JP2024525956A - Opening device for a package and package thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An opening device (3) for a package (1) having a predefined outlet covered with a separatory membrane and filled with a pourable product is described, the opening device (3) comprising at least a collar (15, 15') defining a flow passage (16), the flow passage (16) extending between an inlet opening (18) of the collar (15, 15') configured to allow the inflow of the pourable product into the flow passage (16) and an outlet (19) of the collar (15, 15') configured to allow the outflow of the pourable product from the flow passage (16), and a cutter (17) arranged at least partially within the flow passage (16) and configured to rupture the separatory membrane. The opening device (3) further comprises a retention device (30) arranged to prevent movement of the cutter (17) from the flow passage (16) through the outlet (19). The retaining element (31, 31') and the interacting element (32) are configured to interact with each other to prevent movement of the cutter (17) out of the flow passage (16) and through the outlet (19).

Description

The present invention relates to an opening device for packages filled with pourable products, in particular composite packages filled with pourable food products.

The present invention also relates to a package having a body filled with a pourable product, more particularly filled with a pourable food product, and an opening device disposed on the body.

As is well known, many liquid or pourable foods, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made from composite packaging materials.

A typical example is the pourable rectangular package for food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic®, which is made by sealing and folding a laminated strip of packaging material. This packaging material has a multi-layer structure with a base layer of carton and/or paper, covered on both sides with a layer of heat-sealable plastic material, e.g., polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packaging for shelf-stable products, the packaging material includes a layer of oxygen barrier material, e.g., aluminum foil, which overlaps with a layer of heat-sealable plastic material and is covered with another layer of heat-sealable plastic material to form the inner surface of the package that ultimately contacts the food.

Some of the known packages, in particular the sealed body of the package formed from a packaging material, include a predefined spout allowing the pourable product to be poured out of the package. Typically, the predefined spout is covered by a separator membrane, which isolates the interior space of the package from the external environment and whose integrity must be broken before the first pouring of the pourable product, allowing the pourable product to be poured through the spout. It is also known to arrange an opening device having a collar and a closure around the predefined spout on the body, so as to allow controlled outflow of the pourable product from the body through the collar. Thus, the collar has a spout allowing controlled outflow of the pourable product from the package, and the closure allows selectively opening and closing the spout.

Some known opening devices include a cutter for piercing and/or opening and/or cutting a separator membrane covering a given spout in a controlled manner.

Even if such opening devices function sufficiently well, there is a felt need in the art for further improvements in opening devices and/or packages having opening devices.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved opening device for pourable products, in particular for pourable food-filled packages, in particular for composite packages, in a simple and cost-effective manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pourable product, in particular a package having a body filled with a pourable food product and an opening device attached to the body, in a simple and low-cost manner.

The present invention provides an opening device according to the independent claim.

Further advantageous embodiments of the opening device are defined in the respective dependent claims.

The present invention also provides a package as described in claim 14 or 15.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a package having a body and an opening device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the opening device of FIG. 1 with parts removed for clarity; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the opening device of FIG. 1 with parts removed for clarity; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the opening device of FIG. 1 with parts removed for clarity; FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a portion of an opening apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Number 1 indicates the entire package, in particular the composite package which includes the following components:
- a body 2, in particular a composite body, more in particular a sealed composite body, filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, and in particular having a given spout (not shown, as it is known) configured to allow the extraction of the pourable product from the body 2;
an opening device 3, in particular made from a polymer, attached to the body 2, in particular around a given spout;

The body 2 may be obtained from a multi-layer packaging material, in particular provided in the form of a web. The packaging material comprises at least one layer of fibrous material, for example paper or paperboard, and at least two layers of a heat-sealable plastic material, for example polyethylene, with the layers of fibrous material interposed between them. One of these two layers of heat-sealable plastic material defines the inner surface of the body 2 that is in contact with the pourable product.

Preferably, the packaging material may comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, for example an aluminum foil and/or an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular arranged between one of the layers of heat-sealable plastic material and the layer of fibrous material. Preferably, the packaging material may also comprise a further layer of heat-sealable plastic material interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.

According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the opening device 3 is applied to the body 2 by a molding process and/or adhesive bonding and/or ultrasonic bonding and/or welding before, during or after the formation, filling and sealing of the body 2.

Alternatively, the opening device 3 can be applied onto the packaging material prior to placing the packaging material into the packaging machine or while the packaging material is advancing through the packaging machine to form, fill and seal the body 2 from the packaging material.

According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, the body 2 may contain pourable foods such as water, milk, dairy drinks, yogurt drinks, coffee drinks, fruit juices, pulp drinks, tomato sauce, salt, sugar, etc.

With reference to FIG. 1, the body 2 may extend along a central (longitudinal) axis A.

In particular, the package 2 may comprise a first wall 4 that is transverse, more particularly perpendicular, to the central axis A, from which the body 2 extends along the central axis A. Preferably, the first wall 4 may define a support surface of the package. In use, for example when displayed in a sales area, when placed in a storeroom, when placed in a refrigerator, it may come into contact with a support, such as a shelf. In particular, when placed on a support, the first wall 4 may define a bottom wall.

Furthermore, the body 2 may comprise a side wall 5 that is (fixedly) connected to the first wall 4 and in particular extends from the first wall 4 substantially parallel to the central axis A.

Furthermore, the body 2 may comprise, opposite the first wall 4, a second wall 6 (fixedly) connected to the side wall 5. In other words, the side wall 5 may be interposed between the first wall 4 and the second wall 6. When placed on the support, the second wall 6 may define a top wall.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, the first wall 4 and the second wall 6 may be parallel to each other.

Alternatively, the first wall 4 and the second wall 6 may be inclined relative to one another. In other words, the second wall 6 may define a sloped or gabled top.

In particular, the second wall 6 may be provided with a predetermined spout.

Furthermore, the body 2 may comprise a separation membrane covering a given spout, in order to isolate the interior space 7 of the body 2 from the external environment. Furthermore, the separation membrane may be at least partially (and irreversibly) destroyable (i.e. openable and/or burstable and/or cuttable and/or puncturable), in particular to allow loss of integrity of the separation membrane, again allowing pourable product to be dispensed from the body 2.

Preferably, the separation membrane may comprise a gas and light blocking material, such as aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film.

According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the separation membrane is defined by a portion of the packaging material, in particular a portion of a layer of packaging material different from the layer of fibrous material. Preferably, a portion of the layer of gas and light barrier material may define the separation membrane.

With particular reference to Figures 1 to 4, the opening device 3 comprises at least:
- a collar 15, specifically aligned with a given spout and defining a flow path 16 for the pourable product;
A (ring-shaped) cutter 17 arranged at least partially within the collar 15 and/or the channel 16, configured to disrupt (ie rupture and/or cut and/or pierce and/or open) the separation membrane.

More specifically, the collar 15 may comprise, inter alia, an inlet opening 18 configured to allow the inflow of pourable product from the interior space 7 into the flow passage 16, and a pouring outlet 19 configured to allow the outflow of the pourable product from the flow passage 16 (and the collar 15).

More specifically, in use, when the integrity of the separator membrane is lost due to the action of cutter 17 (see further below), pourable product can flow from interior space 7 through a predefined inlet and/or outlet opening 18 into flow passage 16 and then through flow passage 16 out outlet 19.

More specifically, the flow path 16 may extend between the inlet opening 18 and the outlet 19.

More specifically, the collar 15 may have an inner surface 20 facing and/or defining the flow passage 16, and in particular an outer surface 21 opposite the inner surface 20 (i.e., opposite the flow passage 16).

Further, the collar 15 and/or the flow passage 16 may extend along the central axis B.

Preferably, the collar 15 may have an annular cross-sectional profile with respect to a cross section perpendicular to the central axis B.

Even more preferably, the collar 15 and/or the inlet opening 18 and/or the spout 19 may have a (substantially) circular cross-sectional profile, particularly with respect to a cross section perpendicular to the central axis B.

The cutter 17 is disposed within the flow passage 16, and in particular is disposed movably.

Preferably, the cutter 17 may comprise at least a cutting section 22 configured to break the separation membrane. In particular, the cutting section 22 may be particularly configured to comprise a (curved) saw blade.

In particular, the cutter 17 may be arranged in a rest position in which the cutter 17 is removed from the separation membrane (to ensure the integrity of the separation membrane) and in an operating position in which the cutter 17, and in particular the cutting section 22, is configured to rupture the separation membrane.

More specifically, when the package 1 is provided to the end customer, the cutter 17 is placed in a stationary position and the separator membrane is intact.

The cutter 17 can be disposed in a first axial position and a second axial position relative to the central axis B when in the rest position and the operating position, respectively.

Preferably, the cutter 17 can be (substantially) completely positioned within the flow passage 16 when in the rest position and/or the first axial position.

When the cutter 17 is in the operative position and/or the second axial position, the cutter 17 may extend from the flow passage 16 at least partially through the inlet opening 18. In particular, at least the cutting section 22 may extend from the flow passage 16 through the inlet opening 18.

More specifically, the cutter 17 may be closer to the spout 19 when in the rest position than when in the actuated position.

Preferably, the cutter 17 is coaxially disposed within the collar 15 and/or the flow passage 16.

As described in further detail below, the cutter 17 may be configured to translate at least along the central axis B when moving between the rest position and the actuated position during use. Preferably, the cutter 17 may be configured to translate along and rotate about the central axis B when moving between the rest position and the actuated position during use.

In particular, during use, during movement between the rest position and the operating position, the cutter 17 moves along a first direction D1.

More specifically, the cutter 17 may have a cutting section 22 and/or a ring-shaped main portion 23 (i.e., having an annular cross-section with respect to the central axis B) that carries the cutting section 22.

The cutter 17, and in particular the main portion 23, may have an outer surface 24 that faces the inner surface 20, particularly when the cutter 17 is at least in a rest position.

Preferably, the opening device 3 may include an actuating device 25 configured to actuate the cutter 17 and guide its movement from a rest position to an actuated position.

The opening device 3 further comprises a retaining device 30 configured to prevent the cutter 17 from moving out of the flow passage 16 through the outlet 19. In other words, the retaining device 30 ensures that the cutter 17 cannot (accidentally) exit the flow passage 16 through the outlet 19.

More specifically, the retaining device 30 comprises:
- a retaining element 31 connected to the inner surface 20 and in particular protruding from the inner surface 20 (and into the flow passage 16);
An interaction element 32 connected to the cutter 17 , in particular to the outer surface 24 , and in particular protruding from the cutter 17 .

Further, the retaining element 31 and the interacting element 32 are configured to interact with each other to prevent movement of the cutter 17 from the flow passage 16 through the outlet 19.

Preferably, the retaining element 31 may be integral with the collar 15 and/or the interacting element 32 may be integral with the cutter 17. Even more preferably, the retaining element 31 and the collar 15 may be molded as a single piece and/or the cutter and the interacting element 32 may be molded as a single piece.

Preferably, the retaining element 31 and/or the interacting element 32 may be interposed between the outer surface 24 and the inner surface 20.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the interaction element 32 may be interposed between the retention element 31 and the inlet opening 18, and/or the retention element 31 may be interposed between the interaction element 32 and the spout 19.

More specifically, the interaction element 32 and the retention element 31 may be configured to interact with each other to ensure that the cutter 17 can move unintentionally along a second direction D2 opposite the first direction D1 to a certain extent (up to a limit axial position) and that the cutter 17 cannot exit through the spout 19.

More specifically, the interaction element 32 and the retention element 31 may be configured to interact with each other by positioning the cutter 17 in a limit axial position relative to the central axis B and/or moving the cutter 17 to a limit axial position. In particular, when the cutter 17 is in the limit axial position, the cutter 17 may be in a rest position and may be closer to the spout 19 than when the cutter 17 is in the rest position.

Furthermore, the limit axial position may define an axial position of the cutter 17 at which the cutter 17 is closer to the outlet 19 than at any other axial position. In particular, it should be considered that the retaining element 31 is configured to define and/or delimit the axial limit position, since once the cutter 17 reaches the axial limit position, the interaction between the interaction element 32 and the retaining element 31 ensures that the cutter 17 cannot move further in the second direction D2.

Furthermore, the cutter 17 can have the greatest possible distance from the inlet opening 18 when in its axial limit position.

Furthermore, the interaction element 32 and the retaining element 31 may interact with each other when the cutter 17 is in a limit axial position. In other words, when the cutter 17 reaches the limit axial position, any possible movement of the cutter 17 along the second direction D2 is prevented by the interaction between the interaction element 32 and the retaining element 31.

2 to 4, the retaining element 31 may have an abutment surface 33, particularly facing the inlet opening 18, and the interaction element 32 may have an engagement surface 34, particularly facing the outlet 19. It may be configured to abut against the abutment surface 33, particularly at an axial limit position, to prevent the cutter 17 from moving from the flow passage 16 through the outlet 19.

Preferably, the retaining element 31 has a curved transition surface 35 facing the spout 19 and configured to allow the cutter 17 to be inserted into the flow passage 16 during assembly of the opening device 3. In particular, by having a curved transition surface 35, forces acting between the retaining element 31, in particular the curved transition surface 35, and the cutter 17 can be (easily) overcome.

According to the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 4, the retaining element 31 comprises a continuous ring, in particular consists of a continuous ring. The engagement surface 33 may therefore have a continuous ring shape.

Alternatively, the retaining element 31 may be arc-shaped.

Furthermore, the interaction element 32 may include a single portion. Thus, the engagement surface 34 may include a single engagement surface 34.

Alternatively, the interaction element 32 may include multiple separate, particularly separated, portions. Thus, the engagement surface 34 may include multiple separate, particularly separated, surface portions.

In more detail, and with particular reference to figures 1 to 4, the opening device 3 may have the following configuration.
- a base frame 40 configured to fit around a given spout of the body 2, in particular the second wall 6, and/or configured to be fitted thereto, carrying a collar 15;
- A closure 41 configured to selectively open and close the spout 19.

More specifically, the base frame 40 may comprise at least a first wall portion 42 having a passage aligned, in particular coaxial, with the collar 15, in particular the inlet opening 18. The first wall portion 42 may be configured to be fitted and/or fitted onto the body 2, in particular the second wall 6, and around a given spout, and may carry the collar 15.

Further, although not required, the base frame 40 may include a second wall portion 43 secured to the first wall portion 42 and configured to be attached to and/or fitted into the side wall 5.

Furthermore, the opening device 3 may comprise:
a connecting ring 44 rotatably arranged around the collar 15, in particular arranged so that the connecting ring 44 cannot be separated from the collar 15;
- a connecting element, in particular an anchoring element, which is connected, in particular unbreakably connected, to the connecting ring 44 and to the closure 41;

Preferably, the closure 41 may be controllable at least in the following:
a closed position (see FIG. 1 ), in which the closure 41 is adapted to and/or is capable of covering the spout 19, in particular to prevent the outflow of the pourable product from the collar 15;
an open position (not specifically shown) in which the closure 41 is configured to be removed from the spout 19 and/or can be removed from the spout 19 to allow the pourable product to flow out.

In particular, the closure 41 may be rotatably coupled (about the central axis B) to the collar 15 when in the closed position.

Preferably, the opening device 3 may include an interaction device 45 (only partially shown) that is partially associated with (and/or connected to and/or carried by) the collar 15 and partially associated with (and/or connected to and/or carried by) the closure 41 and configured such that rotation of the closure 41 about the central axis B may move the closure 41 from a closed position to and/or towards an open position.

The opening device 3 may further comprise teeth 48 associated with the collar 15 and configured to cooperate with the interaction device 45 to move the closure 41 from the closed position to the open position upon rotation of the closure 41. In particular, the closure 41 comprises an interaction protrusion (not shown) configured to slide between the interaction device 45 and the teeth 48 upon rotation of the closure 41. In other words, the teeth 48 and the interaction device 45 provide a guide for moving the interaction protrusion to move the closure 41 from the closed position to the open position.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the actuator 25 may comprise a first interacting member (not shown), in particular a flap, coupled to the closure 41, and a second interacting member 46 coupled, in particular integrally coupled, to the cutter 17, in particular the main portion 23.

Preferably, the actuator 25 may also include a cam mechanism coupled to the collar 15 and/or the cutter 17 and configured to guide movement of the cutter 17 from a rest position to an actuated position.

In particular, the first interacting member and the second interacting member may be configured to interact with each other to actuate movement of the cutter 17 from the rest position to the actuated position.

More specifically, rotation of the first interacting member about the central axis B can be actuated to move the cutter 17 from a rest position to an actuated position, in particular by a rotational translational motion.

During use, to dispense the pourable product from the package 1, and in particular from the body 2, it is necessary to open the spout 19 and break the separator membrane.

The separation membrane is ruptured by moving the cutter 17 from a rest position to an operating position. This is accomplished by rotating the first interacting member about the central axis B.

With reference to FIG. 5, the numeral 15' denotes a collar of an opening device 3 according to an alternative embodiment of the opening device according to the invention. Since the collar 15' is similar to the collar 15, the following description will be limited to the differences between the two, and the same reference numerals will be used, wherever possible, for identical or corresponding parts.

In particular, collar 15' differs from collar 15 in that it includes retaining element 31'. Because retaining element 31' is similar to retaining element 31, the description of retaining element 31' will be limited to the differences from retaining element 31.

In particular, the retaining element 31' comprises two or more ring portions 47. More particularly, the ring portions 47 may be spaced apart from one another, i.e., the ring portions 47 do not contact one another.

Preferably, the ring portions 47 may be angularly displaced from one another about the central axis B.

According to certain disclosed embodiments, the ring portions 47 may have different dimensions and/or extensions. In certain cases, groups of two ring portions 47 arranged alternately about the central axis B can be identified.

Alternatively, all of the ring portions 47 may have the same dimensions, all of the ring portions 47 may have different dimensions, or some of the ring portions 47 may have different dimensions.

Preferably, each ring portion 47 may comprise a respective portion of the abutment surface 33 and/or a respective portion of the transition surface 35.

The base frame 40 of the particular embodiment of FIG. 5 includes a first wall portion 42 but does not include a second wall portion 43.

Alternatively, the collar 15' may be part of an opening device 3 that includes a base frame 40 having both a first wall portion 42 and a second wall portion 43.

The advantages of the opening device 3 and/or package 1 according to the present invention will become apparent from the above description.

In particular, the provision of the retention device 30 ensures that the cutter 17 cannot exit the flow passage 16 through the outlet 19.

Furthermore, the retaining element 31 or the retaining element 31' may be easily combined with the collar 15 and the collar 15', respectively.

However, modifications may be made to the opening device 3 and/or package 1 described herein without departing from the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

Claims (15)

An opening device (3) for a package (1), in particular a composite package, having a predefined outlet covered with a separating membrane and filled with a pourable product, said opening device (3) comprising at least
a collar (15, 15') defining a flow path (16) extending between an inlet opening (18) of said collar (15, 15') configured to allow the inflow of said pourable product into said flow path (16) and an outlet (19) of said collar (15, 15') configured to allow the outflow of said pourable product from said flow path (16);
a cutter (17) configured to rupture the separation membrane and disposed at least partially within the flow channel (16);
Equipped with
The collar (15, 15') has an inner surface (20) facing the flow passage (16);
The opening device (3) further comprises a retaining device (30) configured to prevent movement of the cutter (17) from the flow passage (16) through the outlet (19);
the retaining device (30) comprises a retaining element (31, 31') protruding from the inner surface (20) of the collar (21) and an interacting element (32) connected to the cutter (17);
the retaining element (31, 31') and the interacting element (32) are configured to interact with each other to prevent movement of the cutter (17) out of the flow passage (16) and through the outlet (19);
Opening device (3). The collar (15, 15') extends along a central axis (B);
the interaction element (32) and the holding element (31, 31') are configured to interact with each other when the cutter (17) is positioned and/or moved to a limit axial position relative to the central axis (B),
The opening device according to claim 1 . said retaining element (31, 31') having an abutment surface (33) facing said inlet opening (18),
The interface element (32) comprises an engagement surface (34);
the engagement surface (34) is configured to abut against the abutment surface (33) to prevent movement of the cutter (17) from the flow passage (16) through the outlet (19);
An opening device according to claim 1 or 2. the cutter (17) comprises a body (23) carrying the cutting section (22) of the cutter (17) and having an annular cross section;
The interaction element (32) protrudes from an outer surface (24) of a main portion (23) facing the inner surface (20) of the collar (15, 15').
An opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. the retaining element (31, 31') is integrally connected to the collar (15, 15') and/or the interaction element (32) is integrally connected to the cutter (17);
An opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. the retaining element (31) comprises and/or is a continuous ring or is arc-shaped;
An opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. said retaining element (31') comprises at least two ring portions (47) separated from each other;
An opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. said retaining element (31') comprises a plurality of ring portions (47) arranged at angles to one another around a central axis (B) of said collar (15');
The opening device according to claim 7. the retaining element (31, 31') has a transition surface (35) facing the spout (19) and configured to allow the insertion of the cutter (17) and is configured to be inserted into the flow channel (16) during assembly of the opening device (3);
An opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. the interaction element (32) is interposed between the holding element (31, 31') and the inlet opening (18) and/or the holding element (31, 31') is interposed between the outlet (19) and the interaction element (32),
An opening device according to any one of the preceding claims. the cutter (17) is disposable in a rest position in which it is detached from the separation membrane and in an actuated position in which it is configured to rupture the separation membrane;
An opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. an actuator (25) configured to actuate movement of the cutter (17) from the rest position to the active position;
The opening device according to claim 11. a base frame (40) adapted to be attached and/or mounted around a predetermined outlet and a carrying collar (15, 15') of said body (2);
a closure (41) configured to selectively open and close said spout (19);
Further comprising:
An opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. a body (2) filled with a pourable product and having a predetermined pouring opening covered with a separating membrane;
An opening device (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, attached around the predetermined injection opening;
A package (1). The body (2) is formed from a multi-layer packaging material;
15. The package of claim 14.

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