WO2021234022A1

WO2021234022A1 - Paper-based or paperboard-based container and method

Info

Publication number: WO2021234022A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/063332
Authority: WO
Inventors: Esteban ROSES
Original assignee: Elopak AS
Current assignee: Elopak AS
Priority date: 2020-05-20
Filing date: 2021-05-19
Publication date: 2021-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-20
Also published as: NO20200601A1

Abstract

A paper-based or paperboard-based container (100) for holding a pourable food product is disclosed. The container is made from a laminated packaging sheet material (200) which is folded to form the container. The sheet material comprises a cut (202) extending partway through the sheet material from an outside surface (204) thereof. The sheet material is configured to be broken along which cut during a first opening of the container revealing an opening in the container. The cut at least partially encloses a sub-panel section (207) of the sheet material and a cover panel (206) is attached to an outside surface of the sub-panel section allowing the sheet material to be broken along the cut at the first opening and the sub-panel section to be removed from the opening by an operator manually manipulating the cover panel. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Description

PAPER-BASED OR PAPERBOARD-BASED CONTAINER AND METHOD

Field of the invention

The present disclosure relates to a paper-based or paperboard-based container for holding a pourable food product, the container comprising a laminate packaging sheet material which is folded to form said container.

In particular, the present disclosure relates to an opening arrangement in such a container.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of producing a paper-based or paperboard- based container for holding a pourable food product.

Background

Within the art of paperboard-based packaging, it is known to produce a blank and fold and assemble the blank to produce a container. The container may then be utilised to hold a pourable food product, e.g. a liquid, e.g. dairy products, such as milk or yoghurt, or juices.

The blank is typically produced from a laminate packaging material, which typically comprises a multi-ply paperboard sheet on which is laminated one or a plurality of barrier layers for holding the food product and/or prevent migration of air and flavours through the paperboard. A barrier layer may typically comprise a polyethylene or an aluminium layer.

A method of producing the blank from the laminate packaging material typically comprises the steps of cutting the laminate packaging material to a predefined shape, and a method of producing the container from the blank typically comprises the step of folding the blank along predefined folding lines to produce the container.

The blank may be provided with crease lines in the laminate packaging material to aid folding of the blank along the folding lines. A crease line, or crease, may be defined as an embossed or impressed depression on one side of the laminate packaging material with a corresponding raised ridge or welt, also referred to as the bead, on the other side forming a line along which the laminate packaging material is structurally weakened and along which the laminate packaging material will bend or fold when pressure is applied.

Alternatively, a paperboard-based container may be produced in a roll-fed process in which a continuous web of laminate packaging material is fed to a filling machine, folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube. The tube is then filled with the pourable food product, sealed and cut transversally to form so called pouches. The pouches are than provided with an opening device and manipulated to obtain its final, gable-top form. Said manipulation typically involves folding down and securing gable sections of the carton to side panel section of the same.

The container may be provided with an opening arrangement allowing a consumer to open the container to access the food product. In the prior art, it is known to use plastic opening arrangement, such as arrangements comprising plastic pour spouts and lid portions. However, there is a general need for opening arrangements requiring less plastic. The present disclosure addresses this problem.

Summary of the invention

With the abovementioned challenges and known solutions in mind, and according to a first example aspect, the present disclosure provides a paper-based or paperboard-based container for holding a pourable food product, the container comprising a laminated packaging sheet material which is folded to form said container. The sheet material comprises a cut extending partway through the sheet material from an outside surface thereof, along which cut the sheet material is configured to be broken during a first opening of the container, revealing an opening therein. The cut at least partially encircles a sub-panel section of the sheet material. A cover panel is attached to an outside surface of the sub-panel section allowing the sheet material to be broken along the cut at the first opening and the sub-panel section to be removed from the opening by an operator manually manipulating the cover panel.

The sub-panel section may be reintroduced into the opening after the first opening to reclose the opening.

The cover panel may be being hingedly attached to the sheet material outside of the sub panel section, thus providing a connection between the container and the sub-panel section after the first opening. Said manipulation of the cover panel may comprise rotating or pivoting the cover panel about the hinged attachment.

The cover panel may comprise a paper or paperboard sheet.

The cut may extend into the sheet material to a depth which is within the range of 10% to 90% of the thickness of the sheet material. However, if the sheet material comprises a polymer layer forming an inside surface of the container, it may be advantageous if the cut extends into the sheet material to said polymer layer, thus leaving only the polymer layer to be broken during the first opening. The cut may extend into the sheet material substantially orthogonal to the outside surface of the sheet material and the cut may advantageously form a continuous, closed loop.

The cut may be positioned in a top panel section of the container located between a top fin and a front panel section of the container. To facilitate pouring a food product through the opening, the top panel section may comprise a linear impression extending between the cut and the front panel section. The impression may be curvilinear and extend parallel to the cut and may comprise any one of a crease line and a male impression.

According to a second example aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of producing a paper-based or paperboard-based container for holding a pourable food product, comprising the steps of: a) providing a laminated packaging sheet material; b) providing a cut extending partway through the sheet material from an outside surface thereof and at least partially enclosing a sub-panel section of the sheet material and defining an opening in the container; c) folding, filling and sealing the sheet material to form said container; d) attaching a cover panel to an outside surface of the sub-panel section allowing the sheet material, at a first opening of the container, to be broken along the cut and the sub panel section removed from the opening by an operator manually manipulating the cover panel.

The method may comprise the step of hingedly attaching the cover panel the sheet material outside of the sub-panel section providing a hinged connection between the container and the sub-panel section after the first opening.

The method may comprise the step of providing the cover panel as a cover panel comprising a paper or paperboard sheet.

The method may comprise the step of providing the cut as a cut extending into the sheet material to a depth which is within the range of 10% to 90% of the thickness of the sheet material.

The method may comprise the step of providing the packaging sheet material as a packaging sheet material comprising a polymer layer forming an inside surface of the sheet material, and by the step of providing the cut as a cut extending into the sheet material to said polymer layer.

The method may comprise the step of providing the cut as a cut extending into the sheet material substantially orthogonal to the outside surface of the sheet material. The method may comprise the step of providing the cut as a cut forming a closed loop.

The method may comprise the step of providing the cut as a cut being positioned in a top panel section of the container located between a top fin and a front panel section of the container.

The method may comprise the step of providing the top panel section as a top panel section comprising a linear impression extending between the cut and the front panel section.

The method may comprise the step of providing the impression as an impression being curvilinear and extending parallel to the cut.

The method may comprise the step of providing the impression as an impression comprising any one of a crease line and a male impression.

Above-discussed preferred and/or optional features of each aspect of the invention may be used, alone or in appropriate combination, in the other aspects of the invention. Description of the drawings

Following drawings are appended to facilitate the understanding of the disclosure:

Fig. l is a part-view of a container comprising an opening arrangement in a closed position.

Figs. 2 shows the container according to Fig. 1 with the opening arrangement in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a part-view of a container having a further embodiment of an opening arrangement.

It should be understood that the drawings are not intended to limit the invention to the subject-matter depicted in the drawings.

In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used to indicate common parts, elements or features unless otherwise explicitly stated or implicitly understood by the context.

Detailed description

In the following embodiments of containers will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. However, it is specifically intended that the invention as defined in the claims is not limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein but includes modified forms of the embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the claims.

Figs. 1 and 2 are a part- views showing a paper-based or paperboard-based container 100 configured for holding a pourable food product. The food product may typically be a pourable liquid, e.g. a fruit juice or a dairy product, e.g. milk.

The container of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is typically referred to as a gable-top carton.

The container 100 is generally produced by folding and sealing a laminate packaging sheet material 200. The container may be produced by providing individual sheets of the sheet material to a filing machine in which the individual sheets, which are commonly referred to as blanks, are folded, filled and sealed. Sealing is typically effectuated by hot-sealing or hot- welding polymer layers in the sheet material, e.g. polyethylene (PE) layers. Sealing may alternatively be effectuated by gluing. The process of folding, filling and sealing a blank is known as such and will not be discussed further in any detail here.

The container 100 comprises a front panel section 102, a top panel section 104 and a top fin 106. In the present embodiment, a first crease line 108 provides a border between the front panel section 102 and the top panel section 104. Also, a second crease line 110 forms a border between the top panel section 104 and the top fin 106.

The container 100 displays an opening arrangement comprising a cut 202 extending partway through the sheet material 200 orthogonally from an outside surface 204 of the sheet material 200 - in this case from an outside surface of the top panel section 104. This type of cut is sometimes referred to as a half-cut - as compared to a through-cut, which extends all the way through the sheet material. In the longitudinal direction, the cut 202 may be continuous. Alternatively, the cut 202 may be discontinuous in the longitudinal direction, i.e. comprise continuous, cut sections separated by sections of uncut sheet material forming bridges.

The cut 202 defines an opening 210 in the container 100 and, after a first opening of the container, allows access to a product contained therein. The cut 202 encircles a sub-panel section 207 of the top panel section 104, which sub-panel section 207 is configured to be separated from the rest of the top panel section 104 when the opening arrangement is brought to an open position, as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

The opening arrangement further comprises a cover panel 206 which is attached to the top panel section 102 and covers the sub-panel 207. The cover panel 206 may be made from a laminate packaging sheet material. In the present embodiment, the cover panel 206 is generally rectangular and comprises a top edge 240, side edges 242, 244 and a bottom edge 246.

The cover panel 206 comprises a pivotable section 220 to which the sub-panel 207 is attached. In other words, the pivotable section 220 forms a sub-panel section of the cover panel 260. The pivotable section 220 is defined by two curvilinear cuts 222a, 222b extending from the bottom edge 246 towards the top edge 240 on either side of the cut 202. The cuts 222a, 222b terminate at a crease line and/or through-cut complex 224 forming a hinge for the pivotable section 220. The cuts 222a, 222b may be continuous or discontinuous through- cuts or half-cuts.

When bringing the opening arrangement from a closed position to an open position during a first opening of the container 100, an operator manually manipulates the pivotable section 220 of the cover panel 206 by lifting the section of the bottom edge 246 between the cuts 222a, 222b from the top panel section 104 and pivoting the pivotable section 220 outwards and upwards about the hinge formed by the crease line and through-cut complex 224. Since the sub-panel 207 is attached to the pivotable section 220, this operation will break the sheet material 200 of the container 100 along the cut 202 and separate the sub-panel 207 from the top panel section 104, thus revealing the opening 210, as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

If the packaging sheet material 200 comprises a polymer layer forming an inside surface of the container 100, it may be advantageous if the cut extends into the sheet material 200 to said polymer layer. In such a configuration, only the inside polymer layer needs to be broken during the first opening. Generally, however, the cut may extend into the sheet material 200 to a depth which is within the range of 10% to 90% of the thickness of the sheet material.

In order to facilitate the breaking of the sheet material 200 along the cut 202, the first opening operation may include the operator pushing down onto the pivotable section 220 prior to lifting and pivoting the same. This will break or at least weaken the sheet material remaining along the cut and, thus, facilitate the subsequent lifting and pivoting of the pivotable section 220. In order to facilitate this initial breaking or weakening of the sheet material along the cut 202, the pivotable section 220 may comprise crease lines and/or cuts 226 directing the forces resulting from the pushing action as desired, i.e. concentrating the forces at the cut 202.

In order to facilitate the initial lifting of the pivotable section 220, the bottom edge 246 may, in the section between the cuts 222a, 222b, be provided with a curvilinear, convex shape, as is illustrated in Fig. 1.

When bringing the opening arrangement from the open position to the closed position, the operator pivots the pivotable section 220 back to its original position in the opening 210. In this position the cut edges of the cut 202 will interact and contribute to keep the pivotable section 220 in the closed position, i.e. substantially planar to the rest of the cover panel 206 and substantially parallel to the top panel section 104. Consequently, the pivotable section 220 and the sub-panel section 207 attached thereto form a reclosable lid section of the opening arrangement.

The cover panel 206 may preferably be made from a paper or paperboard sheet comprising outer polymer layers. This allows the cover panel 206 to be hot-sealed or hot-welded to the sheet material 200 of the container, including to the outer surface of the sub-panel section 207, e.g. using an ultrasonic welding technique. Alternatively, the cover panel 206 may be glued to the sheet material 200 or attached thereto by other means.

In the region surrounding the opening 210, i.e. outside of the cut 202, a relatively weak, breakable bond may be provided between the pivotable section 220 and the top panel section 104, which bond keeps the pivotable section 220 in contact with the front panel section 104 prior to the first opening, but which bond is sufficiently weak to be broken during the first opening. As previously discussed, however, outside of the pivotable section 220 a strong, permanent bond should be formed between the cover panel 206 and the top panel section 104 to secure the opening arrangement to the rest of the container. Also, a strong, permanent bond should be formed between the pivotable section 220 of the cover panel 206 and the sub-panel section 207 to allow the sub-panels section 207 to be separated from the rest of the front panel section 104 by the operator pulling on the pivotable section 220.

In order to facilitate pouring of the food product through the opening 210, a linear impression may be arranged in the top panel section between the cut and the front panel. Fig. 3 illustrates an example of such an impression 214 which extend between the cut 202 and the front panel 102 and deforms the top panel section 104 locally around the opening 210 forming a small pour spout. In the present embodiment, the impression 214 is curvilinear and extend substantially parallel to the cut 202, which arrangement has proved to prevent in particular liquid food products from sullying the outside of the top panel section 104 when the food product is poured from the container. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which, for clarity, have been described above in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which, for brevity, have been described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

In the preceding description, various aspects of the blank and container according to the invention have been described with reference to the illustrative embodiment. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, systems and configurations were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the apparatus and its workings. However, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and variations of the illustrative embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the apparatus, which are apparent to person skilled in the art to which the disclosed subject-matter pertains, may lie within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A paper-based or paperboard-based container (100) for holding a pourable food product, the container (100) comprising a laminated packaging sheet material (200) which is folded to form said container (100), the sheet material (200) comprising a cut (202) extending partway through the sheet material (200) from an outside surface (204) thereof, along which cut (202) the sheet material (200) is configured to be broken during a first opening of the container (100) revealing an opening (210) in the container (100), characterised by the cut (202) at least partially enclosing a sub-panel section (207) of the sheet material (200) and by a cover panel (206) being attached to an outside surface of the sub-panel section (207) allowing the sheet material (200) to be broken along the cut (202) at the first opening and the sub-panel section (207) removed from the opening (210) by an operator manually manipulating the cover panel (206).

2. The container (100) according to claim 1, characterised by the cover panel (206) being hingedly attached to the sheet material (200) outside of the sub-panel section (207) providing a connection between the container (100) and the sub-panel section (207) after the first opening.

3. The container (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the cover panel (206) comprising a paper or paperboard sheet.

4. The container (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the cut (202) extending into the sheet material (200) to a depth which is within the range of 10% to 90% of the thickness of the sheet material.

5. The container (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the packaging sheet material (200) comprising a polymer layer forming an inside surface of the sheet material (200), and by the cut (202) extending into the sheet material (200) to said polymer layer.

6. The container (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the cut (202) extending into the sheet material (200) substantially orthogonal to the outside surface (204) of the sheet material (200).

7. The container (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the cut (202) forming a closed loop.

8. The container (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the cut (202) being positioned in a top panel section (104) of the container (100) located between a top fin (106) and a front panel section (102) of the container (100).

9. The container (100) according to claim 8, characterised by the top panel section (102) comprising a linear impression (214) extending between the cut (202) and the front panel section (102).

10. The container (100) according to claim 9, characterised by the impression (214) being curvilinear and extending parallel to the cut (202).

11. The container (100) according to any one of claims 9 and 10, characterised by the impression (214) comprising any one of a crease line and a male impression.

12. A method of producing a paper-based or paperboard-based container (100) for holding a pourable food product, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a laminated packaging sheet material (200);

(b) providing a cut (202) extending partway through the sheet material (200) from an outside surface (204) thereof and at least partially enclosing a sub-panel section (207) of the sheet material (200) and defining an opening (210) in the container (100);

(c) folding, filling and sealing the sheet material (200) to form said container (100);

(d) attaching a cover panel (206) to an outside surface of the sub-panel section (207) allowing the sheet material (200), at a first opening of the container (100), to be broken along the cut (202) and the sub-panel section (207) removed from the opening (210) by an operator manually manipulating the cover panel (206).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterised by the step of hingedly attaching the cover panel (206) the sheet material (200) outside of the sub-panel section (207) providing a hinged connection between the container (100) and the sub-panel section (207) after the first opening.

14. The method according to any one of claims 12-13, characterised by the step of providing the cover panel (206) as a cover panel (206) comprising a paper or paperboard sheet.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12-14, characterised by the step of providing the cut (202) as a cut (202) extending into the sheet material (200) to a depth which is within the range of 10% to 90% of the thickness of the sheet material.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12-15, characterised by the step of providing the packaging sheet material (200) as a packaging sheet material (200) comprising a polymer layer forming an inside surface of the sheet material (200), and by the step of providing the cut (202) as a cut (202) extending into the sheet material (200) to said polymer layer.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12-16, characterised by the step of providing the cut (202) as a cut (202) extending into the sheet material (200) substantially orthogonal to the outside surface (204) of the sheet material (200).

18. The method according to any one of claims 12-17, characterised by the step of providing the cut (202) as a cut (202) forming a closed loop.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12-18, characterised by the step of providing the cut (202) as a cut (202) being positioned in a top panel section (104) of the container (100) located between a top fin (106) and a front panel section (102) of the container (100).

20. The method according to claim 19, characterised by the step of providing the top panel section (102) as a top panel section (102) comprising a linear impression (214) extending between the cut (202) and the front panel section (102).

21. The method according to claim 20, characterised by the step of providing the impression (214) as an impression (214) being curvilinear and extending parallel to the cut (202).

22. The method according to any one of claims 20 and 21, characterised by the step of providing the impression (214) as an impression (214) comprising any one of a crease line and a male impression.