NL2015661B1

NL2015661B1 - A product package and production method.

Info

Publication number: NL2015661B1
Application number: NL2015661A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jan Adriaan Oosterling Willem; Pieter Fiere Jeroen
Original assignee: Ipn Ip Bv
Priority date: 2015-10-26
Filing date: 2015-10-26
Publication date: 2017-05-23
Also published as: WO2017074180A1

Abstract

Method for producing a package containing a product. A package is produced comprising a hermetically sealed container provided with a lid. The lid comprises a lid rim and a lid cap. At an interior side, the lid cap comprises a compartment for receiving a utensil. In a clean room environment, the utensil is placed in the compartment. The compartment is hermetically sealed with a utensil seal in the clean room environment, such that the utensil is gastight enclosed in the compartment and situated in an environment of clean room air. Herewith, a simple method in which the utensil is stored in a clean room environment inside a hermetically sealed compartment is provided to advantageously effectively reduce risk of contamination. The utensil is kept clean until a user removes or breaks the compartment seal.

Description

A PRODUCT PACKAGE AND PRODUCTION METHOD.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a package containing a product, e.g. a granular product, such as infant milk powder, in particular for baby formula.

Further, the present invention relates to a package for a product, e.g. a granular product or a package containing the granular product, such as infant milk powder. The present invention also relates to a lid manufactured by injection moulding and a method for producing such a lid. US 2008156808 discloses a container for holding a powdered product. The container is sealed by a substantially moisture-impervious, oxygen-impervious seal from a sheet of material. In an embodiment this seal over the product is attached to the peripheral wall of the container. A removable lid is provided. The lid comprises a collar which is fitted to the top end of the peripheral wall of the container. The lid comprises a lid cap which is pivotally connected to the collar. The lid cap has a dome shape and an interior surface. Attached to the interior surface is a scoop holder for holding a scoop. The scoop comprises a handle attached to a bowl. The scoop holder comprises first and second brackets for retaining the bowl of the scoop. The first bracket of the scoop holder is a cover bracket which covers the opening in the bowl of scoop, thereby preventing the product in the container from entering the bowl of the scoop after breaking the seal of the container.

This known lid cap may be closed in a tamper evident manner evidencing a first time opening of the container. GB2301810 discloses to provide a sterilized spoon which is first put in a sachet and then trapped in between a lid and a seal of a container. The sachet keeps the spoon in a sterilized condition and prevents the spoon from getting contaminated before inserting the spoon under the lid cap. US 8567629 discloses a similar solution by providing a measuring utensil which may be wrapped in a bag and placed between an inner seal of a container and a lid of a packaging which is then ready for sale.

Although such a sachet or bag holding the utensil can reduce a problem of contamination, there is still a need to effectively reduce a risk on contaminations of the package.

The general object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks and/or to provide a useable alternative. More specific, it is an object of the invention to provide a production process of producing a package for a product, e.g. a granular product, e.g. infant milk powder, which effectively minimises or reduces a risk on contaminations.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method according to claim 1.

According to the invention a method for producing a package containing a product, e.g. a granular product is provided. Preferably, the product, e.g. the granular product, is a food product, like baby milk powder, etc.

The method according to the invention comprises several steps.

The method comprises providing a container which is filled with the product, e.g. the granular product, by carrying out several steps.

The method comprises a step of supplying a plurality of containers which are to be filled with the product, e.g. the granular product, to a filling station. Each container comprises a peripheral container wall having a top which is closable by a lid.

The method comprises a step of filling the container by introducing the product, e.g. the granular product, into an inner space of the container.

The method comprises a step of hermetic sealing the product in the container, such that a product seal is present over the product. For example, as preferred, said hermetic product seal is a foil that is sealed along a periphery thereof to the container wall, e.g. by heat sealing a plastic foil seal to an inner plastic layer of the container wall.

The method further comprises a step of providing a lid for the container, in which the lid comprises a lid cap.

In a very simple embodiment the lid only consists of a lid cap, which is directly secured, e.g. releasably with a snap-fit, onto the top of the peripheral container wall. So in this embodiment there is no lid rim.

In a preferred embodiment the lid comprises a lid rim and lid cap, wherein the lid rim is secured onto the top of the container wall. Herein it is preferred for the lid cap and the lid rim to be pivotally connected to each other by a hinge. In a practical embodiment the hinge is embodied as a living hinge forming an integral connection between the lid rim and the lid cap. In another embodiment the hinge is formed by cooperating hinge parts that are moulded on the lid rim and the lid cap respectively, e.g. said hinge parts being snap-fitted together in an assembly step of the lid. Other hinge designs between the lid cap and the lid rim are also possible.

In another design the lid cap and the lid rim are not connected by a hinge. The lid cap is then e.g. to be snap-fitted on the lid rim without a pivotal connection.

The one or more parts of the lid may be provided by injection moulding.

Preferably an injection moulded plastic lid composed of the lid rim, lid cap, and hinge is integrally molded as a one piece item.

Further, in an embodiment, the lid cap comprises a moulded compartment that has an opening at the interior side of the lid cap for receiving a utensil.

The method comprises a step of providing a utensil for handling the product, for example for handling a granular, e.g. powdered, product. Preferably, the utensil is a metering scoop for retrieving a dosed volume of granular product from the inner space of the container.

In other embodiments the utensil can be an eating utensil, e.g. one or more of a spoon, fork, knife, chopstick, e.g. allowing to cut and/or eat a food product contained in the package.

The method comprises a step of placing the utensil at the interior side of the lid cap, e.g. in the compartment that has an opening at the interior of the lid cap.

The method comprises a step of securing the lid, e.g. the lid rim thereof, on the top of the container wall.

The method according to the claim 1 is an improvement over the prior art in that the method comprises the step of arranging the utensil at the interior side of the lid cap which is performed in a clean room environment (CRE), and in that the method further comprises the step of hermetically sealing the utensil onto the lid cap by means of a user removable or breakable utensil seal in said clean room environment (CRE), such that the utensil is gastight enclosed and situated in an environment of clean room quality air (CRE).

In a practical embodiment the lid cap is provided with a compartment for receiving the utensil, which compartment has a compartment opening, preferably as sole opening of the compartment, at an interior side of the lid cap for receiving the utensil. Herein the method comprises: - placing the utensil in the compartment, which is performed in said clean room environment (CRE), and hermetically sealing the compartment with a utensil seal in said clean room environment (CRE), such that the utensil is gastight enclosed in the compartment and situated in an environment of clean room quality air (CRE).

In an embodiment the method comprises injection moulding a compartment part forming said compartment for receiving a utensil and a lid cap as separate parts. Possibly the lid cap is then integrally moulded with the lid rim via an integrally moulded hinge. In a preferred embodiment the lid cap comprises a deck portion provided with a window therein. The method then comprises the step of securing the compartment part in the window of the deck portion, e.g. by a snap-fit.

In an embodiment the method comprises - prior to the securing of the compartment part in the window of the deck portion - placing the utensil in the compartment of the compartment part, which is performed in said clean room environment (CRE), and hermetically sealing the compartment of the compartment part with a utensil seal in said clean room environment (CRE), such that the utensil is gastight enclosed in the compartment of the compartment part and situated in an environment of clean room quality air (CRE).

In a practical embodiment the compartment is moulded as an integral portion of the lid cap, so as one piece moulded with the lid cap. The method then comprises the step of placing the utensil in the compartment of the lid cap in a clean room environment. The method further comprises, after placement of the utensil in the compartment, a step of hermetically sealing the compartment of the lid cap with a utensil sealing said clean room environment, such that the utensil is gastight enclosed in the compartment and situated in an atmosphere of clean room quality air.

In another embodiment the lid cap is not provided with a compartment for receiving the utensil, e.g. the lid cap having a deck portion that is planar, wherein the utensil is arranged at the interior side of the lid cap and the utensil seal is attached to the interior side of the lid cap so that the utensil is housed in a hermetically and gastight sealed space. As this is done in a clean room environment (CRE) the utensil is also in this embodiment held in clean room quality air.

In the embodiments wherein the lid cap is provided with a compartment it is preferred for the utensil to be fully received within the compartment so that the utensil does not protrude out of the compartment opening. It is then further preferred for the compartment seal to be planar, e.g. a planar foil, that is welded or heat-sealed in planar shape onto a planar welding zone, e.g. the latter provided with a compartment wall edge surrounding the compartment opening. In other embodiments the compartment seal may be a dome or other three dimensional shaped compartment seal, e.g. thermoformed from plastic sheet material, e.g. as in blister packaging. This 3D-shaped compartment seal may e.g. be employed in combination with a lid cap that lacks a compartment for receiving the utensil, e.g. with a planar deck portion along which the utensil is arranged.

It is known in the art of packaging perishable food products that a controlled gas condition can be obtained in a package by introducing an inert, non-oxidizing gas, e.g. nitrogen gas, into an inner space of a package before fully closing the inner space. This can e.g. be done when filling a container with a granular product. An inert gas is then filled into the inner space of the container before placing and sealing a gastight seal over the product that has been introduced into the container.

In the method according to claim 1 the clean room air atmosphere within the closed compartment or space which houses the utensil is not obtained by introducing an inert gas, but is the result of the relevant step or steps being carried out in a clean room environment, e.g. according to a clean room qualification of ISO 14644 -1 class 8 or better. Preferably, the step of arranging the utensil at the interior side of the lid cap, e.g. placing it inside the compartment, and the step of hermetically sealing the utensil onto the lid, e.g. in the compartment, are carried out in a clean room environment of ISO 14644 -1 class 8 or better, e.g. ISO 14644 -1 class 6.

As is known a clean room environment has a controlled amount of airborne particles that is specified by the number of particles per cubic meter at a specified particle size. In the method according to claim 1, a clean room environment is provided to carry out at least the steps of arranging the utensil at the interior side of the lid cap, e.g. placing the utensil in the compartment, and the sealing of the utensil onto the lid cap, e.g. in the compartment. This method according to the invention provides a relatively simple method to effectively reduce a risk of contamination.

The method may provide one or more of the advantages discussed below. A main advantage is that the utensil is fully enclosed and hermetically sealed, e.g. in the compartment of the lid cap. The utensil is situated in a gastight enclosure formed by the lid and the utensil seal, which provides a full protection against contaminations from outside. The utensil is kept clean until a user breaks and/or removes the utensil seal. A later handling in production, transport, and/or storage of the package, before the package finally arrives at a user, will not affect the clean utensil. The utensil seal provides a tamper evident to the user that evidences the clean quality of the utensil before starting use.

The placement and sealing in a clean room environment according to the inventive method of claim 1 guarantees that the utensil is stored in a very clean condition. The cleanroom condition means that, compared to ordinary air quality, only a much reduced amount of airborne particles will be present in the compartment housing the utensil. Thereby also any potential for contamination is reduced. Additionally, by operating in a clean room environment, other operational steps for creating a clean environment around the utensil prior to the sealing step , like wet processing steps of e.g. sterilising or steps of radiation by gamma rays or UV-light can be omitted when desired.

It is noted that in an embodiment, after assembly of a lid and after arranging a utensil in the sealed compartment or space, the lid, or only the separately moulded compartment part thereof, may be subjected to a sterilizing irradiation step if desired, e.g. using gamma radiation. In this embodiment it is preferred that the lid or compartment part, the utensil, and the utensil seal are all transparent to said irradiation, so that the radiation reaches every location of the assembly, even within the sealed compartment. For example multiple lids or compartment parts thereof with utensils are placed in a hermetically sealed transport container, e.g. a bag, that is transparent for said irradiation in said sterilization step. This will allow for storage and/or transportation of these lids or compartment parts thereof, e.g. allowing for transport to a remote site where the containers are filled with the product.

It is noted that different from the inventive method of claim 1 wherein the utensil is effectively stored in a clean room air environment at the interior side of the lid cap, one may also proceed to leave out the clean room environment aspect and instead rely on the sterilizing effect created by the irradiation of the sealed compartment or space with the utensil stored therein, e.g. by irradiation of the entire lid, of just the lid cap with the compartment, or of just the separate compartment part as discussed herein.

Advantageously the lid cap and/or the compartment part thereof is made of a plastic material, preferably HDPE or PP plastic material, allowing to form a sturdy compartment which is relatively puncture resistant, e.g. during normal storage, transportation, and/or handling.

In an embodiment of the invention, the lid and/or the compartment part thereof is injection moulded of plastic material in a clean room environment by an injection moulding machine. Preferably, the injection moulding machine is at least partially placed in a clean room, such that an injection moulded lid and/or the compartment part thereof is produced in a cleanroom environment. The injection moulding machine for producing a lid and/or the compartment part thereof can be placed in series with other machines in a complete production line for producing a product filled package according to the method according to the invention. Advantageously, when both performing a production of lids and/or the compartment parts thereof and assembling a lid and/or the compartment parts thereof a utensil together in a clean room environment, a risk of contamination is further mitigated. A plurality of clean rooms may be provided to generate several cleanroom environments. Preferably, all cleanroom environments comply with the same ISO class requirements of at least ISO class 8.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, one or more injection moulding machines for producing lids and/or the compartment parts thereof and/or utensils is situated together with an assembly station for assembling lids and/or the compartment parts thereof and utensils in a single cleanroom. A single cleanroom is considered to be a continuous area of cleanroom environment in contrast to separate areas with a cleanroom environment. Herewith, the lids and/or the compartment parts thereof and utensils are produced and assembled in a single cleanroom. Advantageously, such a combination of machines within the single cleanroom may further increase a degree of cleanness.

In a further embodiment, the single cleanroom may also extend over additional machines, like container filling machines and an assembly station for assembling the package comprising a filled container and lid with utensil.

In an embodiment the injection molded lid is supplied with the lid cap in an open position to a utensil placement station, where the utensil is to be placed in the compartment, e.g. with the opening of the compartment of the lid cap facing upward. After placement of the utensil, the utensil seal is applied by a suitable application device at a sealing station. Preferably both the placing of the utensil and the sealing are performed in a clean room environment. The assembly can then be placed on the filled and sealed container, e.g. in line or at a remote location. Possibly the assembly may be subjected to an intermediate irradiation for sterilization purposes between the assembly stage and the mounting on the filled and sealed container.

In another embodiment, a first assembly station is used where the lid is mounted to the container and a second assembly station where the utensil is enclosed in the lid cap as discussed and then the lid is closed.

Advantageously, extending the clean room environment to other steps of the method according to claim 1 may further contribute to a cleaner package.

In an embodiment, the method according to the invention may be carried out in a single production line for producing a package with a product, e.g. a granular product, wherein a container is filled and sealed and wherein a lid including a utensil is mounted to the container. Advantageously, instead of carrying out steps of the method that separate production lines, e.g. a separate production line for filling containers, a separate production line for moulding lids, a separate production line for assembling lids and utensils, carrying out the steps of the method according to the invention in a single production line in which all steps of the method are united may optimise a production of packages.

In an alternative embodiment, the method according to the invention may be carried out by operating at least two production lines which are situated at different locations. In a first production line a container is filled with a product, e.g. a granular product, and sealed by the hermetic seal over the filled product, and in a second production line located elsewhere an assembly of a lid provided with a utensil is manufactured. In a final step of the method, the lid with the utensil is mounted onto the filled container. Possibly, this final step of the method can be carried out at another location in a third production line.

In an embodiment the compartment is manufactured as a separate part from the rest of the lid cap, e.g. the lid cap being provided with a window in a deck portion of the lid cap and the compartment being secured in said window. As preferred the compartment part then completely occludes said window. For example the compartment part is snap fitted to the lid cap, e.g. into the window provided in the deck portion of the lid cap. For example the snap fit is a permanent snap fit that is impossible or very difficult to remove manually. The manufacturing of the compartment part as a separate part allows for one or more possibilities as summarized below.

One option is to injection mould the separate compartment part from a different colour and/or type of plastic material than the rest of the lid cap and the secure the compartment part later in a window that is present in the deck portion of the lid cap.

Another option is to injection mould the separate compartment part from a different type of plastic material, e.g. the compartment part is moulded from PP and the rest of the lid from PE.

Another option is to injection mould the separate compartment part from a transparent plastic material, e.g. at least in part by means of a 2K-injection moulding technique, whereas the rest of the lid cap is made from non-transparent material. It will be appreciated that injection moulding of the compartment bottom, at least partly, by means of a 2K-injection technique in another colour than the rest of the lid cap and/or from a transparent plastic material, is also possible in a method/embodiment wherein the lid cap including the compartment is moulded as a single piece, possibly also the lid rim and hinge being integrated in said single piece. A further option afforded by the separate injection moulding of a compartment part, e.g. to be secured in a window in the lid cap, is that the placement of the utensil in the compartment part and the sealing of the opening of the compartment part with a utensil seal can be done separate from the rest of the lid. So it is envisaged in an embodiment to injection mould the compartment part, place the utensil therein, and seal the compartment part opening by means of the compartment seal. Then, in a further method step, this pre-assembly is secured to the lid cap, preferably secured in a window that is present in a deck portion of the lid cap, preferably so as to occlude said window entirely. For example the compartment part preassembly is secured in the window via a snap-fit, e.g. the edge of the window snapping into a groove formed in the compartment part. Other securing techniques, e.g. laser welding, the use of adhesive, etc., are also envisaged to secure the pre-assembly to the lid cap.

In an embodiment, as preferred, at least the placement of the utensil in the compartment part as well as the provision of the utensil seal over the opening thereof are performed in the clean room environment, thereby achieving the result that the utensil is enveloped in a clean room air quality environment. If desired the step of injection moulding the compartment part and/or of the utensil is/are also performed in a clean room environment, preferably in the same CRE as the placement of the utensil in the compartment part and the sealing thereof.

The approach discussed here allows for production of the rest of the lid, e.g. with a window a deck portion of the lid cap, outside of a clean room environment. If desired the sealed compartment parts with one or more utensils therein are subjected to irradiation prior to the securing thereof to the lid cap, e.g. in a window therein.

Further, the invention relates to a package containing a product, e.g. a food product, e.g. a granular product, for example infant milk powder, in particular powdered baby milk, wherein the package comprises a container, a lid and a utensil, which utensil preferably is a metering scoop for metering a portion of the product.

The container of the package according to the invention has a base and a peripheral container wall, preferably rigid or semi-rigid, e.g. the base and/or the container wall comprising paperboard material or the like. The base and the container wall define an inner space for containing the granular product. The container has an open top which is provided with a lid. The product is hermetically sealed in the container by a hermetic product seal over the product which product seal is attached to the container.

The product seal is preferably made of a moisture- and oxygen-hermetically closed sealing film material. Preferably, the seal is a foil, preferably made of an aluminium foil and/or containing a metal, e.g. aluminium layer. The product seal may be arranged after filling the container with the product. By sealing the inner space, the product is contained in a clean condition. In another, more practical, approach, the product seal is provided in the container prior to filling of the product, with the filling being performed with the container upside down via the bottom which is later hermetically sealed by a base.

In an embodiment the lid consists of a lid cap that is directly secured, releasably, onto the top of the peripheral container wall.

In another embodiment the lid of the package preferably comprise a lid rim and a lid cap. Herein the lid rim is secured onto the top of the peripheral container wall. The lid cap is pivotally connected to the lid rim by a hinge.

The lid cap has an interior side and may comprise a compartment at an interior side of the lid cap which is configured to receive the utensil. The compartment has a compartment opening at the interior side.

In the inventive packaging the utensil is hermetically sealed onto the interior side of the lid cap, e.g. in the compartment, by means of a user removable or breakable utensil seal, such that the utensil is gastight enclosed.

When present, the compartment is embodied to hermetically enclose and shield the utensil in combination with the utensil seal that is applied over the opening of the compartment after the placement of the utensil. The utensil fits completely inside the compartment. The compartment of the lid is sealed by the utensil seal after placement of the utensil into the compartment, such that the utensil is completely enclosed inside the compartment in a gastight manner.

The package according to the invention may provide one or more of the advantages below. A main advantage is that the utensil is completely enclosed in the compartment or in the space between the deck portion and the utensil seal at an inner side of the lid cap. Herewith, the utensil is completely contained in a shielded environment and only accessible by opening the lid and removing and/or breaking the utensil seal. This also provides for a tamper evident in relation to the utensil, e.g. the metering scoop.

In an embodiment of the package the compartment or space housing the utensil at the interior side of the lid cap contains clean room quality air, which is retained therein as the compartment or space is sealed by the utensil seal. Cleanroom air is air which complies with a high cleanness quality. The cleanroom air in the compartment or sealed space contains clean air according a clean room qualification, in particular according to a clean room qualification of ISO 14644 - 1 class 8 or better. A cleanroom environment has a controlled level of airborne particles, which particles form a potential source of contamination, which cleanroom environment is commonly specified by a maximum number of particles per cubic meter at a specified particle size or sizes. Particularly, the cleanroom air inside the sealed compartment or space complies with a qualification of ISO 14644-1 class 8 or better. Preferably, the cleanroom air inside the sealed compartment or space complies with a high qualification of at least ISO 14644-1 class 8, e.g. class 7 or 6.

In an embodiment of the package the utensil is a metering scoop. The scoop comprises a handle and a bowl. The bowl has a predetermined volume to obtain a predetermined volume of granular product from the container of the package. The bowl has a particular height in accordance with the predetermined volume of the bowl.

Advantageously, the compartment of the lid cap has a depth which substantially equals the height of the bowl of the metering scoop. By enclosing the metering scoop inside an accordingly dimensioned compartment, the metering scoop will be close to or in abutting engagement with the utensil seal and in abutting engagement with a compartment bottom.

The metering scoop may be substantially locked in between the utensil seal and the compartment bottom. Herewith, the metering scoop can be immovably positioned inside the compartment which advantageously reduces a risk on damages to the utensil seal caused by a shaking of the metering scoop. Advantageously, the utensil seal may have a reduced thickness.

In an embodiment of the package according to invention, the height of the bowl is substantially equal to a pitch dimension of stacked lids. Preferably, the compartment of the lid cap has a depth which substantially equals the height of the bowl of the metering scoop. Herewith, advantageously, the metering scoop and the lid cap are configured to stack a plurality of lids in a compact manner.

The bowl of the metering scoop has a bowl opening and a bowl bottom. In an advantageous embodiment, the metering scoop may be oriented in the compartment, such that a bowl opening is directed to the compartment bottom. Herewith, a bowl bottom is directed to the utensil seal which further contributes in preventing the utensil seal in getting damaged. Preferably, the bowl bottom includes a rounded bottom edge to prevent damaging of the utensil seal by cutting. In particular, the bottom edge has a rounding comprising a radius of at least 1 mm, more in particular 2 mm, preferably at least 3 mm to prevent a sharp edge.

In an embodiment, the bowl of the metering scoop may have a circular or square shaped bowl opening. However, a bowl opening having a larger dimension in a width direction than in length direction is preferred. The width direction extends perpendicular to the length direction which extends in parallel with the handle of the metering scoop.

The bowl opening may have an oval shape, in which a first dimension defines a width in a width direction and a second dimension which defines a length dimension in parallel with the handle in a longitudinal direction of the metering scoop.

The bowl opening may have an elliptical shape, in which the elliptical shape has a first radius defining a width direction and second radius defining a length direction. Preferably, the first dimension or radius is larger than the second dimension/radius which may provide several advantages.

The metering scoop is to be used in combination with the lid cap including the compartment for storing the utensil. For fitting the metering scoop into the compartment it is favourable to use a metering scoop with a limited length, but still a proper bowl volume. In applying a larger width dimension than length dimension, an available space in between the lid cap and container seal can be optimally used.

Advantageously, the compartment may have a compartment wall spaced apart from an outer contour or perimeter of the lid cap.

Further, a bowl opening having a ratio in width/length bigger than a factor one is favourable in scooping granulated from the container. The bowl defines a bowl volume which corresponds to a predetermined dosing volume of granulated product and has an improved rigidity for scooping the granulated product.

The metering scoop is for example configured to be used in filling a baby bottle. Advantageously, the second dimension in length direction corresponds with a dimension of a baby bottle opening, which means that the second dimension is at most equal to the dimension of the baby bottle opening. Herewith, emptying granular product from the bowl of the metering scoop by rotating about the longitudinal axis of the handle can be done without spilling. Preferably, the bowl opening is configured in mirror symmetry about the longitudinal axis, such that an emptying of granular product from the bowl is allowed in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. Advantageously, the metering scoop as an optimal configuration for both left-handed and right-handed users.

In an embodiment of the package, in a closed package, the utensil seal is in abutting engagement with or closely spaced to the seal which covers the product in the container.

In an embodiment of the package, the lid cap comprises at least one moulded snap-member which is positioned in the compartment for snapping the utensil to the lid cap. In an embodiment two snap fingers are present which are positioned opposite each other for clamping the metering scoop, e.g. clamping onto the handle of the metering scoop.

In an embodiment of the package, the compartment is delimited by a compartment wall which is spaced at a distance from an outer snap wall portion of the lid cap.

The compartment may have an oval shape for receiving an elongated utensil, e.g. a scoop.

In an embodiment at least a portion of a compartment wall is spaced at a distance of at least 5mm, preferably at least 10mm, away from a snap wall of the lid cap. Preferably, the whole compartment wall is spaced at a distance of at least 3mm, in particular at least 5 mm, away from the snap wall.

Advantageously, the utensil seal includes a pull tab to allow for gripping by a user. For example the pull tab is a planar foil portion outside of the perimeter of the opening of the compartment. In another embodiment a pull tab is attached onto the utensil seal within the perimeter of the opening of the compartment.

The utensil seal may be provided with one or more pre-made score lines, e.g. laser cut lines partly into the thickness of the utensil seal foil, that define tear lines when the user breaks the seal, e.g. by pulling on a pull tab.

In an embodiment the compartment wall has a lower edge end which is spaced from a cap deck portion of the lid cap.

In an embodiment a compartment wall protrudes downward from a cap deck portion of the lid cap.

In an embodiment the compartment wall portion protrudes over a distance which corresponds to a distance between a cap deck portion and a product seal of a filled package.

In an embodiment the compartment has an upper compartment portion and a lower compartment portion. The upper compartment portion is formed by a bottom, which protrudes above the cap deck at an exterior of the lid cap. The lower compartment portion is formed by a compartment wall, which protrudes under the cap deck at an interior of the lid cap. In particular, the lower compartment wall portion has a height of at least 6 mm. A total depth of the compartment is defined by the upper and lower compartment portions.

In an embodiment according to invention, the compartment has a depth which is substantially equal to a pitch dimension or height of two stacked lids.

Further, the invention relates to a subassembly of an injection moulded lid and a utensil, for example allowing to produce a package according to the invention.

The injection moulded plastic lid comprises a lid rim for connecting the lid to a container and a lid cap for closing the container. The lid cap is pivotally connected to the lid rim by a hinge. Preferably said lid rim, lid cap, and hinge are integrally molded as a unitary lid.

The lid cap is molded with a compartment having an opening at an interior side of the lid cap, which compartment is embodied for completely enclosing a utensil in combination with a utensil seal fitted over the compartment opening. The compartment has a compartment opening at the interior side of the lid cap.

The utensil has been placed in the compartment via the compartment opening.

The compartment opening is hermetically sealed by a compartment seal, such that the utensil is completely enclosed inside the compartment in a gastight manner that is maintained until removal or breaking of the utensil seal by a user desiring to access to the utensil. Preferably, the utensil is enclosed in a clean room air atmosphere inside said compartment.

The invention also relates to a method for producing an injection moulded lid with a utensil that is hermetically stored in a compartment thereof.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. The drawings show a practical embodiment according to the invention, which may not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Specific features may also be considered apart from the shown embodiment and may be taken into account in a broader context as a delimiting feature, not only for the shown embodiment but as a common feature for all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a flow diagram of a production method according to the invention;

Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of a top portion of a package according to the invention;

Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of the underside of the lid of figure 2A in closed condition;

Fig. 2C shows a cross sectional view of the package of figure 2A;

Fig. 3A shows the lid as shown in fig. 2B in an open configuration with the utensil seal present;

Fig. 3B shows the lid of Fig. 3A after removal of the compartment seal;

Fig. 3C shows the lid of Fig. 3B with the scoop taken out of the compartment;

Fig. 3D shows the lid of Fig. 3B with the scoop replaced in the compartment;

Fig. 4A shows a perspective view of the scoop of the lid of figures 2, 3;

Fig. 4B shows another perspective view of the scoop of the lid of figures 2, 3;

Fig. 5 shows a stacking of two lids including the metering scoops;

Fig. 6A,B shows an example of a lid cap with a window therein and a sealed compartment part to be secured in said window;

Fig. 7 shows in cross-section an example of a utensil being arranged at the interior side of the lid cap deck portion, said lid cap lacking a compartment, and with a utensil seal of 3D-shape enclosing the utensil in a gastight space, e.g. with clean room quality air therein.

Identical reference signs are used in the drawings to indicate identical or functionally similar components.

Fig-1 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the invention. In the method, a package is produced which contains a product, e.g. a food product and/or a perishable product, e.g. a granular product, such as infant milk powder. The method is a production process.

Fig. 1 illustrates a clean room environment CRE by a dashed line.

In a step of the method, a product P, e.g. a granular product, and a container 2 are supplied to a filling station F. In the filling station F, the container 2 is filled with the product P.

The container has a base 21 or bottom, a peripheral wall 22, and an open top bounded by the top of the wall 22. In this example, as preferred, the wall 22 is generally cylindrical. However in other embodiments the wall could be square, rectangular, possibly with rounded corners, are another cross-section shape.

For example the wall 22 and/or the base 21 are made of carton or the like, e.g. provided with a layer of plastic material on the inside and/or the outside of the container body. In another embodiment the wall 22 is made of metal, e.g. of steel, as also known for infant milk powder containers.

In an embodiment the container 2 that is supplied to the filling station F has a base 21, container wall 22, and is open topped. Filling is then performed via the open top, e.g. with granular product P.

Preferably filling is done to a level below the top end of the container wall.

Here the filling station F comprises a sealing unit S1 to which a product seal 3 is supplied.

The unit S1 connects the seal 3 to the container 2 once the container has been filled. The seal 3 extends over the product that has been filled into the container, and the seal 3 is secured along its periphery to the wall 22 of the container. The seal 3 may e.g. be connected to the container 2 by heat sealing. For example the seal 3 includes a plastic layer that can be heat sealed to a plastic layer on the inside of the wall 22, e.g. with the thickness of the wall 22 being in majority formed by carton.

Preferably the seal 3 is arranged recessed within the container relative to the top end of the wall 22.

Alternatively, a separate sealing station with unit S1 may be positioned in series with the filling station F.

Preferably, the seal 3 is a foil-type seal, e.g. a full plastic foil or a metal foil or a multilayer foil, e.g. with one or more metal layers combined with one or more plastic layers.

After the provision of the seal 3, a sealed container filled with product is discharged from the filling station F.

In an alternative embodiment it is envisaged that the product P is filled into the container via the bottom side, e.g. with the base or bottom 21 being initially absent or opened and with the product seal 3 already being provided. The container can then be placed upside down and the product is filled with the seal 3 temporarily acting as the lower boundary of the inner space. Then the base 21 is placed or closed and the product is hermetically sealed in the container. This embodiment may also allow for the lid 4, which is discussed later, to be already mounted on the container prior to the actual filling of product P in the container.

In a step of the method a utensil 5, which is here a metering scoop, is combined with a lid 4. Details of an example of the utensil 5 are illustrated in figs. 4A, B.

As illustrated in fig. 1, an assembly station A1 is provided for receiving the utensil 5 and placing the utensil 5 in a compartment of the lid 4 and for sealing the compartment afterwards by a utensil seal 6. As indicated by the dashed line, the assembly station A1 is situated in a clean room environment CRE. The clean room environment preferably complies with ISO 14644 - 1 clean room standards of class ISO 8 or better.

The utensil 5 is placed in the compartment 420, which compartment 420 only has an opening at the interior side of the lid 4. Herewith, when the lid 4 is mounted on the container, the utensil 5 is hidden under a lid cap 42 of the lid 4 which lid cap 42 is further shown in figures 2, 3. In the assembly station A1, the utensil 5 is placed in the compartment 420 of the lid cap 42.

Subsequently at the assembly station A1, after placing the utensil 5 in the compartment 420, a utensil seal 6 is sealed over the opening of the compartment. The utensil seal 6 is supplied to a sealing unit S2 of the assembly station A1. The sealing unit S2 may be incorporated in the assembly station A1 or maybe a separate station in series with the assembly station A1 yet within the CRE environment.

Preferably, the utensil seal 6 is a foil-type seal, e.g. a full plastic foil or a metal foil or a multilayer foil, e.g. with one or more metal layers combined with one or more plastic layers.

In an embodiment the lid 4 is folded open before the placement of the utensil 5 in the compartment 420 and the sealing of the compartment by seal 6, e.g. to allow for enhance access of any sealing equipment to the edge of the wall portion surrounding the compartment. This e.g. also applies to the embodiment of figure 5.

After sealing the compartment 420 by seal 6, the utensil 5 is fully and hermetically enclosed inside the compartment 420. Due to the provision and peripheral attachment of the utensil seal 6, the utensil 5 is enclosed in a gastight compartment. As the placement of the utensil 5 and the peripheral sealing of the seal 6 onto the rim of the compartment occur in a clean room environment CRE, the gastight sealed compartment 420 will remain filled with clean room quality air. Hence, the utensil 5 is then situated within the compartment 420 in an environment of a clean room quality air.

Both the lid 4 and the utensil 5 may be produced by injection moulding of plastic material and subsequently assembled together at the assembly station A1, e.g. an automated station, in the clean room environment, such that a risk on contaminations is further minimised. An assembled lid including the injection moulded lid 4, utensil 5, and seal 6 is discharged from the assembly station A1.

In an embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, an injection moulding machine M1 for producing the lids 4 is positioned at least partially in the same clean room CRE as the assembly station A1, such that a lid 4 is produced and assembled with a utensil 5 in the same continuous clean room environment. The same clean room environment means that there is no interruption of a present clean room environment until a lid and a utensil are assembled together. Produced lids are kept in a clean room environment until an assembly with the utensil is carried out.

In an embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, an injection moulding machine M2 for producing the utensils 5 is positioned at least partially in the same clean room CRE as the assembly station A1, such that utensil 5 is produced and assembled with a lid 4 with in the same continuous clean room environment.

In another embodiment an injection moulding machine for producing lids 4 is positioned in a separate clean room located away from the assembly station A1. Moulded lids may subsequently be transported by a transport container to a supply unit of assembly station A1 to bring the lids and utensils together. Although, the lids and utensils may be produced at separate locations, preferably, both the lids and utensils are produced in a clean room environment which complies to the same standard, e.g. in a common CRE, e.g. also common with the assembly station A1.

If desired the method may further comprising the step of subjecting the lid with the utensil sealed in the compartment placing the lids to an irradiation IR as a sterilization step, e.g. with multiple lids 4 combined with utensils 5 being placed in a hermetically sealed transport container, e.g. a bag, that is transparent for said irradiation in the sterilization step IR.

In a step of the method the lid 4 with utensil 5 housed in the sealed compartment 420 is connected to the container, e.g. by pressing the lid 4, that is the rim 41 thereof, over the top end of peripheral container wall 22 at the assembly station A2. Other attachment approaches may also be provided for if desired. This may be done with the lid 4 being closed, as is preferred, but also with the lid open and closed later by swinging the cap 42 to its closed position.

The assembly of the container 2 with the lid 4 is discharged from the assembly station A2 to a discharge or transport station T.

In an alternative embodiment, a lid 4 in open condition with the utensil 5 sealed in the compartment may be connected to an empty container 2 before the filling of the container with product and before the seal 3 is placed. The filling is then done via the still open top and the seal 3 is placed to hermetically seal the product in the container. Then the lid 4 is closed by swinging the lid cap 42. A tamper-evident structure may be present between the lid cap 42 and the rim 41 adapted to visually evidence any first time opening of the lid 4. These structures are known in the art, e.g. comprising integrally moulded features on the cap 42 and the rim 41 diametrically opposite the hinge 43.

Whilst fig. 1 shows a clean room environment CRE wherein the assembly station A1 and the machines M1, M2 for manufacturing of the lid 4 and utensil 5, as well as the sealing unit S2 are located, it is envisaged that in an embodiment more, or even all, steps of the method according to the invention are carried out in a clean room environment to minimise any risk of contamination.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a top portion of a package 1 according to the invention.

In this example it is assumed that the package 1 contains a granular product, here infant milk powder. As discussed the package may also hold another product, e.g. a perishable food product, e.g. a dairy product like yogurt, a soup, etc.

The package 1 comprises a container 2 and a lid 4 that has been combined with a measuring scoop 5 or other utensil. The container has a base 21 and a container wall 22 which define an inner space 23 for containing the granular product.

The container wall 22 may comprise a laminated material including a paperboard center layer, and one or more metal layers and/or plastic layers on the inside and/or outside of the paperboard center layer.

The product has been sealed hermetically in the container 2 by a product seal 3 which in an assembled condition extends over the filled product in order to store the product in the inner space 23. Preferably the seal 3 is sealed to the inside of the wall 22 and does not extend over the top of the wall 22.

The seal 3 may be positioned just above the product, e.g. some distance below the top edge of the container 2. The product seal 3, preferably a foil, can be ripped away or broken by a user to access the product in the inner space 23.

The container 2 further has an open top which is closable by the lid 4 once the seal 3 has been removed for first time removal of the product from the container.

Fig. 2A shows a top portion of the container with the lid 4 .

The lid 4 preferably is a one piece item and manufactured by injection moulding.

The lid 4 is made of a plastic. The lid 4 is shown in further detail in a perspective view in fig. 2B which shows an underside of the lid 4 and in fig. 2C which shows a cross sectional view.

The lid 4 comprises a lid rim 41 and a lid cap 42. The lid rim 41 is ring-shaped. Here, the ring-shaped lid rim 41 has a circular horizontal cross-section mating with a cylindrical wall 22 of the container, but the rim 41 may also have a rectangular, square or other cross-section.

The lid cap 42 is pivotally connected to the lid rim 41 by a hinge 43, e.g. a living hinge 43. The lid 4 formed by the lid rim, lid cap and living hinge is a one piece item.

The lid rim 41 is embodied to secure the lid 4 to the container wall 22. The lid 4 can be connected to the container in an open or closed configuration. Preferably, the lid is connected to the container 2 in a closed configuration, wherein a tamper evident, e.g. opposite the hinge 43, evidences any first time opening of the lid 4.

The lid rim 41 is configured to be fixed to an upper region of the container wall 22, e.g. by a snap connection and/or the use of adhesive, heat-sealing, etc.

The lid rim 41 has an outer circumferential wall portion 411 which covers the outer face of the container wall top. The wall portion 411 here is provided with at least one inward protrusion 410 to securely clamp the rim 41 onto the container wall 22. The at least one protrusion 410 is e.g. configured to snap into a circumferential groove in an upper region of the container 2.

Further, the lid rim 41 further comprises an inner circumferential wall portion 412 positioned inside of and spaced from the wall portion 411. The circumferential wall portion 412 is spaced at a distance from the wall portion 411, such that an open bottomed annular space is provided in between the wall portions 411,412. The annular space is open from a bottom side for receiving the top of the container wall 22, e.g. in a clamping fit. Due to the presence of the wall portions 411,412 and possibly also the protrusions 410, the lid rim 41 can be clamped onto the container wall 22 of the container 2.

The product seal 3 can be fixed to the interior of the container wall, e.g. by heat sealing. Alternatively, or in combination therewith, the seal 3 can be attached to the wall portion 411 of the lid.

As illustrated in fig. 2C, the lid rim 41 may have a stepped diameter in an axial direction of the lid 4. An upper portion of the lid rim 41 has a smaller outer diameter than a lower portion of the lid rim 41 which lower portion is configured to fit on the container wall 22.

The upper portion of the lid rim 41 is shaped to cooperate by means of a circumferential snap-fit with the lid cap 42 when closed, e.g. to cooperate with snap wall portion 427 of the lid cap 42. The snap wall portion 427 extends along the outer contour of the lid cap 42.

For many products, e.g. for infant milk powder, a circumferential snap-fit cap closure between the lid cap and the lid rim will be sufficient for keeping the product P in acceptable condition during the period it normally takes to empty the container and/or during an indicated shelf life time after opening. Such a snap-fit closure however does not provide a hermetic seal as provided by the seal 6 over the compartment and by the seal 3 over the product. So, during shipping, handling, and/or storage of the filled container 1, the sealing of the lid cap 42 onto the lid rim 4 does not have to provide the hermetic seal that is provided for the product P by the seal 3 and for the utensil 5 by the seal 6. This allows for a simple structure of the lid 4, without undue constraints of the sealing property of the lid 4 itself.

The lid rim 41 is connected with the lid cap 42 by a hinge 43 which is a living hinge. The hinge 43 is located here in the plane forming the division between the upper and lower portion of the lid rim 41.

The hinge 43 is manufactured by injection moulding together with the lid rim 41 and the lid cap 42, such that the lid 4 is formed as a one piece item.

The lid 4 may comprise a tamper-evident structure, e.g. an integrally moulded tear off portion opposite the hinge 43.

After breaking or removal of the tamper evident element, the hinge 43 allows a user to pivot the lid cap 42 with respect to the lid rim 41. Herewith, the lid 4 has an open configuration - as shown in Fig. 3A - 3D - in which the lid cap 42 is pivoted away from the lid rim 41 and a closed configuration - as shown in Fig. 2A, 2B, 2C - in which the lid cap 42 is snapped closed on the lid rim 41.

As shown in fig. 2B, 2C, 3A the lid 4 of the package 1 is further provided with a utensil seal 6. The utensil seal 6 is configured to close off the sole opening of a compartment 420 at an underside of the lid cap 42. In the closed configuration of the package 1, the underside of the lid cap 42 is situated in the interior of the package. An upper side of the lid cap 42 forms part of an exterior of a closed package 1. The compartment 420 is an integrally moulded feature of the lid cap 42. The compartment 420 has a closed compartment bottom 422 which forms a part of the upper side of the lid cap 42, as is shown in Fig. 2A.

Fig. 3A illustrates what the user sees when the lid 4 of the package 1 is opened for the first time. The utensil 5 is still sealed in the compartment 420 along with CRE quality air. Any user will be able to verify that the seal 6 is present and still intact, indicating that the utensil 5 has not been tampered with and/or has become soiled or contaminated.

After opening of the lid 4, the user can remove and/or break the product seal 3, so that the product, here granular product P, e.g. infant milk powder, becomes accessible.

The seal 6 in fig. 3A covers the compartment 420. The seal 6 may be transparent, e.g. in part, and/or provided with an indication that the utensil 5 is present in the compartment, e.g. printed information, e.g. a picture of the utensil. The seal 6 may be provided with a pull tab to be gripped by a user, e.g. as an extension of the foil seal 6 beyond the sealing perimeter.

Fig. 3B shows what the users sees once he or she has removed the seal 6. The utensil 5 is now accessible and can be removed from the compartment 420. The utensil 5, here a scoop 5, can now be used. Here the scoop 5 is used to remove a metered portion of granular product P, e.g. infant milk powder, from the container 2. This is illustrated in fig. 3C.

After using the utensil, the user can place back the utensil 5 in the container, here in the lid cap 42 as will be explained below. Then the user can close the lid cap 42, which here snaps onto the lid rim 41 and thus closes the package 1.

Generally the lid cap 4 has in addition to the outer wall portion 427 a deck 429 and the compartment bottom 422 as a raised portion within the deck 429. The deck 429 lies above the lower edge of the wall portion 427, e.g. in a plane at the top of wall portion 427.

Thus, the compartment bottom 422 is, in the closed configuration of the package 1, is present as part of the exterior of the lid cap 42. The entire deck of the lid cap 42, including the compartment bottom 422, is solid and hermetically closed. A downwardly depending compartment wall 421 of the lid cap 42 extends downward from the deck 429, and the lower edge of said wall 421 defines the sole opening 423 of the compartment 420. The seal 6 is fixed to said wall 421, here, as preferred, to the lower edge thereof by heat sealing. The protruding compartment wall 421 allows a reliable attachment of the utensil seal 6.

In closed condition of the lid 4 the wall 421 is spaced from the inner wall of the lid rim 41.

The compartment bottom 422 has substantially the same thickness as compartment wall 421. Further, the compartment bottom 422 has a substantially same thickness as a cap deck 429 of the lid cap 42.

The deck 429 adjoins the wall portion 427 via a raised, inverted U-shaped annular wall portion 426.

The compartment opening is configured to allow for placement and removal of the utensil 5.

The compartment 420 has a size such that the utensil 5 can be received completely in the compartment 420, so within the contour formed by the wall 421 and the bottom 422. The seal 6 can be planar, e.g. a planar foil, as is preferred.

As shown the utensil 5 fits closely inside the compartment 420.

Further, the compartment wall 421 allows an attachment of a utensil seal 6 provided with a pull tab protruding at an outer contour of the compartment seal.

Seen in a length direction of the utensil 5, the compartment wall 421 is dimensioned so as to be closely adjacent to the portion 426 of the lid cap 42, thereby allowing for a maximal length of the utensil, e.g. of the scoop. Seen in a width direction of the utensil 5, the compartment wall 421 is narrower, so that it is spaced at a distance from the surrounding portion 426.

As shown in fig. 2C, the utensil seal 6 may be rather close to the seal 3 in the closed package 1. Even an abutting engagement between seals 3 and 6 seems possible if desired.

As illustrated the compartment 420 may be considered to have an upper compartment portion 420U raised above the deck 429 and delimited by bottom 422 and a lower compartment portion 420L below the deck and delimited by the wall 421. In an embodiment the wall portion 421 L as a height of 6mm.

Here, the utensil 5 inside the compartment 420 is a metering scoop 5, or a so-called metering scoop 5, including a bowl 51 and a handle 52. The bowl 51 has a predetermined volume. The scoop 5 is configured to retrieve a predetermined volume of product out of the inner space 23 of the container 2.

The utensil 5, here metering scoop, is releasably connected to the lid cap 42, e.g. to the bottom 422, by one or more snap-member 428. The one or more snap-members 428 are preferably, as here, integrally moulded with the lid cap 42.

Here the snap-members 428 are formed by two snap fingers which are positioned opposite each other. The handle 52 of the metering scoop 5 has an aperture 54 through which the fingers protrude so that the handle can be snapped to the snap fingers.

It is illustrated that the depth of the compartment 420 is in correspondence with the height of the bowl 51 of the metering scoop 5. The depth of the compartment 420 approximately equals the height of the bowl 51.

As the utensil 5 is enclosed in between the compartment bottom 422 and the utensil seal 6 the movement of the utensil 5 is limited already, even without snap retention of the utensil. It is therefore also possible to embody the lid without any snap-member 428.

Figs. 4A and 4B show a utensil 5 which is here a metering scoop. The metering scoop has a handle 52 which extends in a length direction of the scoop. The scoop has a bowl 51 which is positioned at an end of the handle 52.The bowl 51 defines a bowl volume which is configured to allow a user to obtain a predetermined volume of granular product from the package.

The bowl 51 has a bowl opening 511 and a bowl bottom 512. The bowl opening 511 is oversized in width direction. The bowl opening as a bowl dimension B in the width direction which is a larger than a bowl dimension A in a length direction. The bowl 51 of the scoop is designed to be emptied in a controlled manner by a rotating movement about a longitudinal axis defined by the handle 52. Here, the bowl opening 511 has an oval shape, in particular an elliptical shape. The handle 52 is connected to an upper region of the bowl 51. In particular, the handle 52 is positioned adjacent a top edge of the bowl forming the bowl opening 511.

As illustrated the bowl 51 has a bowl height C extending in between the bowl opening 511 and the bowl bottom 512. Preferably, the bowl height C corresponds with a compartment depth so that the compartment is not too deep.

When the utensil is inside the compartment 420 the bowl opening is placed against or adjacent the compartment bottom 422. The handle 52 is placed against or along the compartment bottom.

In order to retain the utensil 5 here the handle 52 is engaged by opposite positioned snap-fingers 428, here protruding through an opening 54 in the handle.

Figure 5 illustrates the stacking of lids 4’ that have been provided with a utensil 5 sealed in a compartment of the lid as discussed herein. It is envisaged that the lower edge of outer wall 411 ’ stacks on top of a shoulder of the underlying lid cap 42’. It is also envisaged that the depth of the compartment 420’ is smaller, or at most equal, to the pitch height H of stacked lids 4’. This means that the seal 6 can remain out of contact with the underlying lid cap 42 and not adversely affected thereby during transport and/or handling of the stack.

Figure 6A shows, in a view corresponding to figure 2C, an example of a package 100, e.g. for infant milk powder or some other product P, with a moulded lid cap 142 having a window or aperture 142a therein. A sealed compartment part 144 is secured, here by a permanent snap-fit, in the window 142a.

In this example the lid cap 142 forms a one piece plastic moulded lid 104 together with the lid rim 141. The cap 142 and rim 141 are interconnected via an integrally moulded hinge, like hinge 143.

The lid cap 142 is moulded, or otherwise provided, with a window 142a or aperture in a deck portion 129 of the lid cap 142.

The compartment part 144 is moulded as a separate component from a suitable plastic material. For example the compartment part 144 is made of the same plastic material as the lid cap 142, possibly of a different colour.

As will be appreciated it is now for example possible that the compartment part 144 is moulded, then the scoop 5 is placed in the compartment 146 within the part 144, and then the utensil seal 6 is applied over compartment opening 145. This is preferably done in a clean room environment CRE as explained herein, so that the scoop 5 or other utensil is housed within a cleanroom quality air atmosphere. This sealed compartment part 144 can be subjected to an irradiation sterilizing treatment if desired prior to securing the part 144 in the window 142a of the lid cap 142.

In this approach one may also injection mould the compartment part 144 in a cleanroom air environment CRE, possibly the same CRE where the scoop 5 is placed in the compartment 146 and where the seal 6 is fitted over the opening 145.

In this approach with a separately moulded and sealed compartment part 144 there is no need for the rest of the lid cap 142, with lid rim 141 and hinge 143, to be manufactured in a clean room environment.

As explained it is preferred for the compartment part 144 to fit precisely in the window 142a, so as to occlude the entire window. Preferably the part 144 has one or more snap fit formations 147,148 that cooperate in a snap fit manner with the edge of the deck portion 129 around the window 142a or another arrangement of mating snap fit formations on the part 144 and the deck 129 of the lid cap 142. An example is shown on a larger scale in detail figure 6B.

Figure 7 shows in cross-section similar to figure 2C an example of a package 200, e.g. for infant milk powder or another product P, which package has a lid cap 242 and a utensil 5 that is arranged at the interior side of the lid cap deck portion 229. This lid cap deck portion 229 has no compartment portion or window as discussed herein. In the example the lid cap deck portion is 229 planar, which allows for a simple mould.

As is preferred the deck portion 229 has retention fingers 428 or the like for the utensil 5 at the interior side thereof.

The lid cap 242 lacks a compartment as discussed herein. Instead the utensil seal 206 is of 3D-shape, here with a dome, so as to enclose the utensil 5 in a gastight space between the seal 206 and the deck portion 229. As discussed it is envisaged that the arrangement of the utensil 5 at or against the interior side of the lid cap 242 is done in a clean room air environment CRE, just as the placement of the 3D-shaped seal 206 over the utensil 5 and the sealing thereof to the lid cap 242. Thereby it is achieved that clean room quality air is present in the space 246 under the utensil seal 206.

Claims

A method for manufacturing a package (1; 100; 200) containing a product, for example a powder product (P), for example baby milk powder, comprising the steps of: - providing a container (2) filled with the product by performing the steps of: - feeding a container (2) to be filled with the product, for example the powder product (P), to a filling station (F), which container comprises a circumferential container wall (22) with a top, which container defines an inner space (23) for holding the product; - filling the inner space (23) of the container (2) with the product, for example a powder product; - hermetically sealing the product in the container such that the product is hermetically sealed in a space formed by the surrounding container wall (22), a product seal (3) that extends over the product (P) and which the peripheral container wall is sutured and through a base (21) of the container; - providing a lid (4) on the container, wherein the lid comprises a lid cap (42; 142; 242), wherein said lid cap has an inner side; - providing a utensil (5), for example a dosing scoop for handling a powder product, with which the container is filled; - arranging the utensil (5) on said inner side of the lid cap; - fixing the lid on the top of the container wall (22), characterized in that the step of applying the utensil (5) to said inner side of the lid cap (42; 141; 241; 411) is carried out in a clean room environment (CRE), and the method further comprising the step of hermetically sealing the utensil (5) on the lid cap (42) by means of a user removable or breakable utensil seal (6; 206) in said clean room environment (CRE), such that the utensil (5) is sealed in a gas-tight manner and is in an air environment with a clean room quality (CRE).

The method of claim 1, wherein the lid cap (42) includes a compartment (420; 146) for receiving a utensil (5), said compartment having a compartment opening on an interior side of the lid cap for receiving of a utensil (5), the method comprising: - arranging the utensil (5) in the compartment (420; 146), which is performed in said clean room environment (CRE), and hermetically sealing the compartment (420; 146) of the cover (70) with a utensil seal (6) in said clean room environment (CRE), such that the utensil (5) is sealed in a gas-tight manner in the compartment (420) and in an air environment with a clean room quality (CRE).

The method of claim 2, wherein the method comprises: - injection molding a compartment part (144) that forms said compartment for receiving a utensil; - injection molding a cover cap (142), if possible integral with said cover edge via an integral injection-molded hinge, said cover cap having a cover part (129) with a window (142a) therein, - fixing the compartment part in the window of said cover deck portion, for example, by a snap connection (147, 148).

A method according to claim 3, wherein the method comprises that - before attaching the compartment part in the window of the deck part - the utensil (5) is arranged in the compartment of the compartment part (144), wherein in said clean room environment (CRE), and wherein the compartment (120) of the compartment part in the clean room environment (CRE) is hermetically sealed with a utensil seal (6) such that the utensil (5) is sealed in a gas-tight manner in the compartment of the compartment part and located in an air environment with clean room quality (CRE).

The method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the clean room environment (CRE) meets IS014644-1 clean room standards according to ISO class 8 or better.

A method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein in a step of the method the lid (4) or the compartment part is injection molded (M1) in a clean room environment (CRE).

A method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein in a step of the method the utensil (5) is injection molded (M2) in a clean room environment.

Method according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the step of injection molding (M1) of the lid, the step of applying the utensil (5) to the inner side of the lid, and the step of hermetically sealing the lid utensil (5) on the lid cap (42) are carried out in a single continuous clean room environment (CRE), and wherein, if possible, the method further comprises the step of subjecting the lid to a radiation as a sterilization step (IR) with the utensil that is sealed on the lid cap (42), for example in the compartment (420), wherein for example a plurality of lids with utensils are received in a hermetically sealed transport container, for example a bag transparent for said radiation during said sterilization step.

A package (1; 100; 200) containing a product, for example a powder product, for example baby milk powder, the package comprising a container (2), a lid (4) and a utensil (5) which preferably relates to a dosing scoop for a powder product comprises, wherein the container has a base (21) and a circumferential container wall (22) defining an inner space (23) for holding the product (P), the container (2) being provided with a product seal (3) forming a hermetic seal over the product in the inner space of the container, wherein the lid (4) comprises a cover cap (42; 141; 241; 411), said cover cap having an inner side, characterized that the utensil (5) is hermetically sealed on said inner side of the cover (42; 141; 241; 411) by means of a user removable or breakable utensil seal (6; 206) such that the utensil (5) is gas-tight is enclosed .

The package of claim 9, wherein the lid cap comprises a compartment (420; 146) into which the utensil (5) is received and has a compartment opening (423; 145) on an inner side of the lid cap, and wherein the compartment in combination with the user-removable or breakable utensil seal (6) hermetically enclosing the utensil (5) such that the utensil is completely enclosed within the compartment in a gas-tight manner.

A package according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the utensil is enclosed in a gas-tight manner, for example in the compartment (420; 146) in a clean room air environment (CRE) with a clean room quality that is maintained until the utensil is removed or broken. seal (6).

The package according to claim 11, wherein the clean room air environment (CRE) has an air quality that meets ISO 14 644-1 clean room standards according to ISO class 8 or better.

A package according to any of claims 9-12, wherein the utensil (5) is a dosing scoop and wherein, in an embodiment according to claim 10, a depth (c) of the compartment (320; 146) is substantially equal to a height (C) of a bowl (51) of a dosing scoop (5).

The package of claim 10, wherein the compartment (420) has a compartment depth (c) that is substantially equal to a pitch height (H) of stacked lids (5).

A package according to claim 10, wherein the utensil (5) is a dosing scoop and wherein a bowl (51) of the scoop has a cup opening which, in an assembled condition of the lid cap and the dosing scoop, is directed towards the compartment bottom ( 422) of the compartment.

A package according to any one of claims 9-15, wherein the utensil is a dosing scoop (5) and wherein a cup (51) of the scoop has a cup opening (510) with a cup dimension (B) in a width direction that is larger then a bowl dimension (A) in a longitudinal direction.

The package of claim 10, wherein a compartment wall (421) comprising the compartment opening (423; 25) bounded at least one peripheral edge portion positioned at a distance from an outer wall portion (427) of the lid cap that has an outer contour of the cover cap forms for snap-fitting of the cover cap (42) onto the cover edge (41).

A package according to claim 10, wherein a compartment wall (421) of the lid cap (70) that delimits the opening (423) has a lower edge positioned at a distance from a cap deck portion (429), the utensil seal (6) being adhered is, for example, adhesion by heat to said lower edge.

The package of claim 18, wherein the lid cap (70) has a compartment bottom (122) that is raised relative to a hood deck portion (429) and a compartment wall (421) below the hood deck portion (429), the compartment wall (421) below the cap deck portion (429) protrudes into the interior of the cap (42) over a distance that is substantially equal to a height of an accommodation between the cap deck portion (429) and the seal (3) of the container (2) such that in a composite package (1), the utensil seal (6) of the lid (4) and the seal (3) of the container (2) are close together or even in contact with each other.

Sub-assembly of an injection-molded plastic lid (4) and a utensil (5), for example for use in the method according to one of claims 1-8 and / or for manufacturing a package (1) according to one of the claims 9-19, wherein the injection-molded plastic lid comprises a lid cap (42) for closing the container, wherein: a) the lid cap is injection-molded with a compartment (420) configured to receive a utensil (5) with a compartment opening (423) on the inner side of the lid cap; or b) the cover cap (142) is injection molded with a cover portion having a window (142a) therein, wherein a separate injection molded compartment part (144) embodies a compartment (146) with a compartment opening (145) on the inner side about a utensil ( 5) to receive, wherein said compartment part (144) is attached to the cover cap in said window (142a), wherein the utensil (5) is arranged in the compartment via the compartment opening, and wherein the compartment opening is hermetically sealed by a utensil seal (6) such that the utensil (5) is completely enclosed in a gas-tight manner within the compartment that is maintained until removal or breaking of the utensil seal (6), the utensil being preferably arranged and sealed in a clean room environment (CRE) in said compartment.

The injection molded lid of claim 20, wherein the lid comprises, in addition to said lid cap, a lid rim, wherein the lid hood can be pivotally connected to the lid rim by a hinge, and wherein the lid hood (42; 142; 242) has an outer snap has a wall portion (427) for snapping the lid cap onto the lid edge (41; 141; 241).

A method of manufacturing a lid (4) provided with a utensil (5) hermetically stored in a compartment of the lid, the method comprising: - injection molding, preferably in a clean room environment (CRE) of the lid, the lid comprising a lid edge (41) adapted to attach the lid on top of a peripheral wall of a container with an open top and a lid cap (42; 142) for closing the container, the lid cap being hinged is connected to the lid edge by a hinge (43; 143), the lid cap being provided, for example by injection molding, with a compartment (420; 146) having an opening (423) on an inner side of the lid cap, which compartment is formed for completely enclosing a utensil (5) with a seal (6) disposed over said opening (423, 145), wherein preferably said lid edge, lid cap and hinge are integral as a monolithic are formed, - providing the utensil (5), for example by injection-molding the utensil, wherein preferably the utensil is injection-molded in a cleanroom environment, - arranging the utensil in the compartment, - hermetically closing the utensil compartment through it over the compartment opening (423; 145) applying a utensil seal (6), wherein the steps of applying the utensil and of hermetically closing the compartment with the utensil therein by means of the utensil seal (6) are preferably performed in a cleanroom environment.