PACKAGING CONTAINER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a packaging container which is encased with a cuff, wherein the cuff is formed from a planar blank, the end sections of which are connected to each other in an overlap area and wherein at least one first weakening line is arranged in the blank, which runs parallel to an end section and via which the cuff can be separated without tools.

[0002] From EP 0 408 515 B1, packaging containers made of plastic are known which are fitted with an environmentally friendly cardboard sleeve surrounding them to reinforce the container wall and stabilize the packaging container. The sleeve has a pre-separated strip with a tab for easy gripping, allowing it to be detached from the plastic packaging container. After use, the sleeve can be removed from the packaging container and disposed of separately. The sleeve can be made of a readily printable material with a pleasant feel. In addition, the sleeve provides thermal insulation.

[0003] EP 2 338 804 A1 states as a disadvantage that when removing such sleeves from packaging containers with a separating strip, it has been shown that peeling the separating strip from the remaining sleeve regularly leads to tearing of the remaining sleeve on at least one side of the separating strip in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the separating strip, after which simple removal of the sleeve from the packaging container is no longer possible, as it is necessary to re-enter the tear lines between the separating strip and the remaining sleeve on at least one side of the separating strip into the intended separating lines.To enable easy and trouble-free removal of the sleeve from the packaging container, EP 2 338 804 A1 proposes, instead of a predetermined tear strip (which would require at least two tear lines), the use of a weakening line running parallel to its lateral edges. This weakening line is formed by perforation, scoring, or other weakening. By severing this single weakening line with a pulling force directed at least partially radially outwards on one of the edges of the packaging container initially connected by the weakening line, the sleeve can be cut along the weakening line and subsequently removed from the first part of the container. However, it has been shown that even with this sleeve, a clean cut cannot be achieved in all applications.The required radial outward pulling force proves problematic in automated separation processes.

[0004] This is where the present invention comes in. The invention is based on the objective of providing a packaging container with a surrounding sleeve that allows for simple and reliable separation of the sleeve and subsequent separation from the packaging container. According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a packaging container with the features of claim 1.

[0005] The invention provides a packaging container with a surrounding cuff that allows for simple and reliable separation of the cuff from the packaging container. By arranging a second weakening line, preferably on the opposite side of the overlap area and spaced apart from the first, and forming essentially a circular arc or two straight lines at angles to each other, reliable cutting of the cuff is achieved by applying tensile or compressive forces in a radial direction.

[0006] In a further development of the invention, the packaging container is designed in the form of a cup, with a base and a container wall that widens conically from the base, culminating in a circumferentially projecting rim. A circumferentially projecting rib is arranged on the base. This ensures that the sleeve is permanently attached to the packaging container. Preferably, the sleeve is connected to the packaging container in such a positive-locking and / or force-locking manner that it can be detached from the packaging container after being cut.

[0007] In this embodiment of the invention, the second weakening line is formed from two straight lines set at right angles to each other. It has been shown that this significantly improves the separation behavior of the cuff when subjected to a radial force. Advantageously, the second weakening line is arranged on the side of the overlap area opposite the first weakening line.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the packaging container is made of thermoplastic material, in particular polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the sleeve is made of paper, cardboard, or carton. This results in a food-safe, stable packaging container that also allows for excellent material separation and subsequent recycling. The sleeve, which stabilizes the packaging container, enables a minimal container wall thickness, thereby minimizing the amount of plastic.

[0009] In a further development of the invention, the second predetermined cutting line extends at a distance from the overlap area to the longitudinal sides of the cuff. This provides a second cutting option for the cuff.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, a recess is arranged in the area of ​​maximum bulging of the second weakening line, thereby dividing the second weakening line into two weakening line segments, each of which terminates in the recess. This allows the user to reach behind the cuff to cut it.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the recess has a straight side, at each of whose two ends a weakening line segment opens. This achieves optimal introduction of a tensile or shear force into the two weakening line segments. Preferably, the recess is essentially in the form of a rectangle or a semicircle.

[0012] In a further development of the invention, at least one recess extending to the longitudinal side wall is provided in the overlap area. Advantageously, the second weakening line terminates at one end in the recess. Preferably, the first weakening line or the second weakening line, and particularly preferably both weakening lines, terminate at one end in the recess. This shortens the sections of the weakening lines that need to be separated.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one recess has a straight edge extending across the width of the overlap area, with the first weakening line terminating at one end of the straight edge and the second weakening line terminating at the other end. This further improves the separation behavior of the cuff when subjected to a radial tensile or compressive force in the area of ​​the two weakening lines.

[0014] Other embodiments and configurations of the invention are specified in the remaining dependent claims. Exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings and are described in detail below. The drawings show: Figure 1: Schematic spatial representation of a packaging container with a cuff from a side perspective; Figure 2: Schematic spatial representation of the packaging container made of Figure 1 from a ground-level perspective; Figure 3: the representation of the packaging container from Figure 1 after applying a radial pressure force and Figure 4: the representation of the outer sheet (cut) of a cuff of a packaging container in a further embodiment in the interior view. The example shown according to Figure 1 The selected packaging container 1 is designed as a yogurt cup and comprises a base 1 from which a container wall 12 extends conically, widening to a container rim 13 that projects outwards. A rib 14, also projecting outwards, is arranged parallel to the container rim on the base side. In this embodiment, the packaging container 1 is made of thermoplastic polypropylene (PP).

[0015] A sleeve 2 is arranged around the outer wall of the container 12. This sleeve consists of a curved outer shell 20 that is placed around the container wall 12, with its end regions 3 and 4 overlapping and bonded together in a substantially rectangular overlap area 21. The sleeve 2 extends from the web 14 to the container rim 13 and is thus positively connected to the packaging container 1.

[0016] Immediately adjacent to the overlap area 21, parallel to the outer edge 32 of the overlapping end area 3, a first weakening line 6 is arranged, which is formed in the form of a straight perforation line and extends over the entire width of the cuff 2.

[0017] At a distance from the first weakening line 6, a second weakening line 7 is arranged on the opposite side of the overlap area 21. This second weakening line 7 is essentially formed as two straight lines at an angle to each other, which in turn form perforation lines. Covering the maximum bulge of the second weakening line 7, which is formed by the intersection of these two straight lines, a semicircular recess 5 is provided in the sleeve 2 centrally between the web 14 and the container rim 13. The straight side 51 of this recess runs parallel to the overlap area 21. The recess 5 divides the second weakening line 7 into two weakening line segments 71 and 72, each of which terminates at one end of the straight side of the semicircular recess 5 and extends to a longitudinal outer edge 22 immediately adjacent to the overlap area 21 of the sleeve.

[0018] In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 4 The cuff 2 is essentially designed in accordance with the cuff 2 of the previously described embodiment. The end regions 3, 4 of the jacket arc 20 terminate on their side facing the container edge 13 in a substantially rectangular recess 31, 41, which forms a substantially rectangular recess of the overlap region 21 of the cuff 2. The first weakening line 6 is again designed in the form of a straight perforation line and extends to one end of the straight edge of the recess of the overlap region 21 formed by the superimposed recesses 31, 41, which runs orthogonally to it. At the other end of this edge, the first weakening line segment 71 of the weakening line 7 terminates, extending to one end of the straight side 51 of the semicircular recess 5.

Claims

1. Packaging container, enveloped in a sleeve (2) that is formed of a flat cut-out (20) the end sections (3, 4) of which are connected to each other in an overlap area (21), wherein there is at least one first tear line (6) arranged in the cut-out (20) that runs parallel to an end section (3, 4) and through which the sleeve can be divided tool-free, characterised in that a second tear line (7) that is essentially formed in the shape of an arc or two straight lines placed at an angle to each other is arranged at a distance from the first tear line (6).

2. Packaging container according to claim 1, characterised in that it is formed in the shape of a cup, with a bottom (11) and a container wall (12) that conically expands from the container bottom (11), merging into a container edge (13) that circumferentially protrudes outwards, wherein a web (14) that circumferentially protrudes outwards is arranged on the bottom.

3. Packaging container according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the sleeve (2) is connected to the packaging container (1) in a form-locking and / or force-locking manner, so that it is disconnected from the packaging container (1) after its separation.

4. Packaging container in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second tear line (7) is arranged on the side of the overlap area (21) that is opposite of the first tear line (6).

5. Packaging container in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second tear line (7) is formed of two straight lines that are perpendicular to each other.

6. Packaging container in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second tear line (7) extends at a distance from the overlap area (21) to the longitudinal sides of the sleeve (2).

7. Packaging container in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in a recess (5) is arranged in the area of the maximal bulge of the second tear line (7), which divides the second tear line (7) into two tear line sections (71, 72) each of which merges into the recess (5).

8. Packaging container according to claim 7, characterised in that the recess has a straight side (51) at the two ends of which one tear line section (71, 72) each merges.

9. Packaging container according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the recess (5) is essentially formed in the shape of a rectangle or a semi-circle.

10. Packaging container in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a recess (31, 41) extending at least to the longitudinal side wall is applied in the overlap area (21) of the sleeve (2).

11. Packaging container according to claim 10, characterised in that the second tear line (7), with one end, merges into the recess (31, 41).

12. Packaging container according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterised in that the first tear line (6), with one end, merges into the recess (31, 41).

13. Packaging container in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the overlap area (21) is formed by a first end section (3) that overlaps the second end section (4) in the direction facing away from the first tear line.

14. Packaging container in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is made of a thermoplastic material, in particular of PP, PS, or PET, and that the sleeve (2) is made of paper, cardboard, or carton.