NL1020034C2 - Packaging and method for providing a filled package. - Google Patents

Description

PACKAGING AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ONE

FILLED PACKAGING

The invention relates to a metal package comprising a can body and a lid.

A canister is known, the lid of which is connected to the can body with a seamed connection. Such a package is suitable for undergoing a sterilization process. To open such a package, the lid of the can body is usually cut, for example with the aid of a can opener.

It is a drawback of the known canister that after opening the original lid cannot simply be used to close the package again.

It is an object of the invention to provide a metal package that is sterilizable and, furthermore, resealable after first opening.

It is in particular an object of the invention to provide a metal package which is sterilizable in closed and filled condition and, after first opening, resealable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sealed, filled and sterilized metal package with an improved shelf life of the filling after the package is first opened.

One or more objects are achieved according to the invention with a metal each formed from a metal plate laminated with a plastic covering layer, which can body and cover have a shape matched to each other such that the can body can be clamped closed with the cover, and in a sterilization state of the packaging has a hermetically sealed breakable connection between the two plastic covering layers.

By providing the hermetically sealed connection between the plastic coating layer of the can body and the plastic coating layer of the lid, which connection characterizes the packaging in the sterilization state, it is achieved that the packaging can be sterilized in the filled state and the filling material can be kept sterilized. In the context of this patent application, a connection is understood to mean a connection in which the plastic covering layers are bonded to each other.

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Thanks to the hermetically sealed breakable connection being breakable, it can be broken when the package is first opened, for example, not limited to, by turning, peeling, or lifting the lid of the bus disaster.

Because the canister disaster and the lid each moreover have a shape that is matched to each other such that the canister disaster can be closed with the cover in a clamping manner, the package can subsequently be resealable. Because in normal use the package is not re-sterilized after the first opening, it is then not necessary to re-establish a hermetic connection during reclosing.

The package according to the invention meets a long-standing need. The package according to the invention is excellent for filling goods that can be traded in a sterilized state, such as foodstuffs, whereby thanks to the resealability of the package, also the shelf life of the filling goods after breaking the hermetically sealed breakable connection is improved with respect to the well-known canister.

In one embodiment, the hermetically sealed breakable connection is formed by at least one seal connection.

In the context of this application, a seal connection is understood to mean a connection between two layers of plastic that is created by fusing the layers together. The seal connection can be obtained by bringing parts to be interconnected, such as the bus disaster and the lid, into contact with each other at the location of the seal connection to be formed and heating such that the plastic surfaces melt there.

By providing the at least one seal connection which characterizes the package, at least in this embodiment, in the sterilization state, it is achieved that the package can be sterilized in the filled state. When the package according to the invention is first opened in the sterilization state, the seal connection is broken, for example, not limited thereto, by turning, peeling, or lifting the lid of the bus disaster.

A high-quality seal connection is hermetically related to the sterilizability of the filling, and can preferably be opened without the use of tools without it being easy to open spontaneously.

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A good quality seal connection can be achieved when the plastics to be sealed are mutually miscible. This can easily be achieved if the cover and the can body are coated with the same type of coating plastic, or at least comprise similar plastics. In certain cases, however, it is also possible to achieve mixing of mutually different plastics.

In one embodiment, the hermetically sealed breakable connection comprises an intermediate layer comprising at least one plastic layer. With this intermediate layer it is achieved that any manufacturing inaccuracy with regard to the flatness of the lid and the can body can easily be absorbed at the location of the hermetically sealed breakable connection, without the coating layers having to be made very thick. This is favorable for forming the hermetically terminated breakable connection.

The intermediate layer thereby gives the possibility of matching some properties of the hermetically sealed breakable connection to the use, simply by choosing a material for the intermediate layer which has the desired property.

In an embodiment in which the hermetically sealed breakable connection is provided with a plastic layer comprising an intermediate layer, the plastic layer comprises an intermediate layer plastic type which is similar to a coating layer plastic type which is present in at least one of the plastic coating layers. Because of the mutual compatibility between at least parts of the intermediate layer and the at least one plastic covering layer, which is the result thereof, a high-quality sealing connection can be achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment, the intermediate layer is removable separately from the cover. This is advantageous to promote the breakability of the hermetically sealed breakable connection. The breaking of the hermetically sealed frangible connection and the removal of the cover can then be carried out separately, so that the coordinated forms of the can body and the lid and the hermetically sealed frangible connection can each be independently optimized.

The metal package according to the invention can be opened by the use of an accessory, for example by flipping the lid off the can body with a spoon or the like, or cutting open the hermetically sealed breakable connection with the aid of, for example, a knife .

However, it is preferred that the hermetically sealed connection is manually breakable, so that no separate tool or accessory is required to open the package.

This can be promoted by, among other things, providing the package with a peelable hermetically sealed connection. Upon first opening of the package in its sterilization state, the peelable connection is broken by tearing the plastic layers in this connection apart. Because the plastic layers are torn apart, it is prevented that the underlying metal is exposed, so that no corrosion problems occur on site.

A "peelable" connection can be broken with a force exerted on the lid of between 10 and 20 N.

A seal connection may be suitable for this purpose. The peelability of a seal connection is determined by the bulk mechanical properties of the plastic in the seal connection.

The peelability of the hermetically sealed breakable connection is promoted in an embodiment in which the hermetically sealed connection comprises a plastic filled with a filler. Such a filler, for example in powder form such as talcum powder, clay powder, soot powder, or a powder of a ceramic material such as for example titanium dioxide, lowers the tearing force locally in the compound.

In a simple embodiment, the filler is included in an intermediate layer.

The breakability and / or the possibility of manually removing the lid from the package is favorably promoted by providing the lid with aids for opening the package. For example, a pull tab connected to the lid or forming an integral part of the lid can be envisaged.

In one embodiment, the coordinated shape of the can body 30 and the lid comprises local clamping areas that are distributed around the circumference. In this way it is achieved that the total clamping force is reduced and that the package can thus be opened manually more easily.

Preferably the location of the opening means is 10. In that case, the clamping area of the package does not actually have a clamping area, because in the first step the force required for opening the package is not unnecessarily high.

In one embodiment, the lid is round. This achieves that the seal connection can easily be broken with the aid of a turning movement. With this, too, manual unlocking of the package can be promoted, because the hermetically sealed breakable connection is loaded on shearing by means of the rotational movement, which usually has a lower tear threshold than loading on tensile.

In one embodiment, the canister disaster comprises a beaded edge over which the cover can be placed. A reinforced edge is hereby provided over which the cover can be clamped. Via the beaded edge, several surfaces are available to effect the seal connection with the lid.

The width of the hermetic seal joint is preferably at least 1.0 mm, and more preferably at least 1.5 mm. More than 2.0 mm is not required for most applications.

In one embodiment, the plastic coating layer comprises a plastic type from the group of polyolefins. Such types of plastic are suitable for forming a seal connection, because they generally fuse well together. If desired, the plastic comprises a modified polymer or a copolymer or a mixture of different polymers, in order to improve the fusing and / or peelability properties.

In one embodiment, the plastic comprises polypropylene (PP). PP, whether or not modified, and copolymers with PP, or mixed with, for example, polyethylene (PE) or, for example, polybutylene, form a good seal compound quite easily, and moreover are well sterilizable and resistant to acids. This plastic can be adhered well to metal, with the aid of an intermediate layer or in a modified state, and the seal connection can be broken properly if desired.

Some other suitable laminates, based on packaging steel provided with a PET-containing coating, are described in WO 00/53665. Such laminates are also suitable for the purpose.

In one embodiment, the metal is packaging steel. Due to the mechanical properties of packaging steel, it is thus possible to achieve a good clamping effect.

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In a following aspect, the invention relates to a method for providing a filled metal package.

According to the invention, this method is characterized in that a can body and a lid are provided, the can body and the lid each being provided with a plastic coating layer, the can body being filled with a filling material, and the package being brought into a sterilization state, wherein the can body is clampedly closed with the lid, and subsequently a hermetically sealed breakable connection is formed between the two plastic covering layers.

By forming the hermetically sealed connection between the plastic coating layer of the lid and the plastic coating layer of the can body, it is achieved that the package can be sterilized in the filled state. Due to the breakability of the connection, it is broken upon opening the package for the first time, for example, not limited thereto, by turning, peeling, or lifting the lid of the can body. Because the can body is clamped closed with the lid, the package can then be resealed. Since the package is not usually re-sterilized after the first opening, it is usually not necessary to reshape a hermetic connection upon resealing.

Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention follow from the embodiments of the package according to the invention described in this patent application.

The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawing, in which FIG. 1, in parts a to d, a longitudinal section of a package provided with an enclosing lid is shown; FIG. 2, in parts a up to and including c, in longitudinal sectional portions of packages provided with an enclosed lid are shown; FIG. 3, in parts a and b, one with FIG. 2 a similar embodiment is shown which is provided with an intermediate layer; FIG. 4, in parts a and b, variations on the ones shown in FIG. 3 shown; FIG. 5 one with FIG. 1 similar embodiment is shown which is s) r

Ij L '': v -7- provided with an intermediate layer; FIG. 6 another embodiment is shown which is provided with an intermediate layer; FIG. 7, in parts a to c, a variation on the one shown in FIG. 2 is shown; FIG. 8, in parts a to d, a variation on the one shown in FIG. 7 is shown; FIG. 9, in parts a to c, an embodiment with a non-circular cross-section is shown.

FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a can body 1, which is provided with a beaded edge 2, and is closed by means of a cover 3, which is clamped on the can body 1. The lid is enclosed around the can body. The clamping action is achieved in this example by a clamping geometry which is promoted by the mutually cooperating, curved edges of the can body and the lid. The lid 3 is also provided with a beaded edge 5, from which the lid derives stiffness, and as a result of which the lid can be arranged more clampingly on the can edge. The lid as shown in the drawing also has an edge that is inclined inwards, which also contributes to the clamping cooperation between lid 3 and can body 1.

The lid is preferably resilient and dimensionally stable, so that a good clamping action is achieved on the can body, while the shape of the lid is retained so that the lid is suitable for reclosing.

The lid and the can body are formed from plastic-coated metal (for example polypropylene, PP), such as plastic-coated aluminum or plastic-coated packaging steel, preferably for the latter. The plastic covering layers are interconnected with a hermetically sealed, breakable connection 4 so that the package can be sterilized.

The hermetically sealed breakable connection 4 can be on the top of the beaded edge on the can body (FIG. 1a) or on the side of the beaded edge (FIG. 1b), or both (FIG. 1c). The connection can be formed as a seal connection with only the plastic covering layers of the lid 3 and the can body 1, or the hermetically sealed breakable connection can, as in FIG. 1d, an intermediate layer 6 comprising a plastic layer, which 102. The intermediate layer with its sides facing away from each other is hermetically connected (24, 24 ') to the plastic covering layers of both the lid 3 and the can body 1.

FIG. 2 of the drawing shows a part of a can body 11, which is provided with a flanged edge 12, and is closed by a cover 13, which is clampingly arranged in the can body 11.

The lid and the can body are formed from plastic-coated metal (for example polypropylene, PP), such as plastic-coated aluminum or plastic-coated packaging steel, preferably for the latter. The plastic covering layers are mutually connected with a hermetically sealed, breakable connection 4 so that the package can be sterilized.

The connection 4 can be located on the top of the flange edge 12 on the can body (FIG. 2a) or on the side of the flange edge 12 (FIG. 2b), or both (FIG. 2c). The connection can be formed as a seal connection with only the plastic covering layers of the lid 13 and the can body 11, or, analogous to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1d, an intermediate layer comprising a plastic layer, which intermediate layer is hermetically connected to both the lid 13 and the can body 11.

The intermediate layer is particularly preferably present in embodiments as shown in FIG. 1b and FIG. 2b, wherein the hermetically sealed breakable connection extends around the circumference of the lid or the can body, because the manufacturing inaccuracy precisely absorbed by the intermediate layer is precisely in the diameter dimension. Such an intermediate layer can consist entirely of plastic, or for instance comprise a layer of metal foil. The intermediate layer is preferably easy to break in order to open the package from its sterilization state.

The lid is enclosed in the can body. The clamping action is achieved in this example by a clamping geometry which is promoted by the slightly obliquely shaped side wall (s) of the can body 11 and / or the lid 13.

FIG. 3a of the drawing shows another embodiment, in which the intermediate layer 6 is not connected on opposite sides to the cover and the can body, but in which the connections 14 and 14 "to the can body 11 and the cover 13 side by side on one side of the intermediate layer 6. Such an intermediate layer can consist entirely of plastic, or for instance comprise metal foil, and can easily be peeled to open the package from its sterilization state. intermediate layer, for example, are provided with a pull tab 7, as shown in Fig. 3b.

As well as the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, has the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 shows a can body 11 formed from plastic-coated metal, which is provided with a flanged edge 12, a lid 13 formed from plastic-coated metal, which is clampingly arranged in the can body 11. The connections 14 and 14 'can be formed as seal connections between the plastic layer of the intermediate layer 6 and the plastic covering layers of the lid 13 10 and the can body 11, respectively.

FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b show variations of the method shown in FIG. 3, wherein the cover 23 is flanged the other way around. Because the flange edge 25 of the cover 23 is directed away from the can body 21, the flange edge 22 can be flat on the can body 21, in contrast to the recessed design of the flange edge 12 of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 4b, the can body 31 is conical near its end, the lid 33 fitting into the conical part. The clamping closability is achieved by providing the sleeve body with at least one inwardly directed clamping edge 38 in a transition between the conical part of the sleeve body 31 and the flange edge 32.

FIG. 5 of the drawing shows a part of a can body 81, which is provided with a beaded edge 82, and is closed with a cover 83, which is clamped on the can body 81. The lid is enclosed around the can body. The clamping action is achieved in this example by a clamping geometry which is promoted by the mutually cooperating curved edges of the can body and the lid. The lid 83 is also provided with a beaded edge 85, from which the lid derives rigidity, and as a result of which the lid can be arranged more clampingly on the can edge. The cover 83 as shown in the drawing also has an edge that is inclined inwards.

The lid and the can body are formed from plastic-coated metal (for example polypropylene, PP), such as plastic-coated aluminum or plastic-coated packaging steel, preferably for the latter. The plastic covering layers are mutually connected with a hermetically sealed connection, comprising an intermediate layer 86. This intermediate layer is not connected to the cover and the bus disaster on opposite sides, but the connections 84 and 84 'with the bus ramp 81 and the cover 83, on the other hand, are provided side by side on one side of the intermediate layer 86, in analogy to the one shown in FIG. 3 and 5 FIG. 4 shown.

The intermediate layer may consist entirely of plastic, or may comprise, for example, metal foil. The connections 84 and 84 'can be formed as seal connections between the plastic layer of the intermediate layer 86 and the plastic coating layers of the cover 83 and the bus disaster 81, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the intermediate layer 96 has a pull tab 97 projecting between the cover 93 and the bus ramp 91, locally or otherwise, with the aid of which the intermediate layer can first be pulled away, whereby the hermetic connection between the cover 93 and the bus ramp 91 is broken before the cover 93 itself is removed.

The embodiment of the intermediate layer as shown in FIG. 3 and / or FIG. 4 and / or FIG. 5 and / or FIG. 6, with the aid of which the hermetically sealed breakable connection is formed, has the advantage that the connection is easily breakable by removing this intermediate layer separately from the package by, for example, peeling and / or pulling, before removing the cover from the package. Because the breaking of the hermetically sealed frangible connection and the removal of the lid are separately to be performed, the coordinated forms of the bus disaster and the lid and the hermetically sealed frangible connection can each be independently optimized.

When, as in embodiments such as those shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the hermetically sealed frangible connection must be broken at the same time as the cover of the bus disaster is removed, the hermetically sealed frangible connection and the coordination in the coordinated design of the bus disaster and lid must meet the additional requirement that this is possible . This can be achieved, inter alia, by providing the lid with aids to promote its removability, choosing the lid to be less flexural stiff so that it can be peeled off the bus disaster, selecting the lid flexural rigidly and rotatably removing it, by clamp the cover less tightly in or on the bus disaster, for example U1.:; 03 4 -11- by providing individual interrupted clamping areas, or by providing the hermetically sealed breakable connection with a filler to make it more tearable.

FIG. 7 shows, for example, an embodiment in which the enclosing lid 43 is not provided along the circumference, but in some clamping regions 47 distributed over the circumference, with a clamping shape for cooperating with a corresponding shape 48 in the can body 4. The lid 43, which is shown separately in a view in FIG. 7c, is locally provided with a pull tab 50.

FIG. 7a shows the package in longitudinal section at the position of the pull tab 50. Because at the location of the pull tab 50 the edge 49 does not fall into the clamping edge 48 arranged in the can body 41, there is no or hardly any clamping action between cover 43 and bus body 41. Consequently, the hermetically sealed breakable connection can relatively easily be broken due to the fact that it is not necessary at first to overcome the clamping force. FIG. 7b shows the package in another longitudinal section, where the lid 43 is provided with an area 47 which is provided with a clamping shape.

The hermetically sealed breakable connection 4 extends in FIG. 7 continuously extends over the entire circumference at the top of the flange edge 42 on the can body. Of course, the connection may additionally or alternatively be located between the upright edge of the lid and the can body. The connection can be formed as a seal connection with only the plastic covering layers of the cover 43 and the can body 41, or comprise an intermediate layer comprising a plastic layer, which intermediate layer is hermetically connected to both the cover 43 and the can body 41. The flange edge can of course be provided of a beaded edge or are designed as a beaded edge in analogy with the embodiment of FIG. 1.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 has a lid 53 (in a view shown in FIG. 8c) which is less rigid than the lid shown in HG. 7 because the cover is substantially flat except for a number of locally arranged clamping areas 57 distributed over the circumference. FIG. 8a shows the package in longitudinal section at the location of a pull tab 60 provided locally on the cover 53. The hermetically sealed breakable connection 4 extends over a circumference between a relatively flat part of the flange edge 52 of the can body 51 and the cover 53 The connection 4 can be formed as a seal connection with only the plastic covering layers of cover 53 and requirement of body 51, or comprise an intermediate layer comprising a plastic layer which intermediate layer is hermetically connected to both the cover 53 and the can body 51 .

Because no clamping area is provided at the location of the pull tab 60, indicated by a flat flange part 59 of the lid 53, there is no or hardly any clamping action there at that location between the lid 53 and the bus body 51. Consequently, the hermetically sealed breakable connection can be it is not necessary at first to overcome the clamping force, to break it relatively easily. Moreover, the relatively flat cover 53 has a minimal bending resistance, so that the connection 4 can be broken more or less peelingly.

FIG. 8b shows the package in another longitudinal section, where the lid 53 is provided with an area 57 which is provided with a clamping shape. This area can cooperate with a clamping channel 58 provided for this purpose in the flange edge 52.

The clamping regions can of course also be arranged on or in the edge of the lid, as is shown by clamping means 67 in FIG. 8d. In that case, a bus body provided with a beaded edge will suffice, in analogy with the bus body shown in FIG. 1 is displayed.

FIG. 9 of the drawing shows an exemplary embodiment with a substantially unround cross-section. FIG. 9b shows the bus body 71 in a straight bus body part, which bus body is provided near its end with a conical part and a beaded edge 72. The edge of the cover 73 and of the bus body have a shape so coordinated with each other that in the straight portions of the can body 71 have a clamping action between the cover 73 and the can body 71. The cover has a clamping action due to its clamping under the beaded edge 72 of the can body 71.

In the corners, the can body 71 and the cover 73 experience no or hardly any clamping action. This does not unnecessarily complicate the opening of the package. A longitudinal section through one of the corners is shown in FIG. 9a.

The connection 4 in FIG. 9 extends continuously over the entire circumference between the can body 71 and the cover 73 provided. The connection may be formed as a seal connection with only the plastic covering layers of the cover 73 and the can body 71, or may comprise an intermediate layer comprising a plastic layer, which intermediate layer is hermetically connected to both the cover 73 and the can body 71.

The seal connections that can form part of the exemplary embodiments of the invention shown can be formed by arranging the cover 5 on the can body, and heating the plastic layers above the melting point at least where the seal connection is to form. A heated pressure stamp can be used for this, but other heating techniques can also be used, such as, for example, pulse heating, heating with a hot wire or hot knives, ultrasonic heating, friction heating, hot air heating, contact heating, induction heating, dielectric heating, magnetic hysteresis heating, laser heating.

The intermiscibility is usually good between two plastics of the same kind. In certain cases it is also possible to achieve the desired miscibility between plastic layers of mutually different types.

It has been found that the strength of the seal connection is generally not very sensitive to the pressure exerted during heating as long as the plastic layers are sufficiently fused together. A typical workable pressure is between 10 and 100 N / cm 2, but this can be deviated from. A typical suitable reduction of the joint thickness of the plastic layers in the seal joint is approximately 50%. This ensures great certainty that the plastic layer in the seal connection has actually been sufficiently melted, and at the same time a reasonable amount of the plastic remains present at the location of the seal connection.

The width of a hermetic seal connection is at least 1.0 mm, and more preferably at least 1.5 mm. However, more than 2.0 mm is not required for most applications.

The sealing properties are mainly determined by the bulk properties of the plastic used.

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Claims (14)

1. Metal package comprising a canister disaster and a lid, each formed from a metal plate laminated with a plastic covering layer, which canister disaster and lid have a form that is matched to each other such that the canister disaster can be clamped closed with the lid, and in a sterilization state of the packaging has a hermetically sealed, breakable connection between the two plastic covering layers. 2. Metal package according to claim 1, wherein the hermetically sealed breakable connection is formed by at least one seal connection. 3. Metal package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hermetically sealed breakable connection comprises an intermediate layer comprising at least one plastic layer. 4. Metal package according to claim 3, wherein the plastic layer comprises an intermediate layer plastic type which is similar to a coating layer plastic type which is present in at least one of the plastic coating layers. 5. Metal package according to claim 3 or 4, which intermediate layer can be removed separately from the lid to promote the breakability of the hermetically sealed breakable connection. A metal package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hermetically sealed connection can be broken manually. A metal package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein hermetically sealed breakable connection is peelable. A metal package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid is provided with aids for opening the package. onion ~ --if · -15- A metal package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coordinated shape of the canister and the lid comprises local clamping areas distributed over the circumference. 10. Metal package as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the hermetically sealed connection comprises a plastic filled with a filler, for instance of a ceramic material. 11. Metal package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the plastic coating layers comprises a coating layer plastic type from the group of polyolefins, preferably polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A metal package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal is packaging steel. 13. Method for providing a filled metal package, in which a canister and a lid are provided, which canister and lid are each formed from a metal plate laminated with a plastic coating, the canister is filled with a filling material, and the packaging is brought into a sterilization condition, wherein the canister disaster is clampedly closed with the lid, and subsequently a hermetically sealed breakable connection is formed between the two plastic coating layers. A method according to claim 13, wherein the package in its sterilization state is subjected to a sterilization process wherein the filling material is sterilized. : 4