JP2020521685A - Spouts for food packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

A spout (100) is provided that forms part of the neck (20) of the package (10). The spout (100) comprises a membrane (150) and a tubular member (110) having a body (112) and an end (114) extending axially from the body (112), the tubular member (110) comprising: Removably attached to the membrane (150). The end (114) is located radially inside the body (112).
[Selection diagram] Fig. 7c

Description

The solution relates to a spout for food packaging. In particular, the solution relates to a spout having a membrane that seals the ends of the spout.

Generally, food packages are provided with an opening device to facilitate release of the encapsulated food product. The opening device can be either an irreversible opening device, i.e., it cannot be closed once the package has been opened, or it can be reclosable. The latter is often desired to prolong the shelf life and quality of food products. A common way to provide a reclosable opening device is to place a threaded neck containing the spout for spouting on top of the package. The threaded neck is designed to be able to receive a cap containing internal threads so that the cap can be loosened from the neck. The cap covers the open spout of the neck so that the enclosed food is protected from the external environment and thus the quality of the product can be maintained for some time.

The above solution offers an improvement over the irreversible opening which always remains unsealed, but the contaminated medium penetrates into the inside of the package through the neck/cap interface, eg through the threads. There is still a possibility. Therefore, further improvements have been proposed for sealing the open spout of the neck when the package is stored.

WO2011114569 describes a solution in which the spout is provided with a membrane. The membrane, which is first connected to the spout and which keeps the spout completely closed, is cut off from the spout during the opening operation, ie when the cap is loosened from the neck.

Based on the same general concept, WO201372475 describes a cap and neck assembly with a membrane for sealing food packages. The membrane is shaped to angle at the outer end toward the inner wall of the spout to allow for improved resealing of the food package when the cap is screwed onto the neck.

The above solution provides a proven and reliable package reseal, but the cutting action required to separate the membrane from the spout may leave a rough or uneven surface at the top of the spout. is there. Packages with these types of reclosable openings are manufactured in different sizes and with different contents, and some consumers actually drink directly from the package. Since the rough surface comes into contact with the consumer's lips, improvements are needed to improve the drinking experience from the container, i.e. the removal of any possible rough surface around the top edge of the spout. is needed.

Therefore, it is the purpose of this solution to overcome or mitigate the above problems.

According to a first aspect, the solution is a spout forming part of the neck of a package, the membrane being a tubular member having a body and an end extending axially from the body, the membrane comprising: A tubular member detachably attached to the body, the end of which is provided radially inside the body.

The advantage of this solution is that the radial position of the end with respect to the main part provides a seal for the neck while any separating action that separates the membrane from the neck acts on the end radially inward from the body. Is to be able to do. This facilitates the formation of smoother edges on the resulting spout after the membrane is separated.

According to a second aspect, the solution is a spout forming a part of the neck of a package, the spout comprising a tubular member having a body in which a cut surface is formed after separating the membrane from the neck. Achieved by The spout includes a tubular end that extends axially first from the body from the tubular member, with the cutting surface extending radially inward and downward from the upper free end of the body.

The advantage of such a cutting surface is that it is located inward toward the center of the spout, while leaving a relatively smooth edge on the body of the spout radially outward from the cutting surface. This encourages drinking directly from such spouts, as opposed to spouts with sharp cuts that come into contact with the consumer's lips.

According to a third aspect, the solution is provided by a package for containing therein a liquid food product comprising a neck assembly with a spout according to one of the above embodiments, such that the package closes the spout. And a cap configured as described above. The cap comprises at least one cutting element configured to separate the membrane from the tubular member of the spout (100).

The advantage of such a container is that it not only provides both a good seal and a reseal of the spout, but more than a smoother edge of the spout after the membrane that seals the spout is separated by the opening action of the cap. It is to provide a comfortable drinking experience.

The above and additional objects, features and advantages of the solution will be better understood through the following exemplary and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the solution with reference to the accompanying drawings. Ah

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a package having a spout according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cap for use with a spout according to various embodiments. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a neck portion including a spout according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a top view of a cutting element for separating a membrane from a neck, according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly including the neck and cap during closure of the spout. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a spout according to one embodiment. FIG. 7b is an enlarged view of parts of the spout shown in FIG. 7a. FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view of the spout shown in FIGS. 7a-b, with the membrane cut from the spout.

Only from the description in connection with FIGS. 1 to 6 will some general comments be given on the principle of the cap and spout assembly.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a food package 10 is schematically shown. The food package 10 has the shape of a bottle formed by a body portion 11 which is preferably made of carton based laminate and a top 12 which is preferably made of plastic. The top 12 is provided with a neck 20 which forms the top of the plastic top 12. The neck 20 can be integrally formed with the top 12 so that the entire top 12 including the neck 20 can be manufactured as a single piece.

A cap 30 is placed over the neck to seal the spout 100 (see, eg, FIG. 2b) that forms the upper end of the neck 20. The cap 30 may optionally include a tamper ring 40 well known in the art.

The package 10 can be manufactured by first forming a sleeve of a carton-based laminate, a tubular body extending between two open ends. In a second step, which is carried out before, after or in parallel with the sleeve formation, the plastic top 12 is produced by moulding. The plastic top 12, as shown in FIG. 1, may comprise a shoulder 13 located below the neck 20, which may be molded onto the top of the tubular body. Thus, the shoulder 13 is arranged to connect the sleeve forming the basis of the body portion 11 to the neck 20. The neck 20 is preferably provided with threads that engage corresponding threads of the cap 30 including the tamper ring 40. As explained above, the neck 20 and shoulder 13 may be provided by molding as one piece or as two separate pieces that are molded together.

After the cap 30 is screwed onto the top 12, the sleeve is filled with food content. Preferably, this is done after the top 12 is molded onto the sleeve and the package is turned upside down so that the remaining open end of the sleeve faces up. After filling, the open end of the sleeve can be sealed and folded into a flat bottom as shown in FIG.

Alternatively, the cap 30 is screwed to the top 12 after the package 10 is filled. This may be the case, for example, when the neck 20 is provided with a membrane 150 (see FIG. 2b and beyond) that seals the spout 100 of the neck 20, as described in more detail below. ..

2a and 2b, details of the neck 20 and cap 30 will be further described. A cap 30 including a tamper ring 40 is shown in Figure 2a. The cap 30 has a lower portion 31 provided with an internal thread 32. The threads 32 are configured to engage corresponding threads 22 on the neck 20 (see, eg, FIG. 2b). The lower part 31 extends into an upper part 33 which forms the closed upper end of the cap 30. Inside the upper portion 33, means are provided for separating the membrane 150 from the spout 100 and for holding the detached membrane 150.

For this purpose, the thread 32 is followed by a cutting element 50. The purpose of the cutting element or knife 50 is to pierce the portion of the spout 100 just below the membrane 150 and separate the membrane 150 from the rest of the spout 100. After that step, the cutting element 50 serves the purpose of fixing the membrane 150 in an axial position (ie along the A axis of FIG. 2A) between the cutting element 50 and the inside of the top of the upper part 33. This reduces the amount of litter generated, but the technical reason is that the membrane 150 serves an important purpose when resealing the closure. A number of cutting elements 50 are distributed around the upper part 33. In this embodiment, there are five. The number of cutting elements 50 depends on several factors, but one important factor is the elevation of the threads 32. The cutting action takes place when the cap 30 is loosened, the cutting element 50 following the rotational movement of the cap 30 as well as its axial movement, all to the neck 20. This means that the cutting operation, or more generally the "removing operation", has to be completed within a certain rotation angle. This is because otherwise axial movement will move the cutting element 50 out of reach of the area to be cut. Therefore, the steeper the threads, the more cutting elements 50 are required. On the other hand, each cutting element 50 creates a torque resistance when the cap 30 is first loosened. It is unwise to have too many cutting elements 50 in order to reduce this opening torque to an acceptable level. Thus, although five cutting elements 50 are used in this embodiment, it is up to one of ordinary skill in the art to infer the appropriate number. Generally, one cutting element 50 is sufficient to perform the cutting operation to separate the membrane 150 from the spout 100. However, it has been found that at least three cutting elements 50 are required to perform the retaining operation of the membrane 150 after performing the cutting and separating the membrane 150 from the spout 100.

A stop element 60 is arranged at approximately the same axial position as the cutting element 50. In this embodiment, the stop element 60 is realized by a stop ledge, i.e. a flange extending from the top of the upper part 33 to a certain axial position and a short distance radially inward. It should be noted that within the context of the present specification, all references to "axial" or "radial" are to be interpreted as indicated by the dashed arrow in Fig. 2a. The axial direction is indicated by the letter "A" and the radial direction is indicated by the letter "R".

In this embodiment, there are a total of five stop shelves 60, which are sized so that the membrane 150 can fit between them. The purpose of the stop element 60 is to prevent the cap 30 from being screwed too downwardly (i.e. in the closing direction) onto the neck 20 and thus the closure during application of the cap 30 or after initial opening. Prevents damage to the membrane 150 during resealing. The stop element 60 of the cap 30 cooperates with the counter element 24 of the neck 20 (see Figure 2b). In this embodiment, the counter element 24 is represented as a shoulder that extends radially outward.

Once the cap 30 reaches a particular position on the neck 20, there are other means to prevent the cap 30 from rotating any further. Examples include various stop configurations of the threads 32, which may be physical barriers at the ends of the threads 22 of the neck 20 that the threads 32 cannot overcome, or necks that prevent further rotation of the cap 30. It may be a change in the elevation of the threads 22 of 20. More choices are available. The solution used in this embodiment is simple and straightforward, does not include any other working part of the cap 30 or neck 20, is predictable and provides a clear stop.

An example of the cutting element 50 is shown in more detail in Figure 2c. In this figure, the cutting element 50 is shown from above. As clearly shown, the cutting element 50 is mounted on the inner circumference of the cap 30 in the axial position shown in Figure 2a. The cutting element 50 can be pivoted by a hinged connection with the inner circumference of the cap 30. In this embodiment, the hinged connection is achieved by reducing the thickness of region 52 directly adjacent the inner circumference of cap 30.

The region 54 is the cutting region of the cutting element 50, in which the thickness of the cutting element 50 is reduced to form the cutting edge 54. The cutting edge 54 may be straight as in the present embodiment.

The free end 56 away from the hinged attachment is preferably blunt and not sharper than the cutting area 54. As a result, the free end 56 has the advantage that it is less likely to damage the connection area between the membrane 150 and the rest of the spout 100 if it should not be damaged. This may be important, for example, when first placing the cap 30 on the spout 100.

The engagement between the cap 30 and the neck 20 will now be described with reference to FIGS.

Starting from FIG. 3, the cap 30 is screwed onto the neck 20 for the first time, ie when the membrane 150 is attached to the neck 20. As can be seen in FIG. 3, when the cap 30 is loosened from the neck 20, the cutting element 50 bends downward (ie, toward the contents of the package 10 of FIG. 1), which causes the cutting element 50 to move inward. (Ie, towards the neck), thus separating the membrane 150 from the neck 20.

Preferably, after the membrane 50 is separated from the neck 20, the cutting element 50 is placed in an idle position that projects beyond the radially outer portion of the membrane 150, more specifically the free end of the cutting element 50. Extend beyond the perimeter of the membrane 150. Thus, the cutting element 50 retains the membrane 150 within the cap 30 after the cap 30 is completely loosened from the neck 20.

4-6, the closure sequence of the cap and neck assembly is shown. Prior to such a sequence, the cap 30 is once loosened from the neck 20, so that the membrane 150 is assumed to have been separated from the neck 20.

Starting from FIG. 4, the cap 30 is screwed back onto the neck 20. However, since the cutting element 50 initially holds the membrane 150, the cutting element 50 is separated from the membrane 150 when the membrane 150 reaches the unsealed spout 100 of the neck 20. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the membrane 150 rests on the spout 100 while the cap 30 moves down the neck to provide threads and translates rotational movement into vertical movement.

In FIG. 4, the membrane 150 contacts the closed end of the cap 30 on its upper side and rests on the unsealed spout 100 of the neck 20 on its lower side.

As the cap 400 is screwed further downward, as shown in FIG. 5, the closed end of the cap 30 interacts with the membrane 150. Therefore, the membrane 150 flexes so that its diameter increases, causing the sealing lip 160 of the membrane 150 to move toward the inside of the spout 100.

This procedure continues as the cap 30 is rotated further down the neck 20. In FIG. 6, the cap 30 is tightly screwed onto the neck 20 and the membrane 150 is flexed further. Therefore, the sealing lip 160 is pushed radially outward until it contacts the inner wall of the spout 100 of the neck 20. At the same time, the upper end of the spout 100 engages the membrane flange 170 so that the membrane 150 is locked in the desired sealing position. Thus, the membrane 150 seals the spout 100 of the neck 150 so that the external environment can affect the food enclosed within the package with the neck spout 100 and the cap 30 containing the membrane 150. Can not.

The details of the spout 100 will now be described with reference to FIGS. As explained above, the spout 100 is defined as the top of the neck 20 from which the contents of the package are expelled. Therefore, before opening the package, the spout 100 is provided with the membrane 150. However, once opened, the membrane 150 separates from the spout 100. 7a-b, the spout 100 is shown prior to opening the package. That is, the membrane 150 forms part of the spout 100. As shown by the dashed box in FIG. 7 a, the spout 100 forms the upper portion of the neck portion 20 extending upwardly from the shoulder 24 and extending upward.

The spout 100 is formed by a tubular member 110 extending upwardly from the neck shoulder 24. Tubular member 110 has a body 112 and an upper end 114 that forms a connection to membrane 150. During opening, the cutting element 50 of the cap 30 cuts the upper end 114 of the spout 100 so that the membrane 150 is separated from the body 112, as further described with reference to Figure 7c.

The membrane 150 forming the circular closure of the spout 100 includes a central circular disc member 152 and an outer annular disc member 154. The outer annular disc member is radially disposed between the central circular disc member 152 and the membrane flange 170.

As seen in FIG. 7a, the outer annular disc member 154 is connected to the central circular disc member 152 at an angle α and the membrane flange 170 is connected to the outer annular disc member 154 at an angle β. These angles facilitate deflection of the membrane 150 during resealing, so that the downward pressure action at the center of the membrane 150 may increase the overall diameter of the membrane 150 as the angles α, β increase. With such an increase in the diameter of the membrane 150, the initially downwardly projecting sealing lip 160 is pushed towards the inner wall of the body 112 of the tubular member 110.

The connection between the tubular member 110 and the membrane 150 is shown in more detail in FIG. 7b. The membrane flange 170 is formed by two adjacent pieces, namely an outer portion 172 that extends radially outward of the end 114 of the tubular member 110, and an inner portion 174. The end 114 of the tubular member 110 is attached to the interface between the inner portion 172 and the outer portion 174 of the membrane flange 170.

Accordingly, the end 114 of the tubular member 110 extends from the upper end of the body 112 to the interface between the inner portion 172 and the outer portion 174 of the membrane flange 170. The axial length of end 114 may be, for example, in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 mm to provide some common values suitable for liquid food packaging.

As can be seen in Figures 7a-b, the position of the end 114 is radially offset from the body 112. In particular, the end 114 has a first thickness or radial width, while the body 112 has a second thickness or radial width. These widths may be the same or different. The end 114 has an outer surface 114a connected to the body 112 at a position located radially inward of the outer end 112a of the body 112. The inner surface 114b of the end 114 is not flush with the inner surface 112b of the body 112, but the inner surface 114b of the end 114 is located radially inward of the inner surface 112b of the body 112.

In FIG. 7 b, the dashed line 115 shows the cut line when the membrane 150 is first separated from the spout 100. As can be appreciated, the cutting action caused by the cutting element 50 causes the cutting element 50 to cut from a position where the outer surface 114a of the end 114 intersects the body 112 to a position where the inner surface 112b of the body 112 intersects the end 114. Facing downward and inward. As can be seen in FIG. 7b, the distance required for cutting is the shortest practically possible, so that the cutting operation is carried out with a minimum material thickness.

Separation of the membrane 150 from the spout 100 is shown in Figure 7c. Here, a cut surface 114c remains on the end portion 114 separated from the main body 112. This surface 114c may have a certain roughness, but because it is connected to the membrane 150 rather than the spout 100, the potentially rough surface 114c does not risk contact with the consumer's lips.

A cut surface 112c is also formed on the main body 112. Similarly, this surface 112c may be rough to some extent. However, this surface 112c is primarily located on the inner surface 112b of the body 112, which normally does not come into contact with the consumer's lips. After separating the membrane 150, the spout will thereby have a body 112 with an upper free end 112d having a cutting surface 112c extending radially inward and downward. Preferably, the cutting surface 112c does not extend radially outward to the point where the upper free end 112d connects with the outer surface 112a of the body 112.

Although the above description was made with reference to a food package, it should be readily understood that this general neck and cap principle can be applied to any type of package with an opening device.

Moreover, the present invention has been mainly described with reference to several embodiments. However, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments other than those disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

All references to "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," etc. are made with respect to upright packages.

Claims (10)

A spout (100) forming part of a neck (20) of a package (10),
A membrane (150),
A tubular member (110) having a body (112) and an end (114) extending axially from the body (112), the tubular member (110) being separably attached to the membrane (150). ) And
A spout (100) wherein the end (114) is located radially inward of the body (112). The end portion (114) has an outer surface (114a), the body (112) has an outer surface (112a), and the outer surface (114a) of the end portion (114) is the outer surface of the body (112). The spout (100) of claim 1, wherein the spout (100) is located radially inward of the (112a). The end (114) has an inner surface (114b), the body (112) has an inner surface (112b), and the inner surface (114b) of the end (114) is the inner surface of the body (112). Spout (100) according to claim 1 or 2, arranged radially inward of (112b). The radial distance between the inner surface (112b) and the outer surface (112a) of the body (112) is the radial distance between the inner surface (114b) and the outer surface (114a) of the end (114). Spout (100) according to claim 2 or 3, which is longer than. The radial distance between the inner surface (112b) and the outer surface (112a) of the body (112) is the radial distance between the inner surface (114b) and the outer surface (114a) of the end (114). Spout (100) according to claim 2 or 3, equal to. Spout (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the axial length of the end portion (114) is 0.1 to 1.0 mm, preferably 0.1 to 0.5 mm. A spout (100) forming part of a neck (20) of a package (10),
A tubular member (110) having a body (112) on which a cutting surface (112c) is formed after separating the membrane (150) from the neck portion (20), wherein the spout is from the tubular member (110); A tubular end (114) extending axially first from said body (112);
A spout (100) wherein the cutting surface (112c) extends radially inward and downward from an upper free end (112d) of the body (112). The spout (100) of claim 7, wherein the cutting surface (112c) is located away from the location where the upper free end (112d) connects with the outer surface (112a) of the body (112). A spout (100) and a cap (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cap (30) is configured to close the spout (100) and the cap (30) is , A neck assembly comprising at least one cutting element (50) configured to separate the membrane (150) from the tubular member (110) of the spout (100). A neck assembly comprising a spout and a cap (30) according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the cap (30) is configured to close the spout (100) and the cap (30). A package (10) containing a liquid food product, wherein) comprises at least one cutting element (50) configured to separate the membrane (150) from the tubular member (110) of the spout (100).

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