Sheet packaging material for producing sealed packages for liquid food

Abstract

A sheet-like packaging material for producing a sealed package (101) containing food, the sheet-like packaging material comprising fold lines having portions angled towards each other so that at least two side panels (153, 154) of the sealed package have a trapezoidal shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a sheet-like packaging material for producing a sealed package containing liquid food, and also relates to a sealed package made of the sheet-like packaging material and containing liquid food. Background Art

[0002] As is known to all, many pourable foods, such as fruit juice, pasteurized milk, UHT (ultra-high temperature treated) milk, fermented milk products such as yogurt, wine, ketchup, soup, etc., are sold in different types of packaging, some of which are made of sterilized packaging materials.

[0003] A typical packaging example is the packaging of liquid or pourable foods known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by folding, sealing and cutting a web of laminated packaging material. In particular, the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, for example made of paper, covered on both sides with a layer of heat-sealable plastic material (for example polyethylene). In the case of aseptic packaging for long-term storage products (for example UHT milk), the packaging material also includes a layer of oxygen barrier material, for example aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-sealable plastic material and is covered by another layer of heat-sealable plastic material, which forms the inner face of the packaging that ultimately comes into contact with the food.

[0004] Such packages are usually produced by fully automatic packaging machines in which a continuous tube is formed from a web-fed packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized on the packaging machine, for example by applying a chemical sterilizing agent (e.g. a hydrogen peroxide solution), which, once sterilization is complete, is removed from the surface of the packaging material, for example by evaporation by heating. The web thus sterilized is then kept in a closed, sterile environment and folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, which is fed vertically.

[0005] To complete the forming operation, the tube is filled with the liquid food product, which may be sterilized if appropriate, and sealed, and subsequently cut along equidistant cross sections; pillow-shaped packs are thus obtained, which are then mechanically folded to form the respective finished packages at a final folder.

[0006] In order to allow folding of the web packaging material during both forming and final folding, crease lines, i.e. weakening lines, are formed on the packaging material at the production plant by a creasing tool. In practice, the crease lines define fold lines along which the pillow pack is folded to obtain the desired final configuration.

[0007] Alternatively, the packaging material may be cut into blanks which are formed into packages on a forming spindle. The resulting package is then filled with the food product and sealed. An example of this type of package is the so-called "mountaintop" package known by the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trademark).

[0008] In order to open the above mentioned packages, they may be provided with a removable portion which is partially separated from the rest of the packaging material by opening means to release a pouring opening through which the product is poured.

[0009] The removable portion is formed on the packaging material before the packaging material is folded and sealed to form the finished package.

[0010] The removable portion may comprise a so called "pre-laminated" hole, ie a circular hole formed only through the base layer of the packaging material and covered with the layers of heat-seal plastics material and barrier material which adhere to each other at the hole when the material is laminated.

[0011] Each package of the above-mentioned type, whether cut from a tube of packaging material or formed on a forming spindle, is obtained from an elementary unit of packaging material having given crease lines.

[0012] In other words, the above-mentioned basic unit represents the exact length of packaging material used to produce a single package.

[0013] In the case of packages made from a tube of packaging material, the starting coil comprises a plurality of elementary units connected to one another; in the case of packages made on a forming spindle, the elementary units are defined by blanks cut from the coil before starting the forming and sealing operations.

[0014] The basic unit usually has a rectangular or square configuration, with two boundary edges parallel to the longitudinal direction and the other two boundary edges parallel to a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

[0015] The longitudinal direction becomes the direction along which the overall height of the package itself is defined, once the elementary unit has been folded and sealed to form the finished package; it also represents the main extension direction of the web from which the elementary unit is obtained.

[0016] The basic unit typically includes at least two transverse fold lines extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and dividing the basic unit itself into: a bottom region, which contains a bottom fold pattern and is configured to form a bottom portion of the finished package; a top region, which contains a top fold pattern and is configured to form a top portion of the finished package; and a middle region, which is contained between the transverse fold lines, between the bottom region and the top region and typically has a plurality of longitudinal fold lines, which are designed to form the side edges of a plurality of side walls of the finished package. Depending on the orientation of the package, the middle region of the basic unit may instead form the top, bottom and two opposite sides of the package, while the bottom and top regions of the basic unit form the remaining two opposite sides of the package.

[0017] The bottom portion of the finished package typically includes a flat and horizontal floor that defines the resting surface of the package itself.

[0018] The top portion of the finished package may comprise a flat and horizontal top panel parallel to the bottom panel. For certain types of packages, inclined top panels can be conveniently used in combination with an opening device, since they are wider than corresponding flat top panels of parallelepiped or prismatic packages and thus allow the application of larger opening devices, for example provided with a screw cap or the like. Other opening devices and principles than those mentioned are often used.

[0019] As is known, after the packaging is produced, it is transported to the point of sale by placing it on a transport pallet having predetermined dimensions.Therefore, there is a particular need in the packaging field to optimize the filling of the transport pallet with the finished packaging while maintaining a pleasing appearance of such packaging.

[0020] Depending on the product and the intended field of application of the packaging and, in some cases, also on the intended way of opening the packaging, packaging of different sizes and formats is often required. Summary of the invention

[0021] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sheet-like packaging material and a sealed package containing a liquid food which allow satisfying the above-mentioned needs and desires in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0022] To solve these objects, a sheet-like packaging material and a package according to the attached claims are provided. The advantage of the sheet-like packaging material and the package is that they provide a package having a shape similar to a cup whose bottom is narrower than the top, i.e. the area of ​​the bottom of the package is smaller than the area of ​​the top of the package. This makes it easier to empty the product from the package, especially when scooping the product from the package.

[0023] Other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1a is a top view of a sheet-like packaging material for manufacturing a sealed package according to a first embodiment,

[0026] Figure 1b Is Figure 1a A perspective view of a package made of a sheet-like packaging material is shown,

[0027] Figure 1c Is Figure 1a A side view of a package made of a sheet of packaging material is shown,

[0028] Figure 1d Is Figure 1a A bottom view of a package made of a sheet-like packaging material is shown,

[0029] Figure 2a is a top view of a sheet-like packaging material for manufacturing a sealed package according to a second embodiment,

[0030] Figure 2b Is Figure 2a A perspective view of a package made of a sheet-like packaging material is shown,

[0031] Figure 2c Is Figure 2a A side view of a package made of a sheet of packaging material is shown,

[0032] Figure 2d Is Figure 2a A bottom view of a package made of a sheet-like packaging material is shown,

[0033] Figure 3a is a top view of a sheet-like packaging material for manufacturing a sealed package according to a third embodiment,

[0034] Figure 3b Is Figure 3a A perspective view of a package made of a sheet-like packaging material is shown,

[0035] Figure 3c Is Figure 3a A side view of a package made of a sheet of packaging material is shown,

[0036] Figure 3d Is Figure 3a A bottom view of a package made of a sheet-like packaging material is shown,

[0037] Figure 4a yes Figure 3a A top view of the sheet packaging material is shown, now also showing the open configuration, and

[0038] Figure 4b Is Figure 4a A perspective view of a package made from the sheet-like packaging material shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] refer to Figure 1a to Figure 1d , a sheet-like packaging material 100 for producing a sealed package 101 containing food is shown. The sheet-like packaging material 100 corresponds to the desired "basic unit" described above. It is made of a roll of laminated packaging material having a multilayer structure, which includes a base layer, such as a paper base layer, covered on both sides with a layer of heat-sealable plastic material (such as polyethylene). It can have a layer of oxygen barrier material, such as aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-sealable plastic material and is covered by another layer of heat-sealable plastic material, which forms the inner face of the package that eventually contacts the food.

[0040] In order to fold the sheet packaging material 100 into the package 101, it has many crease lines, i.e. weakened lines, formed on the packaging material by a creasing tool in the production plant. Folding the sheet packaging material 100 to form the package 101 is done along these crease lines. The manufacture of the roll of the laminated packaging material made of the sheet packaging material 100 itself is done according to suitable and commonly used techniques. In addition, any suitable and commonly available technology can be used to produce crease lines on the sheet packaging material 100. It is also possible to use known technology to fold the sheet packaging material 100 into a sealed package 101, fill it with liquid food and perform the final seal of the sealed package 101 containing the product. The present invention particularly relates to the specific construction of the crease lines and the final shape of the sealed package 101.

[0041] In detail, the sheet-like packaging material 100 has four edges. The first edge 1 and the second edge 2 are two opposite and parallel edges. The third edge 3 and the fourth edge 4 are two opposite and parallel edges. The third edge 3 and the fourth edge 4 connect the first edge 1 and the second edge 2, so that the sheet-like packaging material 100 has a rectangular shape.

[0042] The first crease line 11 and the second crease line 12 extend in parallel between the first edge 1 and the second edge 2, i.e., extend from the first edge 1 to the second edge 2. The third crease line 13 and the fourth crease line 14 extend in parallel between the first edge 1 and the second edge 2 and in the middle of the first crease line 11 and the second crease line 12. Therefore, the third crease line 13 and the fourth crease line 14 are closer to the center of the sheet packaging material 100 than the first crease line 11 and the second crease line 12. The fifth crease line 15 and the sixth crease line 16 extend between the first crease line 11 and the second crease line 12. The seventh crease line 17 and the eighth crease line 18 extend between the first crease line 11 and the second crease line 12 and in the middle of the fifth crease line 15 and the sixth crease line 16. Therefore, the seventh crease line 17 and the eighth crease line 18 are closer to the center of the sheet packaging material 100 than the fifth crease line 15 and the sixth crease line 16.

[0043] The fold lines 11 to 18 divide the sheet-like packaging material 100 into seven parts: a central part 50, a first side part 51, a second side part 52, a third side part 53, a fourth side part 54, and two end parts 55a, 55b.

[0044] The central portion 50 has a rectangular shape and forms the top plate 150 of the sealed package 101, see Figure 1b . The first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 are adjacent to the central portion 50 and are opposite to each other, and form a first side panel 151 and a second side panel 152 of the sealed package 101. The third side portion 53 and the fourth side portion 54 are adjacent to the central portion 50 and are opposite to each other and form a third side panel 153 and a fourth side panel 154 of the sealed package 101. The two end portions 55a, 55b are adjacent to two of the side portions 53, 54, specifically and in the illustrated embodiment, adjacent to the third side portion 53 and the fourth side portion 54. The end portions 55a, 55b are arranged to be connected to each other to form a bottom panel 155 of the sealed package 101 when the sheet-like packaging material 100 is folded into the sealed package 101. The end portions 55a, 55b overlap at the line indicated by the reference numeral 6.

[0045] The seventh and eighth crease lines 17 and 18 have a first pair of creases 17a, 18a defining two opposite sides of the first side portion 51. The first pair of creases 17a, 18a are angled towards each other such that the first side portion 51 has a trapezoidal shape.

[0046] The seventh and eighth crease lines 17, 18 also have a second pair of creases 17b, 18b defining two opposite sides of the second side portion 52. The second pair of creases 17b, 18b are angled towards each other so that the second side portion 52 also has a trapezoidal shape.

[0047] The obtained trapezoidal shape enables the sealed package 101 to have side panels also having a trapezoidal shape when folded from the sheet-like packaging material 100, see Figure 1b to Figure 1d The two plates 153 and 154 and Figure 2b to Figure 2d and the corresponding Figure 3b to Figure 3d 101. More specifically, the trapezoidal plates have the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. As a result, the area of ​​the bottom plate 155 is smaller than the area of ​​the top plate 150. This makes it easier to empty the product from the package, especially when scooping the product out of the sealed package 101. Some examples of products that may be contained in the sealed package 101 are yogurt and other fermented dairy products.

[0048] The first pair of folds 17a, 18a are located opposite the second pair of folds 17b, 18b as seen relative to the center portion 50. The distance D between the angled folds of the first folds 17a, 18a and the second folds 17b, 18b decreases with distance from the center portion 50. This makes the area of ​​the top of the sealed package 101 larger than the area of ​​the bottom of the sealed package 101.

[0049] The first pair of folds 17a, 18a can be inclined toward each other at the same angle, so that the first side portion 51 has an isosceles trapezoidal shape. The corresponding situation can be applied to the second pair of folds 17b, 18b, that is, they can be inclined toward each other at the same angle, so that the second side portion 52 has an isosceles trapezoidal shape.

[0050] In order to fold the packaging material 100 into the sealed package 101, it may have folding lines 11 to 18, which also divide the sheet packaging material 100 into four flap portions 61 to 64. Then, the first flap portion 61 and the second flap portion 62 are adjacent to the first side portion 51 and are located on the opposite side thereof, and form the first flap and the second flap folded on the first side panel 151 of the sealed package 101. The third flap portion 63 and the fourth flap portion 64 are adjacent to the second side portion 52 and are located on the opposite side thereof, and form the third flap 158 and the fourth flap 159 folded on the second side panel 152 of the sealed package 101. The fifth folding line 15 and the sixth folding line 16 have a third pair of folding lines 15a, 16a, which together with the first pair of folding lines 17a, 18a define the sides of the first flap portion 61 and the second flap portion 62. The third pair of folds 15a, 16a are angled toward each other so that the first flap portion 61 and the second flap portion 62 have a quadrilateral shape. The fifth fold line 15 and the sixth fold line 16 also have a fourth pair of folds 15b, 16b, which together with the second pair of folds 17b, 18b define the sides of the third flap portion 63 and the fourth flap portion 64. The fourth pair of folds 15b, 16b are angled toward each other so that the third flap portion 63 and the fourth flap portion 64 have a quadrilateral shape. In some embodiments, the flap portions 61 to 64 have a parallelogram shape ( Figure 1a to Figure 1d ), while in other embodiments they have a quadrilateral shape ( Figure 2a to Figure 2d and Figure 3a to Figure 3d ).

[0051] The first flap portion 61 may have a corresponding pair of crease lines 22a, 22b, which divide the first flap portion 61 into three parts 61a, 61b, 61c, each of which has a triangular shape. Compared with the second crease line 22b of the pair of crease lines 22a, 22b, the first crease line 22a of the pair of crease lines 22a, 22b is longer and located farther away from the center line A1, which extends through the center of the first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52. Another center line A2 is perpendicular to the center line A1 and extends through the center of the third side portion 53 and the fourth side portion 54.

[0052] The second folding wing portion 62, the third folding wing portion 63 and the fourth folding wing portion 64 may have corresponding pairs of crease lines 19a, 19b, 21a, 21b, 20a, 20b, which divide these folding wing portions 62 to 64 into corresponding three parts 62a to 62c, 63a to 63c and 64a to 64c, each part having a triangular shape.

[0053] refer to Figure 2a to Figure 2d and Figure 3a to Figure 3d , the third crease line 13 and the fourth crease line 14 may have a fifth pair of creases 13a, 14a, which define two opposite sides of the third side portion 53. The fifth pair of creases 13a, 14a are angled towards each other so that the third side portion 53 has a trapezoidal shape. In a corresponding manner, the third crease line 13 and the fourth crease line 14 may include a sixth pair of creases 13b, 14b, which define two opposite sides of the fourth side portion 54. The sixth pair of creases 13b, 14b are angled towards each other so that the fourth side portion 54 has a trapezoidal shape. Starting from the fifth pair of creases 13a, 14a and the sixth pair of creases 13b, 14b, the crease lines 13, 14 have end portions 13c, 14c and 13d, 14d, which extend parallel to the third edge 3 and the fourth edge 4 to the first edge 1 and the second edge 2, respectively.

[0054] The distance between the angled folds of the fifth pair of folds 13a, 14a and the sixth pair of folds 13b, 14b may decrease with the distance from the center portion 50. As a result, the area of ​​the top of the sealed package 101 becomes even larger than the area of ​​the bottom of the sealed package 101.

[0055] The fifth pair of folds 13a, 14a can be inclined at the same angle to make the third side portion 53 have an isosceles trapezoidal shape. The sixth pair of folds 13b, 13b can also be inclined at the same angle to make the fourth side portion 54 have an isosceles trapezoidal shape.

[0056] refer to Figure 3a to Figure 3dThe four flap portions 61 to 64 and their corresponding crease lines 22a, 22b may have such shapes and proportions as shown in the figure that the flaps do not overlap when they are folded toward each other on the sealed package 101, see Figure 3b .

[0057] refer to Figure 4a and Figure 4b , the sheet packaging material 100 can have an opening structure 200 extending along at least three edges of the center 50. This allows the top plate 150 to be released so that the sealed package 101 can be opened. The example of the opening structure is a traditional plastic guide tape made as a part of the relevant edge of the center 50. The pull tab system of tearing the package along the edge of the center can also be used. Alternatively or additionally, the opening structure 200 can be a weak end, which allows the consumer to push through the packaging so that it is torn along the weak end. In one embodiment, the packaging does not have an opening structure, in which case it can be opened with, for example, a knife or a pair of pointed scissors. Other shapes that are different from the shown opening structure can be used. For example, it can have the form of a cross positioned on the top plate 150.

[0058] By using the described sheet-like packaging material 100 , a sealed package 101 can be produced, which can be sealed to contain a liquid food packaged within the sealed package 101 .

[0059] From the above it can be seen that, although various embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, the invention is not restricted thereto but can also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sheet-like packaging material (100) for producing a sealed package (101) containing food, the sheet-like packaging material (100) comprising: A first edge (1), a second edge (2) parallel to the first edge (1), a third edge (3), a fourth edge (4) parallel to the third edge (3), and the third edge (3) and the fourth edge (4) connect the first edge (1) and the second edge (2), so that the sheet-like packaging material (100) has a rectangular shape. A first fold line (11) and a second fold line (12) extending in parallel between the first edge (1) and the second edge (2), A third fold line (13) and a fourth fold line (14) extending parallel to and between the first edge (1) and the second edge (2) and intermediate the first fold line (11) and the second fold line (12), a fifth fold line (15) and a sixth fold line (16) extending between the first fold line (11) and the second fold line (12), a seventh fold line (17) and an eighth fold line (18) extending between the first fold line (11) and the second fold line (12) and intermediate the fifth fold line (15) and the sixth fold line (16), The first fold line (11), the second fold line (12), the third fold line (13), the fourth fold line (14), the fifth fold line (15), the sixth fold line (16), the seventh fold line (17) and the eighth fold line (18) divide the sheet-like packaging material (100) into: - a rectangular central portion (50) configured to form a top panel (150) of said sealed package (101), - a first side portion (51) and a second side portion (52), which are adjacent to the central portion (50) and opposite to each other and are configured to form a first side panel (151) and a second side panel (152) of the sealed package (101), - a third side portion (53) and a fourth side portion (54), which are adjacent to the central portion (50) and opposite to each other and are configured to form a third side panel (153) and a fourth side panel (154) of the sealed package (101), and - two end portions (55a, 55b) adjacent to the third side portion (53) and the fourth side portion (54) and configured to be connected to each other to form a bottom plate (155) of the sealed package (101), characterized in that The seventh fold line (17) and the eighth fold line (18) comprise a first pair of folds (17a, 18a) defining two opposite sides of the first side portion (51), wherein the first pair of folds (17a, 18a) are angled towards each other so that the first side portion (51) has a trapezoidal shape, and The seventh fold line (17) and the eighth fold line (18) comprise a second pair of folds (17b, 18b) defining two opposite sides of the second side portion (52), wherein the second pair of folds (17b, 18b) are angled towards each other so that the second side portion (52) has a trapezoidal shape, The distance (D) between the angled folds of the first pair of folds (17a, 18a) decreases with the distance from the center (50), and the distance between the angled folds of the second pair of folds (17b, 18b) decreases with the distance from the center (50), so that the area of ​​the top of the sealed package (101) is larger than the area of ​​the bottom of the sealed package (101).

2. The sheet-like packaging material (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first pair of folding portions (17a, 18a) are located on opposite sides of the second pair of folding portions (17b, 18b) as viewed relative to the central portion (50).

3. The sheet-like packaging material (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The first pair of folding portions (17a, 18a) are inclined at the same angle to each other, so that the first side portion (51) has an isosceles trapezoidal shape, and The second pair of folding portions (17b, 18b) are inclined at the same angle to each other, so that the second side portion (52) has an isosceles trapezoidal shape.

4. The sheet-like packaging material (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The first fold line (11), the second fold line (12), the third fold line (13), the fourth fold line (14), the fifth fold line (15), the sixth fold line (16), the seventh fold line (17) and the eighth fold line (18) divide the sheet-like packaging material (100) into: - a first flap portion (61) and a second flap portion (62), which are adjacent to and located on opposite sides of the first side portion (51) and are configured to form a first flap and a second flap folded on the first side panel (151) of the sealed package (101), - a third flap portion (63) and a fourth flap portion (64), which are adjacent to and located on opposite sides of the second side portion (52) and are configured to form a third flap (158) and a fourth flap (159) folded on the second side panel (152) of the sealed package (101), The fifth fold line (15) and the sixth fold line (16) include a third pair of fold portions (15a, 16a), which together with the first pair of fold portions (17a, 18a) define the sides of the first flap portion (61) and the second flap portion (62), wherein the third pair of fold portions (15a, 16a) are angled toward each other so that the first flap portion (61) and the second flap portion (62) have a parallelogram shape, and The fifth crease line (15) and the sixth crease line (16) include a fourth pair of crease portions (15b, 16b), which together with the second pair of crease portions (17b, 18b) define the sides of the third folding wing portion (63) and the fourth folding wing portion (64), wherein the fourth pair of folding portions (15b, 16b) are angled toward each other so that the third folding wing portion (63) and the fourth folding wing portion (64) have a parallelogram shape.

5. The sheet packaging material (100) according to claim 4, wherein the first flap portion (61) comprises a corresponding pair of crease lines (22a, 22b) dividing the first flap portion (61) into three parts (61a, 61b, 61c), each part having a triangular shape, wherein a first crease line (22a) of the pair of crease lines (22a, 22b) is smaller than a second crease line (22b) of the pair of crease lines (22a, 22b). - Longer, and - located further away from a center line (A1) extending through the center of the first side portion (51) and the second side portion (52).

6. The sheet-like packaging material (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The third fold line (13) and the fourth fold line (14) include a fifth pair of folds (13a, 14a) defining two opposite sides of the third side portion (53), wherein the fifth pair of folds (13a, 14a) are angled toward each other so that the third side portion (53) has a trapezoidal shape, and The third crease line (13) and the fourth crease line (14) include a sixth pair of creases (13b, 14b) defining two opposite sides of the fourth side portion (54), wherein the sixth pair of creases (13b, 14b) are angled toward each other so that the fourth side portion (54) has a trapezoidal shape.

7. The sheet packaging material (100) according to claim 6, wherein the distance between the angled fold portions of the fifth pair of fold portions (13a, 14a) decreases with the distance from the center portion (50), and the distance between the angled fold portions of the sixth pair of fold portions (13b, 14b) decreases with the distance from the center portion (50), so that the area of ​​the top of the sealed package (101) is larger than the area of ​​the bottom of the sealed package (101).

8. The sheet-like packaging material (100) according to claim 6, wherein The fifth pair of folding portions (13a, 14a) are inclined at the same angle to each other, so that the third side portion (53) has an isosceles trapezoidal shape, and The sixth pair of folding portions (13b, 13b) are inclined at the same angle to each other, so that the fourth side portion (54) has an isosceles trapezoidal shape.

9. The sheet packaging material (100) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an opening structure (200) extending along at least three edges of the central portion (50) to allow the top panel (150) to be released so that the sealed package (101) can be opened.

10. A sealed package (101) made of the sheet-like packaging material (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the sealed package (101) comprising a liquid food contained within the sealed package (101).

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