SE0802256A2 - Resealable packaging - Google Patents

Description

The use of the clamp / cork further entails an expensive detail in the manufacturing stage due to the need for changes in the manufacturing equipment and the need for separate tools for the production of the clamp / cork.

There is thus a need for a package which allows easier reseal and which can obtain its resealability already at the time of manufacture. Object of the invention An object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly resealable package of the type initially described. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a package which, in connection with its manufacture, can easily be included in a web of interconnected packaging blanks which can be rolled up on a bobbin and thereby form a roll with packaging blanks.

Summary of the invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a package for liquid contents comprising a chamber delimited by walls, an openable pouring portion being provided to allow pouring of the contents, which pouring portion is resealable in its opened condition.

The package is characterized by a repeated adhesive adhesive label arranged on the package which in the opened condition of the pouring portion is operable between a first position in which it has an extension over said pouring portion, and a second position in which it allows pouring of the liquid contents through said pouring portion.

This results in a package for liquid contents which is easily resealable, regardless of whether it is a form-rigid package per se or a package of a collapsing type. The label which consists of a flat element can be arranged on the package in connection with the production of its packaging blank or in connection with filling and sealing thereof to form a package. This does not affect the possibility of winding a continuous web of packaging blanks on a bobbin to produce a roll. The label itself can furthermore be provided at low cost in roll form for easy application to the packaging blank or the packaging. The label can be provided individually in roll form or in the form of a continuous web from which a suitable length corresponding to a label is separated in connection with application to the package / packaging blank.

The label may have a first portion in which the label is permanently connected to one of the walls of the package, and a second portion which in the opened but not resealed condition of the pouring portion has a free end.

The label may have an adhesive-free zone in a portion which, in the closed condition of the pouring portion, overlaps said pouring portion. As a result, the contents of the package or the mouth formed by the pouring portion do not come into contact with the adhesive used on the label, with a reduced risk of contamination of the contents. The extent of the zone in question relative to the mouth itself is suitably adapted to the geometry of the current pouring portion and the geometry of the package.

The label may have a bias on its surface facing away from the wall of the package, a free end of said label in the opened but not reclosed state of the pouring portion being arranged through the bias to strive in the direction away from said wall.

The bias voltage may, for example, consist of a local compressive stress in or in close proximity to a surface layer on the side of the label which in its mounted position faces the walls of the package. Because the label is arranged to strive away from the walls through its bias, its free end will not interfere during a pouring movement nor will it be contaminated with the contents of the package.

The biasing force should be less than the adhesive strength of the selected adhesive to prevent the label from separating from the package wall due to its intrinsic strength.

The bias voltage can be obtained in a variety of ways, which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. It can be obtained, for example, through a mono-oriented material structure. A mono-oriented material structure means that the molecules are oriented in one and the same direction, which means that the material obtains a specific property, for example compressive stress, in one direction. The prestress 4 can also be obtained by means of a crosslinking technology or by a multilayer structure.

The package may be of a collapsing type where the chamber is delimited by two opposite walls which together define said pouring portion, said pouring portion having a flap which is separable along a tear guide to provide an orifice in said pouring portion. The fact that the packaging is of a collapsing type means that the volume of the chamber depends on the mutual position of the walls.

The label may be arranged on a first of the walls in the pouring portion and in the resealed state of the package have a spread on either side of said tear instruction, said label after separation of said flap having a free end which is foldable over said mouth and which is repeatedly adhered to the other of the walls to allow repeated reclosing of the pouring portion. In this embodiment, the label is thus foldable over the pouring portion so that in the resealed condition of the package it extends from the first wall, over the mouth and into the second opposite wall. The label may have a width that exceeds, corresponds to or falls below the width of the pouring mouth.

The label may adhere to said first wall and said flap before separating the flap. In this way, the label can function as a reinforcement of the flap which counteracts unintentional separation of the flap along the tear instructions.

This means that the degree of disposal of packaging with damage to the pouring part can be reduced.

The label may, in the opened but not resealed condition of the pouring portion, have a Z-weighted shape, comprising a first and a second leg and a life extending therebetween, the first leg being permanently connected to a first wall of the package, and wherein the second leg is movable between a first position in which it is repeatedly adhered to the web and a second position in which it is repeatedly adhered over said pouring portion.

It will be appreciated that the second leg, depending on the position of the pouring portion and the construction of the package, may be arranged to be repeatedly adhered to the same wall with which the first leg is permanently connected or to be repeatedly adhered to the second opposite wall. In the first position, the label is sold compressed to form a flat Z-fold shape where the two legs and the waist are arranged on one and the same wall of the package. To bring the second leg to its second position, it is gripped and pulled straight out, after which it is moved either to lie directly over the pouring portion for adhering a surface portion around it to the same wall as the first leg permanently adheres, or to the opposite wall for adhesion, on the other hand. The surface of the other leg that in the first position adhered to the waist now adheres to the wall instead. The label will thereby have a spread either on one wall or on both sides of the tear instruction and form a reseal of the pouring part of the package. The transition between the waist and the second leg can in the second position of the other leg coincide with and lie parallel to said tear instruction. The transition can be likened to a hinge. In the recessed condition of the rocking part, the life and the other leg will thereby abut each side of the mouth.

Said first leg may be provided on all or parts of its side facing away from said first wall with a repeated adhesive. This allows life to adhere to the first leg in the open and non-resealed state of the package, this will not interfere with a pouring motion or be contaminated by the contents.

Said web may be provided on its one or both sides with a repeatable adhesive, said adhesive being arranged on all or part of said one or both sides. This allows the web to adhere to either the first or second leg or both legs in the open and non-resealed condition of the package, whereby the label does not interfere with a pouring movement or is contaminated by the contents.

Said second leg may be provided with a repeatedly adhesive adhesive on all or parts of its side which in said Z-folded form is intended to face away from said first wall. In accordance with the above, the second leg is hereby allowed to adhere to the life in the open 6 and non-resealed state of the package whereby the label does not interfere with a pouring movement or is contaminated by the contents.

The label may have a spread over all or parts of said pouring portion. Thus, the label does not necessarily need to provide a complete reseal.

The pouring part can have a guarantee seal in the unopened state of the package. The label may be associated with said warranty seal. A warranty seal means that it is clear to the user if the packaging has been broken before. If the label is associated with the warranty seal, this may mean that the label is used to break the packaging.

Brief Description of the Drawings Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view of a package according to the present invention.

Figures 2a-2e are schematic views of a first embodiment of a package with a label in accordance with the invention.

Figures 3a-3b are schematic views of a second embodiment of a package with a label in accordance with the invention.

Figures 4a-4c are schematic views of a third embodiment of a package with a label in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 schematically shows the production of the package according to the invention.

Figure 6 schematically shows another embodiment of a package within the scope of the invention.

Figure 7 schematically shows a variant of a pouring portion.

Figure 8 schematically shows a variant of a pouring section with a guarantee seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description, some terms are used which are explained as follows: 7 The term "label" means a flexible strip or patch with an adhesive arranged on at least one side and on at least a portion thereof which allows repeated adhesion to a substrate . The label can be an information carrier or neutral.

In the context of the present invention, the term "permanently connected" means that the label is so connected to the wall of the package that it cannot be intentionally torn off in connection with the opening and resealing of the package. This can be achieved, for example, by means of an adhesive or a thermal connection.

The term "repeatedly adherible" means that the label must be able to open and reseal the package several times, while maintaining the ability to adhere. This can be compared to the function of a "post-it" note. Suitable adhesives for this purpose will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The term "glue-killed" refers to an adhesive-provided surface where the adhesiveness of the adhesive has been reduced so sharply that the surface is more or less tack-free.

Referring now to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of an inventive package 10 in an unopened condition and filled with a liquid contents is illustrated.

The package 10 is particularly suitable for a liquid food product such as milk, juice, water, wine or oil.

The package 10 is of a collapsing type and has two opposite side walls 12a, 12b and a bottom wall 13. The walls 12a, 12b, 13 are interconnected along the connecting portion 4 and delimit a chamber 5 whose volume depends on the mutual position of the walls 12a, 12b, 13.

The package 10 comprises a filling channel 9 which is delimited by said side walls 12a, 12b and which filling channel 9 connects the chamber of the package 10 to the surroundings. The filling channel 9 can be sealed in the unfilled state of the package 10, the filling channel 9 being opened before filling.

Thereafter, the package 10 is filled and after filling, the filling channel 9 is resealed by a sealing procedure. This makes it possible to ensure in a simple manner that the chamber 5 is sterile. The package 10 may also have a handle 11 which is formed in the connecting portion 4 and which is arranged in a rear end of the package.

The side walls 12a, 12b of the package have side wall portions 22a, 22b which in the front, upper end of the package define a pouring portion 7.

The pouring portion enables pouring of product in the open state of the package 10.

The package 10 is opened by removal by, for example, tearing or cutting off a flap 6 of the pouring portion 7 to form an orifice 50. In case the package is intended to be opened by tearing off the flap 6, the package 10 may also, as in the embodiment shown, have a tear instruction 20 along which the flap 6 is separable for opening the package 10. In the embodiment shown, the tear guide 20 extends diagonally between two parts of the connecting portion 4, namely the part which is arranged in the upper edge of the package 10 and the front edge of the package, respectively. The packaging material outside these tear lines forms said flap.

For easier tearing of the flap, the tear guide 20 can be a local goods thinner, which can be achieved by a locally higher pressure in connection with the production of the connecting part 4 of the package. If the package is made of a mineral-filled polyolefin material, such a local higher pressure means a material conversion in form of a crystallinity that makes the material brittle and thus easily tearable.

The pouring portion 7 may have a longitudinal axis LA and a width B across said longitudinal axis, the orifice 50 having an extension b across the longitudinal axis of the pouring portion which is less than said width B, see figure 7. This can be achieved by the extension of the connecting portion 4. In this case, the mouth 50 does not extend over the entire width of the pouring portion. In connection with the pouring of a product from the package, the product will only soil the part of the pouring portion 7 which is arranged in direct connection with the mouth 50.

In the event that the label (not shown) extends over the entire width of the pouring portion, it will hereby have a portion which does not come into contact with the product, whereby a repeated adhesiveness for resealing the package is ensured.

Referring now to Figures 2a-2e, a first embodiment of the label 30 is shown. The label 30 which in the embodiment shown is rectangular in the unopened state of the package, see Figure 2a, is arranged on one side wall 12a of the package. this first embodiment may have a shape other than rectangular.

The label 30 is arranged to extend on the pouring portion 7 and over the tear guide 20.

In the unopened state of the package, i.e. when the label 30 is flat, it can be divided from the flap 6 into three portions - a first portion in the form of a gripping surface 32 forming a free end, a second middle portion 33 extending over the flap 6 and over the tear guide 20 and a third fastening portion 34 extending over the side wall 12a. The label is shown schematically in Figure 2b seen from above.

The label 30 is permanently connected in the fastening portion 34 to one side wall 12a.

The middle portion 33 is provided with a repeatedly adherent adhesive A on at least the part of its surface which is arranged on the side of the tear guide facing the flap, i.e. the underside in figure 2b. The adhesive can be arranged on all or parts of the surface.

The gripping surface 32 may be a glue-killed portion or a completely adhesive-free portion.

A label 30 which in the unopened state of the package in this way extends over the tear guide 20 and adheres the flap 6 acts as a reinforcement of the tear guide and the flap, respectively, and counteracts unintentional opening of the package by careless handling.

In connection with the opening of the package, the user grips the label 30 in its gripping surface 32 and pulls it in the direction of the tear guide 20 so that the flap 6 and the tear guide are exposed, see figure 2c-2d. Then he tears off the tab 6 along the tear instructions. The label 30 now has a free end 35 in the form of the middle portion 33 and the gripping surface 32 which can extend past and around the tear guide 20 and in over opposite side wall 12b. To reseal the package, see Figure 2e, the user grips the gripping surface 32 of the label and for the free end 35 of the label in the direction of the tear guide 20, over the tear guide and presses the adhesive center portion 33 against the opposite side wall 12b of the package, , 12b on both sides of the tear instruction.

The label 30 may advantageously have an adhesive-free zone 38 above and adjacent to the mouth 50 of the pouring portion 7.

Referring to Figures 3a-3b, a variant of the label shown in Figures 2a-2e is shown in which it has a bias 36 on its side surface facing away from the side wall of the package, i.e. the top of the label 30 "shown in Figure 3a. The bias is shown very schematically with dotted lines.

The bias voltage can be obtained in a number of different ways. It can be obtained, for example, through a mono-oriented material structure. A mono-oriented material structure means that the molecules are oriented in one and the same direction, which means that the material obtains a specific property, for example compressive stress, in one direction. The mono-oriented material structure can be easily obtained by extrusion or film blowing. The bias can also be obtained by a crosslinking technology or by a multilayer structure.

The bias means that the label, in its unloaded state, strives to contract like a rippled gift ribbon. The ripple effect oi can advantageously be less than 180 degrees. This means that in the unaffected state, when the middle portion 33 'of the label 30' does not adhesively adhere to a side wall 12a, the outer transverse edge portion of the gripping surface 32 must move a maximum of 180 degrees from an imaginary horizontal plane HP, see Figure 3b.

The label 30 'otherwise has the same design as that previously described with reference to Figures 2a-2e, so this is not repeated.

The adhesive strength of the repeatedly adhesive adhesive A used in the middle portion 33 * can be selected so that it exceeds the bias to avoid the label 30 'being opened on its own by said bias.

Referring now to Figures 4a-4c, a third embodiment of the label 30 "is shown. In the unsealed condition of the package 10, the label 30" has a Z-fold shape with rectangular edge portions, i.e. in a flat folded condition the label is rectangular. The label 30 "is in the unopened state of the package, see 11 figure 4a, arranged on one side wall 12a of the package inside the tear guide 20.

Seen from the side, see Figure 4b, the label 30 "has a first leg 40 and a second leg 41 and a web 42 extending therebetween. On the free end of the second leg 41 there is a gripping surface 32. The first leg 40 is permanently connected in a mounting portion 34 ”with a first side wall 12a of the package.

Referring to Figure 4c, the label 30 "is shown schematically in a completely planar state starting from the left, the first leg 40, the waist 42, the second leg 41 and the gripping surface 32. The first leg 40, the waist 42 and the second leg 41 are mutually defined by fold lines 43 to allow said Z-folded shape.

The first leg 43 is intended on its underside to be permanently attached to one side wall of the package, which can be done, for example, by means of an adhesive or by thermal means. The first leg 43 may be provided on its upper side with a repeated adhesive A on all or part of the surface.

The web 42 may be completely non-adhesive on its two sides or provided with a repeatedly adhesive adhesive A on one or both of its sides. In case an adhesive is applied to the web 42, this may be applied to all or part of the surface of each side.

Since the web 42 is intended to abut the first leg 40 in the Z-folded shape of the connecting member, as shown in Figure 4b, it is sufficient if the surfaces of one of the two opposite sides 42a of the web and the first leg 40a, respectively, are provided with a repeated adhesive A.

As a result, the web 42 can adhere the first leg 40 in the Z-folded shape of the connecting member so that it is kept away from the mouth 50 in connection with a pouring movement.

The second leg 41 is provided on its underside 41a, i.e. on the side which in the Z-folded form is intended to face the side wall 12a of the package, provided with a repeated adhesive. The adhesive may be arranged on all or part of its surface. . In case the adhesive is arranged on parts of its surface, the adhesive can at least be arranged along the entire longitudinal axis L of the second leg 12 with an extension between the web 42 and the gripping surface 32 ".

Because the second leg 41 is provided on its underside 41a with repeatedly adherent adhesive A, the second leg in the Z-folded shape of the label can adhere to the web 42, thereby keeping it away from the mouth.

The gripping surface 32 "adjacent to the other leg may be a glue-killed portion or a completely adhesive-free portion.

A package of the type shown with reference to Figure 1 and provided with this type of label is opened by tearing off the flap 6 along the tear guide 20. The web 42 together with the other leg 41 and the gripping surface 32 "form a free end 35". relative to the permanently connected first leg40.

To allow resealing of the package, the second leg 41 "of the label 30" is movable between a first position, see Figure 4a, in which it is repeatedly adhered to the web 42 and a second position in which it is repeatedly adhered to the second, opposite side wall 12b, see Figure 4d.

To reseal the package, the gripping surface 32 "is gripped, after which the second leg 41 is pulled in the direction of the tear guide 20. The adhesive strength between the web 42 and the second leg 41 is overcome with the consequence that its two surfaces are moved apart. Then the second leg 41 is folded around the tear guide 20 and pressed firmly so that it adheres to the opposite side wall 12b of the package and thereby closes the package, see Figure 4d.

In the second position, there has thus been a folding along the fold line 43 between the first leg 40 and the web 42 and along the fold line 43 between the web 42 and the second leg 41, respectively.

When the package is to be reopened, the gripping surface 32 "is gripped, after which the second leg 41 is pulled straight out in the direction of the tear guide 20, past the tear guide 20 and brought to abutment against the web 42, see figure 4b. By either one of the two facing each other the surfaces of the web and the first leg advantageously have a repeated adhesive A, the web 42 and the second leg 41 will be held in place in a position substantially parallel to the side wall 12a, 12b of the package and thus not interfere with the pouring movement. advantage so positioned on one side wall 121 of the package that the fold line 43 between the web 42 and the second leg 41 is positioned so that the fold line when the other leg has been moved to its second position, see figure 4d, coincides with and lies parallel to the tear guide 20.

It will be appreciated that at least the second leg 41 in this embodiment may have a bias.

The label 30 "can advantageously have an adhesive-free zone 38 above and in connection with the mouth 50 of the pouring portion 7, see figure 4d.

Referring now to Figure 5, it is shown schematically how the production of resealable packages 10 of the above-mentioned type can proceed. To form a package 10, two opposite side wall-forming portions 2a, 2b and a folded bottom wall-forming portion 3 arranged therebetween are brought together in a tool 30. The two side-wall-forming portions 2a, 2b and the bottom-forming portion 3 are included in a material web ia, which can be provided by separate wall-forming portions or of an M-weight web.

The tool 30 connects the portions 2a, 2b, 3 along connecting portions 4 for delimiting the chambers 5 of the packages 10. The tool 30 can, for example, connect the portions by means of heat or pressure.

The produced packages 10 are interconnected in a packaging web 1b. Each package 10 is formed so that a pouring portion 7 is defined by side wall portions 22a, 22b of the respective side wall 12a, 12b. The tool 30 can be arranged to form, during the production of the package, also the tear guide 20 along which the flap 6 is separable for opening the package 10.

The label can be applied to the packaging in connection with its production as above, or in connection with filling.

The above-mentioned packaging web 1b is suitably rolled up on a bobbin to form a roll of bonded unfilled packages 10. Such a roll allows easy transport of the unfilled packages. It will also be easy to store the packages in said roll form.

Referring now to Figure 6, another type of package 10 'is schematically shown within the scope of the invention. The package 10 'shown is of a non-collapsing type, ie it has a fixed volume regardless of the degree of filling. The package 10 'shown has a chamber 5' which is clamped by six walls 12 and has on one of its walls a pouring portion 7 ". The pouring portion 7 'is in the unopened and opened but resealed state of the package, respectively, covered with a label 30 which is provided with a repeated adhesive. The label 30 has the same design as that described above with reference to Figures 2 and 3, so this is not described again.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated embodiment of the package, its pouring portion and the label are highly schematic and in no way limiting.

Regardless of the design of the label, these can be provided side by side on a continuous carrier wound on a bobbin, where the carrier and the adjacent turn of the roll act as a protective film for the repeatedly adhesive.

The label has been described above as having a rectangular shape, but it will be appreciated that the external geometry may be varied within the scope of the invention.

The package according to the invention may be provided with a warranty seal 60. A typical example of a package 10 with a pouring portion 7 with warranty seal 60 is shown schematically in Figure 8. The warranty seal 60 is arranged as a thin foil welded to the inside of the wall 12a over the portion the opened state of the package forms the mouth 50.

The guarantee seal 60 is in turn connected to the label which is arranged on the outside of the wall 12a. In connection with the label 30 being lifted for the first time, it automatically tears open the guarantee seal 60. It will be appreciated that the guarantee seal 60 can be arranged in a number of different ways which are conveniently recognized by the person skilled in the art.

The label may extend over all or part of the width of the hob.

Thus, the label need not allow a completely liquid-tight reseal of the package.

The label may be provided with an adhesive-free zone above and adjacent to the mouth of the pouring portion. Such an adhesive-free zone means that the contents of the package do not risk coming into contact with the adhesive.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of packaging and label shown. Several modifications and variants are thus possible and the invention is consequently defined exclusively by the appended claims.

Claims (16)

10 15 20 25 30 16 PATENT REQUIREMENTS A package (10) for liquid content comprising a chamber (5) delimited by walls (12a, 12b), wherein an openable pouring portion (7) is provided to allow pouring of the contents, which pouring portion is resealable in its opened condition. characterized by a repeatedly adhesive adhesive label (30) arranged on the package which in the opened state of the pouring portion is operable between a first position in which it has an extension over said pouring portion, and a second position in which it allows pouring of the liquid contents through said pouring part. A package according to claim 1, wherein said label has a first portion (34) in which the label is permanently connected to one of the walls of the package, and a second portion (32, 33) which in the opened but not resealed condition of the pouring portion has a free end (35). A package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said label (30) has an adhesive-free zone (38) in a portion which in the closed condition of the pouring portion overlaps said pouring portion (7). A package according to any preceding claim, wherein said label (30) has a bias (36) on its surface facing away from the wall of the package, a free end (35) of said label in the open but not reclosed condition of the pouring portion being arranged through the bias to strive in the direction away from said wall (12a, 12b). A package according to claim 4, wherein the bias (36) is less than the adhesive strength of the selected adhesive. Packaging according to claim 1, which is of a collapsing type and in which the chamber (5) is delimited by two opposite walls (12a, 12b) which together define said pouring portion (7), said pouring portion having a (6) which is separable along a tear guide (20) to provide an orifice (50) in said pouring portion. A package according to claim 6, wherein said label (30) is arranged on a first of the walls (12a, 12b) in the pouring portion (7) and in the reclosed state of the package has a spread on either side of said tear guide (20), wherein said label (30) after separation of said flap has a free end (35) which is foldable over said mouth (50) and which is repeatedly adhered to the other of the walls to enable repeated reclosing of the pouring portion. A package according to claim 6, wherein said label (30) adheres said first wall (12a) and said flap (6) before separating the flap. A package according to any one of claims 6-8, wherein said label (30) in the opened but not resealed condition of the pouring portion (7) has a Z-fold shape, comprising a first and a second leg (40, 41) and a intervening web (42), the first leg (40) being permanently connected to a first wall (12a) of the package, and the second leg (41) being movable between a first position in which it is repeatedly adhered to the web ( 42) and a second position in which it is repeatedly adhesive over said pouring portion (7). A package according to claim 9, wherein the transition between the web (42) and the second leg (41) in the second position of the second leg coincides with and lies parallel to said tear guide (20). A package according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said first leg (40) is provided on all or part of its side facing away from said first wall (12a) with a repeated adhesive (A). 10 15 20 18 A package according to any one of claims 9-11, wherein said web (42) is provided on its one or both sides with a repeatable adhesive (A), said adhesive being arranged on all or parts of said one or more both sides. A package according to any one of claims 9-12, wherein said second leg (41) on all or parts of its side which in said Z-folded shape is intended to be facing away from said first wall (12a) is provided with a repeated adhesive adhesive (A). A package according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein said label (30) has a spread over all or parts of said pouring portion (7). A package according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein said pouring portion has a guarantee seal (60) in the unopened condition of the package. The package of claim 15, wherein said label (30) is associated with said warranty seal (60).