MOULDED BODY WITH CONNECTING ELEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a molded body made of fiber material with a connecting element.

[0002] In particular, it relates to a container comprising a container made of fibrous material and having at least one opening, and a cover for the opening. The container has a biodegradable or bioinert coating, and an injection-molded connecting element locally reinforces at least the area of ​​the opening. However, the problem of firmly connecting a connecting element to a molded body made of fibrous material is not limited to the application of locally reinforcing a container opening.

[0003] EP 2 573 008 B1 discloses a container, in particular a coffee capsule, which is formed from a paper material and has a flange at one open end. A reinforcing ring extending radially beyond the flange is arranged on the flange and can be glued or welded to a cover. The reinforcing ring is made, in particular, of paper and / or another material containing at least one resin or rubber.

[0004] DE 10 2019 101 545 A1 discloses a container, in particular a coffee capsule, comprising a cup-shaped container made of fiber material, which can be closed by means of a cover referred to as a lid. The container has a flange, referred to as an annular peripheral edge, at an opening. The flange is surrounded by a reinforcing ring, which is made in particular of an uncoated cardboard material.

[0005] FR 2 741 042 A1 discloses a container for holding a cosmetic product. The container comprises a cup-shaped container and an injection-molded outer casing. The container can be made, in particular, of polypropylene or another suitable material that does not chemically react with the contents of the container. The casing can be made, in particular, of Plexiglas or another material that combines an aesthetic appearance with the required technical properties of a casing.

[0006] The document US 2010 / 0252617 A1 describes a fiber bottle made of paper pulp with a cylindrical-shell-shaped neck section, wherein a connecting wall of a connecting element, also in the shape of a cylindrical shell, is inserted or plugged into or onto the neck section. The connecting element has a threaded section for screwing on a screw cap. The document US 8 663 419 B2 also describes a fiber bottle made of pulp with a connecting element that has both an axially extending cylindrical wall and an adjoining, radially extending retaining ring, both of which extend within the shell of the fiber bottle and bear against it.

[0007] The containers known from the state of the art are either not made exclusively of biodegradable components or they have comparatively low mechanical stability.

[0008] The object of the invention is to reliably and permanently connect a molded body made of fiber material to a connecting element. This can serve the purpose of providing a container made exclusively of biodegradable components, which exhibits high gas tightness and high mechanical stability, and whose production is particularly flexible and cost-effective. However, the technology described here is also advantageous for any other molded body made of fiber material that is to be connected to any connecting element.

[0009] The object is achieved in that the connecting element has a connecting wall with openings through which the fiber material of the molded body penetrates.

[0010] The connecting element can therefore have a thin connecting wall in which a plurality of openings are arranged. The openings are preferably evenly distributed over the surface of the connecting wall. In particular, the connecting wall can be designed in a grid shape so that the surface area of ​​the openings is approximately the same size as or larger than the surface area of ​​the webs remaining between the openings. The connecting element can be placed in a suction mold in which the molded body is formed from fiber material. The suction mold is immersed in a pulp, i.e. a mixture of fiber material and water. The water is sucked in through a porous wall of the suction mold, with the fiber material being deposited in a layer on the surface of the suction mold. During this process, the connecting wall with openings is held at a small distance of e.g. 1 mm from the porous wall of the suction mold.In the area of ​​the connecting wall of the connecting element with openings, the fiber material is deposited around the connecting wall and extends through the openings, firmly anchoring the connecting element in the resulting fiber layer that forms the molded body. The sucked-in fiber material can be pressed so that the formed fiber layer is dewatered along with the molded section of the connecting element.

[0011] The connecting element can have any shape and fulfill any function. It can be made of any solid material, such as wood or light metal, but in particular of a biodegradable plastic. For anchoring in the fiber layer of the fiber molded body, the connecting element has a section designed as a thin connecting wall with perforations. The connecting wall can be embedded in a fiber layer of the fiber molded body in the manner described above.

[0012] As mentioned above, the molded fibrous body was developed starting from a container. The container comprises a container made of fibrous material with at least one opening and a cover for the opening. The container can be the fibrous molded body according to the invention and can have a biodegradable coating. Alternatively or additionally, the container can have a bioinert coating, in particular an SiO 2 coating, which is deposited on the inside of the container in a sol-gel process. If the molded fibrous body does not have a sealing function, the coating can be omitted.

[0013] The molded body, i.e. the container, made of fibrous material can, as described above, be produced from an aqueous pulp containing cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers are, for example, brought into a shape by a simple scooping process using a suction mold, which forms the molded body. The water is sucked out through pores in the suction mold, and the cellulose fibers are deposited on the porous surface of the suction mold. In the transfer process, the molded body formed by the suction mold is transferred to a transfer mold so that it is molded on both sides. Additional thermal processing and pressing processes can be used to improve the surface quality of the molded body. The molded body made of fibrous material thus formed is strong and dimensionally stable.

[0014] The fibrous container produced in this way can have an opening, a base opposite the opening, and a peripheral wall surrounding the opening and the base. The opening and base can be round, oval, or polygonal, for example. A cover is attached or attachable to the opening of the container, by which the opening of the container can be closed or closed. The cover interacts with the container in such a way that the interior of the container is closed or closable from the environment. The cover can also be biodegradable.

[0015] Fiber without a coating exhibits a certain degree of gas and water permeability. This may be desirable or at least not disadvantageous in certain applications of a molded article. An embodiment of a container made of fiber described here has a biodegradable coating, so that its gas and water tightness is increased, especially when the cover interacts with the container. The coating of fiber is generally known from the prior art. Coatings can, for example, be sprayed on. Alternatively or additionally, a coating can be applied by immersing a fiber in a coating bath and subsequent drying. For example, the applicant's publication WO 2020 / 216719 A1 discloses a biodegradable barrier layer for a cellulose substrate, which is well suited for coating the fiber containers described here.

[0016] The connecting element can be arranged on the container, which can locally reinforce the container at least in the area of ​​the opening. The container and the connecting element can thus form a container that is locally reinforced at least in the area of ​​the opening. The connecting element can be injection-molded and / or made of biodegradable material.

[0017] In other words, a connecting element produced using an injection molding process can be used which interacts with the container in such a way that the container is particularly rigid and dimensionally stable, at least in the area of ​​the opening. For this purpose, the material of the connecting element has greater strength than the fiber material from which the container is formed. The container can therefore absorb greater mechanical stresses overall than a container without such a connecting element. Since the connecting element can be made of a biodegradable material, the container can consist exclusively of biodegradable materials. Biodegradable means that the materials can decompose under certain anaerobic or aerobic conditions. The biodegradable material of the connecting element can also be injection moldable. For this purpose, it can in particular be thermoplastic.This means that the material from which the connecting element is formed is flowable when heated and solidifies when cooled. Such a change in consistency is reversible with thermoplastic materials. Alternatively, it is also possible for the injection-moldable material to be flowable only during processing and to cure irreversibly in the injection-molded state, similar to thermosets or elastomers. It is explicitly pointed out that the injection-moldable material of the connecting element can additionally or alternatively be printable, in particular 3D-printable, and / or comprise multiple parts. Because the material of the connecting element is injection-moldable and / or printable, various geometries can be produced cost-effectively using a single production facility and, if necessary, adapted tools, making the production of the connecting element particularly flexible and cost-effective.

[0018] In practice, for example, a thermoplastically processable starch is suitable for forming the connecting element, as described in the documents EP 0 118 240 A2 or EP 0 397 819 B1.

[0019] If the connecting element is made up of multiple parts, different components can be assembled according to a modular principle to create different connecting elements, increasing the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of production. Especially if the connecting element is injection-molded, a high surface quality of the connecting element can be achieved and easily reproduced.

[0020] However, the connecting element can also be made of materials other than injection-moldable materials. The proposed connecting wall, with openings through which the deposited fiber material forms the molded body penetrates, firmly anchors the connecting element in the resulting fiber layer and can fulfill any desired function.

[0021] In practice, the coating of the shaped body, in particular the container, may be a primer containing at least one of the following components: Cellulose fibers, casein, whey, agar agar, psyllium husks SiO 2 .

[0022] The primer can be applied to the interior-facing surface (the inside) of the container. Additionally or alternatively, the primer can be applied to the exterior-facing surface (the outside) of the container. As mentioned above, the coating increases the gas-tightness of the container. It can also increase its strength.

[0023] Cellulose nanofibrils or microfibrils, for example, can be dissolved in water and sprayed onto the container. Nanocellulose has cellulose microfibrils with a median diameter in the range of 30 to 100 nm and / or cellulose nanofibrils with a median diameter in the range of 5 to 20 nm. Industrially sold cellulose fibrils are often a mixture of microfibrils and nanofibrils. In practice, a mixture of 2 wt.% nanocellulose in 98 wt.% water has proven effective for the primer. If a higher cellulose content is selected, deformation of the container due to moisture can be reduced or avoided, and the drying time of the primer can be shortened. In practice, a cellulose content of 2 to 10 wt.% in the primer solution is suitable.

[0024] There are other organic materials that can be used in a primer to increase the tightness of a container against gas penetration. For example, casein powder can be mixed with water and denatured with calcium hydroxide. The casein increases the tightness and mechanical strength of the container. Casein denatured with calcium hydroxide also becomes somewhat water-repellent. It is also possible to denature casein with baking soda, but this does not make it water-repellent.

[0025] In practice, 30 g of casein powder was allowed to swell with 100 ml of water for approximately 8 to 10 hours. 30 g of calcium hydroxide was added and stirred. After another 50 ml of water was added, the solution was sieved and used for priming. This primer can be applied after the cellulose fiber primer or as an alternative to the cellulose fiber primer. The primer can also contain both cellulose fiber and casein.

[0026] Whey is also suitable as a primer component. Whey can be denatured by heat (90-100°C). Whey as a primer component also increases the strength of the coated container. The whey coating itself is not water-repellent and must therefore be made waterproof with a second coating.

[0027] Finally, gel-forming ingredients such as agar agar (gelatin from algae) or psyllium husk (seed husks of the plantain species Plantago indica and Plantago afra) are suitable for adding to the primer. For this purpose, agar agar powder, for example, is mixed with water and denatured for 1 minute at 100°C. Upon cooling, it hardens and gels. The gel can be applied to the container and forms a thin layer that seals the pores of the fiber, increases strength, and repels water.

[0028] A similar effect is achieved when ground psyllium husks are soaked in water and applied to the container after soaking for about 20 minutes.

[0029] As mentioned, the primer components can be dissolved in water simultaneously and applied as a mixture. However, it is also possible to apply the primer to the container in several layers containing different components. All of the above-mentioned possible primer components are biodegradable.

[0030] A coating of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) can also be applied, which is particularly dense and resistant. Depending on the modification or degree of order of the silicon dioxide, it is only slightly soluble in water. In any case, it is bioinert, meaning that there is no chemical and / or biological interaction between silicon dioxide and other substances. This coating can be deposited on the inside of the container using a sol-gel process, for example. The coating can be applied either to the container alone or to the container and the connecting element simultaneously.

[0031] In practice, the material of the connecting element can be water-soluble and / or compostable. Water-soluble means that the connecting element dissolves in water within one week, preferably within one day, and particularly preferably within a few hours. This allows the connecting element to be biodegraded particularly quickly. A polymer is compostable according to the European standard EN13432 if, in an industrial composting plant, it is, among other things, converted to CO2 by microorganisms by at least 90% within six months, with a maximum of 1% additives classified as harmless being contained in the starting mass. Preferably, not only the connecting element is compostable, but all components, i.e. the connecting element, the container and, if applicable, the cover, are compostable. In practice, all components can be compostable without industrially defined conditions.This makes composting possible even without an industrial composting facility. Even if the fiber molded body and the connecting element are not disposed of with sorted compost waste but are released into the environment, they decompose within a few months. In contrast, the vast majority of compostable polymers, including commonly used polylactides, are usually only biodegradable under industrially defined conditions or over long periods of several years. The ecological footprint of the fiber molded body and the connecting element is thus significantly minimized compared to containers made of many other materials with similar mechanical stability.

[0032] The connecting wall with openings allows a particularly stable, positive connection to be achieved. If the molded body made of fiber material is designed as a container with an opening and the connecting element has a connecting wall surrounding the opening of the container with openings through which the fiber material of the container extends, the connecting element is anchored in the region of the opening. The connecting element can have a thin, annular connecting wall in which openings are arranged. In particular, the connecting wall can be designed in the shape of a grid, so that the area of ​​the openings is approximately the same size as or larger than the area of ​​the webs remaining between the openings. The connecting element can be placed in a suction mold in which the container is formed from fiber material. The connecting wall then has a small distance of e.g. 1 mm to a porous wall of the suction mold.Water can be sucked out of a pulp through the porous wall of the suction mold, causing the fiber to deposit on the porous wall of the suction mold. In the area of ​​the connecting wall of the connecting element with openings, the deposited fiber protrudes through the openings and thus firmly anchors the connecting element in the emerging fiber layer that forms the container. When the sucked-in fiber is pressed, the pressing can be achieved, for example, by an inflatable pressing tool that is pressed against the inside of the formed fiber container, thus dewatering the container wall made of fiber with the molded-in section of the connecting element.

[0033] Furthermore, the fibrous molded body can be pressed with the connecting element at a temperature at which, in the case of a thermoplastic connecting element, the injection-molded material softens or melts on its surface and penetrates into the pores of the fibrous material.

[0034] If the fiber molded body and the connecting element form a container with a cover, the cover of the container can in practice be designed as a sealing film. Sealing films can consist of densely coated fiber material. They are thin, flexible and simultaneously gas-tight. The coating of the sealing film can in particular be identical to the coating of the container. However, it can also have a different composition. If the coating of the cover is identical to the coating of the container and / or these two coatings can be dissolved using the same solvent, the container and the cover can be joined together particularly easily and securely by means of a material bond. For example, the coated and not yet fully dried cover can be placed against the opening of the container in such a way that the opening is completely covered.The container and cover can then be pressed together, which dissolves the container's coating and later dries in conjunction with the cover's coating. This type of covering and bonding results in a container with minimal material consumption and a small number of different materials, which is beneficial for biodegradability and / or compostability.

[0035] Additionally or alternatively, the cover can be made of the same material as the connecting element. In this case, the cover can be a lid, in particular a screw cap. A lid covers the opening of the container, can be removed from the opening, and can be reattached. For this purpose, the lid is positively connected to the container and / or the connecting element, for example by screwing the lid with an internal thread onto an external thread of the container or the connecting element. Of course, the positive connection can also be achieved through other suitable design measures, such as locking projections and complementary receptacles or a bayonet lock. If the cover, like the connecting element, is made of injection-molded material, the container has particularly high strength and tightness.

[0036] Of course, the container can also have a plurality of covers, for example a sealing film as described above and additionally a lid arranged above it which can be screwed to the container or the connecting element.

[0037] In practice, the primer described above can be a first coating and the shaped body / container can have a second coating applied at least locally. The second coating can be applied onto the primer. If the primer is applied to only one side of the container, i.e. either the inside or the outside, it is also possible for the second coating to be applied additionally or alternatively to the side of the container to which the primer is not applied. The second coating can increase the gas-tightness and / or the strength of the container. In particular, the second coating can be applied to the container in such a way that the strength of the container is increased at least in a region in which the connecting element and / or the cover are arranged.In such an area, the container can absorb high or cyclic loads from the connecting element and / or the cover particularly well due to the increased strength.

[0038] In practice, the second coating can be made from linseed oil, carnauba wax and / or beeswax, i.e. from natural waxes and / or oils.

[0039] Fats. Natural waxes and / or lipids consist predominantly of esters of fatty acids and, as oil-soluble products, are readily biodegradable according to the CEC-L-33-A-93 test method.

[0040] Linseed oil improves the formability of the oil-wax mixture that forms the second coating and minimizes brittleness after drying. Only pharmaceutical-grade, i.e., completely clarified, pure linseed oil should be used. Linseed oil is one of the few hardening oils and has been used for wood impregnation for centuries. However, a linseed oil layer alone is open-pored, allowing some water and air to pass through, and is not suitable for permanently sealing food packaging.

[0041] Carnauba wax is a very hard, tropical wax with a high melting point (approx. 85-89°C). It has hardly any odor or taste of its own and is waterproof. It is very brittle when dry and hardens within seconds. Its hardness also makes it highly resistant to abrasion. It is approved for food packaging and has long been used as a coating to increase the shelf life of things like mangoes and sweets.

[0042] Beeswax is a wax produced in Europe, among other places, that is less hard than carnauba wax. When mixed with carnauba wax, beeswax helps reduce brittleness. It has hardly any odor or taste of its own and is also approved for use in contact with food. Its melting point is approximately 65°C.

[0043] In practice, the connecting element can be designed as a reinforcing ring. The reinforcing ring can have an axially elongated section, similar to a sleeve or a pipe section. The elongated section can, for example, form the connecting wall with openings. The reinforcing ring can be embedded, in particular, with the elongated section, in the peripheral wall of the container. This provides a more secure fit for the connecting element on the container.

[0044] In practice, the container may have a flange. The flange is formed integrally with the container from a coated fiber material. In particular, the flange may extend around the peripheral wall in the area of ​​the opening. This provides a large surface area to which the cover can be attached.

[0045] If the container has the flange and the connecting element is designed as a reinforcing ring, the reinforcing ring can also bear against a side of the flange facing the bottom of the container or an opposite side of the flange (i.e., an upward-facing side). Such configurations of the fiber molded body and the connecting element are particularly well suited, for example, as a portion pack for powdered beverages, in particular as a coffee capsule. The reinforcing ring mechanically reinforces the flange and the adjacent region of the container. Such reinforcement is particularly advantageous for coffee capsules with a container made of fiber, since a gripping mechanism in coffee machines for coffee capsules engages the flange in order to move the coffee capsule from a first position to a second position. The reinforcing ring on the flange gives the fiber coffee capsules the strength required for this purpose.

[0046] A coffee portion pack in the form of a capsule consisting of the molded fiber body with a connecting element described here has a high level of airtightness, which is much higher than that of conventional coffee pods made of uncoated cellulose fibers, and is more environmentally friendly than conventional aluminum coffee capsules. Consequently, the coffee can be stored for a long time without producing a lot of waste. The coffee capsule described here is made entirely of natural raw materials and is highly biodegradable and / or compostable.

[0047] Of course, it is also possible to design the fiber molded body with the connecting element as described above as a container with a resealable screw cap and to fill it with cosmetics, e.g. creams, or with non-perishable products, e.g. screws.

[0048] The invention also relates to a method for producing a molded body with a connecting element according to claims 8 to 12. In the case of a container with a container made of fiber material, a cover, and a biodegradable coating, the connecting element arranged on the container can be made of biodegradable material and reinforce the container at least locally. The method can comprise at least one of the following method steps: Suction of fiber material from a pulp through a suction mold and compacting the fiber material into the container; dewatering and drying the container; coating the container with a primer; manufacturing, in particular injection molding, the connecting element; attaching the cover.

[0049] For details of the respective process steps, reference is made to the above description of the features generated. The advantages mentioned in connection with these features apply accordingly to the process.

[0050] As already described above, if the molded body forms a container, the container can have two coatings. The second coating can be applied, in particular, by immersing the container in a warm bath of natural waxes and / or oils or fats. The impregnated container can then be hot-pressed and cooled. Hot-pressing the impregnated container fixes its geometry, and the second coating can penetrate unfilled pores in the fiber material.

[0051] Further practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described below in conjunction with the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 shows a container in a first embodiment as a coffee capsule in a vertically sectioned exploded view without connecting wall with openings; Fig. 2 shows the container from Fig. 1 without cover in a view obliquely from above; Fig. 3 the container from Fig. 1 in a view obliquely from below; Fig. 4 the container in a second embodiment as a jar for cosmetic products in a vertically sectioned exploded view, also without a connecting wall with openings; Fig. 5 the container in a third embodiment as a jar for cosmetic products in a vertically sectioned exploded view, again without a connecting wall with openings; Fig. 6 a connecting element with a connecting wall and openings for a shaped body made of fibrous material designed as a container in a side view; Fig. 7 a view of the connecting element taken along the section line VII - VII Fig. 6; Fig. 8 an embodiment of a fiber molded body designed as a bottle with the connecting element from the Figures 6 and 7 with cover; Fig. 9 an enlarged plan view of a section of a suction mold for producing the bottle from Fig. 8 ; Fig. 10the section of the suction mold from Fig. 9 with inserted connection element from the Figs. 6 and 7 made of injection-molded material; Fig. 11 the section of the suction mold made of Fig. 9 with inserted connection element and sucked-in fiber layer.

[0052] The Figures 1 to 3show a container 1 which is designed as a coffee capsule. The container 1 has a reservoir 2 and is essentially rotationally symmetrical. It has a base 3 and a peripheral wall 4 surrounding the base 3. A central and rotationally symmetrical recess 5 is introduced into the base 3 and has a perforation area 6 which is also rotationally symmetrical and centrally arranged therein. The perforation area is pierced by at least one needle in order to allow liquid which is fed into the container 1 under pressure to escape. The recess 5 is oriented towards the interior of the container, i.e. towards an opening 7 of the container 2 which is opposite the base 3. At the opening 7, the container 2 has a flange 8 which surrounds the opening 7 and the peripheral wall 4 in a rotationally symmetrical manner. The flange 8 points radially outwards from the peripheral wall 4 and is oriented essentially parallel to the base 3.

[0053] The container 2, with the base 3, the peripheral wall 4, and the flange 8, is formed in one piece from fiber material. A primer (not shown) is applied to the inner side 9 of the container 2 facing the container interior and to the upward-facing surface of the flange 8. The primer can be made of cellulose and casein, for example, and is thus biodegradable. It can additionally or alternatively also contain other biodegradable components, such as whey, agar agar, and / or psyllium husks. The primer increases the gas-tightness and mechanical stability of the container 2.

[0054] The opening 7 is, as in Figure 1indicated, covered with a cover 10, which is designed as a sealing film. The sealing film 10 is flexible and at the same time gas-tight. It is fixed resting on the flange 8 and thus seals the container interior from the environment. For fixing to the flange, the sealing film 10 has the same coating (not shown) on the surface oriented towards the flange 8 as the container interior 9 and the upward-facing surface of the flange 8. The coatings of the sealing film 10 and the flange 8 are firmly bonded to one another.

[0055] In the area of ​​the opening 7, the container 1 has an injection-molded connecting element 11 made of a water-soluble and biodegradable thermoplastic. The biodegradable thermoplastic can be a thermoplastically processable starch, as described in the documents EP 0 118 240 A2 or EP 0 397 819 B1. The connecting element is designed as a reinforcing ring 11 with a vertical ring section 12 and a horizontal ring section 13. With the vertical ring section 12, the reinforcing ring 11 rests on the outside against an upper section of the peripheral wall 4. As can be clearly seen in Figure 3, recesses 14 are arranged on the vertical ring section 12, with which the coffee capsule 1 can be locked in a receiving device of a coffee machine (not shown).The vertical ring section 12 can also be designed as a connecting wall with openings and can be embedded in the fiber material during the production of the fiber material molded body (container 2) using the fiber casting process.

[0056] The horizontal ring section 13 protrudes radially outward from an upper end of the vertical ring section 12 beyond the flange 8. A radial recess for receiving the flange 8 is formed in the upper end of the horizontal ring section 13. The flange 8 and the horizontal ring section 13 are thus complementarily designed, so that the flange 8 and the horizontal ring section 13 end in a common plane at the top. The flange 8 is thus completely enclosed by the horizontal ring section 13 and the sealing film 10.

[0057] The sealing film and the reinforcing ring can be bonded together by an adhesive, preferably a biodegradable adhesive.

[0058] As an alternative to the positive connection between the connecting element 11 and the container 2 shown here, it is possible to connect the connecting element 11 to the container 2 by injection molding it onto the container.

[0059] The Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the container 1' as a jar for holding cosmetic products. Unless otherwise indicated, similar construction elements of the Figure 4provided with the same reference numerals as already mentioned above and marked with a line to distinguish it from the structural elements of the coffee capsule. The crucible 1' also has a container 2' with a base 3', a peripheral wall 4', a central recess 5' in the base 3', an opening 7' opposite the base 3' and a flange 8' pointing radially outwards from the peripheral wall 4'. The crucible 1' is essentially rotationally symmetrical. A primer made of biodegradable material (not shown here) is also applied to the inside 9' of the container 2', which increases the gas tightness and mechanical stability of the container 2'.

[0060] In the crucible 1' shown here, a cover is designed as a lid 10'. To attach the lid 10' to the container 2' and to reinforce the container 2' in the area of ​​the opening 7', a two-part connecting element 11' is positively connected to the container 2'.

[0061] The two-part connecting element 11' is composed of a lower support ring 11'a and an upper threaded ring 11'b. As described above in connection with the coffee capsule 1, the lower support ring 11'a rests on the peripheral wall 4' with a vertical ring section 12' on the outside and on the flange 8' with a horizontal ring section 13'. The vertical ring section 12' can also be designed as a connecting wall with openings and embedded in the fiber material during the production of the fiber material molded body (container 2') using the fiber casting process. The horizontal ring section 13' protrudes radially beyond the flange 8'. The horizontal ring section 13' also has a recess in the end pointing towards the lid 10', into which the flange 8' is received.Thus, a surface of the flange 8' facing toward the cover 10' and a surface of the horizontal ring portion 13' facing toward the cover 10' are located in the same plane. The upper threaded ring 11'b has the same outer diameter as the lower support ring 11'a. The inner diameter of the upper threaded ring 11'b substantially corresponds to the diameter of the opening 7'. The upper threaded ring 11'b is fastened to the horizontal ring portion 13' of the lower support ring 11'a, which extends radially beyond the flange 8', so that the flange 8' is enclosed by the horizontal ring portion 13' of the lower support ring 11'a and by the upper threaded ring 11'b.To attach the two-part connecting element 11' to the container 2', for example, the lower support ring 11'a can be pushed from below, i.e. over the base 3', over the peripheral wall 4' of the container 2', until the lower support ring 11'a is in contact with the flange 8', and the upper threaded ring 11'b can be pressed from above onto the flange 8' and the lower support ring 11'a. A tongue and groove connection 15' can form a positive connection between the lower support ring 11'a and the upper threaded ring 11'b. The tongue and groove of the tongue and groove connection 15' are locked or glued together. After connection, the lower support ring 11'a and the upper threaded ring 11'b are flush with one another in the radial direction.

[0062] The lid 10' can be connected to and detached from the upper threaded ring 11'b via a threaded connection 16'. For this purpose, an external thread is provided on the upper threaded ring 11'b and an internal thread on the lid 10'. When the lid 10' and the upper threaded ring 11'b are screwed together via the thread 16', the lid 10' and the upper threaded ring 11'b are flush radially on the outside, and the interior of the container is sealed gas-tight from the environment. When the lid 10' is unscrewed from the upper threaded ring 11'b, the interior of the container is connected to the environment through the opening in the upper threaded ring 11'b.

[0063] The Figure 5 shows a further alternative embodiment of the container 1" as a jar for holding cosmetic products. Unless otherwise indicated, similar construction elements of the Figure 5provided with the same reference numerals as mentioned above and marked with two primes to distinguish it from the other embodiments. The crucible 1" also has a container 2" with a base 3", a peripheral wall 4", a central recess 5" in the base 3", an opening 7" opposite the base 3", and a flange 8" pointing radially outward from the peripheral wall 4". In the area of ​​the opening, the container 2" is slightly widened in order to accommodate a connecting element 11". The crucible 1" is essentially rotationally symmetrical. A primer made of biodegradable material (not shown here) is also applied to the inside 9" of the container 2", which increases the gas tightness and mechanical stability of the container 2". The connecting element 11" in the area of ​​the opening 7" is designed in two parts and is connected to the container 2' in a form-fitting and material-fitting manner.A cover is also designed in the crucible 1" shown here as a lid 10", which interacts with the connecting element 11".

[0064] The two-part connecting element 11" is composed of an inner support ring 11"a and an outer threaded ring 11"b. The inner support ring 11"a has a vertical ring section 12" and a horizontal ring section 13", with the horizontal ring section 13" enclosing the vertical ring section 12" approximately halfway up and at a right angle. In the area above the horizontal ring section 13", the vertical ring section 12" has an external thread 16"a. The area of ​​the vertical ring section 12" below the horizontal ring section 13" has a substantially smooth-cylindrical outer surface that is complementary to the surface of the expanded area of ​​the container 2". The inner support ring 11"a is thus inserted into the container 2". It rests with the vertical ring section 12" on the peripheral wall 4" on the inside and with the horizontal ring section 13" on the flange 8" on the top.The adjoining surfaces are glued together to ensure high tightness and mechanical stability. The bonding can also be achieved, for example, by inserting the container 2" and the vertical ring section 12" into one another and pressing them together at a temperature at which the injection-molded material softens or melts. The molten material of the vertical ring section 12" then adheres to the container 2" and, if necessary, penetrates its pores. However, bonding is optional; a secure joint can also be achieved, for example, by a press fit. As an alternative to inserting the inner support ring 11"a into the container 2", the vertical ring section 12" below the horizontal ring section 13" can also be designed as a connecting wall with openings and embedded in the fiber material of the container wall during the production of the fiber molded body (container 2') using the fiber casting process.Radially on the outside, the horizontal ring section 13" is flush with the flange 8". The inner diameter of the upper threaded ring 11'b essentially corresponds to the diameter of the opening 7'. The area of ​​the vertical ring section 12" with the external thread 16"a protrudes upwards from the container 2".

[0065] The outer threaded ring 11"b has an internal thread 16"b on the inward-facing side, which is complementary to the external thread 16"a of the inner support ring 11"a. The outward-facing surface of the outer threaded ring 11"b is smooth-cylindrical, and its diameter is smaller than the diameter of the horizontal ring section 13". Thus, when the outer threaded ring 11"b is screwed onto the inner support ring 11"a, the horizontal ring section 13" projects radially beyond the outer threaded ring 11"b.

[0066] The cover 10" has a curved cover surface 10"a and a ring section 10"b surrounding it. The inner diameter of the ring section 10"b corresponds to the outer diameter of the outer threaded ring 11"b. Thus, the cover 10" can be inserted and removed from above onto the outer threaded ring 11"b.

[0067] In the present case, the lid 10', 10", the lower support ring 11'a, the inner support ring 11"a, the upper threaded ring 11'b and the outer threaded ring 11"b are injection-molded from a water-soluble and compostable thermoplastic. As an alternative to the form-fitting connection shown here between the two-part connecting element 11', 11" and the container 2', 2", it is possible to form the connecting element 11', 11" in one piece and / or to connect the connecting element 11', 11" to the container 2', 2" by injection molding.

[0068] The Figures 6 and 7show a side view and a longitudinal section of another embodiment of a connecting element 11"' and Figure 8 shows a container 1"' designed as a bottle with this connecting element 11"' and a container 2"'. The upper section of the connecting element 11"' again has an external thread 16"', onto which a cover 10"' designed as a screw cap can be screwed. The container 2"' can, for example, hold a beverage, a dishwashing detergent or another liquid, gel-like or powdery material. The container 1"' is tightly closed by the screw cap 10"'. In order to ensure that the connecting element is connected to the container 2"' in a particularly tight and durable manner, it has a thin annular connecting wall 17 below the external thread 16"', which surrounds the opening 7"' of the container 2"'. The connecting wall 17 is provided with a plurality of openings 18, between which webs are located, which form the connecting wall 17.

[0069] The Figures 9 - 11 show an upper section of a multi-part suction mold 19 with a porous wall 20 for producing the container from Fig. 8 The suction mold 19 has two, three, four, or more parts to enable the removal of the molded body formed in the suction mold 19. The porous wall of the suction mold can be achieved in a conventional manner by a base body made of plastic or metal with suction channels, into which a sieve-like structure is inserted, forming the porous wall. In the illustrated embodiment, the porous wall 20 of the suction mold 19 is produced using a 3D printing process, with liquid-permeable channels being embedded in the material of the porous wall 20.

[0070] The suction mold 19 has an upper receiving section 21 for the injection-molded connecting element 11"'. To produce the fiber container 2‴, the connecting element 11"' is inserted into the receiving section 21 of the suction mold 19 such that the connecting wall 17 of the connecting element 11"' has a small distance d of the order of 1 mm from the porous wall 20 of the suction mold 19. The suction mold 19 is then immersed in pulp, and water is sucked off through the porous wall 20, so that a layer of fiber 22 is deposited on the porous wall 20 of the suction mold 19. The fiber 22 penetrates through the openings 18 of the connecting wall 17 of the connecting element 11"' and projects through the openings 18.

[0071] In practice, the fiber layer of the container 2"' can then be compacted by pressing an inflatable pressing tool (not shown) against the inside of the deposited fiber layer. The fiber layer is thereby dewatered and compacted and firmly encloses the webs between the openings 18 in the connecting wall 17.

[0072] The drawings depict rotationally symmetrical containers. The openings have a circular clear cross-section. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the containers and their openings may have a shape other than circular. For example, the containers and their openings may be square. In this case, the connecting elements also have the shape of a square ring enclosing a square opening.

[0073] The features of the invention disclosed in the present description, the drawings, and the claims may be essential, both individually and in any combination, for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. It may be varied within the scope of the claims and taking into account the knowledge of the competent person skilled in the art. List of reference symbols

[0074] 1Container, coffee capsule 2Fiber molded body, container 3Bottom 4Circumferential wall 5Recess 6Perforation area 7Container opening 8Flange 9Container inside 10Cover, sealing film 11Connecting element, reinforcing ring 12Vertical ring section 13Horizontal ring section 14Recesses 1'Container, cream jar 2'Fiber molded body, container 3'Bottom 4'Circumferential wall 5'Recess 7'Container opening 8'Flange 9'Container inside 10', 10'Cover, lid 11'Two-part connecting element 11'Lower support ring 11'Upper threaded ring 12'Vertical ring section 13'Horizontal ring section 15'Tongue and groove connection 16'Threaded connection 1"Container, Cream Jar 2"Molded body made of fiber, Container 3"Bottom 4"Peripheral wall 5"Recess 7"Opening of the container 8"Flange 9"Inside of the container 10"Cover,Lid 10"aCover surface 10"bRing section 11"Two-part connecting element 11"aInner support ring 11"bOuter threaded ring 12"Vertical ring section 13"Horizontal ring section 16"Threaded connection 16"aExternal thread 16"bInternal thread 1‴Container, bottle 2‴Formed body made of fiber material, container 7‴Opening 11‴Connecting element 17Connecting wall 18Perforation 19Suction form 20Receiving section 21Porous wall 22Fiber material dGap,

Claims

1. A molded product made of fiber material (2"') with a connection element (11‴), characterized in that the connection element (11"') has a connecting wall (17) with holes (18) through which the fiber material of the molded product (2"') projects.

2. The molded product made of fiber material (2"') according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least one of the following features: • the molded product (2"') is a container (2"') having at least one opening (7‴); • the connecting wall surrounds the opening (7"'); • the container (2"') has a cover for the opening (7‴); • the container (2"') has a biodegradable or bioinert coating; • the connection element (11"') is injection molded; • the connection element (11"') is made of biodegradable material; • the connection element (11"') reinforces the container (2"') locally, at least in the region of the opening (7"').

3. The molded product made of fiber material (2"') according to claim 2, characterized in that the coating is a primer which contains at least one of the following components: - cellulose fibers, - casein, - whey, - Agar Agar, - Psyllium husks - SiO24. The molded product made of fiber material (2"') according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the cover (10) has at least one of the following features: • it consists of a sealing film; • it is made of the same material as the connection element (11"').

5. The molded product made of fiber material (2"') according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it has a second, at least locally formed, biodegradable coating.

6. The molded product made of fiber material (2"') according to claim 5, characterized in that the second coating contains one of the following components: - linseed oil, - carnauba wax, - beeswax.

7. The molded product made of fiber material (2"') according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connection element is designed as a reinforcing ring (11"').

8. A method of manufacturing a molded product made of fiber material with a connection element, characterized by the following steps: • insertion of a connection element, which has a connecting wall with holes, into a suction mold in which the molded product is formed from fiber material so that the connecting wall has a small distance to a porous wall of the suction mold; • suction of fiber material from a pulp through the porous wall of the suction mold, so that the fiber material is deposited on the porous wall and the deposited fiber material protrudes through the holes of the connecting wall, whereby the connection element is firmly anchored in the resulting fiber material layer.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the sucked fiber material in is pressed and dewatered.

10. The method according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by at least one of the following steps : - compacting the fiber material into a container; - dewatering and drying of the fiber material; - coating the fiber material with a primer; - injection molding of the connection element; - attaching a cover.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the molded product is coated with a second coating and is hot-pressed and cooled.

12. The method according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the molded product is coated together with the connection element.