Primary packaging

Abstract

The invention relates to primary packaging (1) for confectionery, having an inner side for direct contact with the product, for twist-wrap, fold-wrap, or bag-wrap packaging. The primary packaging (1) comprises a glycerin-containing carrier material (4). A functional layer (5) is applied to the inner side to prevent the migration of fats and to prevent sticking.

Description

The invention relates to a primary packaging for goods, having an inner side for direct contact with the goods, for the packaging types twist tuck (twist), fold tuck (fold), pack tuck (top twist) and use as a lower strip.Primary packages are the first packages that are directly in contact with foods such as confectionery contained therein.In the field of web-shaped packaging materials, paper-based products are used for many applications. This is done in many cases and with low requirements on the barrier properties of the packaging material, without further modifications thereof.Since primary packaging has to fulfil a number of functions, including protecting the confectionery products from external influences such as atmospheric moisture, light, temperature fluctuations and contamination, barrier properties with respect to oxygen, water vapor, oil and fat and further substances are imparted to the packaging papers with the aid of layers.Moreover, the primary packages play a decisive role in the maintenance of product quality, safety and durability throughout the life cycle of the confectionery products.In the selection and design of primary packages for confectionery products, the specific requirements of the products as well as regulatory requirements applicable to food packages are to be considered.Aspects such as barrier properties against moisture and oxygen, light protection, taste and aroma protection and the possibility of identifying and informing the consumers must be taken into account here.Depending on the food to be packaged, a wide range of confectionery packaging materials are available. Plastic films such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride are frequently used for the packaging of sweets, chocolate and other sweets. These films may have various shapes, sizes and degrees of transparency.Aluminium foil, due to its protection from moisture, light and oxygen, is used in the packaging of delicate foods, such as chocolate bars, to ensure the lasting quality of the confectionery products.Tubular bags are flexible, easy-to-open bags which are often used for confectionery products such as gum beads and chewing gum. They are convenient for the consumer and protect the confectionery products from moisture and air.A environmentally friendly option is offered by paper packaging. They can be printed and embossed particularly easily.Selection of the proper primary package depends on various factors including the type of confectionery, its shelf life, its sales environment and brand preferences. Regardless of the packaging chosen, it is important to ensure that it meets legal requirements and regulations, especially with respect to labeling and food securityOn the one hand, the primary packages must be food-safe and must not transfer harmful substances to the confectionery products. This requires the use of materials which are permitted for contact with foods and which meet applicable legal requirements.Furthermore, it is required that the packages provide a suitable barrier to moisture, oxygen, light and other environmental influences that could impair the quality and shelf life of the confectionery products. This is especially important for delicate products such as chocolate.The sealing of the secondary package must be intact and secure to prevent contamination of the confectionery products. This may be achieved by heat sealing, adhesive sealing or other suitable methods.The primary package must contain all legally prescribed information, including list of ingredients, nutritional information, allergen information and the Minimum Shelf Life (MHD). The labels must be clear and well readable.The package should present the confectionery product in an appealing manner and support the brand image. This can be achieved by pleasing design, graphics and finishing techniques such as embossing or foil lamination. Furthermore, they should be easy to open and close the consumer again in order to ensure user-friendliness.With a view to minimizing the environmental effects, environmentally friendly materials for the packages that are recyclable, reusable and / or biodegradable are to be selected.DE 10 2013 210 095 B3 describes a primary packaging for confectionery products, in particular for hard and soft caramels and chocolate products for the packaging types twist tuck (twist), fold tuck (fold), pack tuck (top twist) and use as a lower strip. The primary packaging has a one- or both-sided coating of the carrier material with a wax with paraffin or hot melt, wherein a satinized kraft paper with a basis weight of 10 g / m 2 to 28 g / m 2 is used as carrier material.EP 1 885 558 B2 describes a barrier film for packaging purposes, in particular for the packaging of food and food products and other sensitive goods, in the form of a multilayer film, the mechanical properties of which are largely determined by a biaxially oriented film for which a crystallizable polyolefin is used as film-forming polymer, and which also has as layer or barrier at least one coextruded layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH).EP 3 943 661 A1 describes a method for producing a packaging material having a layer on a substrate using a casting method for coating the substrate.Overall, primary confectionery packages are a key aspect in ensuring the quality, security and attractiveness of confectionery products to consumers. Their design and manufacture required a comprehensive understanding of product properties as well as a careful balancing of functional, aesthetic and sustainable aspects.It is an object of the invention to provide a primary packaging which, owing to its physical, chemical and food technology properties, is suitable for use as a primary packaging for foods and at the same time enables a significant reduction in the packaging material used and the proportional packaging costs. In addition, the primary packaging should be recyclable. The primary packaging should be producible on the basis of renewable raw materials.This object is achieved according to the invention by a primary packaging according to the independent claims which are subordinate. Preferred variants, further features and advantages of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims, the description, the exemplary embodiments and the drawing.The support material of the primary package is, in one variant, made of pulp fibers, such as hardwood bleached kraft pulp (LBKP), softwood bleached kraft pulp (NBKP), hardwood bleached sulfite pulp (LBSP), or softwood bleached sulfite pulp (NBSP).Furthermore, pulp fibers derived from waste paper can be used. The cellulose fibers mentioned can be used as a mixture and optionally contain proportions of other fibers, for example synthetic resin fibers.Carrier materials made of long-fibre softwoods, in particular of spruce wood or pine wood, have a sufficiently high tear strength to reliably absorb the mechanical loads during the beating-in of the packaged goods or of the confectionery.Fillers which can be used are, for example, kaolins, calcium carbonate in its natural forms, such as limestone, marble or dolomite stone, precipitated calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, talc, silica, aluminum oxide and mixtures thereof for the base paper of the support material.In one variant, the carrier material has a weight per unit area of from 38 g / m 2 to 45 g / m 2.The outer side of the carrier material is printed, for example, with ornaments, ornaments or the reproduction of trademarks or manufacturer's details.A functional layer is applied to the inside of the carrier material.This functional layer has several tasks. On the one hand, the functional layer prevents the migration of fats. Furthermore, the functional layer serves to prevent the product from adhering to the primary packaging.The functional layer is in direct contact with the confectionery. Direct food contact (DFC) packaging materials are used to protect the foods and must meet stringent requirements to ensure food safety and consumers health.Thus, DFC packaging materials must not transfer harmful substances to food products. They must be food-safe and must not release chemicals which are harmful to health. No undesired substances must pass from the packaging into the food. The materials must be designed to prevent migration of ingredients into food.To ensure this, these have a barrier to, among other things, moisture, oxygen, rich light and other factors to preserve the shelf life and quality of the food products. Moreover, they must not impart an undesirable taste or smell to foods.In order to meet the demand for sustainable packaging materials, the applied functional layer must be environmentally friendly and can be integrated into the recycling process.After applying a pressure to the outer side of the carrier material, a glycerol solution is applied flat, for example. Optionally, a protective lacquer can be applied to the print before the impregnation of the carrier material into the glycerol solution.Subsequently, on the inside of the carrier material, the functional layer is applied against the adhesion of the confectionery products and against the incorporation of fats.Due to the heat and the blowing speed of the drying air in the production process, a part of the glycerol solution is removed from the carrier material. The glycerin imparts flexibility and elasticity to the support material. This is particularly useful when the carrier material must be folded, bent or formed to achieve certain packaging shapes.Glycerin can help reduce the electrostatic charge of the support material, which is especially important in packaging materials to prevent dust attraction and damage to electronic or sensitive products.Furthermore, the glycerol on the carrier material can increase the shelf life of the confectionery, in particular for long-term storage.The surface of the carrier material can be smoothened by the addition of glycerol, as a result of which the carrier material can be printed better and more of a high quality. This is critical when the backing material is used for labels, packaging prints or other types of labels.The glycerol can improve, for example, the barrier properties of the carrier material with respect to moisture, water vapor, fats and other substances. This is important to protect the contents of the package from external influences.In a particularly advantageous variant of the invention, the functional layer is composed of a copolymer of an unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbon and a nitrile.Copolymers are of great importance in many areas of chemistry and material science because they provide the ability to produce tailored polymers with specific properties.A copolymer is a polymer prepared from the polymerization of two or more different monomers. The different monomer units may have different chemical structures and functional groups, resulting in a variety of polymer structures and properties. Depending on the type and arrangement of the monomer units, copolymers can have targeted physical and chemical properties.The copolymer applied to the carrier material consists, for example, at least partially of an unsaturated hydrocarbon.Unsaturated hydrocarbons are a group of organic compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms and having at least one or more double bonds (C=C) or triple bonds (C≡C) between the carbon atoms. Unsaturated hydrocarbons are often found in organic compounds such as alkenes (double bonds), alkynes (triple bonds) and aromatics (special ring structures).A nitrile is used, for example, as a further monomer.Nitriles are organic compounds which bear the functional group -C≡N, where the carbon atom (C) has a triple bond to a nitrogen atom (N). This functional group is also known as nitrile group or cyano group. Nitriles may be in aliphatic form in which the nitrile group is attached to an alkyl chain or in aromatic form in which it is attached to an aromatic hydrocarbon.Styrene is preferably used as the unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbon monomer.Styrene, also referred to as phenylethene, is an organic compound having the chemical formula C 8 H 8. It belongs to the group of aromatic hydrocarbons and is an unsaturated hydrocarbon having a phenyl group-containing side chain. The chemical structure of styrene shows an aromatic ring (benzene ring) with an alkyl group (-CH2-CH=CH2) attached.In a particularly advantageous variant, acrylonitrile is used as nitrile.Acrylonitrile, also known as propenenitrile, is an organic compound having the chemical formula C3H3N. It is an unsaturated hydrocarbon belonging to the nitrile group. The chemical structure of acrylonitrile shows a nitrile group (-C≡N) and a double bond (C=C) between the carbon atoms. The nitrile group is characteristic of this compound.On the outside of the carrier material, the side which is not in contact with the confectionery, for example, a pressure is applied.The term exterior refers to the exterior surface or side of the package which is typically visible when the product is packaged and the package has been closed or sealed. It plays an important role in the perception and marketing of a product. It may help draw consumer attention, convey information about the product, and promote the make.The print is applied to the carrier material, for example, by a gravure printing process.Gravure printing is a printing technique in which the ink is forced into the recesses of a printing cylinder or plate. Gravure printing is often used in the production of high quality printed products.In gravure printing, the printing plates or printing cylinders are usually made of metal and have depressions in which the ink is applied. Excess ink on the surface is wiped off, so that only the ink remains in the recesses. The substrate to be printed is brought into contact with the printing plate or the printing cylinder. Printing is accomplished by applying pressure and / or heat, thereby transferring the ink from the recesses to the substrate.The gravure printing process enables very fine details and color traces to be reproduced, thereby being suitable for applications where high print quality is required. Furthermore, gravure products are often durable and resistant to attrition and environmental effects.In addition to the gravure printing process, all known printing processes, such as rotary offset printing, flexographic printing, embossed film printing, color film printing, calender coating or effect and spot coating, can be used for printing the support material.Optionally, to protect the print, a protective lacquer can be applied to the print if necessary.In a variant of the invention, the primary packaging has a weight per unit area of more than 45 g / m 2 and less than 60 g / m 2 after the application of the glycerin, the print and the functional layer.The basis weight is a physical quantity indicative of the mass of a material per area (g / m 2). It is often used in material science and engineering applications to quantify the density or mass distribution of a material over a particular area.The weight per unit area of the functional layer applied on the inner side is 7 to 9 g / m 2.Films and sheets having a thickness of up to 1 mm are tested on strip or shoulder samples. According to ISO 527-3 and ASTM D 882, the usual sample shape of the strips is. This sample form can be produced in a simple manner with a cutting press or a foil cutting device. In quality control, shoulder specimens are frequently used. In this case, a directly measuring length change sensor is required, with which the sample expansions can be recorded directly on the sample. Typical test results such as the yield stress, the yield stress, the maximum stress and the nominal elongation at break are recorded.The tensile properties are determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 527. In the tensile test, a sample strip of the primary packaging is stretched at a constant speed prescribed in the test standard and the force F is recorded with the length change ΔL of the measurement path L 0 in the process.In a particularly advantageous variant, the primary packaging has a tensile strength in the machine direction according to DIN EN ISO 527 of more than 50 N / mm 2 and less than 60 N / mm 2.Confectionery products are usually sensitive to moisture, oxygen and external influences. A sufficient tensile strength of the packaging ensures that the confectionery products are protected from environmental influences and their quality is preserved.Elongation at break, as well as tensile strength, is a mechanical property of a material used to characterize the ductility and ductility of a material. Elongation at break is typically expressed in percent (%) and is an important parameter in evaluating the mechanical properties of materials. The elongation at break is the ratio of the change in the length of a material sample to the original length of the sample occurring in a tensile test until fracture.The primary packaging preferably has an elongation at break according to DIN EN ISO 527 in the longitudinal direction of more than 1.8% and less than 2.4%.The elongation at break is determined in tensile tests in which a sample of the material is subjected to a controlled tensile force. During the test, the deformation of the sample is measured with respect to its original length until it breaks. The maximum elongation before fracture is determined as the elongation at break.High elongation at break materials are capable of deforming significantly before they fail and are referred to as ductile. Materials with low elongation at break are brittle and break without substantial deformation.As well as tensile strength, breaking elongation, especially in packages for confectionery products, plays an important role, since it describes the deformability and stability of the package under mechanical stress.In a variant of the invention, the carrier material has a proportion of more than 90% by weight of paper.In one embodiment of the invention, carrier material has a glycerol content of more than 1% by weight and less than 4% by weight, preferably it has a glycerol content of more than 2% by weight and less than 3% by weight.Confectionery packages often need to take a variety of shapes and sizes. A certain elongation at break allows the package to conform to the various product-typical shapes of the confectionery products and to securely encase them.In a particularly advantageous variant, the primary packaging can be recycled. Recyclable confectionery packages are made from materials which can be easily recycled in existing recycling processes. This includes, among other things, paper, cardboard, corrugated board and certain plastics that are accepted in many recycling plants.Recyclable confectionery packages are an important step towards more environmentally friendly packaging solutions. They help reduce waste, conserve resources, and reduce the ecological footprint of the resources.According to the invention, the production of the primary packaging is produced in the following steps:applying a pressure to a support materialoptimum application of a protective lacquerimpregnating the support material in a glycerol solutionapplying the functional layer to the carrier materialA pressure is applied to the outside of the carrier material, the side which is not in contact with the confectionery product. In addition, it is possible to apply a protective varnish to the print.After the application of the pressure to the outer side of the carrier material, a glycerol solution is applied flat.The glycerol imparts flexibility and elasticity to the carrier material, among other things. This is particularly useful when it must be folded, bent or formed to achieve certain packaging shapes.On the side of the confectionery, a functional layer is applied to the carrier material of the primary packaging to prevent migration of fats from the confectionery and to prevent adhesion of the confectionery.According to the invention, the primary packaging for confectionery products, which has a functional layer for preventing the migration of fats, is used for the packaging types turn-in (twist), fold-in (fold), pack-in (top twist) and use as a lower strip.Rotary wrapping is a packaging method in which a product is wrapped in a piece of packaging material. The packaging material is wrapped around the product and the ends are twisted to secure the package. This type of packaging is frequently used for sweets, pralins and other small sweets. The rotary tuck not only serves for the hygiene packaging, but also gives the products an appealing presentationPleat tuck is a packaging method in which a flat, folded piece of packaging material is placed around a product. The packaging material is folded around the product and then glued or sealed on the sides or on the bottom to close the package.The sachet envelope is a packaging method in which a product is packaged into a small sachet or sachet. The sachet is normally twisted or contracted at the top and sealed with a tape or cord to secure the package.Further features and advantages of the invention result from the description of exemplary embodiments on the basis of drawings and from the drawings themselves.The single figure shows a sectional representation of a primary packaging 1.This comprises a glycerol-containing carrier material 4, on which a print 3 is arranged. According to the invention, the primary packaging comprises a functional layer 5, which is arranged on the inner side. In the exemplary embodiment, a protective varnish 2 is arranged on the print 3.The primary packaging 1 has a weight per unit area of 53 g / m 2.The elongation at break determined in tensile tests is 2.1% in this embodiment variant.It allows the packaging to adapt to and securely wrap the various product-typical shapes of the confectionery products, such as the rotary envelope.The tensile strength in the machine direction of the primary packaging 1 amounts to 57 N / mm 2. in this embodiment variant.Ensuring a sufficiently high tensile strength of the packaging ensures that the confectionery products are protected from environmental influences and their quality is preserved.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2013 210 095 B3

[0019] EP 1 885 558 B2

[0020] EP 3 943 661 A1

[0021]

Claims

Primary packaging (1) for goods, having an inner side for direct contact with the goods, wherein the primary packaging (1) has a glycerol-containing carrier material (4), characterized in that the carrier material (4) has a functional layer (5) on the inner side.Primary packaging (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the functional layer (5) comprises a copolymer of an unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbon and a nitrile.Primary packaging (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbon is formed from styrene.Primary packaging (1) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the nitrile is formed from an acrylonitrile.Primary packaging (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the primary packaging (1) has a print (3) on an outer side.Primary packaging (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the primary packaging (1) has a protective lacquer (2), preferably a nitrocellulose lacquer, on the one print (3).Primary packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the primary packaging (1) has a weight per unit area of more than 45 g / m 2 and less than 60 g / m 2.Primary packaging (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the functional layer (5) has a weight per unit area of more than 7 g / m 2 and less than 9 g / m 2.Primary packaging (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the primary packaging (1) has a tensile strength in MD according to DIN EN ISO 527 of more than 50 N / mm 2 and less than 60 N / mm 2.Primary packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the primary packaging (1) has an elongation at break in the longitudinal direction of more than 1.8% and less than 2.4%.Primary packaging according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the primary packaging (1) has a proportion of more than 70% by weight of paper.Primary packaging according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the carrier material (4) has a proportion of more than 90% by weight of paper.Primary packaging according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the carrier material (4) has a glycerol content of more than 1% by weight and less than 4% by weight.Method for producing a primary packaging (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, having the following steps: - applying a print (3), - applying a protective lacquer (2), - impregnating the carrier material (4) in a glycerol solution, - applying the functional layer (5) to the carrier material (4).Use of a primary packaging (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13 for the packaging types rotary tuck or folded tuck or pack tuck.

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