Push-through packaging and strip packaging and laminate for producing the same

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a push-through packaging according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a strip packaging according to the preamble of patent claim 8 and a film or a laminate for producing such a push-through packaging or such a strip packaging according to the preamble of patent claim 9.

[0002] Push-through packaging has been around for some time, for example for the individual packaging of tablets, chewing gum, or other individually packaged, pieced items. Until now, so-called blister packs were commonly used for this purpose. These were transparent or opaque and consisted of a combination of plastic film and an openable aluminum lid. The lid was destroyed when the package was opened by pressing the packaged item from the opposite side, i.e., from the plastic side of the packaging, against the inside of the aluminum lid until the lid could no longer withstand the exerted pressure and burst onto or off the packaging.The material used for such known push-through packaging was typically deep-drawn polyvinyl chloride combined with polyethylene to produce a multilayer polyvinyl chloride, from which the packaging container was formed, which was then sealed with an aluminum lid. For this purpose, the aluminum lid was coated on one side with a thin sealing layer, for example, made of polyethylene, which was bonded to the aluminum layer of the aluminum lid by means of a primer, adhesive, or other bonding agent.

[0003] In this regard, reference is made, for example, to the child-resistant packaging for tablets or medicines described in the publications EP 1 057 744 A2 or DE 10 2008 016 033 A1 or the self-adhesive medicine packaging according to US 2016 / 0374898 A1 or the cold-formable laminate for blister base parts for packaging for pharmaceutical products disclosed in WO 2007 / 042174 A1 (basis for the preamble of claims 1 and 9).

[0004] Such previously known push-through packaging has several disadvantages. For example, opening such packaging requires considerable force because the aluminum lid had to be punctured. However, due to its metal structure and thickness, which is necessary to create a stable push-through packaging according to the previously known design, the lid exhibited high stability, rigidity, and puncture resistance.

[0005] Another significant disadvantage of these previously known push-through packaging solutions is the necessity of expensive material input, namely the use of a high-thickness aluminum foil, as well as the fact that a wide variety of different materials are used, such as plastics combined with aluminum, which are difficult to recycle due to their heterogeneity and the high layer thickness of the aluminum. Furthermore, due to the use of primer, varnish, or adhesive required to bond the aluminum lid to the plastic container, there is a risk of migration of primer, varnish, or adhesive into the packaging and / or onto the packaged product, which poses the risk of contamination of the packaged product.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a push-through packaging which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages, a strip packaging produced from several such push-through packagings and a film or a laminate with which such a push-through packaging, or a strip packaging produced from such push-through packaging, can be produced, which can be specifically adjusted for the removal of piecemeal filling goods on the one hand, in a child-safe and on the other hand, senior-friendly manner with a reduced and environmentally friendly use of materials compared to previously known push-through and strip packaging.

[0007] This object is achieved by a push-through packaging according to patent claim 1, a strip packaging according to patent claim 8 and by a film or a laminate for producing such packaging according to patent claim 9.

[0008] In particular, the object is achieved by a push-through packaging with a front and a rear wall which are connected to one another along their longitudinal and transverse edges and define a receiving space for a preferably solid, in particular one-piece, filling material, wherein the front and / or the rear wall of the push-through packaging consists / consists of a film or a laminate and the film or the laminate has a material weakening, preferably mechanically produced.

[0009] An essential point of the invention is that a film or a laminate which has a, preferably mechanically produced, material weakening is used for producing both the front and the back wall of the push-through packaging according to the invention. In this way, the invention makes it possible to dispense with an expensive aluminum lid, which was previously necessary in order to be able to open previously known push-through packaging. Due to the film used according to the invention or the laminate used according to the invention which has a material weakening, it is advantageously possible to use a cost-effective film or laminate instead of the expensive aluminum lid which was previously necessary.to use a cost-effective laminate which, due to the weakening of the material under pressure exerted from the inside of a receiving space, does not stretch without allowing access to the inside of the receiving space, but breaks open so that a packaged filling material can be removed.

[0010] Advantageously, the material weakening provided in the laminate used according to the invention is applied mechanically. This avoids complex and expensive perforation of the laminate, for example, using laser beams, and allows for the use of common mechanical tools that are already frequently used on conventional packaging machines, such as strip packaging systems.

[0011] Furthermore, it should be mentioned at this point that in the context of this invention, the terms "film" and "laminate" are used synonymously, as long as nothing to the contrary or deviating from the disclosure content of the invention arises.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the material weakening extends over a central region of the receiving space and / or along at least a section of a boundary of the receiving space laterally surrounding the receiving space. In this way, according to the invention, it is possible to control how and at which point the film closing the receiving space breaks open, so that the direction in which the packaged object is pushed out of the receiving space can be effectively controlled. This advantageously prevents the initially packaged object from being ejected from the push-through packaging in a controlled and undirected manner when the film breaks open, as was the case with previously known packaging sealed with aluminum foil.

[0013] Advantageously, the material weakening extends either across a central region of the receiving space, so that the pressed-out packaged goods, in a horizontally held, lie directly beneath the packaging, or falls directly into the user's hand through the film gap created by the pressing-out. According to an alternative embodiment, the material weakening extends along at least a portion of a boundary laterally surrounding the receiving space. In this case, the film gap created by the pressing-out is created at an edge or border of the receiving space, through which the packaged goods can be removed in a targeted manner.

[0014] At this point, it should also be mentioned that the material weakening can also extend around the edge of the entire receiving space, so that the receiving space is completely opened when the packaged goods are pushed out, whereby a piece of film that initially closed the receiving space is or can be completely removed or this piece of film only remains connected to the push-through packaging along a partial area of ​​the boundary of the receiving space.

[0015] According to the invention, the film or laminate is multi-layered, in particular 3- or 4-layered, and has, as the stiffest stability-providing layer, a plastic layer which is preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0016] Furthermore, an important point of the invention is that only this stiffest stability-providing layer of the film or laminate has the material weakening, while the remaining layers of the film or laminate are undamaged and do not have any material weakening that would serve to open the push-through packaging according to the invention.

[0017] According to the invention, the film or laminate has the following layer sequence: (a) Polyethylene terephthalate - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene; or (a) Polyethylene terephthalate - (b) polyethylene - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene.

[0018] According to the invention, the polyethylene terephthalate layer represents the side of the laminate according to the invention facing away from the packaged goods, while in a finished package the polyethylene or Surlyn layer represents the layer of the laminate facing the packaged goods.

[0019] In this regard, it should be noted that the polyethylene layer is the layer by means of which the front and rear walls of the push-through packaging according to the invention are sealed together. The resulting important advantage of the invention is that by sealing the two layers, namely the front and rear walls of the push-through packaging according to the invention, the use of adhesive or varnish, which would otherwise be necessary to join the front wall to the rear wall, can be dispensed with. This reliably prevents migration of adhesive or varnish from the adhesive surfaces and in particular into the packaging, which occurs with conventional push-through packaging, since such migration does not occur with a simple sealing of two sealing layers. Contamination of the packaged goods with adhesive or sealing varnish is thus reliably and permanently prevented according to the invention.

[0020] Furthermore, it should be noted that the film according to the invention, or the laminate according to the invention, is produced exclusively by extrusion and merging of the layers and is therefore a so-called "clean laminate".

[0021] According to the invention, the aluminum layer embedded in the film or laminate according to the invention is very thin and serves only to create a high-barrier layer, in particular for all climate zones, and is therefore arranged over the entire surface and continuously in both the front and rear walls of the push-through packaging according to the invention. The aluminum foil, or rather the aluminum layer, is completely undamaged in a sealed, intact package and serves as a barrier layer against gases, but not for the mechanical stabilization of the packaging according to the invention. When the push-through packaging according to the invention is opened, the aluminum layer, together with the other layers of the film or laminate, is destroyed by the packaging being pushed through.

[0022] Furthermore, it should be noted that the front wall and the rear wall of the push-through packaging according to the invention preferably consist of the same material and thus each have the same layer sequence as well as the same layer thicknesses and application weights of the layers, the latter corresponding to the following table: layer Layer thickness or application weight preferred layer thickness or application weight particularly preferred layer thickness or application weight (a) Polyethylene terephthalate 4 - 30 µm 6 - 25 µm 8 - 23 µm (b) Polyethylen 6 - 16 g / m 2 7 - 14 g / m 2 8 - 11 g / m 2 (c) aluminum 4 - 25 µm 5 - 22 µm 6 - 20 µm (d) Polyethylen 6 - 50 g / m 2 8 - 45 g / m 2 10 - 40 g / m 2

[0023] Furthermore, the object of the invention is also achieved in particular by a strip packaging composed of a plurality of push-through packs according to the above statements. The push-through packs are connected to one another in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction via their respective packaging edges, wherein the connection points may have material weakenings, such as perforations, via which the individual push-through packs of the strip packaging according to the invention can be separated.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such a strip package according to the invention consists, for example, of two adjacent and four longitudinally arranged push-through packages, each of which is detachably connected to one another. It should be noted at this point that a strip package according to the invention is not limited to such an aforementioned arrangement of individual push-through packages, but rather the individual push-through packages of any type and number can be connected to form respective strip packages.

[0025] Furthermore, the object of the invention is also achieved by a film or a laminate for producing a push-through packaging or a strip packaging, in each case according to the above statements, wherein the film or laminate each comprises one of the following layers: (a) polyethylene terephthalate - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene; or (a) polyethylene terephthalate - (b) polyethylene - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene, wherein the layers of the film or laminate preferably have the following layer thicknesses or application weights: layer Layer thickness or application weight preferred layer thickness or application weight particularly preferred layer thickness or application weight (a) Polyethylene terephthalate 4 - 30 µm 6 - 25 µm 8 - 23 µm (b) Polyethylen 6 - 16 g / m 2 7 - 14 g / m 2 8 - 11 g / m 2 (c) aluminum 4 - 25 µm 5 - 22 µm 6 - 20 µm (d) Polyethylen 6 - 50 g / m 2 8 - 45 g / m 2 10 - 40 g / m 2

[0026] According to the invention, the film or laminate in the stiffest stability-providing layer, preferably in the polyethylene terephthalate layer, has material weakenings in sections which are spaced apart from one another in such a way that the material weakening(s) extend(s) during and after the production of the push-through packaging or the strip packaging over a central region of / each receiving space and / or along at least a section of a boundary of the respective receiving space of the push-through packaging or the strip packaging laterally surrounding the respective receiving space, so that the film according to the invention or the laminate according to the invention can be processed directly on conventional strip packaging systems to form a push-through packaging according to the invention.

[0027] In summary, the essence of the invention can be stated as follows: The invention provides a novel film or a novel laminate with which a push-through packaging and / or several push-through packaging units associated to form a strip packaging unit can be produced. The push-through packaging unit according to the invention enables the targeted, adjustable removal of lumpy contents and is both child-safe and easy to handle for seniors. Furthermore, the individual push-through packaging units joined to form a strip packaging unit can be easily and effectively separated due to the use of a strip packaging technology known per se. Compared to previous push-through packaging units, such as blister packs, the production of a push-through packaging unit according to the invention is possible with a reduced and environmentally friendly use of materials.Furthermore, the push-through packaging according to the invention can be opened easily and with little effort. The push-through packaging according to the invention has a targeted mechanical material weakening of the top and / or bottom film or both films, wherein the material weakening is arranged approximately in the middle of the contents or on its side in a filled, intact push-through packaging. The core of the invention lies in pressing the contents out of the push-through packaging according to the invention and thus out of the laminate or through the laminate. This is achieved by the targeted weakening of the outer layer of the composite, i.e. the film or the laminate, without this weakening of the outer layer of the laminate damaging the barrier layer. A further significant advantage of the invention is that it can be produced on existing strip packaging lines; moreover, no additional tools are required for the packaging machines.As mentioned above, the top and bottom films are made of the same material, and this material, i.e., the film according to the invention and the laminate according to the invention, is printable on both sides. The push-through strip packaging is child-resistant and senior-friendly, as well as easily recycled, since only a single material composite is used to manufacture the push-through packaging. The option of separating the individual push-through packages of a strip packaging can already be incorporated into the material of the push-through packaging or the strip packaging using a variety of technologies, meaning no additional equipment is required on the packaging lines.

[0028] Further embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0029] In the event that the film or laminate also comprises sealing layers, these can also alternatively assume the barrier function, as described in claim 14.

[0030] To facilitate opening of the package, at least one of the outer layers can be oriented, i.e., stretched in one direction, according to claim 15. The invention is described below with reference to exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail with reference to the figures. Herein: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a strip packaging according to the invention, which consists of eight individual push-through packagings according to the invention, in plan view; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the Fig. 1 shown strip packaging in cross-sectional view; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of the Fig. 1Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the strip packaging shown, illustrating how a lumpy filling material is pressed out of the strip packaging according to the invention; and Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a further view illustrating how a lumpy filling material is pressed out of the strip packaging according to the invention.

[0031] In the following description, the same reference numbers are used for identical and equivalent parts.

[0032] Fig. 1shows a schematic representation of a strip packaging 100 according to the invention, which is composed of a total of eight individual push-through packs 10 in two rows of four arranged next to one another. Each push-through pack 10 has a front wall 20 and a rear wall 30, which are each connected to one another along their longitudinal edges 40 and their transverse edges 50 such that the push-through pack 10 defines a receiving space 60. Each push-through pack 10 has, in the outermost layer of the laminate that forms the front wall 20 and / or the rear wall 30, a material weakening 70 that is arranged in a central region 80 of the push-through pack 10. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the material weakening 70 can also be arranged along a boundary 90 that surrounds the receiving space 60. The individual push-through packs 10 are connected to one another along their respective mutually facing edges of the longitudinal edges 40 and / orthe transverse edges 50 are detachable, ie separable, connected to one another.

[0033] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the Fig. 1 The strip packaging shown in cross-section, clearly showing how the stuffy contents are arranged in the respective push-through packaging. The same is also shown in Fig. 1 recognizable, since the Fig. 1 The push-through packaging shown is transparent in the area of ​​its respective receiving spaces 60.

[0034] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the Fig. 1 shown strip packaging in longitudinal section, illustrating how a lumpy filling material is pressed out of the strip packaging according to the invention. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 3 shown, pressure is exerted from below on the push-through packaging according to the invention. This is shown in Fig. 3indicated by a thick arrow and the word "push". By pressing the Fig. 3 The lower laminate shown, which limits the push-through packaging according to the invention at the bottom, transmits force to the lumpy filling material, which in turn exerts pressure on the Fig. 3 the laminate shown above, which seals the push-through packaging, so that the upper film initially bulges upwards and then breaks open along its material weakening 70, releasing the lumpy contents.

[0035] In Fig. 4 It is shown how such a pressure, which leads to a breaking open of the push-through packaging according to the invention, can also be exerted from above on the strip packaging 100 according to the invention, for example with a thumb, so that the push-through packaging 10 according to the invention again releases the lumpy filling material.

[0036] At this point it should be noted that all parts described above, viewed individually and in any combination, in particular the details shown in the drawings, are claimed as essential to the invention within the scope of the appended claims. List of reference symbols

[0037] 10Push-through packaging 20Front wall 30Rear wall 40Longitudinal edge 50Cross edge 60Receiving space 70Material weakening 80Central area 90Limitation 100Strip packaging

Claims

1. Press-through packaging (10) having a front wall (20) and a rear wall (30) which are connected to each other along their longitudinal (40) and transverse edges (50) and define a receiving space (60) for a preferably solid, in particular one-piece, filling material, wherein the front wall (20) and rear wall (30) of the press-through packaging (10) consist of a film or a laminate and are connected to each other by sealing, and the film or laminate has a preferably mechanically produced material weakening (70), wherein the film or laminate has the following layer sequence: (a) polyethylene terephthalate - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene; or (a) polyethylene terephthalate - (b) polyethylene - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene, characterized in that the film or laminate comprises a plastic layer as the stiffest layer imparting stability, and only the stiffest stability-imparting layer of the film or laminate comprises the material weakening (70).

2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the material weakening (70) extends over a central region (80) of the receiving space (60) and / or along at least one section of a boundary (90) of the receiving space (60) surrounding the receiving space (60) laterally.

3. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffest stability-imparting layer is a plastic layer made of polyethylene terephthalate.

4. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the two layers sealed against the aluminum layer or an aluminum-containing layer can be designed as a barrier layer and is in particular also designed as such if the aluminum layer or aluminum-containing layer is the layer with material weakening (70), e.g. in the form of a perforation.

5. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized in that the film or laminate has the following layer sequence: (a) polyethylene terephthalate or similar transparent plastic as a barrier layer - (b) polyethylene coextruded with the layer (a) - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene or (a) polyethylene terephthalate or similar transparent plastic as a barrier layer - (b) polyethylene either bonded to layer (a) or extrusion-laminated - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene.

6. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the layers of the film or laminate have the following layer thicknesses or application weights: Layer thickness or application weightPreferred layer thickness or application weightParticularly preferred layer thickness or application weight(a) Polyethylene terephthalate4-30 µm6-25 µm8-23 µm(b) Polyethylene6-16 g / m27-14 g / m28-11 g / m2(c) Aluminum4-25 µm5-22 µm6-20 µm(d) Polyethylene6-50 g / m28-45 g / m210-40 g / m27. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front wall (20) and the rear wall (30) are made of the same material.

8. Strip packaging (100) consisting of a plurality of press-through packaging (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Film or laminate for producing a press-through packaging according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 or a strip packaging (100) according to claim 8, wherein the film or laminate has the following layer sequence: (a) polyethylene terephthalate - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene; or (a) polyethylene terephthalate - (b) polyethylene - (c) aluminum - (d) polyethylene, characterized in that the film or laminate has a plastic film layer as the stiffest stability-imparting layer, and only the stiffest stability-imparting layer of the film or laminate has the material weakening (70).

10. Film or laminate according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the two layers sealed against the aluminum layer or an aluminum-containing layer can be designed as a barrier layer and is in particular also designed as such if the aluminum layer or aluminum-containing layer is the layer with material weakening (70), e.g. in the form of a perforation.

11. Film or laminate according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the layers of the film or laminate preferably have the following layer thicknesses or application weights: Layer thickness or application weightPreferred layer thickness or application weightParticularly preferred layer thickness or application weight(a) Polyethylene terephthalate4-30 µm6-25 µm8-23 µm(b) Polyethylene6-16 g / m27-14 g / m28-11 g / m2(c) Aluminum4-25 µm5-22 µm6-20 µm(d) Polyethylene6-50 g / m28-45 g / m210-40 g / m212. Film or laminate according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the film or laminate has material weakenings (70) in sections in the stiffest stability-imparting layer, preferably in the polyethylene terephthalate layer, which are spaced apart from each other such that that the material weakening(s) (70) extend(s) in the course of and after the manufacture of the press-through packaging (10) or the strip packaging (100) over a central region (80) of one / each receiving space (60) and / or along at least one section of a boundary (90) of the respective receiving space (60) laterally surrounding the respective receiving space (60) of the press-through packaging (10) or the strip packaging (100).

13. Film or laminate according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the stiffest stability-imparting layer is a polyethylene terephthalate layer.

14. Film or laminate according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the film or laminate comprises sealing layers, in particular sealing layers with a barrier function, wherein the sealing layers are preferably polyolefin layers with barrier coatings, in particular cycloolefin copolymer (COC) layers.

15. Film or laminate according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 14, characterized in that at least one of the outer layers, in particular the outer layer when used as a packaging film or laminate, is formed by an oriented plastic layer.