HK1075874B - Reclosable pouring element - Google Patents

Description

Reclosable pouring element

Technical Field

The invention relates to a reclosable pouring element for multilayer composite packages having a base body and a pouring tube which is connected to the base body in an articulated manner and which is designed as an opening element for penetrating the package wall of the package in a weakening provided for this purpose, and to a package provided for this purpose.

Background

Multilayer composite packages are known in various documents, for example as flat-top composite packages or vertical packages. They are mainly used in the fields related to cold, cold aseptic, hot and aseptic perfusion. Although these packages were initially non-reclosable, almost without exception today the market is such packages with reclosable pouring elements.

Packages are known in which a pouring element is provided for the first opening of the package and a corresponding closing element is provided for reclosing the package (EP 0580593B 1). In the region of the cardboard layer and the outer polyethylene layer of the composite material of the package, a dividing line is provided for weakening the top material, and for opening the package an opening member, which is integral with the pouring member, is pressed into the packaging material at the dividing line. A lid for reclosing the package is also secured to the base of this known pouring element.

An improved structure is described in DE 19727996C 2. The known pouring element thus has a pouring tube which simultaneously serves as an opening element for penetrating the wall of the package. However, this known pouring element is disadvantageous in many respects. On the one hand, such pouring elements have a relatively high mechanism height, which is disadvantageous for transport, storage, etc. of packages equipped with such pouring elements. On the other hand, reliable and sealed (re-) closure in such pouring elements is not reliably solved. Furthermore, this known pouring element has a fixed pivot axis, so that the film partially surrounds the pouring tube and can be damaged in the region of the pivot axis after a plurality of manipulations of the pouring element, which in turn leads to a non-sealing property of the packaging. Finally, the opening of the pouring tube which is closed in the known pouring element is offset from the pouring edge of the composite package; this requires an atypical movement of the user when opening.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the pouring element mentioned at the outset and described in greater detail above in such a way that a pouring element which can be reliably opened and reclosed can be obtained with a small overall height, which pouring element is most user-friendly in any respect to the user.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the pouring tube is connected to the base body by a circumferential flexible film and is folded flat in the closed state, so that the folded-flat pouring tube is clamped tightly between the clamping edge and the clamping crosspiece of the base body.

According to the invention, it is possible to achieve that the overall height of the pouring element can be significantly reduced by folding the pouring tube flat, resulting in a better stackability and a more uniform design. The "planar sealing" of the pouring tube by folding flat and jamming makes the pouring element according to the invention still reliably seal after reclosing, so that, for example, the package can be shaken without any problem without any product running out.

Another teaching of the present invention provides that the spout and/or the membrane have a reinforcement serving as an opening feature. In this way it is ensured that the weakened packaging material below the pouring element can be reliably destroyed when the package is opened for the first time.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening of the pouring tube is directed in the closed state in the direction of the pouring edge of the package, so that the user can perform a "customary opening action" by lifting the closure from the front edge.

In a further teaching of the present invention, the spout tube has at least one vent passage. Preferably, this venting channel protrudes from the pouring tube on the side of the package, and the protruding part of the venting channel simultaneously serves as an opening means. The exhaust channel preferably has a plurality of individual channels, the cross-section of which tapers conically from the opening of the exhaust channel. By means of this configuration, a valve effect (ventilwrkung) is achieved during the filling process, which results in the venting channel always having a sufficient cross-sectional area.

It will of course be appreciated that the portion of the vent passage located in the pour tube cannot reach the opening of the pour tube so as not to impede the aperture from being reliably folded flat. This is not necessary, however, and for a good venting function it is sufficient for the venting channel to be located above the product stream and to extend into the package. The cross-section of the vent passage may be polygonal, preferably hexagonal, or circular or elliptical.

In order to ensure that the package wall at the weakened area is broken open in any case, a further teaching of the invention provides that the lower part of the venting channel, which serves as an opening means, is provided with a cutting edge or the like.

In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the pouring tube has further reinforcing ribs which project from the pouring tube on the side of the package and which support the opening process and ensure that the packaging material remains open when the pouring element is opened. In an advantageous embodiment, the reinforcing ribs are formed in order to achieve a better rigidity. Here, for example, an angle profile can be used. It is more suitable for reinforcing ribs to be attached to the extension of the pouring tube in order to achieve a defined pouring cross-sectional area.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the spout has a polygonal, circular or oval cross-section in the open position. This always achieves a best pouring cross-sectional area and enables the pouring tube to be used simultaneously as a "mouthpiece".

In order to reliably empty the entire package, the opening angle of the pouring tube of the pouring element according to the invention is preferably between 30 ° and 90 °. However, a flip angle of between 20 ° and 170 ° is also possible when using a vertical cassette.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the folded-flat opening of the pouring tube is held sealed closed by means of a clamping edge provided on the base body. In this way, dirt can be reliably prevented from entering the pouring tube before the first use and, in addition, a "response" to the user when reclosing is provided, so that the pouring tube folded flat can be snapped into the clamping edge in the closed or reclosed state, so that an audible and tactile sensation can be provided. In order to achieve a particularly secure flat folding, the wall of the pouring tube has a plurality of predetermined folding positions which act like film hinges.

Another teaching of the present invention provides that the pouring element has an original seal. The connection between the folded-flat pouring tube and the base body is preferably provided as an original seal, which is broken when the pouring element is opened for the first time.

The invention also relates to a flat-top package, in particular a composite cardboard/plastic package of hexahedral shape, which fits optimally on a substrate. It can be quickly seen that a reliable penetration of the package wall at the weakened area is only ensured if the position of the pouring element coincides exactly with the weakened area. The pouring element is connected to the packaging-preferably by thermal fusion-bonding or ultrasonic welding and high-frequency welding-depending on the material. Weakening of the packaging material in the weakened area may be achieved by perforation, preferably laser perforation, and/or hot air activation.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below with the aid of the drawings, which show only one preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

figure 1 is a perspective view of the pouring part without the composite package in the closed position,

figure 2 a perspective view of the pouring element of figure 1 in the open position,

figure 3a side view of the pouring element of figure 2,

figure 4a top view of the pouring element of figure 2,

figure 5a side view of the pouring element of figure 2 from the front,

figure 6 the pouring channel of the fig. 2 pouring element is seen in plan view in the direction of arrow VI in figure 3,

figure 7 a side view of the pouring element of figure 1,

figure 8 top view of the pouring element of figure 1

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pouring member of FIG. 4 taken along line IX-IX; and

fig. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pouring member of fig. 8 taken along the line X-X.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1, a pouring element according to the invention is shown in the closed position, and in particular in the form in which it is used, for example, in a packaging (not shown). It is essentially composed of a frame-shaped base body 1 with a circumferential support flange 2 and a pouring spout 3 which is only completely visible in the open position according to fig. 2. Only the folded-flat upper side 3A of this pouring tube 3 can be seen in fig. 1. The pouring tube 3 is surrounded by a surrounding flexible film 4, which film 4 is in turn connected to the base body 1 in one piece. In the embodiment shown and preferred in this respect, the film 4 has a plurality of single faces, quadrangular or triangular, of which the faces 4A to 4G can be seen in fig. 2 and the faces 4B to 4I can be seen in fig. 4.

For a clearer representation, three different views of the pouring element are shown in fig. 3 to 5, which are shown in perspective in fig. 2, and a longitudinal section is shown in fig. 9. It is clearly apparent that inside the pouring tube 3 there is a venting channel 5 and reinforcing ribs 6 supporting the opening process, both the venting channel 5 and the reinforcing ribs 6 serving to retain an area in the open position for a certain pouring cross section of the packaging material which is laterally pressed apart when the package is opened. As also shown above, the venting channel 5 protrudes from the pouring tube 3 on the side of the package, and the protruding part 5A of the venting channel 5 at the same time constitutes the opening means. For this purpose, the projecting part 5A of the venting channel 5 preferably has a cutting edge 7 at its lower end, as can be seen particularly clearly in fig. 2 and 5.

The perspective view of fig. 2 shows the pouring element after the pouring process, away from the pouring tool, i.e. with the pouring tube 3 open. In the embodiment shown and preferred in this respect, the pouring tube 3 has a hexagonal cross section, as can be clearly seen in fig. 6. According to another teaching of the present invention, the wall of the pouring tube 3 has a plurality of predetermined folded positions. The geometry of the pouring tube 3 is particularly suitable for enabling the pouring tube 3 to be folded completely flat when the pouring element is closed.

A clamping edge 8 can be seen at the front edge of the circumferential counter flange 2, the clamping edge 8 having a projection 8A in the upper region facing the pouring tube. This can be seen particularly clearly in fig. 3. The clamping edge 8 furthermore has a recess in its middle region in order to be able to receive a projection 9 of the pouring tube 3 (extension of the upper side 3A of the pouring tube 3) which serves as an opening aid.

After the pouring element has left the tool, the pouring tube 3 is folded flat and has the shape shown in figures 1, 7, 8 and 10. In this way, the exhaust gas duct 5 "disappears" in the interior of the base body 1, as is particularly clearly visible from fig. 10. It can be seen that the pouring element according to the invention has a relatively small height, which is important for the pouring element to have a pleasing aesthetic overall impression and for the package provided with such a pouring element to have a good stackability.

The pouring tube 3 folded flat is bent with little prestress by means of a clamping crosspiece 10 projecting upwards from the base body 1, as can be seen in particular from fig. 7 and 10. So that the dispensing tube 3 is pressed from below by the clamping crosspiece 10 and from above by the flat mutual pressure of the clamping edge 8, so that its hole is closed in a reliably sealed manner. This enables a reclosable beverage package with a pouring element according to the invention to be shaken without dripping and also makes it possible to reliably prevent the ingress of dust, moisture, etc.

The pouring element according to the invention may also have an original seal (not shown) which may be arranged, for example, between the gripping edge 8 and the folded-flat pouring tube 3 and which is broken when the package provided with the pouring element according to the invention is opened for the first time, so that the consumer can see at a glance whether the package is in the unopened state or not.

In the embodiment shown and preferred in this respect the opening angle is approximately 65 °. This is sufficient for emptying the package completely without dripping, but a flip angle of between 30 ° and 60 ° is also technically possible. In the case of a vertical bag for pouring elements according to the invention, a tilting angle of between 20 ° and 170 ° is also possible.

It goes without saying that the pouring element according to the invention can be used precisely in the region of the weakened area of the composite packaging, so that the weakened area of the composite packaging can be reliably destroyed during opening in order to reliably obtain a sufficiently large opening cross section. The pouring element is preferably arranged on the package in such a way that the opening of the pouring tube 3 points in the closed state towards the pouring edge of the package, in order to achieve a maximum comfort of use.

Claims (24)

1. A reclosable pouring element for multilayer composite packaging, having a base body (1) and a pouring tube (3) which is hingedly connected to the base body (1), the pouring tube (3) being designed as an opening element for penetrating the packaging wall of the packaging in a weakening provided for this purpose, characterized in that the pouring tube (3) is connected to the base body (1) by a peripheral flexible film (4) and is folded flat in the closed state, so that the pouring tube (3) folded flat is sealingly clamped between a clamping edge (8) and a clamping crosspiece (10) of the base body (1).

2. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouring tube (3) and/or the membrane (4) have/has a reinforcement (6, 7) serving as an opening element.

3. A pouring element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening of the pouring tube (3) is directed in the direction of the pouring edge of the package in the closed state.

4. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouring tube (3) has at least one venting channel (5).

5. Pouring element according to claim 4, characterized in that the venting channel (5) protrudes from the pouring tube (3) on the side of the package and that the protruding part (5A) of the venting channel (5) simultaneously serves as an opening element.

6. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouring tube (3) has, on the side of the package, a reinforcing rib (6) projecting over the pouring tube (3), said reinforcing rib (6) ensuring that the packaging material remains open when the pouring element is opened.

7. Pouring element according to claim 6, characterized in that the reinforcing ribs (6) are formed.

8. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the venting channel (5) is provided with a cutting edge (7) as an opening aid on the side of the package.

9. Pouring element according to claim 8, characterized in that the venting channel (5) has a hexagonal cross-section in the open position.

10. Pouring element according to claim 8, characterized in that the discharge channel (5) has a plurality of single channels.

11. Pouring element according to claim 8, characterized in that the cross-section of the venting channel (5) tapers conically from the opening.

12. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouring tube (3) has a polygonal cross-section in the open position.

13. Pouring element according to claim 12, characterized in that the pouring tube (3) has a hexagonal cross-section in the open position.

14. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouring tube (3) has a circular or oval cross-section in the open position.

15. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall of the pouring tube (3) has a plurality of predetermined folding positions (11).

16. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouring tube (3) has a flip-open angle of between 30 ° and 90 °.

17. A pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element has an original seal.

18. A multi-layer composite package provided with a reclosable pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A package according to claim 18, wherein the pouring element is attached by heat-fusion-bonding.

20. A package according to claim 18, wherein the pouring member is attached by ultrasonic welding.

21. A package according to claim 18, wherein the pouring element is attached by high frequency welding.

22. A package according to any of claims 18 to 21 wherein the packaging material has a composite weakening in the weakening zone by perforation and/or hot air activation.

23. A package according to claim 22, wherein the perforations are laser perforations.

24. A package according to claim 18, characterized in that the pouring element is mounted on the package in such a way that the opening of the pouring tube (3) points towards the pouring edge of the package in the closed state.