EP3205593A1 - Container comprising a thermoformed body and a wrapper - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (10) comprises a body (12) of thermoformed thermoplastic material and a streamer (16) wound around the body so as to surround it. Of the two end portions of the streamer, at least the first end portion (16A) has a fastening configuration comprising at least one fastening opening (18) which cooperates with the second end portion (16B) and of the streamer to fix between them said first and second ends.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a container comprising a body of thermoformed thermoplastic material and a streamer wrapped around the body so as to surround the body.

Containers of this type are known, serving for example to contain a liquid or pasty product, such as yogurt, milk product in general, compote, or the like. In such conventional containers, the inner face of the streamer is glued on its entire surface, in particular by being coated with a heat-sealable product, and thus adheres to the body of the container by gluing. In particular, the pre-bonded streamer is arranged wound on itself in a thermoforming chamber, and the material of the container body is thermoformed in this chamber, so that the heat released by this material activates the heat-sealable product, and the streamer thus adheres to the body of the container when, under the effect of thermoforming, it is pressed against the streamer.

By convention, the body of the container having an open end and a bottom opposite this open end, it is considered that the direction which goes from this open end to the bottom of the body (corresponding to the direction of the thermoforming piston which serves to repel the thermoplastic material during thermoforming) is the vertical direction, which is transverse to the winding direction of the streamer.

In such a conventional container, holding the container in vertical compression is mainly provided by the intrinsic rigidity of the container body. Therefore, this body must have a minimum thickness to ensure the desired holding. As a result, the amount of thermoplastic material required for the manufacture of the container, and in particular of its body, is relatively large. In particular, for a yoghurt pot type container, having a height of about 6 cm, made of polystyrene, the thickness of the thermoplastic material of the container body is of the order of 115 microns, while that of the streamer bonded over its entire surface to the body of the container is of the order of 85 microns, a total thickness of the order of 200 microns.

However, even if there is a tendency to use non-petroleum thermoplastic materials, this trend is not widespread, and such materials may be difficult to thermoform or not to ensure the desired holding, including vertical compression. Consequently, having to have such a quantity of thermoplastic material is unecological.

The constraints mentioned above are particularly related to the fact that the inner face of the streamer is glued to the body of the container over its entire surface, the streamer providing only part of the mechanical strength.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure aims to provide a container whose streamer can better contribute to the holding of the container, in particular its resistance to vertical compression.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, it relates to a container comprising a body of thermoformed thermoplastic material and a streamer wrapped around the body so as to surround the body, container in which, among the two end portions of the streamer at least the first end portion has a fastening configuration comprising at least one fastening aperture which cooperates with the second end portion of the streamer to fix between them said first and second ends.

According to this first aspect, the two end portions of the streamer cooperate with one another, via the fastening configuration comprising the fastening opening, and also cooperate with the body of the container. Therefore, to form the streamer, a thicker and more mechanically strong material can be chosen than in the state of the art. Thus, once wound on itself, the streamer constitutes an object having its own behavior, which makes it possible to produce a container having at least the same resistance to vertical compression as the containers of the prior art, with a thickness of less wall and, therefore, with less thermoplastic material.

Optionally, the streamer has a retaining edge cooperating mechanically inlay with the body of the container.

As will be seen in the following, this retaining edge may be formed recessed in the streamer (it is for example the edge of the aforementioned fixing opening, or a wedging opening which will be described later ), in which case the material of the container body is embedded in this hollow during thermoforming. The retaining edge may, on the contrary, be formed in the form of a scar (it is for example the edge of a fastening lug which will be described later), in which case it is then this edge that is embedded in the container body during thermoforming of the latter.

Such mechanical linkage by inlay makes it possible to limit the thickness of the thermoplastic material, and therefore the quantity of this material, and the quantity of glue possibly used for fixing the streamer.

Optionally, the streamer has a current portion whose inner surface is not sized, said current portion advantageously representing at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, or even at least 95%, of the length of the streamer, measured according to its winding direction.

The fixation of the streamer on itself and the body of the container is ensured by the cooperation between the two ends of the streamer, via the fixing configuration and the opening of the binding. As a result, it is possible to avoid sticking the entire inner surface of the streamer. This saves sizing material and produce a greener container than in the state of the art, heat-sealing products are generally relatively polluting products.

Optionally, the wall of the container body is embedded in the at least one attachment opening.

This incrustation of the wall of the container body in the fastening opening contributes to the mechanical connection between the body of the container and the streamer, and thus contributes to locally stiffening the container body which promotes its mechanical strength, particularly its strength. to compression.

Optionally, the second end portion covers the first end portion, the inner face of the second end portion is coated with glue and the said second end portion is secured to the body of the container which is in contact with the glue. through said at least one fastening aperture.

For example, only the first end portion has one or more attachment apertures, while the second end portion is solid, and thus forms a solid band glued only on a small surface. The second end portion is directly secured to the body of the container by glue, in a small quantity, passing through the one or more attachment openings, and the first end portion is also perfectly secured to the body of the container being sandwiched between the body and the second end portion. Optionally, the adhesive on the inner face of the second end portion may also contribute to the attachment of the first and second end portions therebetween.

Optionally, the first end portion has a row of attachment openings disposed transversely to the winding direction of the streamer and the inner face of the second end portion has a band of glue covering said row.

For example, the fixing apertures each represent an area of the order of 3 mm ² to 25 mm ² , preferably of the order of 10 mm ² to 20 mm ² , and are advantageously circular.

Optionally, said at least one fastening aperture is slit-shaped and the second end portion has at least one fastening tab inserted into said slit-shaped fastening aperture for holding the wrapped streamer while retaining the second portion of end relative to the first end portion.

In this case, the first and second end portions of the streamer are mechanically fixed to each other by insertion of the fastening tab into the fastening opening. In addition, the presence of this tab and its insertion into this opening promote the mechanical strength of the streamer, in particular its resistance to vertical compression.

Optionally, at least one of the edges of the fixing lug has a notch promoting the retention of the fixing lug in the slot-shaped fastening opening.

This notch cooperates by hooking with an edge of the slot-shaped fastening opening, and therefore opposes tearing of the fastening tab outside the slot-shaped fastening opening, in a direction contrary to the direction of insertion.

Optionally, said at least one bracket is embedded in the wall of the container body.

The fastening tab inserted in the slot-shaped fastening opening forms a relief on the inner side of the streamer. When thermoforming the body of the container, this tab is embedded in the wall of the body of the container. This promotes the mechanical strength between the streamer and the container body, and also promotes the mechanical strength of the container body, in particular its resistance to vertical compression.

Optionally, the streamer has at least one wedging opening, located between said first and second end portions and wherein the wall of the body of the vessel is inlaid.

During thermoforming, the wall of the container body penetrates into the setting opening, which can also be configured to contribute to a decorative effect given by the streamer, and the inlay thus produced promotes the mechanical strength of fixing between the streamer and the wall of the container body. There may be several wedging openings distributed evenly along the length of the streamer.

Optionally, the streamer has a height, measured transversely to its winding direction, which is at least equal to the height of the body of the container.

In this case, the streamer contributes to the mechanical strength of the container body over the entire height of this body.

Optionally, the container has a thermoformed flange integral with the body, and the body is suspended in the streamer by the rim.

In this case, it is mainly the streamer which ensures the mechanical strength of the container, and in particular its resistance to vertical compression.

For example, the streamer is made of cardboard material having a basis weight of 150 to 250 g / cm ² .

For example, the streamer has a thickness of between 200 μm and 800 μm, advantageously between 200 μm and 400 μm, more advantageously between 200 μm and 300 μm.

For example, the streamer has a compressive strength of between 15 and 25 daN, advantageously between 18 and 22 daN, the compressive strength being measured according to the height of the streamer, transversely to its direction of winding.

For example, the thickness of the thermoplastic material of the body is between 60 μm and 100 μm, advantageously between 80 μm and 90 μm.

In particular, for a yoghurt pot type container according to the present disclosure, having a height of the order of 6 cm, manufactured in polystyrene, the thickness of the thermoplastic material of the container body is of the order of 85 microns, while that of the streamer provided with the fixing configuration is of the order of 220 microns, ie a total thickness of the order 305 μm.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the expression "of the order of" means "equal", subject to a manufacturing tolerance, which is generally 5%.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un récipient selon le présent exposé ;
• la figure 2 montre, en perspective et à plat, une bandelette servant à la réalisation d'une banderole pour le récipient selon un premier aspect ;
• la figure 3 montre la banderole réalisée à l'aide de la bandelette de la figure 2 à l'état partiellement enroulée ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective de dessus, montrant partiellement l'intérieur du corps du récipient ;
• la figure 5 montre, à plat, une bandelette servant à la réalisation d'une banderole pour un récipient selon un deuxième mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 6 montre en perspective le récipient obtenu à l'aide de la bandelette de la figure 5 conformée en banderole ; et
• la figure 7 montre le récipient de la figure 7 sans sa banderole.

This presentation will be well understood and its various aspects will appear better on reading the following detailed description of embodiments shown by way of non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the present disclosure;
• the figure 2 shows, in perspective and flat, a strip for producing a streamer for the container according to a first aspect;
• the figure 3 shows the banner made using the tape of the figure 2 in the partially wound state;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view from above, partially showing the inside of the container body;
• the figure 5 shows, flat, a strip for producing a streamer for a container according to a second embodiment;
• the figure 6 shows in perspective the container obtained using the strip of the figure 5 shaped as a streamer; and
• the figure 7 shows the container of the figure 7 without his banner.

The figure 1 , which illustrates the first embodiment, shows a container 10 comprising a thermoformed body 12 (whose contour is shown in dashed lines) and a rim 14 thermoformed in one piece with this body. Conventionally, the body defines a fastening plane for a cover, such as a peelable strip, glued to the flange.

The container 10 also comprises a streamer 16 wound around the body 12 so as to surround it. The first end portion 16A of the streamer, which is covered by its second end portion 16B, is shown in dashed lines. It can be seen that the first end portion 16A comprises fastening apertures 18 which cooperate with the second end portion 16B. More precisely, in the openings 18, the inner face of the second end portion 16B is in contact with the body of the container which is thus fixed to said second end portion 16B, thereby promoting the attachment cooperation between said first and second ends.

On the figure 2 the strip in which the streamer is made is shown flat. Thus, this strip 16 has the first end portion 16A with the openings 18, the second end portion 16B and a common portion 16C which extends from the free end of the first end portion 16A, at the second end portion 16B.

The figure 2 shows the face of the band which, when the band is formed, will be the inside of this band. On all the current portion 16C of this strip, and therefore the streamer, its inner surface is not glued. In this case, only the second end portion 16B has a glued inner face thus forming a glued strip extending over the entire height H of the strip and the band, this height H being measured, transversely to the direction of the band. winding S of the streamer, in the direction of the depth of the container body. Conventionally, the length L of this adhesive strip, measured in the winding direction S of the streamer, represents between 3 and 20% of the total length LT of the strip, preferably between 4 and 10% of this length LT, more preferably between 4 and 7% of this length LT.

It can be seen that the fastening openings 18 form a row of fastening apertures arranged transversely to the winding direction S of the streamer, said row of fastening openings being inscribed in a length of streamer having the same length L as the glue strip located at the second end portion 16B. So, as we see on the figure 3 when the streamer is wound on itself so that the first end portion 16A is covered by the second end portion 16B, the attachment openings 18 are completely covered by said second end portion 16B.

The fixing openings shown in the figures by way of examples are circular, knowing however that another shape, for example an oblong shape, could be envisaged. For a container having a maximum diametrical dimension of the order of 5 to 6 cm, the streamer has a total length LT of the order of 16 to 20 cm. For example, the length L of the adhesive strip may be of the order of 7 mm and the diameter D of the fastening openings may be of the order of 5 mm. It is understood that, in the form of the body of the container in the streamer, the second end portion 16B covers the first end portion 16A, and the second end portion 16B is secured to the body 12 of the container 10 by the glue passing through the fastening openings 18.

As we see on the figure 4 , the wall of the container body is embedded in the fastening openings 18. In fact, during thermoforming of the body of the container, the thermoplastic material constituting the body of this container is pushed into a thermoforming chamber containing the wound streamer, and set in internal pressure. This material is naturally pushed back into the fastening openings covered, on the external side, by the second end portion. This encrustation of the body wall in the fastening openings contributes to the mechanical strength of the binding between the streamer and the body of the container.

We now describe the Figures 5 to 7 , which illustrate a second embodiment.

The figure 5 shows, flat, a strip 26 for forming a streamer around a container according to a second embodiment. This strip / banner 26 has the same overall dimensions as the strip / banner 16 of the preceding figures, but the one or more fastening apertures 28 are slit-shaped. In this case, two slot-shaped fastening apertures 28 are shown. The first portion of the end 26A of the streamer 26 is thus provided with fixing slots. For its part, the second end portion 26B of this streamer 26 is in this case provided with two attachment lugs 27 intended to be inserted into the slots 28. The height H27 of the lugs 27 is slightly smaller than the height H28 of the slits 28. We see on the figure 5 at the base of the tabs 27, notches 29. Overall, the sum of the height H27 of a tab 27 and the height H29 of the notch 29 located at its base is equal to or very slightly less than the height H28 of the slot 28 in which this tab is intended to be inserted. The base 27 'of the tab 27 is substantially aligned with the lower edge 28' of the corresponding mounting slot 28, so that when the tab is inserted into the slot, this tab naturally descends to the bottom of this slot so that the notch 29 is attached to the lower edge of the slot. We see that, in line with the slots 28, the free end of the first end portion has slight protrusions 26'A which locally extend the length of the streamer.

For the shaping of the streamer, the tabs 27 are inserted into the slots 28 from the outer face of the streamer 26, so that, once the vessel is manufactured, the legs 27 are on the inner side of the streamer. the banner, against the body of the container.

The figure 6 shows the container formed, with the banner surrounding the body of this container and we see the rear edges of the slots 28 in which are inserted the tabs 27.

On the figure 7 , which shows the body of the container separated from the streamer, it can be seen that the tabs 27 have formed recessed reliefs 27 "in the wall of the body of the container, just as the extensions 26'A have also closed reliefs 26 "In this wall. Thus, the legs, and even the extensions 26'A, are embedded in the wall of the body of the container. This contributes to the mechanical strength between the streamer and the container body.

This embodiment may allow to secure the streamer 26 to the body 12 of the container, without the inner face of the streamer being glued.

It is also seen that the streamer has wedging openings 30 which, in this case, are regularly distributed along the length LT of the streamer. These openings are thus formed in a current portion of the streamer, at a distance from these end portions 26A and 26B. As we see on the figure 6 , the wall of the body 12 of the container is embedded in these wedging openings, which further contributes to the mechanical strength between the streamer and the body of the container. These wedging openings may have any suitable shape, to form the decor patterns for the container. In the example shown, the wedging openings are only present towards the upper end portion of the streamer, but it should be understood that they may be present in other areas.

Of course, such staggering openings are also compatible with the embodiment of the Figures 1 to 4 .

Referring in particular to figures 1 and 6 it can be seen that the streamer 16 or 26 has a height H which is at least equal to or slightly greater than the height HC of the body 12 of the container. For example, the height H exceeds the height HC by a value between 0 and 2 mm, so that the body 12 of the container is suspended in the streamer 16 or 26 by its flange 14.

The streamer may be made of a cardboard type material, particularly ecological natural fiber. This material can impart the desired mechanical strength to the container, in particular its compressive strength, and advantageously has a basis weight of the order of 150 to 250 g / cm ² .

The streamer advantageously has a thickness of between 200 μm and 800 μm, advantageously between 200 μm and 400 μm, more advantageously between 200 μm and 300 μm. Thus, it not only exhibits the desired mechanical strength but, moreover, the incrustation phenomena previously described contribute effectively to the mechanical strength of the connection between the streamer and the container body as they operate over the entire thickness of the the banner.

The thickness of the thermoplastic material of the body is, for example, of the order of 60 μm to 100 μm, advantageously of the order of 80 μm to 90 μm. This thickness can therefore be significantly lower than that found for containers of the state of the art. This results in a substantial saving in thermoplastic material.

As has been described, the thermoplastic material of the body of the container is embedded in the opening or openings of the streamer, whether fixing or wedging opening. Conversely, when the streamer has a fixing lug projecting on its inner face, because of its insertion into the fixing slot, this time this tab is embedded in the thermoplastic material of the body of the container.

In other words, the plastic material of the body of the thermoformed container and a retaining edge of the streamer (the edge of an opening or the edge of the projecting lug) cooperate with each other in incrustation to achieve a mechanical connection .

Claims (15)

A container (10) comprising a body (12) of thermoformed thermoplastic material and a streamer (16, 26) wound around the body to surround the body,
characterized in that , of the two end portions of the streamer, at least the first end portion (16A, 26A) has a fastening configuration comprising at least one fastening aperture (18, 28) which cooperates with the second end portion (16B, 26B) of the streamer to fix between them said first and second ends. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the streamer (16, 26) has a retaining edge (18, 27, 30) mechanically interlocking with the body of the container. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the wall of the body (10) of the container is embedded in the at least one fastening opening (18), the edge of said opening (18) serving as retaining edge. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the streamer has a running portion (16C, 26C) whose inner surface is not sized, said current portion advantageously representing at least 80%, preferably at least less 90%, or even at least 95%, of the length (LT) of the streamer (16, 26), measured in its winding direction (S). Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second end portion (16B) covers the first end portion (16A), in that the inner face of the second end portion is coated with adhesive and in that said second end portion (16B) is secured to the body (12) of the container (10) which is in contact with the adhesive through said at least one attachment opening (18). Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the first end portion has a row of fastening openings (18) arranged transversely to the winding direction (S) of the streamer (16) and in that the face internal part of the second end portion (16B) has a strip of adhesive covering said row. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the fastening openings (18) each represent an area of the order of 3 mm ² to 25 mm ² , preferably of the order of 10 mm ² to 20 mm ² , and are advantageously circular. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said at least one fastening opening (28) is slit-shaped and in that the second end portion (26B) has at least one tab of fastener (27) inserted into said slot-shaped fastening aperture (28) for holding the wrapped streamer by retaining the second end portion (26B) relative to the first end portion (26A). Container according to Claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the edges of the fastening lug (27) has a notch (29) which favors retention of the fastening lug in the slot-shaped fastening opening. Container according to claim 2, taken in combination with claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said at least one fixing lug (27) is embedded in the wall of the body (12) of the container, the edge of the fixing lug (27) serving as a retaining edge. Container according to Claim 2, taken in combination with any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the streamer has at least one wedging opening (30) situated between said first and second end portions (26A, 26B) and wherein the wall of the body (12) of the container is inlaid, the edge of the wedge opening (30) serving as a retaining edge. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the streamer (16, 26) has a height (H), measured transversely to its winding direction, which is at least equal to the height (HC) the body (12) of the container. Container according to claim 12, characterized in that it has a thermoformed flange (14) integral with the body (12), and in that the body (12) is suspended in the streamer (16, 26) by the flange. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the streamer (16, 26) is made of cardboard material having a basis weight of 150 to 250 g / cm ² and optionally has a thickness of between 200 μm and 800 μm, advantageously between 200 μm and 400 μm, still more advantageously between 200 μm and 300 μm, while the thickness of the thermoplastic material of the body is between 60 μm and 100 μm, advantageously between 80 μm and 90 μm. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the streamer (16, 26) has a compressive strength of between 15 and 25 daN, advantageously between 18 and 22 daN, the compressive strength being measured according to the height of the streamer, transversely to its winding direction.

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