Reusable wide-necked container and packaging unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a reusable wide-necked container (100) made of plastic, in particular for non-liquid, flowable filling material, and a package comprising same. The reusable wide-necked container comprises a container base (101), a container body (102) and a neck (20), wherein the neck (20) has a neck section (30) ending in an outlet opening (40) and connecting to a container shoulder (50). The neck section (30) has an inner wall (31) and an outer wall (32), wherein securing means (60) for securing a cover (70) are arranged on the outer wall (32). The container body (102) has an average wall thickness (W) that is greater than 0.5 mm, in particular greater than 0.7 mm, and smaller than 1.2 mm. The neck section has a wall thickness (H) that is greater than 1.5 mm, in particular greater than 2 mm, and smaller than 3 mm, wherein the neck section has a peripheral groove (33) at the transition to the container shoulder (50).

Description

[0001] Reusable wide-neck containers and containers

[0002] The present invention relates to a reusable wide-neck container made of plastic, in particular for non-liquid, free-flowing filling materials, as well as a container comprising a reusable wide-neck container according to the preamble of the independent claims.

[0003] Global raw material resources are becoming increasingly scarce with an ever-growing population. At the same time, the increased demand is leading to increasingly contaminated waste in the environment. Therefore, efforts are being made to either recycle used packaging or reuse it.

[0004] For the latter purpose, refillable glass containers are used.

[0005] Glass packaging is common, with a metallic closure, a corrosion protection layer for the closure and a soft, elastic sealing compound that is arranged in the closure.

[0006] Glass manufacturing is not particularly precise. This results in the dimensions of the respective glass containers, especially the container necks and the fastening elements arranged thereon, exhibiting a wide range of variation. These stray fields can be well over 0.5 mm in diameter and in relation to a sealing surface.

[0007] This makes it necessary to provide very thick plastic seals to accommodate these tolerances. Typically, a soft BVG seal is used for most glass containers.

[0008] The commonly used soft PVC requires a plasticizer to make the otherwise rigid PVC suitable for use as a sealant. Orthophthalates are typically used as plasticizers, giving the PVC a soft, highly sealing quality.

[0009] Orthophthalates, such as DEHP, are suspected of being particularly harmful to health. Food packaging should under no circumstances release these orthophthalates into the contents of the glass containers, such as yogurt or jam.

[0010] The consumer is often not aware that the lid must not come into contact with the contents under any circumstances and that incorrect storage of the packaging can pose a risk.

[0011] To reuse the glass containers, they are washed. However, the washing process for glass is subject to certain conditions. Glass containers react badly to temperature changes. Large temperature fluctuations can cause the glass container to burst. Accordingly, glass containers can only be heated or cooled in small temperature increments below 30°C in a washing line. The same applies to a filling line.

[0012] Nevertheless, bursting containers in filling and washing lines are a recurring problem. If a single container bursts, there is a risk that entire batches of contents will be contaminated with shards. Accordingly, in such an incident, entire production batches are destroyed for safety reasons.

[0013] Long downtimes are required for cleaning the respective washing and filling lines.

[0014] Slow heating poses the risk that fungi and bacteria will transform into a temperature-resistant form. The disinfecting effect of the hot wash is thus reduced. Germ reduction through heat during hot filling, or during hot pasteurization of the contents in the packaging, is also not always guaranteed.

[0015] For glass packaging, very high temperatures are therefore necessary in the washing and filling lines. Both the high temperatures and the heavy weight of the glass containers are detrimental from an ecological perspective, as a great deal of energy is required to raise the entire mass of the glass container to the high temperature. Furthermore, the high weight also results in increased energy costs, for example, for transport from the bottler to the retailer, from the retailer to the consumer, and then from the consumer back to the retailer, who in turn returns the glass containers to the bottler, where they are put into the washing process.

[0016] These glass containers are typically used for goods that are spooned out, such as yogurt or jam. Free-flowing goods such as oatmeal are also packaged in such containers.

[0017] These are wide-mouth containers. They are characterized by their spoonability, meaning a teaspoon or soup spoon can be used to remove the product.

[0018] By definition, the openings of wide-neck containers have an internal diameter greater than 40 mm.

[0019] In this case, it is usually intended that the openings are of a size where the corresponding lid has an outer diameter that is less than 80 mm, so that it can still be grasped with one hand when opening.

[0020] The object of the invention is to remedy one or more disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a reusable wide-neck container is to be created that is lightweight, preferably easy and secure to seal, especially easy to clean, and preferably highly secure against destruction.

[0021] This problem is solved by the devices defined in the independent patent claims. Further embodiments are set forth in the dependent patent claims.

[0022] A reusable wide-neck container according to the invention is made of plastic and is particularly intended for non-liquid, free-flowing filling materials such as coffee, cocoa, or filling materials such as cream cheese, yogurt, pudding, or pickled vegetables. The reusable wide-neck container comprises a container base, a container body, and a neck. The neck has a neck section that ends in a dispensing opening and adjoins a container shoulder. The neck section has an inner wall and an outer wall. Fastening means for attaching a lid are arranged on the outer wall. The container body has an average wall thickness that is greater than 0.5 mm, in particular greater than 0.7 mm and less than 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.9 mm and 1.0 mm. The neck section has a wall thickness that is greater than 1.5 mm, in particular greater than 2 mm and less than 3 mm, preferably between 2.2 mm and 2.3 mm.The latter preferred values ​​are particularly advantageous for containers having a capacity of 200 ml to 600 ml. The neck portion has a circumferential groove at the transition to the container shoulder to provide a deformable connection between the container body and the neck portion, in particular to provide a decoupling between the container body and the neck portion.

[0023] The reusable wide-neck container has, in particular, a dispensing opening with an inner diameter greater than 40 mm.

[0024] These aforementioned minimum wall thicknesses characterise a reusable container, or rather distinguish a reusable container from a disposable container as is known in the state of the art.

[0025] Thus, unlike disposable bottles or disposable cans, reusable containers have much thicker walls. This gives rise to the specific problem that when deformation occurs due to the application of force, for example of the container body, not only the container body is deformed, but also the neck. This is particularly true for containers with a large opening diameter, i.e. wide-neck containers. This deformation leads to leaks between the container and the associated lid. In contrast, the container body of disposable bottles has thinner walls and only the container body is deformed and not the thicker-walled neck. However, thin-walled containers are not suitable for multiple use.

[0026] The wall thickness of disposable containers is typically approximately 2 mm in the neck area and approximately 0.3 mm in the area of ​​the actual container body.

[0027] A reusable wide-neck container as described here has a comparatively higher wall thickness.

[0028] The circumferential groove prevents deformation in the neck area, even with reusable wide-neck containers.

[0029] The groove is preferably located on the outside of the container neck. This allows the described effect to be achieved without affecting the inner wall of the reusable wide-neck container. An arrangement on an inner wall can cause food to stick in the groove and potentially spoil more quickly.

[0030] The circumferential groove provides a point of reduced rigidity, which allows the container body and, in particular, the container shoulder to be decoupled from the neck of the reusable wide-neck container. Deformation of the container body or the container shoulder is thus not transmitted to the container neck, or at most only to a reduced extent.

[0031] Providing a circumferential groove in this area results in the deformation taking place in the groove and not in the neck.

[0032] A further aspect therefore concerns the use of a circumferential groove on the container neck to reduce deformation on the neck of a reusable wide-neck container caused by a force acting on the container body, in particular the use of a circumferential groove on the container neck to decouple the container neck from the container body.

[0033] Manufacturing reusable wide-neck containers from plastic results in significantly less weight than manufacturing them from glass. Because the process conditions are much more adjustable and traceable than with glass, plastic containers also allow for much greater precision in the neck, particularly in the fasteners arranged on it and in the dimensions of the dispensing opening. This, in turn, makes it possible to provide seals on the container lid that require less material and therefore release fewer hazardous substances. The precision of the container neck means that dimensional fluctuations are significantly smaller, and correspondingly fewer of these fluctuations need to be compensated for by the seal.

[0034] It is the high wall thickness that allows plastic containers to be used multiple times. The high wall thickness means that plastic containers are more resistant to alkalis and stress cracks only appear later. Stress cracks occur particularly in places where tension is applied and / or deformation has occurred and / or microcracks are present. Washing solution can penetrate these weak points and expand them until the container fails. In polyesters in particular, the washing solution attacks the ester bond and saponifies it. This saponification occurs particularly strongly in molecules that are under tension, causing stress cracks to expand quickly.

[0035] By decoupling the neck from the rest of the reusable wide-neck container by means of the circumferential groove, deformations and thus stresses in the area of ​​the neck can be reduced, which leads to a longer service life of the container, in particular the neck and the fastening elements arranged on it.

[0036] Decoupling also allows for a reduction in the amount of materials used. The high precision of the neck of the reusable wide-mouth container, which remains high even when the container body is deformed, means that corresponding seals need to cover tighter tolerances and can be manufactured accordingly smaller.

[0037] This also means that the neck of the reusable wide-mouth container can be manufactured with smaller dimensions, i.e., thinner-walled, than the necks of state-of-the-art reusable wide-mouth containers. This is due to the reduced force applied to the neck during deformation.

[0038] The circumferential groove can have a wall thickness that is less than 1.2 mm and greater than 0.5 mm. The wall thickness is preferably less than 0.7 mm and greater than 0.5 mm. Alternatively, the wall thickness can also be less than 1.2 mm and greater than 0.8 mm. This wall thickness, which is smaller than the neighboring wall thicknesses, makes it possible to decouple any force flow or deformation that occurs in the area of ​​the container body or the container shoulder from the container neck. The groove can act as a type of joint. The wall thickness of 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm ensures that the neck is sufficiently stable during filling. The container base can have a wall thickness that is greater than 1 mm and less than 3 mm. Since container bases are generally poorly stretched, bending stresses occur which usually cause the bases to deform outwards. By choosing the appropriate wall thickness, these stresses can be distributed more effectively.

[0039] The groove can have a width greater than 1 mm, preferably greater than 1.8 mm, in particular greater than 2.1 mm and less than 3 mm. The minimum width of 1 mm ensures that the container neck is sufficiently decoupled from the container body. The maximum width ensures that the reusable wide-neck container does not become unstable.

[0040] The width of the groove is the dimension of the groove in an axial direction of the reusable wide-neck container, i.e., in the direction of a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis is typically defined by the connection between the base of a container and its dispensing opening. In round containers, this coincides with a rotational axis.

[0041] The width of the groove is particularly important. The wider it is, the greater the deformations it can accommodate, as it can deform over a longer distance.

[0042] As explained, the wall thickness of the container neck can be reduced in this configuration. This means that the wall thickness is closer to the wall thickness of the container body. This basically means that the container neck would deform considerably more if a force were to act on the container body. This relationship can be counteracted by providing a circumferential groove. This makes it possible to largely avoid or at least reduce deformation of the container neck, even if the wall thicknesses of the container neck and container body are similar. This effect occurs in particular with wall thickness ratios between the container body and the container neck of 1.25 to 3. This includes all combinations of the values ​​described here. The wall thickness ratio is preferably 2.2 to 2.6.

[0043] A support ring can be arranged between the groove and the container shoulder. The support ring makes it possible to grip the reusable wide-neck container during the production process. It also provides an element of increased rigidity, and part of the force acting on the container shoulder or container body can be absorbed by the support ring, which reduces deformation at the support ring itself. The arrangement can also be reversed. The groove is then located between the support ring and the container shoulder, with the support ring being arranged above the groove. This creates a reinforcement on the container neck, making it less susceptible to deformation.

[0044] The fastening means for attaching a lid can be designed as a multi-start thread. The number of threads is at least six and preferably more than six. This high number of threads allows the force applied by a lid to the container neck when closing the reusable wide-neck container to be distributed across a large number of individual points. The force is therefore applied more evenly, and any deformations also occur more evenly and are reduced.

[0045] It is preferably provided that the force is applied over the entire thread turns, rather than across the respective flanks of the thread.

[0046] Preferably there are fewer than twelve threads, in particular between eight and ten.

[0047] For a container neck that has, for example, only two threads, the entire force required to tightly close the container is applied at just two points. In this example, these points are typically diametrically opposed, and when closed, the container neck is essentially pulled upward at these two points. The container neck deforms accordingly and / or develops stresses that, in combination with the washing solution, lead to cracks.

[0048] By using six or more threads, this effect can be prevented or at least reduced to the point where deformations no longer play a significant role. If the deformations are minor, the required sealing compound in the cover can also be reduced, since only significantly smaller tolerances would need to be compensated.

[0049] Alternatively, the fastening means for attaching a lid can also be designed as a single-start thread. A single-start thread makes it possible to apply force across the entire length of the thread. A single-start thread also requires a single-start thread on the counterpart, i.e., the lid. This thread is preferably designed to extend over more than 360°, and accordingly, the force for sealing and closing can be applied evenly across the entire circumference of an opening in the reusable wide-neck container.

[0050] A sealing surface with a support surface for a seal can be arranged at the dispensing opening of the reusable wide-neck container. This support surface can have a width that is greater than 1.5 mm and less than 4 mm, in particular less than 3 mm.

[0051] Because the reusable wide-neck container is made of plastic, damage to the dispensing opening is typically unavoidable. Damage can occur, in particular, through use of the reusable wide-neck container, for example, when inserting spoons, forks, or knives to remove a product.

[0052] Above all, the minimum width of the support surface ensures that damage does not extend across the entire width of the support surface and that sealing is therefore still guaranteed.

[0053] The maximum width prevents excessive accumulation of tolerances that may occur, for example, due to deformation or during production. For example, a certain angular deviation, depending on the length of the section over which it occurs, may lead to an excessively large difference in other dimensions, such as height.

[0054] A further aspect relates to a container comprising a reusable wide-neck container comprising a container base, a container body and a neck, wherein the neck has a neck portion which ends in a dispensing opening and adjoins a container shoulder. In particular, the container comprises a reusable wide-neck container as described here. The container also comprises a lid for closing the reusable wide-neck container. A seal is arranged in the lid, wherein this seal has a sealing surface with a width which is greater than 1.5 mm.

[0055] The width of the sealing surface ensures that any injuries or damage to the counterpart can be reliably sealed even after they have occurred.

[0056] It can be provided that the seal engages or can be brought into engagement along at least one region of an inner wall and / or an outer wall of the neck section, so that it at least partially encloses an edge of the dispensing opening. Typically, a corresponding sealing surface with a bearing surface is located at the edge of the dispensing opening. By appropriately extending the seals along the inner wall and / or the outer wall, this sealing surface can be enclosed and the sealing effect is supplemented by an axial component. In other words, the seal also extends partially in an axial direction.

[0057] Preferably, the seal can extend 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm in the axial direction and accordingly cover the inner and / or outer walls over this length. The sealing effect can thus be increased.

[0058] On the one hand, this enclosure improves the sealing function. If the upper sealing surface or support surface is damaged, the axial component continues to ensure the sealing effect. On the other hand, the enclosure stabilizes the container mouth, as the dispensing opening at the container neck. If forces occur that would deform the container at this mouth, the enclosure holds it in its sealing, round shape.

[0059] This effect is additional and reinforces the sealing effect when using a reusable wide-neck container as described here. This container features a decoupling effect caused by a circumferential groove, which reduces the force applied to the container neck.

[0060] The lid can be equipped with engagement means for engaging a multi-start thread with six or more threads. The engagement means can apply a force to multiple points on the reusable wide-neck container, thus breaking force peaks. Accordingly, deformations in the area of ​​force application are reduced.

[0061] It can be provided that the engagement means are designed as a thread complementary to the multi-start thread.

[0062] Thanks to the complementary design, the force can be applied not only at specific points, but across the entire length of the respective thread sections. This further homogenizes the force application.

[0063] The seal may comprise, in particular be made of, a soft, flexible material. The material may be selected from the list of foamed plastics, elastomers, petroleum-based plastics, or bio-based plastics. In particular, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) may be used.

[0064] The reusable wide-neck container can be made of a PET copolymer, with the PET copolymer having a copolymer content of 0.5% to 10%. Preferred copolymers are diethylene glycol, isophthalic acid, CHDM, furandicarboxylic acid, or NDC. Alternative additives are cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) or naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (NDC).

[0065] The reusable wide-neck container is preferably a container that is manufactured using a stretch blow molding process from a blank, a so-called preform, produced using an injection molding process.

[0066] The neck of the blank is not stretched, but the remaining area of ​​the blank is stretched axially and radially.

[0067] The circumferential groove is preferably located in the area of ​​the reusable wide-neck container that is not stretched.

[0068] The invention is explained below with reference to schematic figures. It shows:

[0069] Figure 1 : A reusable wide-neck container;

[0070] Figure 2: the neck of the reusable wide-neck container according to Figure 1; Figure 3: an alternative neck;

[0071] Figures 4A to 4B : different lids .

[0072] Figure 1 shows a reusable wide-neck container 100. This comprises a container base 101, a container body 102 and an adjacent container shoulder 50. A neck 20 borders the container shoulder 50. The neck 20 comprises a neck section 30 on which fastening means 60 are arranged. The neck section 30 has an inner wall 31 and an outer wall 32 (see Figure 3). The fastening means 60 are arranged on the outer wall 32. The fastening means 60 are provided for fastening a lid 70 (see Figure 4). The neck section 30 ends in a dispensing opening 40. The inner diameter of the dispensing opening 40 is in the present case greater than 40 mm and thus corresponds to the configuration of a wide-neck container.

[0073] Figure 2 shows the neck 20 of the reusable wide-neck container 100 according to Figure 1. It can be seen that on the outer wall

[0074] 32 of the neck portion 30, fastening means 60 for fastening a lid are arranged. The fastening means 60 are designed as a multi-start thread, wherein this thread comprises six thread turns.

[0075] The neck portion 30 is part of a neck 20 which adjoins a container shoulder 50. A groove 33 is arranged between the neck portion 30 and the container shoulder 50. The groove

[0076] 33 has a reduced wall thickness compared to the neck section 30. The groove 33 adjoins a support ring 34, which in turn adjoins the container shoulder 50. In other words, the neck 20 in the present exemplary embodiment according to Figure 2 comprises the neck section 30, the groove 33 and the support ring 34. As can be seen from Figure 2, the transitions between the neck section 30, the groove 33, the support ring 34 and the container shoulder 50 are each formed with radii. These radii are in the present case between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm. The neck section 30 ends in a dispensing opening 40. A sealing surface is arranged at this dispensing opening. The sealing surface has a bearing surface 41 that is wider than 1.5 mm (see also Figure 3). In the present case, the support surface 41 is arranged essentially horizontally in its intended use and has an overall circular ring-shaped design.

[0077] Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a neck 20', analogous to the neck 20 according to Figure 2, the illustration being partially sectioned. The neck 20' also has a neck portion 30 having an inner wall 31 and an outer wall 32. Fastening means 60' for attaching a lid are arranged on the outer wall 32. The fastening means 60' are designed as a single-start thread. The neck portion 30 ends on the one hand in the dispensing opening 40 and on the other hand in a circumferential groove 33. The sealing surface with the bearing surface 41 is designed analogously to the embodiment according to Figure 2.

[0078] A support ring 34' is arranged below the groove 33, i.e., between the groove 33 and a container shoulder 50. The support ring 34' is significantly less pronounced than the support ring 34 in Figure 2. Due to the constriction of the container neck 50, the support ring 34' nevertheless offers a sufficiently large surface area to enable handling of the reusable wide-neck container. It goes without saying that the fastening means 60 and 60' as well as the support rings 34 and 34' can be freely combined with one another in all embodiments.

[0079] Figures 4A to 4G show cross-sections of covers 70 with different designs of seals. Figure 4A shows a seal 71 which is designed such that it completely covers a support surface 41 (see Figure 3) and slightly overlaps it laterally. The seal 71' according to Figure 4B is more pronounced. This seal 71' is essentially U-shaped. In other words, the seal 71' overlaps an inner wall 31 and an outer wall 32 (see Figure 3) over a certain distance, so that the neck section 30 is encompassed and sealed from three sides in the region of the support surface 41. Figure 4C shows an alternative design of a seal 71'', which extends significantly further over an outer wall 32 at its periphery.This embodiment is significantly less susceptible to cracks or injuries or damage, particularly at the transition of the outer wall 32 to the support surface 41 of the neck section 30.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Reusable wide-neck container (100) made of plastic, in particular for non-liquid, free-flowing contents, comprising a container base (101), a container body (102) and a neck (20), wherein the neck (20) has a neck section (30) which terminates in a dispensing opening (40) and connects to a container shoulder (50), wherein the neck section (30) has an inner wall (31) and an outer wall (32), wherein fastening means (60) for attaching a lid (70) are arranged on the outer wall (32), characterized in that the container body (102) has an average wall thickness (W) which is greater than 0.5 mm, in particular greater than 0.7 mm, and less than 1.2 mm, and that the neck section has a wall thickness (H) which is greater than 1.5 mm, in particular larger than 2 mm and smaller than 3 mm, wherein the neck section at the transition to the container shoulder (50) has a circumferential groove (33) to provide a deformable connection between the container body and the neck section .

2. Reusable wide-neck container (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the circumferential groove (33) has a wall thickness that is less than 1.2 mm and greater than 0.5 mm.

3. Reusable wide-neck container (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the circumferential groove (33) has a wall thickness that is less than 0.7 mm and greater than 0.5 mm.

4. Reusable wide-neck container (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the circumferential groove (33) has a wall thickness that is less than 1.2 mm and greater than 0.8 mm. Reusable wide-mouth container (100) according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the container base (101) has a wall thickness (B) that is greater than 1 mm and less than 3 mm. Reusable wide-mouth container (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the groove (33) has a width that is greater than 1 mm and less than 3 mm. Reusable wide-mouth container (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that a support ring (34) is arranged between the groove (33) and the container shoulder. Reusable wide-neck container (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fastening means (60) for attaching a lid (70) are designed as a multi-start thread, wherein the number of threads is greater than 6. Reusable wide-neck container (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fastening means (60) for attaching a lid (70) are designed as a single-start thread.Reusable wide-neck container (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at the dispensing opening. (40) a sealing surface with a bearing surface (41) for a seal is arranged, characterized in that this bearing surface (41) has a width that is greater than 1.5 mm and less than 4 mm, in particular less than 3 mm. Container (200) comprising a reusable wide-neck container (100) comprising a container base (101), a container body (102) and a neck (20), wherein the neck (20) A container (200) has a neck section (30) that terminates in a dispensing opening (40) and connects to a container shoulder (50), in particular a reusable wide-neck container (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and a lid (70) for closing the reusable wide-neck container (100), characterized in that a seal (71) is arranged in the lid (70), wherein the seal (71) has a sealing surface with a width greater than 1.5 mm. A container (200) according to claim 11, characterized in that the seal (71) is engaged or can be brought into engagement along at least a region of an inner wall (31) and / or an outer wall (32) of the neck section (30). A container (200) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the lid (70) has engagement means (72) for engaging a multi-start thread with six or more threads.Container (200) according to claim 13, characterized in that the engagement means (72) are designed as a thread complementary to the multi-start thread. Container (200) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the seal (71) comprises a soft, flexible material, in particular consisting of a material selected from the list of foamed plastics, elastomers, petroleum-based plastics, or bio-based plastics, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer (TBE) or ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber.

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