, an excellent combined barrier against gases, water vapor and aromas, unaffected by temperature and moisture, microwave transparency,

The invention allows, from the film composed of the materials described above, use in aseptic, hot filling, pasteurization and sterilization, metal detection, high resistance to cracks.

The high adhesion of the SiOx coating to the base film in PLA and vegetable materials, allows total or partial prints with all established printing processes.

The invention provides the essential technical solutions for filling a flexible bag made from a transparent or printed totally or partially heat-sealable film composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide. (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i) incorporating a cut-out area (integrated handle for the passage of the fingers and facilitating handling by the end user. [FIG.4]

The invention and the manufacturing process make it possible to avoid the problem of the formation of folds during filling and therefore the possibility of an area containing air, which is very problematic for the preservation of many liquid products.

The invention provides a solution consisting in the production of a flexible lower part having a constriction, forming a bellows having a particular shape.

This shape makes it possible to fold this bellows over the internal wall of the rigid upper part, the said constriction being formed in the upper part of the flexible pocket.

The presence of a single neck in the upper part has the advantage of allowing easy filling of the pocket and excellent return of the product. In addition, the rigid upper part of the pocket has been designed so as to present a substantially frustoconical shape with sufficient rigidity to avoid any deformation during retraction.

This frustoconical shape makes it possible to aid in the positioning and maintenance of the stopper during manufacture. [FIG.4] [FIG.5]

When filling the pocket, the difficulty consists in not being able to have a neck or a neck (as the state of the art identifies it for bottles), allowing precise adjustment and calibration.

The invention provides the technical solution to this major difficulty, by setting up a system for holding the pocket during the approach phase of the filling spout.

The invention allows the development of the flexible lower part as the complement of the rigid part.

This solution has the advantage of allowing retraction of the flexible pouch into the rigid shape by limiting the formation of a retention pouch for the contained product. This process achieves a final recovery rate of more than 99%.

At the level of the fixing of the screw cap composed of two parts (ii), composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double-product described above which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product, the plastic pouches known in the state of the art incorporate an intermediate ring between the cap and the pouch. This ring was integrated beforehand into the neck of the pocket and formed with it.

This process leads to an additional sealing problem for a flexible bag (i) if it is welded upstream on a film of PLA and plant materials covered with a thin layer of silica oxide.

The invention makes it possible to directly weld the base on which the screw cap composed of two parts (ii) is crimped beforehand, on the pocket during its formation.

The invention and the manufacturing process also make it possible to solve the technical difficulties related to the phase of inserting the content into the container.

The bottom of the pocket must be as flat as possible, poor filling generates non-filled areas which compromise the stability and create areas at bacteriological risk.

The invention and the manufacturing method abandon the so-called passive filling mode in the state of the art, thanks to the creation of a system of suction cups developed to separate the sides of the pocket during this phase.

The invention and the manufacturing method also make it possible, once the pocket has been welded, to carry out the cutting of a handle in a precise and repeatable manner, making the handle fully integrated into the structure of the pocket, at the level of the side weld.

The invention and the manufacturing process allow the realization of this integrated handle without weakening the structure as a whole.

The invention and the manufacturing process allow a widening of the side weld while opening it up to allow the passage of the fingers. This solution makes it possible to maintain the rigidity helping to maintain the vertical position of the pocket, whatever its level of filling.

The invention makes it possible, from a reel of heat-sealable film, transparent or printed totally or partially, composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and plant materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i ) whose composition is described in the previous paragraphs, to produce a set consisting of a flexible bag (i) with screw cap (ii) made of vegetable, biodegradable and compostable materials in accordance with European standard EN 13432.

The invention consists of a progressive unwinding module, thanks to a tension controller synchronized with the brake of the reel axis. The unwinding module is made up of two completely independent axes, accepting rolls up to 600 mm outside diameter. A plate supports the positioning of the film reel, also reducing format change operations. The module is equipped with an end of reel detector and a stainless steel forming triangle for folding the bottom of the bag.

The invention consists in the detection by a photocell of a registration spot, to be printed in a color having maximum contrast with the background of the film. The tolerance between the markings of the registration spot photocell must be ±1mm.

Cutting deviations concerning the drawing or the text, must never exceed ±1mm. Acceptable tolerance for coil width will be ±1mm. A regular tension on the unwinding of the film must be exerted, and the ends of the reel of film cannot suffer from any differences in level.

The thickness of the heat-sealable film, transparent or printed totally or partially, composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i) whose composition is described in preceding paragraphs and whose thickness must be between 90 µ and 120 µ, in particular in the case of the welding of a screw cap composed of two parts (ii), composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a dual product which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product.

The invention consists of a module for forming and welding the pocket. The reel of film is unwound and the film passes over stainless steel rollers, equipped with adjustable stops at the defined height of the pocket. Electric photocells allow the automatic control of the printing centering of the decoration of the flexible bag, thanks to working by contrast with the background of the film, and with adjustable sensitivity. The lower welding unit is installed directly on the folding jaw, equipped with adjustable handles at the height of the soft pocket. [FIG.11] [FIG.12]

The invention consists in the lateral adjustment on which the size of the pocket depends, it is controlled by a motor that can be controlled from the control panel.

The invention consists in that each welder is equipped with individual probes that control the temperature, all programmed automatically. Temperature control at each welding point is essential when using a heat-sealable film, transparent or printed totally or partially, composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with an oxide film. of silicon (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i) whose composition is described above and whose thickness must be between 90 μ and 120 μ.

The invention consists in that the vertical welding group is installed on a folding jaw, while being equipped according to the same principle as the lower welding group.

The invention consists in the installation of a vertical refrigeration plate and the bottom, installed on an independent jaw, in order to allow the film composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i) whose composition is described above and whose thickness must be between 90 μ and 120 μ, to benefit from immediate cooling after welding, so that we observe perfect rigidity of the weld thanks to the action of the refrigeration plate on the silicon oxide (SiOx) applied to the PLA.

The invention consists in driving the entire film by motorized rollers actuated by servomotors, thus guaranteeing the uniform advancement of the film at all stages.

The invention consists in that the screw cap composed of two parts crimped onto a base (ii), produced from polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced with a double product as described in the preceding paragraphs, is positioned in a synchronized manner by an automatic arm in the upper right corner when passing the pocket flexible.[FIG.13] [FIG.14]

The invention consists in that the rigid upper part of the pocket has a substantially frustoconical shape with sufficient rigidity to avoid any deformation during retraction. This frustoconical shape helps to put the cap in place and hold it in place.

The invention consists in that the cutting group consists of a metal scissor, equipped with a double blade opening system, adjustable in width thanks to a motor and a millimetric ruler.

The invention consists in that the cutting is done automatically after welding of the right side face, by means of a tool designed according to the desired shape in this case a zone in which there are openings allowing the passage of fingers and therefore a perfect grip of the flexible pouch and its contents. [FIG.4]

The invention consists of a module for filling the flexible bag made up of a heat-sealable film, transparent or printed totally or partially, made up of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a flexible pouch (i) whose composition is described in the preceding paragraphs, and whose thickness must be between 90 μ and 120 μ.

The invention consists of a first group equipped with a system by suction cups controlled by compressed air, assisted by a blowing tube, which makes it possible to obtain the maximum opening capacity of the flexible pouch which is still empty before it is filled.

The invention consists of a second group allowing the transport of flexible pouches thanks to a combined system of fixed carriage and mobile carriage, equipped with spring-type clamps, the pressure of which is adjustable for format change.

The invention consists of a third group, allowing an independent in-line stretching of the pocket on the upper part, while proceeding to the welding of the upper part of the pocket.

The invention consists of a fourth group, equipped with two upper welding stations per jaw, equipped with individual probes for each welder, precisely controlling the automatically programmed temperature.

The invention consists of a filling spout made of stainless steel, actuated vertically by a compressed air system, allowing the filling either of a prepared liquid, or of a liquid resulting from a preliminary mixture produced by the dosing station located above the filling station.

(ii) The invention consists in the manufacture of a screw cap in three parts , resting on a base on which the flexible film used in (i) will be welded, having a tamper-evident ring, the whole composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double product described above and which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product.

These double products can come from waste from the agri-food industries (such as shellfish, fruits and vegetables, various pits); agriculture (wheat, corn) and can also come from various plant fibers (wood, hemp, bamboo).

The invention relates to a manufacturing method to be implemented for the manufacture of a three-part screw cap , resting on a base on which the flexible film used in (i) will be welded, having a tamper-evident ring, the whole composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double product whose composition has been specified in the preceding paragraphs, with a view to the application of the invention of the manufacturing process to the manufacture of the flexible bag (i), produced from a transparent film or printed totally or partially, heat-sealable composed of PLA materials and biodegradable and compostable plant materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i) incorporating a cut-out area (integrated handle for the passage of the fingers and facilitating handling by the end user .

Before making the caps, the PLA or the plant material used as a double product must be dried in order to prevent the cap from being affected by streaking and degradation by hydrolysis.

The PLA or plant material, the specificities of which have been developed in the previous paragraphs, contains on average an initial humidity level of up to 0.25%, or to obtain a residual humidity level of less than 0.01%, this requires standard drying temperatures between 60°C and 100°C, with drying times between 4 and 8 hours of the raw material.

The invention and the manufacturing process have made it possible to reduce these data, and to optimize both the drying time and the temperature for drying.

The invention and the method of manufacture, makes it possible to increase the mechanical resistance of polymers of lactic acid (PLA), by including therein components of natural origin, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, in order to preserve their biodegradability. and the ecological aspect.

The biodegradation of polymeric materials is defined as a degradation of these materials under the effect of biological activity, in particular under the action of enzymes. It is often initiated by abiotic degradation: mechanical degradation, photodegradation, thermal degradation and/or chemical degradation.

The crystalline part, derived from vegetable polymers of the PLA type, is much more resistant to biodegradation than the amorphous part, so that the stability over time increases with crystallinity.

However, the molecular mass of the polymer chains directly influences their arrangement in macrostructure during the manufacture of the material and during its heat treatment.

As a logical consequence, the molecular mass distribution influences the degradation process of the polymeric material together with the temperature.

Vegetable raw materials of the PLA type have recognized antimicrobial properties, suitable for food use.

The invention consists in reinforcing the PLA with biodegradable and compostable plant materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the previous paragraphs, to modify its surface structure, in order to prevent bacteria from attaching to it and/or proliferating.

The invention makes it possible to determine that the correct percentage of contribution of biodegradable and compostable plant materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, by determining that the final mixture with the PLA is between 10% and 80% maximum.

The invention makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous mixture of granules between the different materials, not to modify the melting points.

The invention makes it possible to obtain an optimum drying time in 2 hours, from an optimum drying temperature of 90.6°C.

During the manufacture of the cap by injection molding and the base, all from PLA and vegetable materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the previous paragraphs, the drying system must be installed above the molding machine. by injection so that, after drying, the material is transported directly into the processing machine via a drop pipe, without additional conveying device.

This is the only method to introduce the material into the molding unit without considerable temperature losses, thus avoiding the risk of alterations of the plant material, but also the consumption of additional energy.

Molds in an injection molding plant should be treated with cold, dehumidified air from an air conditioning plant to keep moist ambient air away from the cooled mold and quickly cool plugs made of plant material whose specificities have been developed in the previous paragraphs, after injection molding.

Without dehumidifying the molds, their surface is immediately covered with condensation when the molds are opened to the humid ambient air.

This phase is essential in the context of the invention, because even small amounts of humidity would cause the appearance of streaks on the caps, causing threading and sealing defects concerning the contents of the flexible bag (i) .

The manufacturing process includes the installation of an air dryer, capable of supplying cooled and dehumidified air with flow rates between 300 and 3,000 m³/h depending on the manufacturing capacities requested.

The drying unit must be equipped with an automatic air flow control that adjusts the air flow according to the conditions of introduction of the material, so that the energy consumption is constantly and optimally adapted to the process of transformation.

Once the caps and bases molded by injection from PLA or other vegetable materials whose specificities have been developed in the previous paragraphs are made, they must be cooled to avoid any deformation of the base or the thread.

The body of the cap as well as the tamper evident ring will be crimped on the base, in order to be able to form a single piece.

The physico-chemical mechanisms at work during the heating phase of PLA or other plant materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the previous paragraphs, are much more complex to master (compared to the state of the art of PET) due to the high thermal inertia of biopolymers such as PLA or other plant materials as described in the preceding paragraphs.

The structure of the polymer chain of polylactic acid (PLA) being fundamentally different from the structure of the chain of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), its physico-chemical and mechanical characteristics differ from what was known until then. for the traditional manufacture of PET – PE caps.

The invention makes it possible to establish a link between the composition of a material and its performance, which is a recurring problem in materials science. The thermal properties of vegetable raw materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the previous paragraphs, depend strongly on their crystallinity, and therefore on their exact composition.

Plant-based raw materials of the PLA type are generally a mixture of enantiomers (two enantiomeric molecules have the same chemical composition but a different arrangement in space, one being exactly the image of the other in a mirror), and the distribution of the various forms of the lactic acid monomer influences the spatial arrangement of the polymer chains, and therefore the microstructure of the polymer. The influence of this stereochemistry was measured on the melting temperature of PLA, which varies from 130° to 180°C depending on its structure.

The crystallinity of the material changes during the process, as a result of the simultaneous heating and mixing in the auger, which changes the alignment of the polymer chains.

The melting point of PLA or other plant materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, will then be reached according to the invention and the manufacturing process at nearly 160° C., thus resulting in a glass transition temperature from 60° C. . This glass transition value obtained, representing the temperature interval through which the material passes from a rubbery state to a glassy, solid – rigid state, gives the PLA or other vegetable materials used, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs , a high modulus of elasticity and a low elongation at break.

The PLA and plant material, the specificities of which have been developed in the previous paragraphs, is first heated, then softened in a cylinder, an endless screw turns in order to prepare the quantity of material defined and required. The endless screw then acts as a piston to inject the quantity of material into the closed mould.

The invention makes it possible to determine the temperature settings which differ from the use described in the state of the art corresponding to traditional materials allowing PET-based applications. The behavior of the chain of plastic polymers is not comparable to that of PLA polymers and other plant materials whose specificities have been developed in the previous paragraphs, which are much more sensitive to heat.

The invention makes it possible to distribute a heat intensity during a defined time range, in a uniform and synchronized manner, in order to avoid the deformation of the PLA material and other plant materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, in the final mold determining the shape of the base and that of the stopper bearing a tamper-proof ring.

The invention consists, from PLA and vegetable materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, in molding a base, a cap with a tamper-evident ring, the dimensions and characteristics are defined , these two pieces being crimped in a second step so as to form only one and the same piece welded to the flexible bag (i).

The invention and the method of manufacture consist in the manufacture of a cap in PLA or plant material, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, having a diameter of 19.8 mm, positioned on a ring of 20.7 mm , the assembly resting on a 40 mm base .

The invention consists in obtaining the tightness of the stopper composed of PLA and plant materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, during its positioning during the welding phases and the welds carried out directly. [FIG.5]

The invention relates to a biodegradable and compostable assembly made from a totally or partially transparent or printed film, heat-sealable composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and plant materials, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket (i) integrating a cut-out area (integrated handle for the passage of the fingers and facilitating the grip by the end user), the pocket is closed by a screw cap composed of two parts crimped onto a base (ii), the cap and the base are made of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double product, the specific features of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product.

The product resulting from this invention has the dimensions indicated [FIG.20] so that these dimensions are not exhaustive and can be adapted according to the desired final format.

The total height of the pocket is 237mm, the total width of the pocket is 170mm, the inside width of the pocket is 130mm, the height of the bottom of the pocket is 40mm, the width of the handle is 40mm, the internal diameter for the passage of the fingers in the integrated handle is at the widest 20 mm, the width reserved for the base is 40 mm.

The invention is particularly suitable for industrial packaging applications such as the bottling and conservation of spring water, natural mineral water, all flavoured, energy drinks, based on spring water and/or natural mineral water, any liquid with a medicinal virtue, any fatty substance (oil) intended for human consumption or not, any viscous substance (paint) intended for human consumption or not, and more generally any non-gaseous liquid and not containing alcohol.

The invention is also particularly suitable for industrial packaging applications containing sugar, flour, coffee, sauces, non-iced liquid creams, cosmetic creams, powders, any chemical or non-chemical viscous body (paint), intended for human consumption or not.

Claims (4)

Device concerning a biodegradable and compostable assembly made from a transparent or printed totally or partially heat-sealable film composed of biodegradable and compostable PLA and vegetable materials, covered with a film of silicon oxide (SiOx) forming a flexible pocket ( i) integrating a cut-out zone (integrated handle for the passage of the fingers and facilitating the handling by the end user), the pocket is closed by a screw cap composed of two parts crimped on a base (ii), the cap and the base are made of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double-product which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product, this set is made of 100% vegetable, biodegradable and compostables comply with European standard EN 13432. Device (i) according to claim (1) characterized by the application of a coating of silicon oxide SiOx, on a layer of film based on polylactic acid (PLA) and biodegradable plant materials. Device (ii) according to claim (1) characterized by a manufacturing process to be implemented for the manufacture of a screw cap composed of two parts crimped onto a base (ii), the cap and the base are composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double-product which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product, these double-products can come from waste from the agri-food industries (such as shellfish, fruit and vegetables, various kernels) from agriculture (wheat, corn) and can also come from various plant fibers (wood, hemp, bamboo) and from biodegradable and compostable plant materials, with a view to applying the invention of the process Manufacturing. Device (ii) according to claim (1) and claim (3), of a method of manufacturing a screw cap composed of two parts crimped on a base (ii), the cap and the base are composed of polylactic acid (PLA) which can be reinforced by a double product, the specificities of which have been developed in the preceding paragraphs, which is a material created during the same manufacturing process as the main product, these double products can be derived from waste agri-food industries (such as shellfish, fruits and vegetables, various kernels); from agriculture (wheat, corn) and can also come from various plant fibers (wood, hemp, bamboo) and biodegradable and compostable plant materials, with a view to applying the invention to the manufacturing process.