US20160214757A1 - Sealed package for pourable food products and packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products - Google Patents
Sealed package for pourable food products and packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products Download PDFInfo
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- US20160214757A1 US20160214757A1 US15/088,439 US201615088439A US2016214757A1 US 20160214757 A1 US20160214757 A1 US 20160214757A1 US 201615088439 A US201615088439 A US 201615088439A US 2016214757 A1 US2016214757 A1 US 2016214757A1
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- portions
- crease line
- panel
- edge
- crease
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/02—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body
- B65D5/0209—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body the tubular body having a curved or partially curved cross-section
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
- B65B3/02—Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
- B65B3/025—Making parallelepipedal containers from a single carton blank
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/08—Forming three-dimensional containers from sheet material
- B65B43/10—Forming three-dimensional containers from sheet material by folding the material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/24—Breaking creases to facilitate setting-up cartons
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/06—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it
- B65B9/067—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it the web advancing continuously
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/02—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body
- B65D5/06—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body with end-closing or contents-supporting elements formed by folding inwardly a wall extending from, and continuously around, an end of the tubular body
- B65D5/064—Rectangular containers having a body with gusset-flaps folded outwardly or adhered to the side or the top of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
- B65D5/4266—Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
- B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
- B65D5/74—Spouts
- B65D5/746—Spouts formed separately from the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
- B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
- B65D5/727—Dispensing openings provided in the upper end-walls of tubular containers, the openings being closed by means of separate stopper or other closure elements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a sealed package for pourable food products.
- the present invention also relates to a sheet packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products.
- liquid or pourable food products such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc.
- UHT ultra-high-temperature treated milk
- wine tomato sauce
- etc. are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
- a typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by creasing and sealing laminated strip packaging material.
- the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
- the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminium foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
- Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, on which a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized on the packaging machine, e.g. by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, which, once sterilization is completed, is removed from the surfaces of the packaging material, e.g. evaporated by heating; the web so sterilized is then maintained in a closed, sterile environment, and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, which is fed vertically.
- a chemical sterilizing agent such as a hydrogen peroxide solution
- the tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile-processed food product, and is sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced cross sections.
- the tube is sealed longitudinally and transversally to its own axis.
- Pillow packs are so obtained, which have a longitudinal seal and a pair of top and bottom transversal seals.
- the packaging material may be cut into blanks, which are formed into packages on forming spindles, and the packages are then filled with the food product and sealed.
- the so-called “gable-top” package known by the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trademark).
- a package which comprises:
- a longitudinal seal extends perpendicularly between the transversal seals and along the centerline of the rear panel.
- rear and front panels are parallel to one another
- lateral panels are parallel to one another
- lateral panels are orthogonal to both rear and front panels.
- top panel is slanted with respect to the bottom panel and is descending proceeding from the relative first edge to the relative second edge.
- first edges of bottom and top panels is greater than the distance between second edges of such bottom and top panels.
- the height of the rear panel is greater than the height of the front panel.
- the top panel also comprises:
- the opening device substantially comprises a frame fitted to the first area of the top panel and a cap which is releasably coupled with the frame, so as to free a pouring opening of the food product, when unscrewed.
- Tetra Brik Edge (Registered Trademark). Its main characteristic is the slanted top panel, which brings two advantages: an angled top panel which improves the pourability, and a transversal seal, crossing the top panel, being offset towards the rear panel, leaving a greater area for placing a cap.
- Such a known package could be uncomfortable to pick up, especially when it stands between several other similar packages on the shelf, or in a secondary package such as a cardboard box.
- a one-step opening cap is a cap that only requires one action from the user, such as unscrewing the cap, in order to prepare the package for pouring or drinking.
- a group of packages is often stored and transported in boxes as shown in FIG. 2 a .
- the front panel of a second package contacts the rear panel of a first package.
- the front panel of an initial package and the rear panel of a last package are in contact with respective inner walls of the box.
- the opening device of the second package interferes with the rear panel of the first package and therefore exerts a pressure against this rear panel.
- the opening device could also cause a dent on the adjacent package, which causes an unwanted appearance and could make a customer reject the package.
- the dent could in worst case also affect the integrity of the package.
- the interference between the opening device of the second package and the rear panel of the first package tends to slightly detach the front panel of the second package from the rear panel of the first package.
- packages with opening devices applied thereon are normally transferred on a belt conveyor within the packaging plant.
- EP-A-277673 discloses a sealed package comprising a quadrilateral top wall, a quadrilateral bottom wall, front and rear sidewalls and lateral sidewalls.
- the top wall is not provided with an opening device.
- each two adjacent walls of the front, rear and lateral four side walls is formed with two ridgelines interconnecting the corresponding pair of corners of the top and the bottom walls.
- the front wall extends between the front edges of top and bottom walls.
- the rear wall extends between the rear edges of top and bottom walls.
- the two ridgelines are joined to each other at their upper and lower ends but are spaced apart from each other between these ends.
- the ridgelines extend smoothly as curved inwardly of the package to form a joint wall therebetween.
- WO-A-2009/030910 discloses a package comprising a top and bottom walls, a front and a rear wall. And two lateral walls.
- Top wall is sloped relative to sidewalls and to bottom wall.
- the front edge of the top wall which coincides with the top edge of the front sidewall—is curved.
- the package comprises a recess for receiving the nose of a consumer drinking directly from a spout.
- the recess is formed by providing a lenticular panel in the sheet packaging material from which package is formed.
- a sealed package for food product which reduces at least one afore-mentioned drawback connected with the known packages and preserving, at the same time, the number of panels of the known packages.
- FIG. 1 shows a queue of known sealed packages which have been disclosed in the introductory part of the present description
- FIG. 2 a shows the known sealed packages of FIG. 1 when accommodated within a box
- FIG. 2 b shows the known packages in a queue, as they are falling off the conveyor
- FIG. 3 shows a frontal view of a first embodiment of a sealed package for pourable food product, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
- FIG. 4 shows a lateral view of the sealed package of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the sealed package of FIGS. 3 and 4 ;
- FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of a basic unit of a sheet packaging material by which to produce one package of the type shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 ;
- FIG. 7 shows a queue of sealed packages of the type shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 ;
- FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sealed package for pourable food product
- FIGS. 9 and 10 show a frontal and back view of the sealed package of FIG. 8 ;
- FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of a basic unit of sheet packaging material by which to produce one package of the type shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 ;
- FIG. 12 shows a queue of sealed packages of the type shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 .
- Number 1 in FIG. 3 indicates as a whole a sealed package for pourable food products, which is made of multilayer sheet packaging material 2 ( FIG. 6 ) and may be fitted with a reclosable opening device 3 (shown in FIG. 7 ) preferably made of a plastic material.
- Opening device 3 is applied to package 1 by conventional fastening systems, such as adhesives, or by microflame, electric-current-induction, ultrasound, laser, or other heat-sealing techniques.
- package 1 comprises:
- Lateral panels 9 extend each from front panel 8 to rear panel 7 .
- Front panel 8 and rear panel 7 are adjacent to both lateral panels 9 .
- Bottom panel 6 comprises two horizontal edges 10 , 11 parallel to one another, and two horizontal edges 12 interposed between and orthogonal to edges 10 , 11 . Edges 12 are parallel to one another.
- Panel 5 comprises two horizontal edges 15 , 16 opposite to each other and parallel to one another. More precisely, horizontal edges 15 , 16 are parallel to and arranged over edges 10 , 11 respectively.
- Edges 15 , 16 are rectilinear.
- Panel 5 also comprises two edges 17 , which extend between edges 15 , 16 and are parallel to one another.
- Edges 17 are arranged over respective edges 12 .
- the distance between edges 11 , 16 is greater than the distance between edges 10 , 15 .
- the height of rear panel 7 is greater than front panel 8 .
- Edges 10 , 11 and 12 define a plane; top panel 5 is slanted with respect to such a plane, and is descending, proceeding from edge 16 to edge 15 .
- the rear panel 7 extends between edges 11 , 16 and comprises two vertical edges 18 a, 18 b, which are parallel to one another and extend between edges 11 , 16 .
- Front panel 8 extends between edges 10 , 15 and comprises two edges 19 , 20 , which extend between edges 10 , 15 .
- Each lateral panel 9 is bounded by edge 12 , 17 , by a relative edge 18 a; 18 b, and by a relative edge 19 ; 20 .
- Edges 19 , 20 are the only edges which extend between edges 10 , 15 .
- Edges 19 , 20 are distinct and separate from each other, i.e. they do not have any common point.
- Edge 19 bounds both front panel 8 and one lateral wall 9 .
- Edge 20 bounds both front panel 8 and the other lateral wall 9 .
- Edges 10 , 15 define a theoretical plane P, which is perpendicular to bottom panel 6 , parallel to rear panel 7 and arranged, when package 1 is standing on the bottom panel 6 , vertically.
- Package 1 also comprises a top transversal sealing 21 and a bottom transversal sealing (not shown), which extends across respective top and bottom panels 5 , 6 .
- Sealing band 21 divides top panel 5 into two portions 22 , 23 , one ( 22 ) of which, adjacent to front panel 8 and bounded by edge 15 , defines an area for the potential application of opening device 3 , while the other portion ( 23 ), adjacent to rear panel 7 and bounded by edge 16 , comprises along the centerline, an end portion of a flat longitudinal sealing band 24 of package 1 . More specifically, sealing band 24 extends perpendicularly between sealing band 21 and bottom sealing band, and substantially along the centerline of rear panel 7 .
- Sealing band 21 extends beyond top panel 5 of package 1 into respective flat, substantially triangular lateral portions 26 of packaging material folded coplanar with and onto respective lateral panels 9 as of top panel 5 .
- Sealing band 21 also forms, lengthwise, a flat top tab 30 projecting from portions 22 , 23 and from lateral portions 26 and folded onto portions 23 and onto portions 26 along a bend line formed at the base of tab 30 .
- edges 19 , 20 extend on the opposite side of plane P with respect to panel 7 ; the whole front panel 8 extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect to panel 7 ; and panels 9 are concave.
- edges 19 , 20 comprise, proceeding from edge 15 towards edge 10 :
- edges 19 , 20 extend outside of plane P with reference to panel 7 .
- Portions 40 , 42 join to one another at point Q while portions 41 , 43 join to one another at point R ( FIG. 3 ).
- each edge 19 , 20 comprises, proceeding from edge 15 to edge 10 , a relative portion 40 , 41 which extends at increasing distances from plane P and a relative portion 42 , 43 which extend at decreasing distances from such plane P.
- Portions 40 , 41 converge towards one another, i.e. have a decreasing distance from each other, from edge 15 to a segment S, which connects points Q, R.
- Segment S is, in the embodiment shown, horizontal, and is arranged on the opposite side of edges 10 , 15 relative to rear panel 7 .
- Points Q, R are arranged at the same distance from edge 10 and at the same distance from edge 15 .
- the distance of points Q, R i.e. the length of segment S, is within +/ ⁇ 5% of the half of the distance between edges 10 , 15 .
- the distance of points Q, R i.e. the length of segment S, is within +/ ⁇ 5% of the average of the distance between edges 10 , 15 and the distance between edges 11 , 16 .
- Portions 42 , 43 converge towards one another, i.e. have a decreasing distance from each other, from edge 10 towards segment S.
- portions 40 , 41 extend at increasing distances from plane P and at decreasing distances from one another, proceeding from edge 15 to segment S.
- portions 42 , 43 extend at decreasing distance from plane P and at increasing distances from one another, proceeding from segment S to edge 10 .
- edges 19 , 20 are arranged at the narrowest distance from one another at points Q, R.
- edges 19 , 20 lateral panels 9 are not flat but are defined by relative concave surfaces which at first converge towards one another and then diverge from one another, proceeding from relative edges 17 to relative edges 12 .
- Portions 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 are, in the embodiment shown, curvilinear.
- edges 19 , 20 are shaped, in the embodiment shown, as parabolic arcs.
- Panel 8 is convex.
- the maximum distance of panel 8 from plane P is reached at the mid-section of package 1 , i.e. at a plane orthogonal of plane P and having the same distance from edges 15 , 10 .
- Bottom panel 6 coincides with the projection of top panel 5 on a plane orthogonal to an axis D ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). More precisely, axis D joins the center points of panels 5 , 6 . Center points of panels 5 , 6 coincide with respective intersection points of the diagonals of panels 5 , 6 .
- the inclination angle of panel 5 relative to the plane defined by edges 10 , 11 ranges between 15 and 20 degrees. In particular, such an inclination angle is 17 degrees.
- Front panel 8 is symmetrical with respect to a curvilinear axis C which joins the middle-point of edge 15 , the middle-point of segment S and the middle-point of edge 10 .
- Axis C lies on and follows the front panel 8 .
- Axis C extends at increasing distance from plane P, proceeding from edge 15 to segment S; and extends at decreasing distances from plane P proceeding from segment S to edge 15 .
- Axis C has a similar conformation of edges 19 , 20 .
- axis C is, therefore, shaped as a parabolic arc, although other curvatures are possible.
- the package 1 may have a removable portion (not shown in FIG. 6 ) that, in use, can be detached from packaging material 2 by an opening device 3 to free a pour opening by which to pour the food product from package 1 .
- Opening device 3 substantially comprises a frame 51 applied onto portion 22 of top panel 5 , and a cap 52 screwed onto a neck defined by frame 51 ( FIG. 7 ).
- Packaging material 2 from which package 1 is made has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, for stiffness, and a number of lamination layers covering both sides of base layer.
- a base layer e.g. of paper
- lamination layers covering both sides of base layer.
- the lamination layers comprise a first layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, and a number of second layers of heat-seal plastic material covering both sides of both base layer and first layer.
- a first layer of oxygen-barrier material e.g. an aluminum foil
- second layers of heat-seal plastic material covering both sides of both base layer and first layer.
- such solution comprises, in succession and from the side eventually forming the inside of package 1 , a layer of heat-seal plastic material, a layer of barrier material, another layer of heat-seal plastic material, base layer, and another layer of heat-seal plastic material.
- the inner layer of heat-seal plastic material contacting the food product, in use may, for example, be made of strong, in particular, high-stretch, metallocene-catalyzed, low-linear-density (LLD) polyethylene.
- LLD low-linear-density
- At least the inner layers of plastic material may be provided as prefabricated films, which are laminated on the base layer; this technique allows reducing any risk of formation of holes or cracks at or around the removable portion during the forming operations for producing sealed package 1 .
- the letter M in FIG. 6 indicates a basic unit of packaging material 2 , by which to produce package 1 , and which may be a precut blank, or a portion of a web of packaging material comprising a succession of units M.
- basic unit M is folded on a known crease spindle (not shown), is filled with the food product, and is sealed at the top and bottom to form package 1 .
- the web of packaging material 2 comprising a succession of basic units M, is:
- Basic unit M has a crease pattern 60 , i.e. a number of crease lines defining respective fold lines, along which packaging material 2 is folded to form the finished package 1 .
- crease lines is used in the present description lines along which basic unit M is folded to form a relative package 1 , 1 ′.
- decorative lines are not crease line in the meaning of the present description.
- Crease pattern 60 substantially comprises:
- crease line 63 comprises a first segment 80 which extends between an edge 64 of crease pattern 60 and crease line 65 ;
- Crease line 67 comprises:
- crease pattern 60 comprises:
- bottom flaps are folded onto panel 6 of finished package 1 .
- Crease line 110 extends between end point 101 ( 103 ; 100 ; 102 ) and the midpoint of a segment of crease line 61 ( 61 ; 62 ; 62 ) interposed between crease lines 65 , 69 ( 66 a, 71 ; 65 , 68 ; 66 a, 70 ).
- Crease line 111 ( 113 ; 114 ; 116 ) extends between intersection point of crease lines 65 , 67 ( 66 a, 67 ; 65 , 63 ; 66 a, 63 ) and the midpoint of the segment of crease line 61 ( 61 ; 62 ; 62 ) interposed between crease line 65 , 69 ( 66 a, 71 ; 65 , 68 ; 66 a, 70 ).
- End points 100 , 101 are joined by a theoretical reference segment 105 (shown in a dotted-line in FIG. 6 but not present on basic unit M) and end points 102 , 103 are joined by a theoretical reference segments 106 (shown in a dotted-line in FIG. 6 but not present on basic unit M).
- crease lines 120 , 121 extend within an area 123 , rectangular in the embodiment shown, bounded by segment 82 of crease line 63 , segment 92 of crease line 67 and by theoretical reference segments 105 , 106 .
- crease lines 120 , 121 comprise relative first ends which coincide with end points 100 , 102 , and second ends 124 , 125 , opposite to first ends, which are at a certain distance from relative end points 101 , 103 of crease lines 69 , 71 .
- Crease line 120 is the only crease line which originates from one ( 100 ) of end points 100 , 101 and extends towards the other one ( 101 ) of end points 100 , 101 .
- crease line 121 is the only crease line which originates from one ( 102 ) of end points 102 , 103 and extends towards the other one ( 103 ) of end points 102 , 103 .
- Crease lines 120 , 121 are distinct and separate from each other, i.e. they do not have common points.
- Crease lines 120 , 121 at first converge towards one another and then diverge from one another, proceeding from end points 100 , 102 of crease lines 68 , 70 towards relative second ends 124 , 125 .
- Crease lines 120 , 121 extend at first at increasing distances from relative theoretical reference segments 105 , 106 and then at decreasing distances from relative theoretical reference segments 105 , 106 , proceeding from end points 100 , 102 of crease lines 68 , 70 towards relative second ends 124 , 125 .
- Crease lines 120 , 121 extend also symmetrically with respect to an axis B, which joins the middle-points of segments 82 , 92 .
- Axis B is, in the embodiment shown, vertical.
- Basic unit M has a constant width measured orthogonally to axis B. In this way, it could form a tube of packaging material from which packages 1 , 1 ′ are obtained after their folding.
- Crease lines 120 , 121 are curvilinear. More precisely, crease lines 120 , 121 are, in the embodiment shown, shaped as parabolic arcs.
- Number 1 ′ in FIGS. 8 to 10 and 12 indicates a second embodiment of a sealed package in accordance with the present invention; sealed packages 1 , 1 ′ being similar to each other, the following description is limited to the differences between them, and using the same references, where possible, for identical or corresponding parts.
- Sealed package 1 ′ differs from sealed package 1 in that edges 18 a ′, 18 b ′ extend on the opposite side of a theoretical reference plane T′ defined by edges 11 , 16 , relative to panel 8 ; and in that the whole panel 7 ′ extends, on the opposite side of plane T′, relative to panel 8 ( FIG. 12 ).
- Panel 7 ′ is, in particular, convex.
- Edges 18 a ′, 18 b ′ are the only edges which extend between edges 11 , 16 .
- Edges 18 a ′, 18 b ′ are distinct and separate from each other, i.e. they do not have any common point.
- Edge 18 a ′ bounds both rear wall 7 and one lateral wall 9 .
- Edge 18 b ′ bounds both rear wall 7 and one lateral wall 9 .
- Plane T′ is, in the embodiment shown, parallel to plane P.
- edges 18 a ′, 18 b ′ comprise, proceeding from edge 16 towards edge 11 ( FIG. 10 ):
- edges 18 a ′, 18 b ′ and plane T′ are measured orthogonally to such plane T′.
- Portions 45 ′, 47 ′ and 46 ′, 48 ′ join to one another respectively at points W′, Z′ which are joined by a theoretical reference segment V′.
- Segment V′ is, in the embodiment shown, horizontal, is arranged on the opposite side of edges 11 , 16 relative to panel 8 , and is parallel and staggered relative to edges 11 , 16 .
- Portions 45 ′, 46 ′, 47 ′, 48 ′ are, in the embodiment shown, curvilinear.
- edges 18 a ′, 18 b ′ are shaped, in the embodiment shown, as parabolic arcs. Other curvatures or shapes are possible of edges 18 a ′, 18 b′.
- Rear panel 7 ′ is symmetrical with respect to a curvilinear axis A′ which joins the middle-point of edge 16 , the middle-point of segment V′ and the middle-point of edge 11 .
- Axis A′ extends at increasing distances from plane T′, proceeding from edge 16 to segment V′; and extends at decreasing distance from plane T′, proceeding from segment V′ to edge 16 .
- Axis A′ has a similar conformation of edges 18 a ′, 18 b ′, and is, therefore, shaped as a parabolic arc in the embodiment shown.
- the maximum distance of panel 7 ′ from plane T′ is reached at the mid-section of package 1 ′, i.e. at a plane orthogonal of plane T′ and having the same distance from edges 16 , 11 .
- Package 1 ′ also differs from package 1 in that opening device 3 ′ substantially comprises a frame 51 ′ which straddles edge 15 and comprises two fastening portions 53 a ′, 53 b ′ at a predetermined angle to each other ( FIG. 8 ).
- Cap 52 ′ is releasably fitted to a neck portion of frame 51 ′.
- portion 53 a ′ is applied onto portion 22 of top panel 5 while portion 53 b ′ is applied onto an area of front panel 8 adjacent to edge 15 .
- Letter M′ in FIG. 11 indicates a second embodiment of a basic unit of packaging material 2 ′, by which to produce package 1 ′; the basic units of packaging material 2 , 2 ′ for making the two different package embodiments 1 , 1 ′ are similar to each other, the following description is limited to the differences between them, and using the same references, where possible, for identical or corresponding parts.
- Basic unit of packaging material 2 ′ differs from basic unit of packaging material 2 in that crease pattern 60 ′ does not comprise crease line 65 . Furthermore, crease pattern 60 ′ comprises, instead of crease line 65 :
- End point 187 ′ is in common between segments 80 , 186 ′ as well as end point 188 ′ is in common between segments 90 , 191 ′.
- basic unit of packaging material 2 ′ differs from basic unit of packaging material 2 in that it does not comprise crease line 66 a.
- Crease pattern 60 ′ comprises, instead of crease line 66 a:
- End point 189 ′ is in common between segments 84 , 192 ′ and end point 190 ′ is in common between segments 94 , 193 ′.
- End points 187 ′, 188 ′ are joined by a theoretical reference segment 180 ′ (shown in a dotted-line in FIG. 11 but not present on basic unit M) and end points 189 ′, 190 ′ are joined by a theoretical reference segment 181 ′ (shown in a dotted-line in FIG. 11 ).
- Crease pattern 60 ′ finally comprises:
- crease line 182 ′ originates from end point 187 ′ and extends towards end point 188 ′.
- crease line 183 ′ originates from end point 189 ′ and extends towards end point 190 ′.
- crease lines 182 ′, 183 ′ comprise relative first ends which coincide respectively with end points 187 ′, 189 ′; and second ends which are at a certain distance from relative end points 188 ′, 190 ′.
- crease line 182 ′ extends within an area 184 ′ bounded by segments 80 , 90 , by a segment 85 of edge 64 interposed between segments 80 , 90 , and by theoretical reference segment 180 ′; and crease line 183 ′ extends within an area 185 ′ bounded by segments 84 , 94 , by a segment 88 along edge area 66 b, and by theoretical reference segment 181 ′; crease line 182 ′ is the only crease line which originates from one ( 187 ′) of end points 187 ′, 188 ′ and extends towards the other one ( 188 ) of end points 187 ′, 188 ′.
- crease line 183 ′ is the only crease line which originates from one ( 189 ′) of end points 189 ′, 190 ′ and extends towards the other one ( 190 ) of end points 189 ′, 190 ′.
- Crease lines 182 ′, 183 ′ are distinct from each other, i.e. they do not have common points.
- Areas 184 ′, 185 ′ are, in the embodiment shown, rectangular.
- crease line 182 ′ ( 183 ′) at first converge towards segment 85 ( 88 ) and then diverge from such segment 85 ( 88 ), proceeding from end points 188 ′ ( 190 ′) towards end points 187 ′ ( 189 ′).
- Crease line 182 ′ extends at first at increasing distances from theoretical reference segment 180 ′ ( 181 ′) and then at decreasing distance from theoretical reference segment 180 ′ ( 181 ′), proceeding from end points 188 ′ ( 190 ′) towards end points 187 ′ ( 189 ′).
- Crease lines 182 ′, 183 ′ are curvilinear and, in the embodiment shown, shaped as parabolic arcs.
- crease pattern 60 ′ comprises a first region and a second region adapted to define rear panel 7 ′ of finished package 1 ′, once that blank M′ has been folded along segments 90 , 94 and crease lines 181 ′, 182 ′, and edge 85 has been sealed to edge area 66 b.
- the first region is bounded by segments 80 , 85 , 90 and by crease line 182 ′ while the second region is bounded by segments 84 , 94 , 88 and by crease line 183 ′.
- package 1 , 1 ′ is easy to grip, in particular when it stands between several other similar packages 1 , 1 ′.
- front panel 8 extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect to rear panel 7 , 7 ′,
- each package 1 , 1 ′ is not in full contact with adjacent packages 1 , 1 ′, air is allowed to circulate between such packages 1 , 1 ′, so reducing the moisture surrounding packages 1 , 1 ′.
- packages 1 , 1 ′ are conserved in a particularly hygienic environment.
- packages 1 , 1 ′ are prevented from being damaged when stored and/or transported in a plurality of rows within a box or when conveyed in a packaging plant.
- packages 1 , 1 ′ are arranged in rows, for example within a box to be stored and/or transported, even if front panel 8 of a second package 1 , 1 ′ contacts rear panel 7 of a first package 1 , 1 ′, cap 52 , 52 ′ of opening device 3 , 3 ′ of second package 1 , 1 ′ is substantially prevented from interfering with rear panel 7 , 7 ′ of first package 1 , 1 ′ ( FIGS. 7 and 12 ).
- cap 52 , 52 ′ of opening device 3 , 3 ′ against rear panel 7 , 7 ′ of a first package 1 , 1 ′ is dramatically reduced.
- the risk that the cap 52 , 52 ′ of the opening device 3 , 3 ′ comes off as a result of the above-mentioned pressure is dramatically reduced.
- rear panels 7 , 7 ′ of packages 1 , 1 ′ which contact the inner wall of the box are substantially prevented to exert a pressure against such inner wall.
- packages 1 , 1 ′ with opening device 3 , 3 ′ applied thereon form a queue on a conveyor, packages 1 , 1 ′ are substantially prevented from leaning with respect to one another.
- package 1 , 1 ′ is particularly advantageous.
- panels 9 create a space between packages 2 place side by side with respective panels 9 arranged side by side. This is effective in preventing mildew in shrink-wrapped multipack and/or in very difficult ambient conditions.
- panels 9 it is much easier to detect if the pourable product has been fermented. In such a case, an internal pressure will press out panels 9 easily, making detection with available apparatus easily conducted. Furthermore, panels 9 could lose their concavity if air (or another gas) leaks into package 1 , 1 ′, through an untight sealing, or a micro-crack. In this case, this leakage may be easily detected and the package 1 , 1 ′ may be so discarded. In both the above cases, concave panels 9 create a small vacuum pressure inside package 1 , 1 ′, which is used for the above visualizations.
- edges 18 a, 18 b are curved, they work like an arch-type reinformencent and are, therefore, able to contrast a force exerted from an adjacent package 1 ′.
- Package 1 ′ reaches all the above-identified advantages, even when it is fitted with an opening device 3 ′ which extends a considerable distance outside of front panel 8 .
- front panel 8 of package 1 ′ extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect to rear panel 7 ′, but also rear panel 7 ′ of package 1 ′ extends on the opposite side of plane T′ with respect to front panel 8 .
- the gap available for cap 52 ′ of opening device 3 ′ substantially equals the sum of:
- package 1 , 1 ′ which has two quadrangular bottom and top panel 6 , 5 and four panels—front panel 8 , rear panel 7 , 7 ′ and two panels 9 —interposed therebetween.
- second ends 124 , 125 may coincide with end points 101 , 103 .
- crease lines 120 , 121 extend between relative end points 100 , 102 and relative end points 101 , 103 .
- second ends of crease lines 182 ′, 183 ′ may coincide with end points 188 ′, 190 ′.
- Edges 18 a, 18 b, 19 , 20 and crease lines 120 , 121 , 182 ′, 183 ′ may not be parabolic.
- edges 18 a, 18 b, 19 , 20 and crease lines 120 , 121 , 182 ′, 183 ′ may be shaped as a series of straight segments joined to one another and inclined with respect to one another.
- the longitudinal seal of package 1 , 1 ′ may extend along a panel other than rear panel 7 , 7 ′.
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Abstract
A sealed package for pourable food products, comprising a quadrangular bottom panel with opposite first front edge and a second rear edge; a quadrangular top panel opposite to bottom panel and comprises a third front edge and a fourth rear edge; a front panel between first and third edges; and a rear panel between second and fourth edges; the distance between first and third edges is smaller than the distance between second and fourth edges; top panel angled with respect to a first plane defined by first and second edges; first and third edge define a theoretical reference plane; front panel comprises opposite fifth and sixth edges between first and second edges; at least one of fifth and sixth front edge extends at least partially on opposite side of theoretical plane with respect to rear panel; front panel comprises at least a first region on opposite side of theoretical plane.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/519,973 filed on Jun. 29, 2012 which is a U.S. national stage application based on International Application No. PCT/EP2011/055385 filed on Apr. 6, 2011 and which claims priority to European Application No. 10165116.4 filed on Jun. 7, 2010, the entire content of all three of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to a sealed package for pourable food products.
- The present invention also relates to a sheet packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products.
- As is known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
- A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by creasing and sealing laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminium foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
- Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, on which a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized on the packaging machine, e.g. by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, which, once sterilization is completed, is removed from the surfaces of the packaging material, e.g. evaporated by heating; the web so sterilized is then maintained in a closed, sterile environment, and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, which is fed vertically.
- In order to complete the forming operations, the tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile-processed food product, and is sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced cross sections.
- More precisely, the tube is sealed longitudinally and transversally to its own axis.
- Pillow packs are so obtained, which have a longitudinal seal and a pair of top and bottom transversal seals.
- Alternatively, the packaging material may be cut into blanks, which are formed into packages on forming spindles, and the packages are then filled with the food product and sealed. One example of this type of package is the so-called “gable-top” package known by the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trademark).
- A package is known which comprises:
-
- a rectangular bottom panel which is crossed by a bottom transversal seal;
- a rectangular top panel, which is crossed by a top transversal seal;
- a rear panel which extends between corresponding first edges of top and bottom panels;
- a front panel which is opposite to the rear panel and extends between corresponding second edges, opposite to first edges, of top and bottom panels; and
- a pair of lateral panels interposed between bottom and top panels, and between rear and front panels.
- A longitudinal seal extends perpendicularly between the transversal seals and along the centerline of the rear panel.
- In greater detail, rear and front panels are parallel to one another, lateral panels are parallel to one another, and lateral panels are orthogonal to both rear and front panels.
- Furthermore, the top panel is slanted with respect to the bottom panel and is descending proceeding from the relative first edge to the relative second edge.
- In other words, the distance between first edges of bottom and top panels is greater than the distance between second edges of such bottom and top panels.
- As a consequence, the height of the rear panel is greater than the height of the front panel.
- The top panel also comprises:
-
- a first area which accommodates an opening device and is bounded, on opposite sides, by the second edge and the transversal seal; and
- a second area which is bounded, on opposite sides, by the first edge and the transversal seal.
- More precisely, the opening device substantially comprises a frame fitted to the first area of the top panel and a cap which is releasably coupled with the frame, so as to free a pouring opening of the food product, when unscrewed.
- The above type of package is known under the name Tetra Brik Edge (Registered Trademark). Its main characteristic is the slanted top panel, which brings two advantages: an angled top panel which improves the pourability, and a transversal seal, crossing the top panel, being offset towards the rear panel, leaving a greater area for placing a cap.
- Such a known package could be uncomfortable to pick up, especially when it stands between several other similar packages on the shelf, or in a secondary package such as a cardboard box.
- Furthermore, in correspondence with other carton packages, the reduced circulation of air between the packages, as a consequence of being tightly packed, could cause the formation of moisture onto such packages, especially if packed in a closed environment, such as a plastic wrap or a cardboard box, and even more so when subjected to humid weather conditions.
- Due to the height of an opening device and to the inclination of the top panel, the opening device may protrude from the first area of the top panel beyond a hypothetical prolongation of the front panel as shown in
FIG. 1 . Since consumers today want bigger caps, for an improved drinking experience and improved pouring performance, this problem will only increase. Furthermore, newly developed one-step opening caps are higher than previous two-step opening caps, and this means that the caps stick out even more outside of the front panel. A one-step opening cap is a cap that only requires one action from the user, such as unscrewing the cap, in order to prepare the package for pouring or drinking. - A group of packages is often stored and transported in boxes as shown in
FIG. 2a . In this condition, the front panel of a second package contacts the rear panel of a first package. Furthermore, the front panel of an initial package and the rear panel of a last package are in contact with respective inner walls of the box. - Furthermore, the opening device of the second package interferes with the rear panel of the first package and therefore exerts a pressure against this rear panel.
- Accordingly, there is a risk that such pressure causes the opening devices to come off from the relative packages. The opening device could also cause a dent on the adjacent package, which causes an unwanted appearance and could make a customer reject the package. The dent could in worst case also affect the integrity of the package.
- Furthermore, the interference between the opening device of the second package and the rear panel of the first package tends to slightly detach the front panel of the second package from the rear panel of the first package.
- Accordingly, the rear panel of the last package and the front panel of the first package are forced against the walls of the box.
- As a consequence, there is a risk of damaging the packages within the box or the shrink wrap, or even to cause damage to the secondary box or shrink wrap itself.
- Finally, packages with opening devices applied thereon are normally transferred on a belt conveyor within the packaging plant.
- In case that the conveyor is stopped or packages are grouped, a queue of packages with opening devices is formed. This happens relatively regularly in the packaging line.
- In this situation, the packages are pushed against each other, and can become slightly angled or leaning with respect to the conveyor as a consequence of the interference between their opening devices and the rear panel of the adjacent package, as shown in
FIG. 2 b. - As a result, there is the risk that one or more of the packages fall over on the conveyor. This can cause a jam and the filling line must be stopped to fix the problem. It is also possible that some packages fall off the conveyor, due to this inclination, leading to waste of packaging material and product.
- Furthermore, a need is felt within the industry to easily detected the fermentation of the pourable food product within the package and/or the leakage of air (or another gas) into the package.
- EP-A-277673 discloses a sealed package comprising a quadrilateral top wall, a quadrilateral bottom wall, front and rear sidewalls and lateral sidewalls. The top wall is not provided with an opening device.
- The joint portion between each two adjacent walls of the front, rear and lateral four side walls is formed with two ridgelines interconnecting the corresponding pair of corners of the top and the bottom walls.
- The front wall extends between the front edges of top and bottom walls. The rear wall extends between the rear edges of top and bottom walls.
- The two ridgelines are joined to each other at their upper and lower ends but are spaced apart from each other between these ends. The ridgelines extend smoothly as curved inwardly of the package to form a joint wall therebetween.
- WO-A-2009/030910 discloses a package comprising a top and bottom walls, a front and a rear wall. And two lateral walls.
- Top wall is sloped relative to sidewalls and to bottom wall. In a first embodiment, the front edge of the top wall—which coincides with the top edge of the front sidewall—is curved.
- In a second embodiment, the package comprises a recess for receiving the nose of a consumer drinking directly from a spout. The recess is formed by providing a lenticular panel in the sheet packaging material from which package is formed.
- Disclosed here is a sealed package for food product, which reduces at least one afore-mentioned drawback connected with the known packages and preserving, at the same time, the number of panels of the known packages.
- Two preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 shows a queue of known sealed packages which have been disclosed in the introductory part of the present description; -
FIG. 2a shows the known sealed packages ofFIG. 1 when accommodated within a box; -
FIG. 2b shows the known packages in a queue, as they are falling off the conveyor; -
FIG. 3 shows a frontal view of a first embodiment of a sealed package for pourable food product, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 shows a lateral view of the sealed package ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the sealed package ofFIGS. 3 and 4 ; -
FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of a basic unit of a sheet packaging material by which to produce one package of the type shown inFIGS. 3 to 5 ; -
FIG. 7 shows a queue of sealed packages of the type shown inFIGS. 3 to 5 ; -
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sealed package for pourable food product; -
FIGS. 9 and 10 show a frontal and back view of the sealed package ofFIG. 8 ; -
FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of a basic unit of sheet packaging material by which to produce one package of the type shown inFIGS. 7 to 10 ; and -
FIG. 12 shows a queue of sealed packages of the type shown inFIGS. 8 to 10 . -
Number 1 inFIG. 3 indicates as a whole a sealed package for pourable food products, which is made of multilayer sheet packaging material 2 (FIG. 6 ) and may be fitted with a reclosable opening device 3 (shown inFIG. 7 ) preferably made of a plastic material. -
Opening device 3 is applied topackage 1 by conventional fastening systems, such as adhesives, or by microflame, electric-current-induction, ultrasound, laser, or other heat-sealing techniques. - With reference to
FIG. 3 ,package 1 comprises: -
- a quadrilateral (in the example shown, rectangular or square) top panel 5;
- a quadrilateral (in this case, rectangular or square)
bottom panel 6, which is opposite to top panel 5; - a flat
rear panel 7, which extends between top panel 5 andbottom panel 6; - a
front panel 8, which extends between top panel 5 andbottom panel 6, and is opposite torear panel 7; and - two
lateral panels 9 opposite to each other, and which extend between top panel 5 andbottom panel 6, and between rear andfront panels
-
Lateral panels 9 extend each fromfront panel 8 torear panel 7. -
Front panel 8 andrear panel 7 are adjacent to bothlateral panels 9. -
Bottom panel 6 comprises twohorizontal edges horizontal edges 12 interposed between and orthogonal toedges Edges 12 are parallel to one another. - Panel 5 comprises two
horizontal edges horizontal edges edges -
Edges - Panel 5 also comprises two
edges 17, which extend betweenedges -
Edges 17 are arranged over respective edges 12. - In particular, the distance between
edges edges - In other words, the height of
rear panel 7 is greater thanfront panel 8. -
Edges edge 16 to edge 15. - The
rear panel 7 extends betweenedges vertical edges edges -
Front panel 8 extends betweenedges edges edges - Each
lateral panel 9 is bounded byedge relative edge 18 a; 18 b, and by arelative edge 19; 20. -
Edges edges -
Edges -
Edge 19 bounds bothfront panel 8 and onelateral wall 9. -
Edge 20 bounds bothfront panel 8 and the otherlateral wall 9. -
Edges bottom panel 6, parallel torear panel 7 and arranged, whenpackage 1 is standing on thebottom panel 6, vertically. -
Package 1 also comprises a top transversal sealing 21 and a bottom transversal sealing (not shown), which extends across respective top andbottom panels 5, 6. - Sealing
band 21 divides top panel 5 into twoportions front panel 8 and bounded byedge 15, defines an area for the potential application ofopening device 3, while the other portion (23), adjacent torear panel 7 and bounded byedge 16, comprises along the centerline, an end portion of a flatlongitudinal sealing band 24 ofpackage 1. More specifically, sealingband 24 extends perpendicularly between sealingband 21 and bottom sealing band, and substantially along the centerline ofrear panel 7. - Sealing
band 21 extends beyond top panel 5 ofpackage 1 into respective flat, substantially triangularlateral portions 26 of packaging material folded coplanar with and onto respectivelateral panels 9 as of top panel 5. - Sealing
band 21 also forms, lengthwise, a flattop tab 30 projecting fromportions lateral portions 26 and folded ontoportions 23 and ontoportions 26 along a bend line formed at the base oftab 30. - Advantageously, edges 19, 20 extend on the opposite side of plane P with respect to
panel 7; the wholefront panel 8 extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect topanel 7; andpanels 9 are concave. - In greater detail, edges 19, 20 comprise, proceeding from
edge 15 towards edge 10: -
-
respective portions -
respective portions
-
- In other words, edges 19, 20 extend outside of plane P with reference to
panel 7. - Distances between edges 19, 20 and plane P are measured orthogonally to such plane P.
-
Portions portions FIG. 3 ). - In other words, each
edge edge 15 to edge 10, arelative portion relative portion -
Portions edge 15 to a segment S, which connects points Q, R. Segment S is, in the embodiment shown, horizontal, and is arranged on the opposite side ofedges rear panel 7. - Points Q, R are arranged at the same distance from
edge 10 and at the same distance fromedge 15. - The distance of points Q, R, i.e. the length of segment S, is within +/−5% of the half of the distance between
edges - Alternatively, the distance of points Q, R, i.e. the length of segment S, is within +/−5% of the average of the distance between
edges edges -
Portions edge 10 towards segment S. - In other words,
portions edge 15 to segment S. Differently,portions - In this way, edges 19, 20 are arranged at the narrowest distance from one another at points Q, R.
- As a consequence of the shape of
edges lateral panels 9 are not flat but are defined by relative concave surfaces which at first converge towards one another and then diverge from one another, proceeding fromrelative edges 17 torelative edges 12. -
Portions - More precisely, edges 19, 20 are shaped, in the embodiment shown, as parabolic arcs.
-
Panel 8 is convex. - The maximum distance of
panel 8 from plane P is reached at the mid-section ofpackage 1, i.e. at a plane orthogonal of plane P and having the same distance fromedges -
Bottom panel 6 coincides with the projection of top panel 5 on a plane orthogonal to an axis D (FIGS. 4 and 5 ). More precisely, axis D joins the center points ofpanels 5, 6. Center points ofpanels 5, 6 coincide with respective intersection points of the diagonals ofpanels 5, 6. - Furthermore, the inclination angle of panel 5 relative to the plane defined by
edges -
Front panel 8 is symmetrical with respect to a curvilinear axis C which joins the middle-point ofedge 15, the middle-point of segment S and the middle-point ofedge 10. Axis C lies on and follows thefront panel 8. - Axis C extends at increasing distance from plane P, proceeding from
edge 15 to segment S; and extends at decreasing distances from plane P proceeding from segment S to edge 15. - Axis C has a similar conformation of
edges - All sections of
package 1 parallel to a plane U (FIG. 4 ) parallel tobottom panel 6, betweenedges package 1 is formed from a cylindrical tube with constant diameter. - In top panel 5, the
package 1 may have a removable portion (not shown inFIG. 6 ) that, in use, can be detached frompackaging material 2 by anopening device 3 to free a pour opening by which to pour the food product frompackage 1. -
Opening device 3 substantially comprises aframe 51 applied ontoportion 22 of top panel 5, and acap 52 screwed onto a neck defined by frame 51 (FIG. 7 ). -
Packaging material 2 from whichpackage 1 is made has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, for stiffness, and a number of lamination layers covering both sides of base layer. - In the example shown, the lamination layers comprise a first layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, and a number of second layers of heat-seal plastic material covering both sides of both base layer and first layer. In other words, such solution comprises, in succession and from the side eventually forming the inside of
package 1, a layer of heat-seal plastic material, a layer of barrier material, another layer of heat-seal plastic material, base layer, and another layer of heat-seal plastic material. - The inner layer of heat-seal plastic material contacting the food product, in use, may, for example, be made of strong, in particular, high-stretch, metallocene-catalyzed, low-linear-density (LLD) polyethylene.
- Normally, layers of heat-seal plastic material are laminated on the base layer in a melted state, with successive cooling.
- As a possible alternative, at least the inner layers of plastic material may be provided as prefabricated films, which are laminated on the base layer; this technique allows reducing any risk of formation of holes or cracks at or around the removable portion during the forming operations for producing sealed
package 1. - The letter M in
FIG. 6 indicates a basic unit ofpackaging material 2, by which to producepackage 1, and which may be a precut blank, or a portion of a web of packaging material comprising a succession of units M. - In the first case, basic unit M is folded on a known crease spindle (not shown), is filled with the food product, and is sealed at the top and bottom to form
package 1. In the second case, the web ofpackaging material 2, comprising a succession of basic units M, is: -
- folded into a cylinder to form a vertical tube having constant circumference;
- filled continuously with the food product; and
- sealed transversely and cut into basic units M, which are then folded to form
respective packages 1.
- Basic unit M has a
crease pattern 60, i.e. a number of crease lines defining respective fold lines, along whichpackaging material 2 is folded to form thefinished package 1. - It is important to mention that the term crease lines is used in the present description lines along which basic unit M is folded to form a
relative package -
Crease pattern 60 substantially comprises: -
- a
transversal crease line 63 for formingedges finished package 1; - a piecewise
transversal crease line 67 for formingedges finished package 1; - a pair of
transversal crease lines top seal 21 and of the bottom seal; - a pair of
longitudinal crease lines main portions respective edges finished package 1; - a pair of
longitudinal crease lines inner end points - a pair of
longitudinal crease lines respective crease lines inner end points - a pair of
crease lines finished package 1; and - an
edge area 60 to be sealed on anopposite edge 64 of basic unit M to form a cylinder.
- a
- Crease lines 63, 61, 62 are parallel to each other and orthogonal to
crease lines - In particular,
crease line 63 comprises afirst segment 80 which extends between anedge 64 ofcrease pattern 60 andcrease line 65; -
- a
second segment 81 which extends betweencrease line 65 andend point 100 ofcrease line 68; - a
third segment 82 which extends betweenend point 100 ofline 68 and atop end point 102 ofcrease line 70; - a
fourth segment 83 which extends betweenend point 102 ofline 70 andcrease line 66 a; and - a
fifth segment 84 which extends betweencrease line 66 a and anedge area 66 b.
- a
-
Crease line 67 comprises: -
- a
first segment 90 parallel tofirst segment 80 ofline 63 and which extends betweenedge 64 andcrease line 65; - a
second segment 91 slanted with respect tosecond segment 81 ofline 63 and which extends betweencrease line 65 andend point 101 ofcrease line 69; - a
third segment 92 parallel tothird segment 82 ofline 63 and which extends betweenend point 101 andend point 103 ofcrease line 71; - a fourth segment 93 slanted with respect to
third segment 83 ofline 63 and which extends betweenend point 103 ofcrease line 71 andcrease line 66 a; and - a
fifth segment 94, which extends betweencrease line 66 a andedge area 66 b.
- a
- Furthermore,
crease pattern 60 comprises: -
- two pairs of
crease lines top flaps 26 offinished package 1; and - two pairs of
crease lines FIGS. 3 to 5 ) offinished package 1.
- two pairs of
- More precisely, the bottom flaps are folded onto
panel 6 offinished package 1. - Crease line 110 (112; 115; 117) extends between end point 101 (103; 100; 102) and the midpoint of a segment of crease line 61 (61; 62; 62) interposed between
crease lines 65, 69 (66 a, 71; 65, 68; 66 a, 70). Crease line 111 (113; 114; 116) extends between intersection point ofcrease lines 65, 67 (66 a, 67; 65, 63; 66 a, 63) and the midpoint of the segment of crease line 61 (61; 62; 62) interposed betweencrease line 65, 69 (66 a, 71; 65, 68; 66 a, 70). -
End points FIG. 6 but not present on basic unit M) andend points FIG. 6 but not present on basic unit M). - Advantageously,
crease lines area 123, rectangular in the embodiment shown, bounded bysegment 82 ofcrease line 63,segment 92 ofcrease line 67 and bytheoretical reference segments - In greater detail,
crease lines end points relative end points crease lines -
Crease line 120 is the only crease line which originates from one (100) ofend points end points - In the very same way,
crease line 121 is the only crease line which originates from one (102) ofend points end points -
Crease lines -
Crease lines end points crease lines -
Crease lines theoretical reference segments theoretical reference segments end points crease lines -
Crease lines segments - Basic unit M has a constant width measured orthogonally to axis B. In this way, it could form a tube of packaging material from which packages 1, 1′ are obtained after their folding.
-
Crease lines crease lines -
Number 1′ inFIGS. 8 to 10 and 12 indicates a second embodiment of a sealed package in accordance with the present invention; sealedpackages -
Sealed package 1′ differs from sealedpackage 1 in that edges 18 a′, 18 b′ extend on the opposite side of a theoretical reference plane T′ defined byedges panel 8; and in that thewhole panel 7′ extends, on the opposite side of plane T′, relative to panel 8 (FIG. 12 ). -
Panel 7′ is, in particular, convex. -
Edges 18 a′, 18 b′ are the only edges which extend betweenedges -
Edges 18 a′, 18 b′ are distinct and separate from each other, i.e. they do not have any common point. -
Edge 18 a′ bounds bothrear wall 7 and onelateral wall 9. -
Edge 18 b′ bounds bothrear wall 7 and onelateral wall 9. - Plane T′ is, in the embodiment shown, parallel to plane P.
- In greater detail, edges 18 a′, 18 b′ comprise, proceeding from
edge 16 towards edge 11 (FIG. 10 ): -
-
respective portions 45′, 46′ which extend at increasing distance from plane T′ and converge to one another, i.e. have a decreasing distance from one another; and -
respective portions 47′, 48′ which extend at decreasing distance from plane T′ and diverge from one another, i.e. have an increasing distance from one another.
-
- The distance between
edges 18 a′, 18 b′ and plane T′ are measured orthogonally to such plane T′. -
Portions 45′, 47′ and 46′, 48′ join to one another respectively at points W′, Z′ which are joined by a theoretical reference segment V′. - Segment V′ is, in the embodiment shown, horizontal, is arranged on the opposite side of
edges panel 8, and is parallel and staggered relative toedges -
Portions 45′, 46′, 47′, 48′ are, in the embodiment shown, curvilinear. - More precisely, edges 18 a′, 18 b′ are shaped, in the embodiment shown, as parabolic arcs. Other curvatures or shapes are possible of
edges 18 a′, 18 b′. -
Rear panel 7′ is symmetrical with respect to a curvilinear axis A′ which joins the middle-point ofedge 16, the middle-point of segment V′ and the middle-point ofedge 11. - Axis A′ extends at increasing distances from plane T′, proceeding from
edge 16 to segment V′; and extends at decreasing distance from plane T′, proceeding from segment V′ to edge 16. - Axis A′ has a similar conformation of
edges 18 a′, 18 b′, and is, therefore, shaped as a parabolic arc in the embodiment shown. - The maximum distance of
panel 7′ from plane T′ is reached at the mid-section ofpackage 1′, i.e. at a plane orthogonal of plane T′ and having the same distance fromedges -
Package 1′ also differs frompackage 1 in thatopening device 3′ substantially comprises aframe 51′ which straddlesedge 15 and comprises twofastening portions 53 a′, 53 b′ at a predetermined angle to each other (FIG. 8 ).Cap 52′ is releasably fitted to a neck portion offrame 51′. - More precisely,
portion 53 a′ is applied ontoportion 22 of top panel 5 whileportion 53 b′ is applied onto an area offront panel 8 adjacent to edge 15. - Letter M′ in
FIG. 11 indicates a second embodiment of a basic unit ofpackaging material 2′, by which to producepackage 1′; the basic units ofpackaging material different package embodiments - Basic unit of
packaging material 2′ differs from basic unit ofpackaging material 2 in thatcrease pattern 60′ does not comprisecrease line 65. Furthermore,crease pattern 60′ comprises, instead of crease line 65: -
- a segment 186′ which extends from an
end point 187′ ofsegment 80 on the opposite side ofcrease line 67 and orthogonally tosegment 80; and - a
segment 191′ which extends from anend point 188′ ofsegment 90 on the opposite side ofcrease line 63 and orthogonally tosegment 90.
- a segment 186′ which extends from an
-
End point 187′ is in common betweensegments 80, 186′ as well asend point 188′ is in common betweensegments - Furthermore basic unit of
packaging material 2′ differs from basic unit ofpackaging material 2 in that it does not comprisecrease line 66 a. -
Crease pattern 60′ comprises, instead ofcrease line 66 a: -
- a
segment 192′ which extends from an end point 189′ ofsegment 84 on the opposite side ofcrease line 67 and orthogonally tosegment 84; - a segment 193′ which extends from an
end point 190′ of segment 93 on the opposite side ofcrease line 63 and orthogonally tosegment 94.
- a
- End point 189′ is in common between
segments end point 190′ is in common betweensegments 94, 193′. -
End points 187′, 188′ are joined by atheoretical reference segment 180′ (shown in a dotted-line inFIG. 11 but not present on basic unit M) and end points 189′, 190′ are joined by atheoretical reference segment 181′ (shown in a dotted-line inFIG. 11 ). -
Crease pattern 60′ finally comprises: -
- a crease line 182′ which extends between
end points 187′, 188′, and is adapted to defineedge 18 a′ offinished package 1′; and - a crease line 183′ which extends between end points 189′, 190′ and is adapted to define
edge 18 b′ offinished package 1′.
- a crease line 182′ which extends between
- More precisely, crease line 182′ originates from
end point 187′ and extends towardsend point 188′. Differently, crease line 183′ originates from end point 189′ and extends towardsend point 190′. - In greater detail, crease lines 182′, 183′ comprise relative first ends which coincide respectively with
end points 187′, 189′; and second ends which are at a certain distance fromrelative end points 188′, 190′. - Advantageously, crease line 182′ extends within an
area 184′ bounded bysegments segment 85 ofedge 64 interposed betweensegments theoretical reference segment 180′; and crease line 183′ extends within anarea 185′ bounded bysegments segment 88 alongedge area 66 b, and bytheoretical reference segment 181′; crease line 182′ is the only crease line which originates from one (187′) ofend points 187′, 188′ and extends towards the other one (188) ofend points 187′, 188′. - In the very same way, crease line 183′ is the only crease line which originates from one (189′) of end points 189′, 190′ and extends towards the other one (190) of end points 189′, 190′.
- Crease lines 182′, 183′ are distinct from each other, i.e. they do not have common points.
-
Areas 184′, 185′ are, in the embodiment shown, rectangular. - In greater detail, crease line 182′ (183′) at first converge towards segment 85 (88) and then diverge from such segment 85 (88), proceeding from
end points 188′ (190′) towardsend points 187′ (189′). - Crease line 182′ (183′) extends at first at increasing distances from
theoretical reference segment 180′ (181′) and then at decreasing distance fromtheoretical reference segment 180′ (181′), proceeding fromend points 188′ (190′) towardsend points 187′ (189′). - Crease lines 182′, 183′ are curvilinear and, in the embodiment shown, shaped as parabolic arcs.
- As a consequence,
crease pattern 60′ comprises a first region and a second region adapted to definerear panel 7′ offinished package 1′, once that blank M′ has been folded alongsegments crease lines 181′, 182′, and edge 85 has been sealed to edgearea 66 b. - In particular, the first region is bounded by
segments segments - Points Q, RE
- The advantages of
package sheet packaging material package - In particular,
package similar packages - As a matter of fact, when
several packages rear panels 7′ if applicable), makes it easier to insert a finger on each side and pick out anindividual package - The presence of such a gap is due to the fact that
front panel 8 extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect torear panel - Furthermore, due to the fact that each
package adjacent packages such packages moisture surrounding packages - As a result, packages 1, 1′ are conserved in a particularly hygienic environment.
- Furthermore, even when they are provided with an
opening device rear panel 7,packages - As a consequence, when
packages front panel 8 of asecond package rear panel 7 of afirst package cap opening device second package rear panel first package FIGS. 7 and 12 ). - Accordingly, the pressure exerted by
cap opening device rear panel first package cap opening device - Furthermore,
rear panels packages - Accordingly, also the risk of
damaging packages - In case that packages 1, 1′ with
opening device - In this way, even if a queue is particularly long, there is no risk that some
packages - Due to the fact that
panels 9 are concave,package - As a matter of fact,
panels 9 create a space betweenpackages 2 place side by side withrespective panels 9 arranged side by side. This is effective in preventing mildew in shrink-wrapped multipack and/or in very difficult ambient conditions. - Furthermore, thanks to the presence of
panels 9, it is much easier to detect if the pourable product has been fermented. In such a case, an internal pressure will press outpanels 9 easily, making detection with available apparatus easily conducted. Furthermore,panels 9 could lose their concavity if air (or another gas) leaks intopackage package concave panels 9 create a small vacuum pressure insidepackage - Finally, if
edges adjacent package 1′. -
Package 1′ reaches all the above-identified advantages, even when it is fitted with anopening device 3′ which extends a considerable distance outside offront panel 8. - As a matter of fact, not only
front panel 8 ofpackage 1′ extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect torear panel 7′, but alsorear panel 7′ ofpackage 1′ extends on the opposite side of plane T′ with respect tofront panel 8. - In this way, as shown in
FIG. 12 , the gap available forcap 52′ ofopening device 3′ substantially equals the sum of: -
- the distance between segment S and plane P of
relative package 1′; and - the distance between segment V′ and plane T′ of following
package 1′.
- the distance between segment S and plane P of
- It is important to mention that all the above-mentioned advantages are reached by the present invention without changing the quadrangular shape of
package package top panel 6, 5 and four panels—front panel 8,rear panel panels 9—interposed therebetween. - Clearly, changes may be made to
packaging material package - In particular, only the portion of
front panel 8 adjacent to edge 15 could extend on the opposite side of plane P with respect torear panel 7. In a completely analogous way, only the portion ofrear panel 7′ adjacent to edge 16 could extend on the opposite side of plane T′ withrespect front panel 8. - Furthermore, second ends 124, 125 may coincide with
end points crease lines relative end points relative end points - In a completely analogous way, second ends of crease lines 182′, 183′ may coincide with
end points 188′, 190′. -
Edges crease lines crease lines - Finally, the longitudinal seal of
package rear panel
Claims (19)
1. A sheet packaging material for producing a sealed package of a pourable food product, comprising:
at least one first crease line and one second crease line;
said first crease line comprising a first portion which is adapted to define a top front edge of a top panel of said sealed package;
said second crease line comprising a second portion which is adapted to define a bottom front edge of a bottom panel of said sealed package;
a third crease line which extends between respective third portions of said first and second crease lines;
a fourth crease line which extends between respective fourth portions of said first and second crease lines;
said first crease line further comprising a fifth portion interposed between said first and respective third portions, and a sixth portion interposed between respective said first and fourth portions;
said second crease line further comprising a seventh portion interposed between said second and said respective third portions, and an eighth portion interposed between said second and said respective fourth portions;
said third and fourth crease lines, and said third and fourth portions being adapted to bound a rear panel of said package, once said packaging material has been folded along said third and fourth crease lines, and along said third and fourth portions;
said third and fourth portions of said first crease line being adapted to define a top rear edge of said sealed package;
said third and fourth portions of said second crease line being adapted to define a bottom rear edge of said sealed package; said second, third, and fourth portions of said second crease line defining a first theoretical reference plane once said packaging material has been folded along said second, third, and fourth portions;
the distance between said third and fourth portions being greater than the distance between said first and second portions, so that the distance between said top rear edge and said bottom rear edge is greater than the distance between said top front edge and said bottom front edge of said sealed package;
a fifth and a sixth crease lines extending, at least partially, within a first area which is bounded by a first reference theoretical segment and a second reference theoretical segment, and by said first and second portions;
said first reference theoretical segment extending between a first end of said second portion and a second end of said first portion;
said second reference theoretical segment extending between a third end, opposite to said first end, of said second portion and a fourth end, opposite to said second end, of said first portion;
said fifth and sixth crease lines and said second and first portions being adapted to bound a front panel of said package, once said packaging material has been folded along said fifth and sixth crease lines and said second and first portions, said first and second portions defining a second theoretical reference plane once said packaging material has been folded along said first and second portions;
said fifth and seventh portions, said fifth crease line, and at least one part of said third crease line being adapted to define a first lateral concave panel extending from said front panel to said rear panel of said package, once said packaging material has been folded along said fifth crease line, said fifth and seventh portions and said at least one part of said third crease line;
said sixth and eighth portions, said sixth crease line and at least one part of said fourth crease line being adapted to define a second lateral panel extending from said front panel to said rear panel of said package, once said packaging material has been folded along said sixth crease line, said sixth and eighth portions and said at least one part of said fourth crease line; and
said fifth and sixth crease lines and said second and first portions being configured so that the front panel bounded by said fifth and sixth crease lines and said second and first portions, once the packaging material has been folded along the fifth and sixth crease lines and said second and first portions, is a convex panel curved outwardly of the second theoretical reference plane.
2. The sheet packaging material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fifth crease line is the only one crease line originating from one of said first and second end and extending towards the other one of said first and second end;
said sixth crease line being the only one crease line originating from one of said third and fourth end and extending towards the other one of said third and fourth end.
3. The sheet packaging material as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said third and fourth portions are each located on an opposite side of an axis, which joins a middle-point of said first portion and a middle-point of said second portion.
4. The sheet packaging material as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said fifth and sixth crease lines wholly extend within said first area.
5. The sheet packaging material as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said fifth and sixth crease lines at first converge towards one another and then diverge from one another, proceeding from said first portion towards said second portion.
6. The sheet packaging material as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said fifth and sixth crease lines are symmetrical with respect to an axis, which joins a middle-point of said first portion and a middle-point of said second portion.
7. The sheet packaging material as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:
said third crease line extends, at least partially, within a second area which is bounded by a third reference theoretical segment, by said third portions and by a first edge of said sheet packaging material;
said fourth crease line extends, at least partially, within a third area which is bounded by a fourth reference theoretical segment, by said fourth portions and by a second edge, opposite to said first edge, of said sheet packaging material;
said third reference theoretical segment extending between a fifth end of said third portion of said first crease line and a sixth end of said third portion of said second crease line;
said fourth reference theoretical segment extending between a seventh end of said fourth portion of said first crease line and an eighth end of said fourth portion of said second crease line.
8. The sheet packaging material as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said third crease line is the only one crease line which originates from one of said sixth and fifth ends and extends towards the other one of said sixth and fifth ends;
said fourth crease line being the only one crease line which originates from one of said seventh and eighth ends and extend towards the other one of said seventh and eighth ends.
9. A sealed package for pourable food products, comprising:
a quadrangular bottom panel possessing a bottom front edge and a bottom rear edge opposite to one another;
a quadrangular top panel positioned opposite to the bottom panel and possessing a top front edge and a top rear edge;
a front panel extending between the bottom front edge and the top front edge;
a rear panel extending between the bottom rear edge and the top rear edge;
two lateral panels positioned opposite to each other and adjacent the front and rear panel, the two lateral panels each extending from the front panel to the rear panel;
the distance between the bottom front edge and the top front edge being smaller than the distance between the bottom rear edge and the top rear edge;
the top panel being angled with respect to a first theoretical reference plane, the bottom front edge and the bottom rear edge lying in the first theoretical reference plane;
the front panel possessing a first front lateral edge and a second front lateral edge which are opposite to one another and which each extend between the bottom front edge and the top front edge;
at least one of the lateral panels being concave; and
the rear panel being flat.
10. The sealed package as claimed in claim 9 , the bottom front edge and the top front edge lying in a second theoretical reference plane, the front panel possessing a first region positioned on one side of the second theoretical reference plane such that the second theoretical reference plane is positioned between the rear panel and the first region of the front panel, the front panel being curved outwardly of the second theoretical reference plane.
11. The sealed package as claimed in claim 10 , wherein an entirety of the front panel extends on the one side of the second theoretical reference plane.
12. The sealed package as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first front lateral edge and the second front lateral edge each comprise respective first portions which extend at increasing distances from the second theoretical reference plane, proceeding from the top front edge towards the bottom front edge.
13. The sealed package as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first front lateral edge and the second front lateral edge each further comprise respective second portions which are joined to corresponding first portions and originate, on the opposite side to the corresponding first portions, from the bottom front edge;
the second portions extending at increasing distances from the second theoretical reference plane, proceeding from the bottom front edge towards the first portions.
14. The sealed package as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first and second portions join at a first and a second point; the first and second points being arranged at the same distance from the bottom front edge and the top front edge and being connected by a segment;
the first portions converging towards one another from the top front edge towards the segment;
the second portions converging towards one another from the bottom front edge towards the segment.
15. The sealed package as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the front panel extends symmetrically about an axis; the axis joining a middle point of the bottom front edge, a middle point of the segment, and a middle point of the top front edge.
16. The sealed package as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first front lateral edge and the second front lateral edge are the only edges extending between the bottom front edge and the top front edge;
the first front lateral edge and the second front lateral edge being separate and distinct from each other.
17. The sealed package as claimed in claim 9 , wherein all sections of the package measured parallel to the bottom panel and between the bottom front edge and the top front edge have a constant perimeter.
18. The sealed package as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the angle between the first theoretical reference plane and the top panel ranges between 15 and 20 degrees.
19. A sheet packaging material for producing a sealed package of a pourable food product, comprising:
at least one first crease line and one second crease line;
the first crease line comprising a first portion which is configured to define a top front edge of a top panel of the sealed package;
the second crease line comprising a second portion which is configured to define a bottom front edge of a bottom panel of the sealed package;
a third crease line which extends between respective third portions of the first and second crease lines;
a fourth crease line which extends between respective fourth portions of the first and second crease lines;
the first crease line further comprising a fifth portion interposed between the first and respective third portions, and a sixth portion interposed between respective the first and fourth portions;
the second crease line further comprising a seventh portion interposed between the second and the respective third portions, and an eighth portion interposed between the second and the respective fourth portions;
the third and fourth crease lines, and the third and fourth portions being configured to bound a rear panel of the package, once the packaging material has been folded along the third and fourth crease lines, and along the third and fourth portions;
the third and fourth portions of the first crease line being configured to define a top rear edge of the sealed package;
the third and fourth portions of the second crease line being configured to define a bottom rear edge of the sealed package;
the distance between the third and between the fourth portions being greater than the distance between the first and second portions, so that the distance between the top rear edge and the bottom rear edge is greater than the distance between the top front edge and the bottom front edge of the sealed package;
a fifth crease line and a sixth crease line extending, at least partially, within a first area which is bounded by a first reference theoretical segment and a second reference theoretical segment, and by the first and second portions;
the first reference theoretical segment extending between a first end of the second portion and a second end of the first portion;
the second reference theoretical segment extending between a third end, opposite to the first end, of the second portion and a fourth end, opposite to the second end, of the first portion;
the fifth and sixth crease lines and the second and first portions being configured to bound a front panel of the package, once the packaging material has been folded along the fifth and sixth crease lines and the second and first portions;
the fifth and seventh portions, the fifth crease line, and at least one part of the third crease line being configured to define a concave first lateral panel extending from the front panel to the rear panel of the package, once the packaging material has been folded along the fifth crease line, the fifth and seventh portions and the at least one part of the third crease line;
the sixth and eighth portions, the sixth crease line and at least one part of the fourth crease line being configured to define a second lateral panel extending from the front panel to the rear panel of the package, once the packaging material has been folded along the sixth crease line, the sixth and eighth portions and the at least one part of the fourth crease line; and
the third and fourth crease lines and the third and fourth portions being configured so that the rear panel bounded by the third and fourth crease lines and the third and fourth portions, once the packaging material has been folded along the third and fourth crease lines and the third and fourth portions, is a flat panel.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US15/088,439 US20160214757A1 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2016-04-01 | Sealed package for pourable food products and packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products |
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EP10165116.4 | 2010-06-07 | ||
EP10165116A EP2392517A1 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2010-06-07 | Sealed package for pourable food products and packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products |
PCT/EP2011/055385 WO2011154173A1 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2011-04-06 | Sealed package for pourable food products and packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products |
US201213519973A | 2012-06-29 | 2012-06-29 | |
US15/088,439 US20160214757A1 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2016-04-01 | Sealed package for pourable food products and packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products |
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US13/519,973 Continuation US9327862B2 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2011-04-06 | Sealed package for pourable food products and packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products |
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US20160214757A1 true US20160214757A1 (en) | 2016-07-28 |
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US15/088,439 Abandoned US20160214757A1 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2016-04-01 | Sealed package for pourable food products and packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products |
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JP1757521S (en) * | 2021-05-18 | 2023-11-15 | packaging box with lid | |
NO20210888A1 (en) | 2021-07-08 | 2023-01-09 | Elopak As | Paper-based or paperboard-based container and related method |
NO347782B1 (en) | 2022-08-22 | 2024-03-25 | Elopak Asa | Paper-based or paperboard-based container and related method |
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- 2011-04-06 BR BR112012011232A patent/BR112012011232B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-04-06 JP JP2013513593A patent/JP5736039B2/en active Active
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- 2011-04-06 MY MYPI2012001941A patent/MY163387A/en unknown
- 2011-04-06 MX MX2012007163A patent/MX2012007163A/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-04-06 US US13/519,973 patent/US9327862B2/en active Active
- 2011-04-06 KR KR1020127014009A patent/KR101785125B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-04-06 AR ARP110101158A patent/AR081759A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-04-06 SG SG2012079208A patent/SG185041A1/en unknown
- 2011-04-06 TW TW100111880A patent/TW201206780A/en unknown
- 2011-04-06 PL PL11712860T patent/PL2576362T3/en unknown
- 2011-04-06 PT PT11712860T patent/PT2576362T/en unknown
- 2011-04-06 WO PCT/EP2011/055385 patent/WO2011154173A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-04-06 ES ES11712860T patent/ES2699727T3/en active Active
- 2011-04-06 DK DK11712860.3T patent/DK2576362T3/en active
- 2011-04-06 RU RU2012155582/12A patent/RU2584113C2/en active
- 2011-04-06 SA SA111320352A patent/SA111320352B1/en unknown
- 2011-04-06 EP EP11712860.3A patent/EP2576362B1/en active Active
- 2011-04-06 AU AU2011264003A patent/AU2011264003B2/en active Active
- 2011-04-06 CN CN201180005263.6A patent/CN102666292B/en active Active
- 2011-06-04 UA UAA201300219A patent/UA109906C2/en unknown
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2012
- 2012-05-03 ZA ZA2012/03196A patent/ZA201203196B/en unknown
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- 2012-06-15 CO CO12101551A patent/CO6612277A2/en active IP Right Grant
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A., SWITZERLAND Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BARBIERI, MARCELLO;PUTZER, SIEGRID;OLIVIERI, ALICE;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20120403 TO 20120418;REEL/FRAME:038169/0492 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |