WO2014124709A1

WO2014124709A1 - Method for emptying a flexible package

Info

Publication number: WO2014124709A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/071114
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tino RUBESA
Original assignee: Unilever N.V.; Unilever Plc; Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever
Priority date: 2013-02-15
Filing date: 2013-10-10
Publication date: 2014-08-21

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a method for easy emptying of a flexible package containing a flowable composition. The method for emptying a package comprises the steps that a funnel-shaped package is created by folding one of the upper corners to the opposite side. Then the package is opened by removing the upper corner, the package is emptied, and the package is folded or wrapped to empty it completely.

Description

METHOD FOR EMPTYING A FLEXIBLE PACKAGE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for emptying a flexible package containing a flowable composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A flexible pouch is a well know packaging material for liquids, gels, and semi-solid compositions. A pouch generally comprises two flexible films that are attached to each other at the sides by means of sealing, e.g. by glueing or heat sealing. The two flexible films generally form two of the side walls of a pouch. A pouch may also contain a third side wall, in order to enable the pouch to be able to stand upright, and the third side wall standing upright. Pouches having a spout in order to easily empty the package are known. For example EP 0 442 299 A1 and EP 0 442 292 A1 disclose pouches having a self-opening spout which easily remains open. Also JP 2004-43000 A, JP1 1 -43160, and KR1999-0037893 discloses pouches having a spout for emptying the pouch. US 2004/0146226 A1 discloses a flexible pouch, wherein one of the side walls contains an opening, and wherein a flap is folded over the opening and sealed to the side wall containing the opening to close the opening. The contents are released from the pouch by peeling off the flap, and emptying the contents through the opening. JP 2005-298006 discloses a pouch having an external flap at the outside of one of the side walls. The pouch can be folded across the flap, a corner of the flap can be opened, and the contents of the pouch can be emptied from the pouch. Manufacturing and sealing of the pouch is not easy, as two flexible side walls need to be adhered to each other, while the sizes of the side walls differ, and one of the side walls needs to be folded before being sealed to the other side wall to create the external flap. The flexible flap leads to increased use of wall material to create the pouch. Moreover, after folding the package, two compartments have been created, and both need to be emptied in order to empty the package. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the prior art, there is a need for a package, in particular a pouch, for a flowable composition that can be manufactured easily, and additionally for a method for emptying such package, to empty it easily and completely. We have now developed a method for emptying a package, in particular a pouch, in which first a funnel-shaped package is created by folding one of the upper corners to the opposite side. Then the package is opened by removing the upper corner, the package is emptied, preferably into a receptacle having a narrow mouth, and the package is folded or wrapped to empty it completely.

Accordingly the present invention provides a method for emptying a closed package 1 containing a flowable composition 2, wherein the package comprises a first and a second side wall made from a flexible sheet material, that are adhered to each other to form a chamber for holding the composition, comprising the steps:

a) taking one of the corners 3 of the package and folding it across the package A-A to the opposite side;

b) removing the upper corner B-B from the package 1 to create an opening 4;

c) holding the package 1 upside down to discharge the composition 2 from the

package 1 through the opening 4;

d) wrapping and/or folding the package 1 to empty the packaging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for emptying a closed package 1 containing a flowable composition 2. Preferably the flowable composition is a liquid, fluid, semi-fluid or semi-solid composition. The composition may also be a free-flowing powdered or granulated composition. The composition preferably is a food product.

The method of the present invention proved in particular advantageous for

compositions which are relatively viscous, such as can be found in viscous liquid, viscous fluid, semi-fluid or semi-solid compositions. Such compositions often cannot be poured easily and efficiently from the packaging, such as for example a bag or doy pack, as they do not flow easily. Accordingly, emptying would require a lot of time and/or squeezing or wringing of the packaging. Accordingly, it is preferred that the flowable composition in the package has a viscosity at 60 'Ό of higher than 1 100 mPa.s, preferably of higher than 1200 mPa.s. The viscosity at 60 °C is preferably of between 1 100 and 4000 mPa.s, preferably of from 1200 mPa.s and 2200 mPa.s. This viscosity measurement carried out at 60 °C, using a CC45 spindle, and a shear rate of 50 1/s. A RheolabQC viscometer is used, as known in the art. The measurement is carried out according to the instructions of the manufacturer. The viscosity

measurement takes typically 30 seconds, wherein 15 measurement points are taken. The consistency of the flowable composition can be determined by a Bostwick consistometer. Consistency is measured here using a Bostwick consistometer as known in the art, at 20 'Ό and a measurement time of 5 seconds. The flowable composition preferably has a consistency at 20 'Ό and measured for 5 seconds, lower than 7 cm, preferably lower than 6 cm, more preferably lower than or equal to 5 cm. Preferably, the consistency is higher than 0 cm. The consistency can preferably be of from 0 to 7 cm, more preferably of from 0 to 6 cm, more preferably of from 0 to 5 cm.

The package comprises a first and a second side wall made from a flexible sheet material. The flexible sheet material means that the material from which the package is made can be bent and/or folded. The materials which preferably are used, are materials that are known to the skilled person, such as polymers (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene) and metal (e.g. aluminium). The two side walls which together form at least the major part of the package can be made from one piece of flexible sheet material or can be made from two pieces of flexible sheet material. The two side walls are adhered to each other to form a chamber for holding the composition. Preferably the two side walls are adhered to each other along their periphery by sealing the outer edges to each other, for example by heat sealing or by glueing. In case the two side walls are made from a single piece of flexible sheet material, then at one of the sides the single sheet is bent or folded to create one of the edges of the package.

In step a) one of the corners 3 of the package is taken and folded across the package A-A to the opposite side. With reference to Figure 1 , the folding is done following a line A-A, to create a funnel-shaped package. The advantage of the method of the invention is that the package is easily emptied due to this funnel shape. Subsequently in step b) the upper corner B-B is removed from the package 1 to create an opening 4. Preferably the corner is removed by cutting the package along the line B-B. The removing along the line B-B may be done using any common tool, such as a knife or scissors. The side wall may also be perforated or a notch can be present, in order to facilitate easing tearing off the corner 3 to create the opening. It is preferred that the opening, measured along line B-B, has a length of between 0.5 and 5 cm, more preferably of between 1 and 4 cm, most preferably of between 1 .5 and 3 cm.

With reference to Figure 3, wherein part of the package 1 is shown, preferably the package may contain a perforation 7 or a perforation 8 or both. These optional perforations are prepared in the sealed area 6, where the two side walls adhere to each other. Such optional perforations would facilitate the user to open the package without needing a knife or scissors. Alternatively, with reference to Figure 4, wherein part of the package 1 is shown, the package 1 may contain a notch 9 or a notch 10, or both. These optional notches are prepared in the sealed area 6, where the two side walls adhere to each other. Such optional notches would facilitate the user to open the package without needing a knife or scissors.

After opening the package, in step c) package 1 is held upside down to discharge the composition 2 from the package 1 through the opening 4. The composition can be discharged onto or into any item that is chosen by the operator. In the final step d) package 1 is wrapped and/or folded to empty the packaging. By the wrapping and/or folding, a complete emptying of the package can be achieved in one movement. This is especially advantageous when viscous compositions are used, as indicated above. The package still contains only one compartment filled with the composition, and this can be emptied easily in one continuous movement in step d) of the method. Preferably the first and second side wall have a substantially square or rectangular shape. A substantially square or rectangular shape should be understood to mean that the shape of the side wall is close to a square or a rectangle. This means that the shape is not necessarily a perfect (mathematical) square or rectangle, but that the average skilled person recognises the shape as a square or a rectangle. That means that two lengths of two opposite sides may differ slightly, or that one or more of the sides may contain a curve, that they are not perfectly straight. It should be possible to take one of the upper corners and fold it across the line A-A to the opposite side.

Preferably the first and second side wall have a square or rectangular shape. The shape of the package may also be in a form wherein the base is wider than the top part, or vice versa. Preferably the packaging is a bag or doy pack. Preferably the composition is a sauce or a dressing. The composition may be an oil-in- water emulsion. Most preferred the composition is a sauce that can be used as a sauce on sandwiches. The sauce preferably is a viscous sauce, with preferably a viscosity at 60 ^ of between 1 100 mPa.s and 4000 mPa.s, more preferably of between 1200 and 2200 Pa.s. Usually that kind of sauces is used in cafeterias and restaurant in slender plastic bottles with a removable cap with a spout. In such case, the operator prepares a sandwich, and as a final step takes the bottle to pour the sauce onto the sandwich. By using the method of the invention and the package as described, the operator can easily fill such a bottle with the composition in the package. Hence, with reference to Figure 2, preferably the composition is discharged into a receptacle 5 in step c) and/or step d). Using this method, it is easy to fill a receptacle with a narrow mouth (e.g. a bottle), by the funnel-shaped package. The advantage of selling the composition in the package used in the method of the invention, and not in a bottle, is that generally the package that is used in the method of the invention gives less waste, both in weight and in volume, compared to the bottle.

Additionally, as the package used in the present invention has no spout, like some of the packages in the prior art, the flexible sheet material for the two side walls can be used efficiently. When a spout needs to be cut out from a film material, this leads to generation of waste of the material in the direct vicinity of the spout. In the present case, as a spout does not need to be cut out, no extra waste of material is generated. Moreover, because the current package has no external spout (for example a rigid spout that can be closed with a cap), the package material can be made efficiently from a film material.

Additionally, as generally the two side walls will have the same shape and same size, it will be easy to manufacture the package containing the composition. There is no extra step needed to create a spout, or an external flap, or any other distinction that needs to be made between the two side walls. Preferably, the two side walls are cut out from a film material. Subsequently they are sealed to each other at three of the sides to form a chamber for holding a composition, and wherein one of the sides is at least partly open. Alternatively, when in a preferred embodiment the two side walls are made from a single piece of film material, then first the single piece of film material is bent or folded to create the two side walls. Subsequently the two sides are sealed to each other at two of the sides to form a chamber for holding a composition, and wherein one of the sides is at least partly open. The package is then filled with the composition, and the last side is sealed to create a closed package that can be used in the method of the invention. Sealing can be done with any common method known to the skilled person, such as heat-sealing or glueing.

In addition to the two side walls, the package preferably comprises a third side wall made from a flexible sheet material, that is adhered to at least one of the sides of each of the first and second side walls. Preferably the third side wall is made from the same flexible sheet material as the side walls. Preferably the third side wall forms the bottom wall of the package that is able to stand upright. The third side wall in that case enables the package to stand upright without the need for support.

Preferably the package is a pouch. A pouch is a common package that is used nowadays for a wide range of compositions, in particular in the food industry. Such pouches may contain soups, sauces, and the like.

Such pouch may be a pouch that can be used in a hot-fill process, and/or an aseptic filling process. This means that the pouch is filled, and sealed, and that the filled pouch is not heated to sterilise or pasteurise the contents. The pouch may also be a retort pouch, meaning that the pouch when filled with a food composition and sealed to close the pouch, can be pasteurised or sterilised according to common procedures in the food industry. Preferably such a pouch has side walls that are made from flexible sheet material that comprises a laminate.

Preferably the flexible sheet material comprises a laminate, preferably comprising polyester, nylon, aluminium, polyethylene, and/or polypropylene. Generally aluminium and nylon create a strong laminate, and can easily be bent and folded. Polypropylene generally can be used in retort pouches. Generally such a preferred polypropylene layer is present on the inside of the side wall, and can be used to seal the side walls to each other by heat sealing. Polyethylene generally is used in pouches used in a hot-fill process, and/or an aseptic filling process.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Schematic representation of the method of the invention. Figure 2: Schematic representation of a preferred method of the invention, wherein the composition is discharged into a receptacle.

Figure 3: Schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a part of the package used in the method of the invention.

Figure 4: Schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a part of the package used in the method of the invention.

Claims

1 . A method for emptying a closed package (1 ) containing a flowable composition (2), wherein the package comprises a first and a second side wall made from a flexible sheet material, that are adhered to each other to form a chamber for holding the composition, comprising the steps:

a) taking one of the corners (3) of the package and folding it across the package (A-A) to the opposite side;

b) removing the upper corner (B-B) from the package (1 ) to create an opening (4); c) holding the package (1 ) upside down to discharge the composition (2) from the package (1 ) through the opening (4);

d) wrapping and/or folding the package (1 ) to empty the packaging.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the flowable composition is a liquid, fluid, semi-fluid or semi-solid composition.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flowable composition has a viscosity of between 1 100 mPa.s and 4000 mPa.s at 60 'Ό.

4. A method according to anyone fo the claims 1 to 3, wherein the flowable composition has a consistency of between 0 and 7 cm, measured by a Bostwick consistometer at 20 'Ό, for 5 seconds.

5. A method according to according to anyone of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening has a length of between 0.5 and 5 cm.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second side wall have a substantially square or rectangular shape.

7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the composition is discharged into a receptacle (5) in step c) and/or step d).

8. A method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the package comprises a third side wall made from a flexible sheet material, that is adhered to at least one of the sides of each of the first and second side walls.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the third side wall forms the bottom wall of the package that is able to stand upright.

10. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the package is a pouch.

1 1 . A method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the flexible sheet material comprises a laminate, preferably comprising polyester, nylon, aluminium, polyethylene, and/or polypropylene.