JP7436384B2 - Sealed packages containing liquid foods and sheet packaging materials for making sealed packages containing liquid foods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to sealed packages containing liquid food products.

The invention also relates to sheet packaging materials for making sealed packages containing liquid food products.

As is known, many liquid food products, such as fruit juices, UHT milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterile packaging material.

A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or flowable foods known as Tetra Brik Aseptic®, which is made by folding, sealing, and cutting a web of laminated packaging material. be. In particular, the packaging material has a multilayer structure, for example comprising a base layer of paper, which base layer is covered on both sides with multiple layers of heat-sealable plastic material, for example polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packaging for long-term storage products such as UHT milk, the packaging material also includes a layer of oxygen barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil, which layer is overlaid with a layer of heat-sealable plastic material and is then heat-sealed. Covered with another layer of plastic material to form the inner surface of the package that will ultimately come into contact with the food.

This type of packaging is usually produced on fully automatic packaging machines, in which a continuous tube is formed from web-fed packaging material, in which the web of packaging material is treated with a chemical disinfectant, e.g. The hydrogen peroxide solution is sterilized, for example by applying a hydrogen peroxide solution, which is removed from the surface of the packaging material once the sterilization is completed, by evaporation, for example by heating, and the web so sterilized is then hermetically sealed. The tube is maintained in a sterile environment and folded longitudinally and sealed to form a tube that is fed vertically.

To complete the forming operation, the tube is filled with sterilized or pasteurized food product, sealed, and subsequently cut along equally spaced cross sections. Pillow packs are thus obtained which are then mechanically folded to form the respective finished package in the final folder.

In order to be able to fold the web packaging material both during forming and during final folding, crease lines, or lines of weakness, are formed in the packaging material by a creasing tool at the production plant. . In fact, the fold line defines a crease along which the pillow pack is folded to assume the desired final form.

Instead, the packaging material is cut into blanks, these blanks are formed into packages on a forming spindle, and the resulting packages are then filled with the food product and sealed. An example of this type of package is the so-called "gable top" package, known under the trade name Tetra Rex®.

In order to open the above-mentioned packages, these usually include a removable part, which is partially pulled away from the rest of the packaging material by an opening device to release a dispensing opening and through which the product can be released. pour out.

The removable portion is formed in the packaging material prior to folding and sealing the packaging material to form the finished product package.

The removable part is usually made of so-called "pre-laminated" holes, i.e. heat-sealed plastic materials and barrier materials that are formed through only the base layer of the packaging material and that adhere to each other at the holes when the materials are laminated. Contains circular pores covered by a layer of.

Each package of the above-mentioned type, either cut from a tube of packaging material or formed on a forming spindle, is obtained from a basic building block of packaging material with a given fold line.

In other words, the basic building blocks described above represent the exact length of packaging material used to produce a single package.

In the case of packages made from tubes of packaging material, the original web comprises a plurality of basic building blocks joined together. In the case of packages made on forming spindles, the basic building blocks are defined by blanks cut from the web before the start of the forming and sealing operations.

The basic building block generally has a rectangular or square form, with two bounding edges parallel to the longitudinal direction and two other bounding edges transversely perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. parallel to the

After the basic building blocks are folded and sealed to form their respective finished packages, the longitudinal direction is the direction in which the overall height of the package itself is defined. The longitudinal direction also represents the main elongation direction of the web in which the basic building blocks are obtained.

The base unit typically includes at least two transverse fold lines, the transverse fold lines extending transversely to the longitudinal direction, and the base unit itself includes:
- a bottom area comprising a bottom fold pattern and configured to form the bottom part of the finished package;
- a top area comprising a top fold pattern and configured to form the top part of the finished package; and - included between the transverse fold lines and located between the bottom area and the top area; and is typically subdivided into an intermediate region having a plurality of longitudinal fold lines designed to form the sides of the side walls of the finished package.

The transverse fold lines are also configured to define the bottom and top circumferential contours of the finished package having an endless configuration, and to separate the bottom and top portions, respectively, from the main portion.

The bottom portion of the finished package typically includes a flat, horizontal bottom panel that defines a resting surface for the package itself.

The top portion of the finished package is parallel to the bottom panel and may include a planar horizontal top panel. Instead, sloping top panels are very conveniently used in combination with open equipment. This is because the sloped top panel is wider than the corresponding planar top panel of a parallelepiped or prismatic package, so that larger open devices with, for example, screw caps can be accommodated.

As is known, after production of a package, the package is transported to a point of sale by placing it on a transport pallet having a predetermined size. There is therefore a particularly felt need in the packaging field to optimize the filling of transport pallets with finished packages while maintaining the good appearance of such packages.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sealed package containing a liquid food product that can meet the above-mentioned needs simply and at low cost.

This object is achieved by a sealed package according to claim 1.

This object is also achieved by a sheet packaging material for making a sealed package containing a liquid food product according to claim 13.

Four preferred non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

1 is a perspective view of a sealed package according to the invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a reduced front view of the package of FIG. 1; 2 is a reduced side view of the package of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a reduced bottom view of the package of FIG. 1; 4 is a perspective view of the top panel of the package of FIG. 3 along a vertical direction on a horizontal plane, including the leading edge of the top surface of the top panel itself; FIG. 5 is a front view of the basic building block of the sheet packaging material according to the invention, from which the packages of FIGS. 1 to 5 are obtained; FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sealed package according to different embodiments of the invention. 8 is a front view of the basic building block of the sheet packaging material according to the invention, from which the package of FIG. 7 is obtained; FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sealed package according to another embodiment of the invention. 10 is a front view of the basic building block of the sheet packaging material according to the invention, from which the package of FIG. 9 is obtained; FIG. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a sealed package according to a further embodiment of the invention; 12 is a front view of the basic building block of the sheet packaging material according to the invention, from which the package of FIG. 11 is obtained; FIG.

Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 5 generally indicates a sealed package according to the invention containing a liquid food product and obtained from a sheet packaging material 2 as shown in FIG.

The package 1 includes a main part 5 including a bottom part 3, a top part 4 and a plurality of side wall parts 6 disposed between the bottom part 3 and the top part 4, each side wall part having two opposite sides. The side zone 7 delimits the area.

The main part 5 is delimited from the base part 3 by a peripheral contour 8 of the base in endless form defined by a polygonal line. In a completely analogous manner, the main part 5 is delimited from the upper part 4 by a peripheral contour 9 of the upper part in endless form, which is likewise defined by a polygonal line.

The bottom part 3 has a quadrilateral, ie rectangular or square (rectangular in the example shown) profile and comprises a plane horizontal bottom panel 10 which defines a resting surface for the package itself.

The bottom panel 10 is delimited by a bottom peripheral contour 8, which in turn is defined by four line segments or contour edges: a bottom leading edge 8a, parallel to the bottom leading edge 8a; It is formed by a bottom trailing edge 8b and two bottom side edges 8c perpendicular to the bottom leading edge 8a and the bottom trailing edge 8b.

Due to the rectangular profile of the bottom panel 10, the bottom leading edge 8a and the bottom trailing edge 8b have the same length. The same applies to the side edges 8c of the base, which likewise have the same length.

The package 1 extends vertically along a longitudinal direction A that is orthogonal to the bottom panel 10 and in which the overall height of the package 1 itself is defined. The longitudinal direction A is also perpendicular to the bottom leading edge 8a, the bottom trailing edge 8b and the bottom side edges 8c of the bottom peripheral contour 8.

In this description and in the claims, the term "overall height" means either the height of the package when the package has a constant height or the maximum height of the package when the package has a variable height. I would like to point out that.

The bottom part 3 further comprises two bottom side flaps 11, which have a substantially triangular configuration and are folded over the bottom panel 10 in a known manner ( Figure 4).

The top portion 4 includes a planar and sloped top panel 14 having a quadrilateral, i.e. square or rectangular, profile and a forwardly sloped configuration with respect to the longitudinal direction A.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1-3, the top panel 14 is a rectangle that is close to a square.

The top panel 14 is delimited by a top circumferential contour 9, which is likewise parallel to four line segments or profile edges, namely a bottom leading edge 8a and a bottom trailing edge 8b. a leading edge 9a of the top surface, a trailing edge 9b of the top surface parallel to the leading edge 9a of the top surface and located higher than the leading edge 9a of the top surface itself; a leading edge 9a of the top surface and a trailing edge 9b of the top surface; It is formed by two side edges 9c of the upper surface that are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A and inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction A.

As a result, the circumferential contour 9 of the upper surface extends transversely to the longitudinal direction A.

Due to the rectangular profile of the top panel 14, the top leading edge 9a and the top trailing edge 9b have the same length. The same applies to the side edges 9c of the top surface, which likewise have the same length.

The upper part 4 further comprises two upper side flaps 15, which have a substantially triangular configuration and which are connected in a known manner to the two opposite side wall parts 6 of the main part 5. It is folded on top.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, the top part 4 also comprises an opening device 16 of plastic material arranged overlying around the removable part 17 (FIG. 6) of the packaging material 2. The release device 16 is applied to the top panel 14 by conventional fastening systems such as adhesives, or by micro-frame, current induction, ultrasound, laser, injection molding or other heat sealing techniques.

In the example shown in Figures 1-5, the main part 5 of the package 1 includes four sidewall parts 6 of different profiles and sizes. Advantageously, the side zones 7 delimiting the side wall portions 6 have a rounded form.

In particular, the first side wall portion 6 designed to define the front side of the package 1 has a straight bottom front edge 8a and a top front edge 9a on the bottom and top sides, and is rounded on the opposite sides, respectively. It has a substantially rectangular form delimited by rounded convex side zones 7.

The second side wall portion 6, designed to define the rear side of the package 1, also has a substantially rectangular form and is defined at the bottom and top sides by a straight bottom trailing edge 8b and a top trailing edge 9b. , and delimited by respective rounded convex side zones 7 on opposite sides; this second side wall section 6 faces a side wall section 6 designed to define the front side of the package 1. and has a height parallel to the longitudinal direction A that is greater than the height of this latter side wall portion 6.

Each of the other two side wall portions 6 is
- at the bottom, by one horizontal bottom side edge 8c in each case;
- a profile substantially resembling a rectangular trapezoid, delimited on the upper side by one sloped upper side edge 9c in each case; and - on the opposite side in each case by a rounded convex side zone 7; has.

The two side wall sections 6 with a trapezoidal profile each receive on their outer surfaces an upper side flap 15.

According to an important aspect of the invention, the area of the bottom panel 10 is different from the area of the top quadrilateral Q (FIG. 5), and the area of this top quadrilateral on the reference plane P (FIG. 3) is: Obtained by projecting the top panel 14 along the longitudinal direction A, this reference plane is parallel to the bottom panel 10 and extends across the package 1 and includes the front edge 9a of the top surface of the top surface peripheral contour 9. .

In particular, the area of the bottom panel 10 is smaller than the area of the quadrilateral Q on the top surface.

According to another possible variant, not shown, the area of the bottom panel 10 can be larger than the area of the quadrilateral Q on the top side.

Similar to the top panel 14, the top quadrilateral Q is a square or a rectangle, in the illustrated example a near-square rectangle.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 5, the quadrilateral Q on the top surface includes a front line segment Q1 on the top surface corresponding to the front edge 8a on the bottom surface, a rear line segment Q2 on the top surface corresponding to the trailing edge 8b on the bottom surface, and a side line segment on the bottom surface, respectively. It includes two upper side line segments Q3 corresponding to the edge 8c.

Preferably, the side line segment Q3 on the top surface has the same length, which is different from the length of the side edge 9c on the bottom surface. More specifically, in the illustrated example, the length of the side edge 9c on the bottom surface is smaller than the length of the side line segment Q3 on the top surface.

Similarly, the front line segment Q1 of the top surface and the rear line segment Q2 of the top surface have the same length, which is different from the lengths of the leading edge 8a of the bottom surface and the trailing edge 8b of the bottom surface.

More specifically, in the illustrated example, the lengths of the front edge 8a of the bottom surface and the rear edge 8b of the bottom surface are larger than the lengths of the front line segment Q1 and the rear line segment Q2 of the top surface.

The packaging material 2 from which the package 1 is made is shown in FIG. ).

Preferably, the laminate includes one layer of oxygen barrier material, for example aluminum foil, and several layers of heat-sealed plastic material covering both sides of the base layer and both sides of the layer of oxygen barrier material. In other words, from the side that ultimately forms the inside of the package 1, the packaging material 2 comprises one layer of heat-sealable plastic material, one layer of oxygen barrier material, another layer of heat-sealable plastic material, a base layer and Contains one or more additional layers of heat seal plastic material.

The letter M in FIG. 6 indicates a basic building block of packaging material 2 for producing a package 1, which may be a pre-cut blank or part of a web of packaging material comprising a series of basic building blocks M. obtain.

In the first case, the basic building block M is folded onto a known forming spindle (not shown), filled with food product and sealed on top to form the final package.

In a second case described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12, a web of packaging material 2 comprising a series of basic building blocks M is
- folded into a cylinder and sealed longitudinally to form a longitudinal tube;
- the food product is successively filled; and - transversely sealed and cut into elementary units M, which are then folded to form the respective package 1.

After completing these tasks, package 1:
- a bottom transverse sealing strip 18 (FIG. 5) extending across the bottom panel 10 along its centerline and parallel to the bottom leading edge 8a and the bottom trailing edge 8b;
- a top transverse sealing strip 19 (FIGS. 1-4) parallel to and across the top panel 14 between the top leading edge 9a and the top trailing edge 9b; and - the bottom panel 10 and the top panel. 14 and along the side wall portion 6 defining the rear surface of the package 1, a longitudinal longitudinal section extending vertically between a transverse sealing strip 18 on the bottom surface and a transverse sealing strip 19 on the top surface. Directional sealing band 20
has.

More specifically, after the package 1 is fully sealed and formed, the bottom panel 10 includes a bottom transverse sealing strip 18 and a longitudinal longitudinal section extending perpendicularly from the bottom transverse sealing strip 18. It intersects with the end portion 20a of the sealing strip 20.

In a completely similar manner, after the package 1 is fully sealed and formed, the top panel 14 extends perpendicularly from the top transverse sealing strip 19 and the top transverse sealing strip 19; The end portion 20a is intersected by the end portion 20b of the longitudinal sealing band 20 opposite to the end portion 20a. More specifically, the top transverse sealing strip 19 divides the top panel 14 into two zones 14a, 14b, and the end portion 20b of the longitudinal sealing strip 20 is connected to the top transverse sealing strip 19. extends from the middle part of the zone (14b) to one of such zones 14a, 14b.

During the molding operation to obtain the package 1, the upper transverse sealing strip 19 is folded over the zone 14b and the end portion 20b of the longitudinal sealing strip 20. In this way, zone 14a has a larger area than zone 14b and is therefore more suitable for receiving removable part 17 and open equipment 16.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the removable portion 17 has a circular profile and, in use, is at least partially pulled away from the rest of the packaging material by the opening device 16 to form a dispensing opening for pouring out the product. Designed to free up space.

The removable portion 17 is formed in the packaging material 2 prior to folding and sealing the packaging material 2 itself to form the finished package.

In this case, the removable part 17 is formed with so-called "pre-laminated" holes, i.e. heat seals that are formed only through the base layer of the packaging material 2 and that adhere to each other at the holes when the packaging material 2 itself is laminated. Contains circular holes covered with a layer of plastic material and oxygen barrier.

Particularly referring to FIG. 6, the basic structural unit M of the packaging material 2 has a rectangular shape, and
- in the condition that the basic building block M is upright, two side boundary edges 22 parallel to the longitudinal direction, which correspond to the longitudinal direction A;
- a boundary edge 23 of the bottom side parallel to the transverse direction B orthogonal to the longitudinal direction A; and - a boundary edge 24 of the top side parallel to the transverse direction B and the boundary edge 23 of the bottom side.
The range is determined by

The basic unit M of the packaging material 2 comprises a number of fold lines defining respective folds, along which the packaging material 2 itself is folded to form the finished package 1.

More specifically, the basic building block M comprises two transverse fold lines 25, 26, these transverse fold lines extending transversely to the longitudinal direction A, and the basic building block M itself,
- a bottom area 27 comprising a bottom fold pattern 28 and configured to form the bottom part 3 of the package 1;
- a top surface region 29 comprising a top surface fold pattern 30 and configured to form a top surface portion 4 of the package 1; and - a bottom surface region 27 and a top surface region comprised between transverse fold lines 25 and 26; 29 and designed to form the side wall portion 6 of the package 1
partition into.

The transverse fold line 25 extends parallel to the bottom border edge 23 and the top border edge 24 and is located closer to the bottom border edge 23 than the transverse fold line 26 . The transverse fold line 25 is configured to define a peripheral contour 8 of the bottom surface of the package 1 .

In particular, the transverse fold line 25 is
- a central part 25a of the bottom side configured to define a front edge 8a of the bottom side of the package 1;
- two bottom end portions 25b arranged on either side of the bottom central portion 25a, located adjacent to the respective lateral border edges 22 and configured to define a bottom trailing edge 8b of the package 1; and - designed to extend adjacent to each side of the bottom central part 25a and to connect itself to the respective end part 25b and to define a respective bottom side edge 8c of the package 1; The two bottom side parts 25c
including.

The transverse fold line 26 is arranged closer to the upper surface border edge 24 than the transverse fold line 25 and is configured to define the circumferential contour 9 of the upper surface of the package 1 . In particular, the transverse fold line 26 is
- a central part 26a of the top surface parallel to the transverse direction B and configured to define a front edge 9a of the top surface of the package 1;
- two upper surfaces parallel to the transverse direction B and arranged closer to the upper surface boundary edge 24 than the upper surface central portion 26a and configured to define a rear edge 9b of the upper surface of the package 1; an end portion 26b; and - two sloped upper surface side portions 26c having an inclined configuration with respect to the longitudinal direction A and the transverse direction B and each connecting the upper surface central portion 26a to the respective upper surface end portion 26b.
It has a polygonal line shape.

As shown in FIG. 6, the side portions 26c of the top surface converge toward the central portion 26a of the top surface.

The basic unit M comprises two further transverse fold lines 32, 33 extending parallel to the direction B and located close to the bottom border 23 and the top border 24, respectively. The transverse fold lines 32, 33 are such that, together with the bottom bordering edge 23 and the top bordering edge 24, they respectively define a bottom transverse sealing strip 18 and a top transverse sealing strip 19 of the package 1. A configured bottom transverse sealing area 34 and top transverse sealing area 35 are delimited.

The bottom fold pattern 28 is designed to create a bottom panel 10 and bottom side flaps 11 of the package 1 . In particular, the bottom fold pattern 28 includes four longitudinal fold lines 36a, 36b parallel to the longitudinal direction A and extending between the transverse fold lines 25 and 32 in a known manner.

The longitudinal fold line 36b is the innermost one, while the longitudinal fold line 36a is located near the opposing side border edges 22. The areas between the longitudinal fold lines 36b and the areas delimited by the longitudinal fold lines 36a and the respective side border edges 22 are configured to define the bottom panel 10 of the package 1.

In each of the areas delimited between the longitudinal fold lines 36a and 36b, the bottom fold pattern 28 includes two additional fold lines 37, 38 oblique to both the longitudinal direction A and the transverse direction B. Including further.

In particular, each pair of additional fold lines 37, 38 have one end commonly located in the transverse fold line 32 and opposite ends in the transverse fold line 25 and the longitudinal fold line 36a, respectively. and 36b. In this way, each pair of additional fold lines 37, 38 together with the segments of transverse fold lines 25 contained between the additional fold lines 37, 38 themselves delimit a triangle 39.

Each region between the longitudinal fold lines 36a and 36b is configured to define a respective bottom lateral flap 11 of the package 1.

The top fold pattern 30 is designed to create the top panel 14 and top side flaps 15 of the package 1 . In particular, the top surface fold pattern 30 includes four longitudinal fold lines 40a, 40b that are parallel to the longitudinal direction A and extend between the transverse fold lines 26 and 33.

The longitudinal fold line 40b is the innermost one, while the longitudinal fold line 40a is located near the opposing side border edges 22. The areas between the longitudinal fold lines 40b and delimited by the longitudinal fold lines 40a and the respective side border edges 22 are configured to define the top panel 14 of the package 1. The removable portion 17 is formed in the region of the upper surface region 29 included between the longitudinal fold lines 40b.

In each of the regions delimited between the longitudinal fold lines 40a and 40b, the upper surface fold pattern 30 includes two additional fold lines 41, 42 oblique to both the longitudinal direction A and the transverse direction B. Including further.

In particular, each pair of additional fold lines 41, 42 has one end commonly located at the transverse fold line 33 and an opposite end located at the respective slanted transverse fold line 26. Located at or adjacent opposite ends of side portions 26c of the top surface.

In this way, each pair of additional fold lines 41, 42, together with the side portions 26c of the respective upper surfaces of the transverse fold lines 26, delimit a triangle 43.

Each region between the longitudinal fold lines 40a and 40b is configured to define a side flap 15 of a respective one top side of the package 1.

According to an important aspect of the invention, the length of the central portion 26a of the top surface of the transverse fold line 26 is different from the length of the central portion 25a of the bottom surface of the transverse fold line 25; The length of each of the side portions 25c of the bottom surface is also on the reference line S that is parallel to the transverse fold line 25 and includes the center portion 26a of the top surface of each of the side portions 26c of the top surface of the transverse fold line 26. It is different from the length of the projected image R parallel to the longitudinal direction A in .

In particular, the length of the center portion 26a of the top surface is smaller than the length of the center portion 25a of the bottom surface. In a different method, the length of each projection image R is greater than the length of the corresponding bottom side portion 25c.

As shown in FIG. 6, the length of the central portion 25a of the bottom surface corresponds to the length of the line segment of the transverse fold lines 32 included between the longitudinal fold lines 36b. In a completely analogous manner, the length of the central portion 26a of the top surface corresponds to the length of the line segment of the transverse fold line 33 contained between the longitudinal fold lines 40b.

The same applies to the side portions 25c of the base, the length of which corresponds to the length of each segment of transverse fold lines 32 included between each pair of longitudinal fold lines 36a and 36b. Analogously, the length of the projected image R corresponds to the length of each segment of transverse fold line 33 included between each pair of longitudinal fold lines 40a and 40b.

The lengths of the front line segment Q1 and rear line segment Q2 of the top surface of the quadrilateral Q on the top surface correspond to the length of the center portion 26a of the top surface. It is important to note that in a similar manner, the length of the upper side line segment Q3 of the upper quadrilateral Q corresponds to the length of the projected image R.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the intermediate region 31 has a uniform structure, i.e. without any folding or weakening, and is designed to form a respective lateral zone 7 of the side wall portion 6 of the package 1. It includes a central transverse band 44 across the area of the intermediate region 31 itself.

Preferably, the intermediate region 31 of the basic building block M further comprises a plurality of V-shaped fold lines 45 with respective apexes 46 located on or adjacent to the transverse fold lines 25, 26; and is designed to define, at a given point thereof, the opposite ends of the respective side zones 7 delimiting the side wall portion 6 of the package 1 . Each V-shaped fold line 45 includes two leg lines 47 that extend from and near the respective transverse fold line 25 , 26 to the central transverse band 44 and diverge from a respective apex 46 .

In particular, each V-shaped fold line 45 extends from the respective transverse fold line 25, 26 towards the other transverse fold line 26, 25 and parallel to the longitudinal direction A, starting from zero. is also large and has a size smaller than a quarter, preferably smaller than a tenth, of the total height of the intermediate region 31 measured parallel to the longitudinal direction A itself.

It should be pointed out that in this description and in the claims, the term "total height of the intermediate region 31" corresponds to the total height of the package.

In fact, each V-shaped fold line 45 extending from the transverse fold line 25 and the corresponding V-shaped fold line 45 extending from the transverse fold line 26 are spaced apart parallel to the longitudinal direction A. ing.

Preferably, each V-shaped fold line 45 has a size smaller than the maximum height of the bottom area 27 or the top area 29 measured parallel to the longitudinal direction A and parallel to the longitudinal direction A itself. .

More preferably, the length of each leg of the V-shaped fold line 45 is less than the maximum length of the height of the triangle 39, 43 in its respective transverse fold line 25, 26 relative to its base. .

In the illustrated example, the size of each V-shaped fold line 45 parallel to the longitudinal direction A is substantially equal to one-fourteenth of the total height of the intermediate region 31 measured parallel to the longitudinal direction A itself. equal.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the V-shaped fold line 45 is the only fold present in the intermediate region 31 in the region designed to define the side zone 7 between the side wall portions 6 of the package 1. It is a line.

The absence of a continuous longitudinal fold line between the transverse fold lines 25 and 26 gives the resulting package 1 a rounded configuration along the side zone 7. The V-shaped fold line 45 forms a line between the lateral zone 7 of the side wall part 6 and the circumferential contour 8 of the bottom surface and the circumferential contour 9 of the top surface, without affecting the rounded form of the lateral zone 7. It serves to facilitate the folding of the packaging material 2 at each corner.

In the illustrated example, the leg line 47 of each V-shaped fold line 45 is straight, that is, it is a straight line. As a possible alternative not shown, the legs 47 of each V-shaped fold line 45 may likewise be curved, preferably so that their recesses face each other.

Preferably, the legs 47 of each V-shaped fold line 45 define an angular range comprised between 45° and 90°.

The reference numeral 1' in FIG. 7 generally indicates a different embodiment of a sealed package according to the invention and obtained by the basic building block M' of the sheet packaging material 2 (FIG. 8). Package 1' is similar to package 1, so the following description is limited to those differences and, where possible, uses the same reference numerals for identical or corresponding parts. The same applies to the basic building blocks M' and M.

In particular, the package 1' differs from the package 1 only in that the side zones 7 between the side wall portions 6 are defined by respective longitudinal fold lines 50 extending between the transverse fold lines 25 and 26. . The length between the center portion 25a of the bottom surface of the transverse direction fold lines 25, 26 and the center portion 26a of the top surface, and the length between the side portion 25c of the bottom surface of the transverse direction crease line 25 and each projected image R on the reference line S. Due to the different widths, the longitudinal fold line 50 is slightly oblique to the longitudinal direction A.

In this case, the V-shaped fold line does not exist because it is not needed.

The reference numeral 1'' in FIG. 9 generally indicates a different embodiment of a sealed package according to the invention and obtained by the basic building block M'' of the sheet packaging material 2 (FIG. 10). Since package 1'' is similar to package 1, the following description will be limited to those differences and, where possible, will use the same reference numerals for identical or corresponding parts. The same applies to the basic building blocks M'' and M.

In particular, package 1'' differs from package 1 only in having a top panel 14'' that extends horizontally and parallel to bottom panel 10.

More particularly, the top panel 14'' is defined by a transverse fold line 26'' parallel to the bottom peripheral contour 8 and also parallel to the transverse fold line 25 and the transverse direction B. The resulting upper surface is delimited by a peripheral contour 9'' (formed by sides 9a'', 9b'', 9c'').

In this case, since the top panel 14'' extends entirely on the reference plane P, the projected image of the top panel 14'' on this latter surface, that is, the quadrilateral Q of the top surface, is the top panel 14''. 'matches itself.

The same applies to the projection R of the upper surface side portion 26c'' of the transverse fold line 26'' on the reference line S, which coincides with the upper surface side portion 26c'' itself. In fact, in this case the reference line S coincides with the transverse fold line 26'' of the top surface.

The reference numeral 1''' in FIG. 11 generally indicates a different embodiment of a sealed package according to the invention and obtained by the basic building block M''' of the sheet packaging material 2 (FIG. 12). Since package 1'' is similar to package 1'', the following description will be limited to those differences and, where possible, will use the same reference numerals for identical or corresponding parts. The same applies to the basic building blocks M''' and M''.

In particular, the package 1'' is modified only in that the side zones 7 between the side wall portions 6 are defined by respective longitudinal fold lines 50 extending between the transverse fold lines 25 and 26. different from. Again, between the bottom central portion 25a and the top central portion 26a'' of the transverse fold line 25, 26'' and between the bottom side portion 25c and the top surface of the same transverse fold line 25, 26''. Due to the different lengths between the side portions 26c'', the longitudinal fold line 50 is slightly oblique to the longitudinal direction A.

Since the longitudinal fold line 50 is present, the V-shaped fold line is not present as it is not needed.

The advantages of the basic building blocks M, M', M'', M''' of the package 1, 1', 1'', 1''' and the packaging material 2 according to the invention will become clear from the above description. There is.

In particular, the described package solutions 1, 1', 1'', 1''' all show a bottom part 3 that is slightly different from a top part 4. In this way, it is possible to optimally fill the transport pallet with finished packages 1, 1', 1'', 1''', which is related to the appearance of those packages. Gives a high degree of flexibility in their dimensions without making any changes. For example, the bottom part 3, which is slimmer than the top part 4, allows the fluid product contained in the package (package 1, 1', 1'', 1''' , which tends to accumulate on the bottom portion of the 1'''' itself) can compensate for the effects of expansion caused by gravity applied to the 1'''' itself.

However, without departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims, the basic building blocks of the package 1, 1', 1'', 1''' and packaging material 2 as described and illustrated herein It is clear that modifications to M, m', M'', M''' can be made.

Claims (20)

a main body containing a liquid food product and comprising a bottom part (3), a top part (4) and a plurality of side wall parts (6) located between said bottom part (3) and said top part (4); A sealed package (1, 1', 1'', 1''') comprising part (5),
Said main part (5) is delimited from said bottom part (3) and said top part (4) respectively by a bottom peripheral contour (8) and a top peripheral contour (9, 9''), The contour (8) and the peripheral contour (9, 9'') of the top surface each have an endless form and define the total height of the package (1, 1', 1'', 1'') extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (A);
Each of the peripheral contours (8) of the bottom surface and the peripheral contours (9, 9'') of the top surface has a polygonal line shape, and includes a plurality of contour edges (8a, 8b, 8c; 9a, 9'') joined to each other. 9b, 9c; 9a'', 9b'', 9c'');
Said base part (3) is delimited by a circumferential contour (8) of said base, said circumferential contour (8) of said base being in relation to a leading edge (8a) of said base; formed by a trailing edge (8b) of the bottom parallel to each other, a leading edge (8a) of the bottom and two side edges (8c) of the bottom perpendicular to the trailing edge (8b); a quadrilateral bottom panel (10) extending orthogonally to (A);
Said top surface portion (4) is delimited by the circumferential contour (9, 9'') of said top surface, which is defined by the front edge (8a) of said bottom surface and the circumferential contour (9, 9'') of said bottom surface. The leading edge (9a, 9a'') of the top surface parallel to the trailing edge (8b) of the bottom surface, the trailing edge (9b, 9b') of the top surface parallel to the leading edge (9a, 9a'') of said top surface. '), formed by two side edges (9c, 9c'') of the upper surface perpendicular to the leading edge (9a, 9a'') and the trailing edge (9b, 9b'') of the upper surface, and in the longitudinal direction In a package (1, 1', 1'', 1''') comprising a quadrilateral top panel (14, 14'') extending transversely to (A),
The area of the bottom panel (10) is different from the area of the quadrilateral (Q) on the top surface, and the area of the quadrilateral (Q) on the top surface is different from the area of the top panel (14, 14) on the reference plane (P). '') along the longitudinal direction (A), the reference plane (P) is parallel to the bottom panel (10) and the package (1, 1', 1 '', 1''') and at least one of the contour edges (9a, 9b, 9c; 9a'', 9b'', 9c'') of the peripheral contour (9, 9'') of the upper surface A package (1, 1', 1'', 1''') characterized in that it includes (9a, 9a''). The reference plane (P) is at least the front edge (9a, 9b, 9c; 9a'', 9b'', 9c'') of the upper surface of the peripheral contour (9, 9'') of the upper surface. 9a, 9a''). Package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area of the bottom panel (10) is smaller than the area of the top quadrilateral (Q). The contour edges of the bottom peripheral contour (8) include a bottom leading edge (8a), a bottom trailing edge (8b) and two bottom side edges (8c), and the top side quadrilateral (Q) are the front line segment (Q1) of the top surface corresponding to the front edge (8a) of the bottom surface, the rear line segment (Q2) of the top surface corresponding to the rear edge (8b) of the bottom surface, and the side edge (8c) of the bottom surface, respectively. Package according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising two upper surface lateral line segments (Q3) corresponding to . The side edges (8c) of the bottom surface have the same length, and the side line segments (Q3) of the top surface have the same length; Package according to claim 4, which is different from the length of the side line segment (Q3) of the top surface. Package according to claim 5, wherein the length of the side edges (8c) of the bottom surface is smaller than the length of the side line segments (Q3) of the top surface. The leading edge (8a) of the bottom surface and the trailing edge (8b) of the bottom surface have the same length, and the front line segment (Q1) of the top surface and the rear line segment (Q1, Q2) of the top surface are the same. the length of the front edge (8a) of the bottom surface and the rear edge (8b) of the bottom surface is the length of the front line segment (Q1) of the top surface and the rear line segment (Q2) of the top surface; The package according to any one of claims 4 to 6, different from the above. The length of the front edge (8a) of the bottom surface and the trailing edge (8b) of the bottom surface is greater than the length of the front line segment (Q1) of the top surface and the rear line segment (Q2) of the top surface. The package described in 7. Package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top panel (14) is oblique with respect to the bottom panel (10), the reference plane (P) and the longitudinal direction (A). . Claims 1 to 8, wherein the top panel (14'') is parallel to the bottom panel (10) and the quadrilateral (Q) of the top surface coincides with the top panel (14''). A package as described in any one of the above. 11. According to any one of claims 1 to 10, each of said side wall portions (6) is delimited by two outwardly convex rounded side zones (7). Package listed. Package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two straight side zones (7). A sheet packaging material (M, M', M'', M''') for making a sealed package (1, 1', 1'', 1''') containing a liquid food product, comprising: rectangular or square in form, with two border edges (22) parallel to the longitudinal direction (A) and a bottom surface parallel to the transverse direction (B) orthogonal to said longitudinal direction (A); has a rectangular or square shape with a border edge (23) on the top surface and a border edge (24) on the top surface; at least a transverse fold line (25) on the bottom surface and extending transversely to said longitudinal direction (A); The sheet packaging material ( M, M', M'', M'''),
- a bottom area (27) comprising a bottom fold pattern (28) and configured to form a bottom part (3) of said package (1, 1', 1'', 1''');
- a top surface area (29) comprising a top surface fold pattern (30) and configured to form a top surface portion (4) of said package (1, 1', 1'', 1'''); and - comprised between the transverse fold line (25) of said bottom surface and the transverse fold line (26, 26'') of said top surface, between said bottom surface area (27) and said top surface area (29); in an intermediate region (31) designed to be placed and form the main part (5) of said package (1, 1', 1'', 1''') with a plurality of side wall sections (6); compartmentalize;
Said bottom transverse fold line (25) and said top transverse fold line (26, 26'') delimit said bottom part (3) and said top part (4), respectively, from said main part (5). defining a bottom circumferential contour (8) and a top circumferential contour (9, 9'') of said package (1, 1', 1'', 1'');
The transverse fold line (25) of the bottom surface extends parallel to the transverse direction (B) and extends along the front edge of the bottom surface of the package (1, 1', 1'', 1'''). a central portion (25a) of the bottom surface designed to define (8a), located on both sides of said central portion (25a) and located adjacent to the respective lateral border edges (22); two bottom end portions (25b) configured to define a bottom trailing edge (8b) of the package (1, 1', 1'', 1'''); and a central portion (25a) of said bottom surface. ) extending to the end portions (25b) of the bottom surface on both sides of the package (1, 1', 1'', 1''') and defining side edges (8c) of the respective bottom surface of the package (1, 1', 1'', 1'''). including two designed bottom side parts (25c);
The transverse fold line (26, 26'') of the top surface is such that it defines a leading edge (9a, 9a'') of the top surface of the package (1, 1', 1'', 1'''). the central part of the designed top surface (26a, 26a''), parallel to said transverse direction (B) and the respective top surface of said package (1, 1', 1'', 1''') two upper surface end portions (26b, 26b'') designed to define a trailing edge (9b, 9b'') and extending on either side of said upper surface central portion (26a, 26a''); and connects the center portions (26a, 26a'') of the respective upper surfaces to the end portions (26b, 26b'') of the respective upper surfaces, and connects the packages (1, 1', 1'', 1' two upper side portions (26c, 26c'') designed to define respective upper side edges (9c, 9c'') of
The bottom fold pattern (28) is configured to define a quadrilateral bottom panel (10) of the package (1, 1', 1'', 1'''), the bottom panel (10) is defined by a leading edge (8a) of said bottom surface, a trailing edge (8b) of said bottom surface and a side edge (8c) of said bottom surface, said leading edge (8a) of said bottom surface meeting said trailing edge (8b) of said bottom surface. are parallel, the side edges (8c) of the two bottom surfaces are perpendicular to the leading edge (8a) of the bottom surface and the trailing edge (8b) of the bottom surface, and the crease pattern (30) of the top surface is , configured to define a quadrilateral top panel (14, 14'') of said package (1, 1', 1'', 1'''), said top panel (14, 14'') , defined by a leading edge of the top surface (9a, 9a''), a trailing edge of the top surface (9b, 9b'') and a side edge of the top surface (9c, 9c'');
The leading edge (9a, 9a'') of the top surface is parallel to the leading edge (8a) of the bottom surface and the trailing edge (8b) of the bottom surface, and the side edges (9c, 9c') of the two top surfaces are parallel to the leading edge (8a) of the bottom surface and the trailing edge (8b) of the bottom surface. ') is a sheet packaging material that is perpendicular to the leading edge (9a, 9a'') of the upper surface and the trailing edge (9b, 9b'') of the upper surface,
The length of the central portion (26a, 26a'') of the top surface of the transverse fold line (26, 26'') of the top surface is equal to the length of the central portion (25a) of the bottom surface of the transverse fold line (25) of the bottom surface. ) Sheet packaging material characterized by different lengths. The length of each of the side portions (25c) of the bottom surface of the bottom surface transverse fold line (25) is parallel to the bottom surface transverse fold line (25) and at least the central portion of the top surface. each of the side portions (26c, 26c'') of the upper surface of the transverse fold line (26, 26'') of the upper surface on a reference line (S) including (26a, 26a''); Packaging material according to claim 13, which differs in length from the projected image (R) parallel to the direction (A). Packaging material according to claim 14, wherein the length of each of the side portions (25c) of the bottom surface is smaller than the length of the corresponding projection image (R). The length of the central portion (25a) of the bottom surface of the transverse fold line (25) of the bottom surface is equal to the length of the central portion (26a, 26a') of the top surface of the transverse crease line (26, 26'') of the top surface. Packaging material according to any one of claims 13 to 15, which is larger than the length of '). The side portions (26c) of the upper surface of the transverse fold line (26) of the upper surface are inclined with respect to both the longitudinal direction (A) and the transverse direction (B), and the central portion (26a) of the upper surface 17. Packaging material according to any one of claims 13 to 16, converging towards ). The transverse crease line (26'') of the top surface is parallel to the transverse crease line (25) of the bottom surface and coincides with the reference line (S), and Packaging material according to claim 14 , wherein the projected image (R) of the side part (26c'') of the top surface coincides with the side part (26c'') of the top surface. extending between the transverse fold line (25) of the bottom surface and the transverse fold line (26, 26'') of the top surface, and Packaging material according to any one of claims 13 to 18, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal fold lines (50) configured to define respective lateral zones (7) of 6). Packaging material according to claim 19, wherein the longitudinal fold line (50) is slightly oblique to the longitudinal direction (A).

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