Recyclable packaging tube

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging tube having a receiving container (09) for the direct storage of a substance which is to be packaged or to be stored, and having at least one moulded body (20, 30) for imparting mechanical, static and / or dynamic stability to the packaging tube (02). The invention makes provision for the moulded body (20, 30) to consist of a recyclable material and for the receiving container (09) to consist of a material which is suited to the substance which is to be packaged, wherein at least one separable, preferably form-fitting, connection (22) is formed between the moulded body (20, 30) and the receiving container (09), or a constituent part of the packaging tube (02) that is connected to the receiving container (09), the connection being configured such that, when the packaging tube (02) is being used as intended, the connection is maintained and a manual and / or tool-free, irreversible separation of the separable connection (22), in particular by tearing, is made possible.

Description

[0001] Recyclable packaging tube

[0002] The present invention relates to a recyclable tube, in particular a packaging tube made of predominantly recyclable material according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Packaging tubes are known and widely used in the art, in which a tube body or tube jacket consists of a laminate formed into a tube with several laminate layers of different plastics or of several coextruded plastics. Due to the different materials that are firmly and inseparably bonded to one another, these packaging tubes are often unsuitable or only partially suitable for recycling.

[0004] Packaging tubes with a tube jacket or tube body made primarily of aluminum are also known from the prior art. Such tubes are typically coated with plastics and / or lacquers on the inside of the tube body. While this only marginally limits the recyclability of such tubes, recycling is associated with high energy consumption. Furthermore, metal or aluminum tubes are not suitable for all packaging tube applications, for example, because they are difficult to print on or because their inelasticity is undesirable.

[0005] State-of-the-art approaches are already known to improve the sustainability of packaging tubes.

[0006] On the one hand, approaches are known in which renewable or recycled raw materials are used to manufacture tubes, particularly tube sleeves. Such approaches are known, for example, from EP 2 630 052 B1 or BE 419299 A. While such approaches are more sustainable or involve lower resource consumption with regard to the starting materials or the original materials of the tubes, they simultaneously result in the tubes being manufactured not being able to be recycled, or not being able to be recycled in an economically and / or energetically viable manner, after their intended use, particularly after emptying the stored or packaged tube contents.

[0007] Another approach that already concerns the recycling of packaging, especially tubes, after their use or application is known from DE 10 2020 004 431 A1. This proposes a type of multi-use system for tubes or packaging tubes, based on a modular tube design so that individual modules of the tube can be replaced after use and other modules can be used or reused multiple times. The tube produced in this way is highly reusable. However, it is cumbersome to use, and there is still a risk that the individual parts or modules cannot be reused as often due to contamination, wear and tear, and other environmental impacts as would be necessary given the complex production of the modules in order to reduce the overall use of resources compared to disposable tubes.Furthermore, the success of such a reusable system depends to a large extent on market acceptance and user acceptance. If the user fails to recognize the reusable nature of the modular tube or fails to utilize the modules' reusability, the energy, material, and resource expenditure is significantly greater than with conventional disposable tubes.

[0008] Finally, WO 2022 / 053879 A1 discloses a packaging tube in which functional parts made of predominantly plastic-containing materials are firmly connected to so-called structural parts consisting predominantly of fiber-containing materials, which also results in poor separability and / or reduced sorting purity in the recycling process.

[0009] EP 3 730 420 B1 also concerns a packaging tube with an outer tube and an inner tube. However, the reuse or recycling of the tube is not addressed.

[0010] The subject of WO 92 / 22472 is a folding box packaging with a foldable shaped body made of cardboard and a receiving container made of film, wherein the film is fixed on one side, in the neck area.

[0011] From FR 2 516 054 A1, a double-tube packaging with an exchangeable, metal receptacle and a molded body made of plastic is known, whereby when the double tube is compressed, only the receptacle remains in its compressed form, while the molded body elastically returns to its original shape.

[0012] WO 93 / 10013 A1 describes a refillable tube with a front and rear screw cap, the body of which is made of plastic.

[0013] US 3 313 455 A relates to a tube squeezing device into which a conventional tube can be inserted in order to achieve a better squeezing of the contents.

[0014] The subject of CH 92 025 A is a tube consisting of a molded body and a receptacle which are detachably connected to one another, wherein the molded body has engagement openings through which the receptacle can be pressed. Against this background, the object of the present invention is to propose a packaging tube which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, can be subjected to a high degree of recycling or reuse after its intended use.

[0015] This object is achieved with a packaging tube having the features of claim 1.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims, the following description, description of the figures and the figures.

[0017] In principle, features disclosed in terms of the device should also be deemed to be correspondingly disclosed in terms of the method, and vice versa.

[0018] The packaging tube according to the invention comprises a receptacle for directly storing a substance to be packaged or stored. Furthermore, the packaging tube according to the invention comprises at least one shaped body for providing mechanical, static, and / or dynamic stability to the tube.According to the invention, it is provided that the shaped body consists of a recyclable material and the receiving container consists of a material that is adapted to the material to be packaged, wherein at least one separable, preferably positive-locking, connection is formed between the shaped body and the receiving container or a component of the packaging tube connected to the receiving container, which is designed in such a way that the connection is maintained when the tube is used as intended and that, in particular after use or before disposal, a manual and / or tool-free irreversible separation between the shaped body and the receiving container at the separable connection or by separating the separable connection, in particular by cracking, is possible.

[0019] The first separable connection preferably consists of a form-lock joint to enable pure separation of the tubes, largely eliminating the need for adhesives. This form-lock joint can be used to ensure that the tube is sufficiently stable during use and that the form-lock joint remains intact for the entire service life of the tube. This prevents the separable connection from accidentally coming loose, even if the tube is squeezed, rolled up, and / or otherwise deformed during use. At the same time, highly pure further processing can be carried out after the connection has been separated.

[0020] Alternatively, the separable connection can be a type of predetermined separation connection. This separable connection is designed in such a way that normal usage of the tube does not affect the integrity of the established connection, although intentional and / or targeted force applied to the separable connection, preferably manually and / or without tools, can cause the connection to separate.

[0021] The packaging tube according to the invention is accordingly based on the basic idea that the connection between fundamentally different materials or material groups, namely the molded body made of a recyclable material on the one hand and the receiving container and / or the further components of the packaging tube connected to the receiving container on the other hand, regardless of whether this connection is continuous or full-surface or only runs along a connecting line or only comprises individual connection points, is designed in such a way that the intended use of the tube does not lead to a loosening of the separable connection and equally a provoked and accordingly preferably not typical or specific handling of the tube leads to the manual and / or tool-free separation of different material groups,namely the at least one shaped body on the one hand and the receiving container on the other hand, so that at least one group of materials can be separated and introduced into known and widespread recycling cycles and reused and / or recycled accordingly.

[0022] In order to make the irreversible separation of the separable connection particularly effective, it can be provided that the first separable connection is formed along a predetermined separation contour running essentially around a longitudinal center axis in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the separable connection is advantageously implemented in strip-shaped or linear form. This not only creates a uniform fastening and connection over the circumference, but at the same time facilitates the irreversible separation. This separable connection is not limited to a single line or a single strip. Depending on the shape and intended use of the packaging tube, several lines or strips, which are preferably not connected to one another or merge into one another, can also form the entire separable connection.Overall, the main advantage of this is that even if 100% pure separation or detachment of the materials involved in the separable compound is not achieved, only minimal or very small residues of the other material or material group or class remain on the partner of the sol separation compound after the irreversible separation. Furthermore, the receiving container can be designed with particularly thin walls, which has a particularly resource-saving effect.Consequently, the tube according to the invention makes it possible, on the one hand, to maintain a familiar and known operation or use by the user and, at the same time, to integrate or return a large proportion of the packaging tubes into known and efficient recycling cycles after use without any loss of function and functionality, both with regard to use and with regard to the areas of application and materials to be packaged or stored.

[0023] Receptacles adapted for storing the material to be packaged can be made, for example, from a thermoplastic, an elastomer, or a thermoplastic elastomer. Polypropylene or polyethylene can be used as the material. Furthermore, the materials themselves can advantageously already consist of recycled materials, in particular from reused plastics and / or from biodegradable polymers and / or bio-based plastic. Multilayer structures, which can be produced, for example, by lamination or coextrusion, are also particularly suitable for the receptacle. Such multilayer structures can particularly preferably have a barrier layer or barrier ply. Such barriers and their implementation or formation in a multilayer composite are sufficiently known from the prior art.They prevent the undesired diffusion of gases, for example, the diffusion of oxygen into the packaging tube, the diffusion of liquids, for example, the diffusion of essential oils from the packaging tube, and / or the diffusion of solids, for example, the migration of pigments into the stored material or into the packaging, or conversely, for example, the migration of fragrances, caffeine, and the like from the stored material or out of the packaging. Such a barrier layer or barrier ply can also be created by coating and / or vapor-depositing a single-layer or multi-layer material with metallic or ceramic layers. The metallic layers are preferably based on aluminum. The ceramic layers are based, for example, on a silicon oxide compound.

[0024] The material of the receptacle is advantageously selected or influenced so that the receptacle itself, or at least one surface, is water-resistant. This can also be achieved by a coating on the surface(s) of the receptacle.

[0025] The wall thickness or material thickness of the receptacle can advantageously be less than 0.1 mm, particularly advantageously less than 0.05 mm, and especially less than 0.035 mm. The materials used to form the receptacle are particularly advantageously stretched to enable particularly thin walls and to provide the receptacle with increased stability.

[0026] The at least one shaped body, which in the tube state, i.e. in particular before the irreversible separation of the separable connection, preferably at least partially encloses the receptacle, imparts mechanical static and / or dynamic stability to the packaging, which means that both during actual handling of the tube, i.e. in particular when squeezing out the packaged or stored substance, but also outside of active use, namely during storage, the at least one shaped body essentially influences and / or provides the mechanical stability of the tube. The separation or separability from the receptacle advantageously ensures that the shape, cross-section and other design features of the shaped body can be selected and designed much more freely than with other known tubes. This generates advantages not only from an optically aesthetic point of view.This design freedom can also be advantageously influenced by technical aspects. The free choice of the molded body shape, for example, enables greater packing density of empty or filled tubes, which in turn leads to better use of transport volume during shipping and transport. The design freedom regarding the molded bodies can also be advantageously used in terms of use and many other aspects.

[0027] In addition, the at least one molded body can result in a pleasant grip or feel. Advantageously, the recyclable material of the at least one molded body can be fiber-containing or have fiber-containing components; particularly advantageously, the at least one molded body can comprise paper, cardboard, carton, wood fibers, cotton fibers, papier-mâché, and comparable materials, such as pulp compression molded materials (“pulp compression molded materials”). Alternatively, the material of the at least one molded body can also comprise metal or metal foils. It can advantageously be provided that the at least one molded part is plastically and / or elastically deformable. The deformability can result both from the material itself and from the type of processing, in particular deformation of the material, for the production or formation of the molded body.The deformability can also be created directly or indirectly by the way in which the connection to the other tube components is formed, in particular the first separable connection. Advantageously, the at least one molded part can be waterproof or at least splash-proof. For this purpose, part of the surface or the entire surface of the molded part can have an impregnation or a thin coating. These impregnations or coatings are advantageously designed such that their presence does not impair the recyclability of the molded part. Accordingly, impregnations or coatings with latex or waxes, for example, are suitable, which can be removed or reused in a corresponding recycling process. In general, it can advantageously be provided that the molded part consists of a multi-layer material or has sections made of multi-layer material.This allows the properties of the molded part to be even better adapted to its use and environmental influences. Multi-layer molded parts can also be created by winding individual layers that are not connected to each other, or are only connected along one side or edge.

[0028] Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that the at least one molded part is biodegradable as a whole. In this case, if any coating or impregnation is also correspondingly biodegradable, the entire molded part, including the coating or impregnation, can be degraded with high sustainability and returned to the raw material cycle, especially if the starting materials originate from renewable or regenerative resources.

[0029] Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that the at least one molded part is printed on a surface, preferably an outer surface, or that a label is attached, in particular glued, to said surface. Particularly when labels are used, these can be attached to the molded part in such a way that they can be detached from the molded part as easily and as completely or over the entire surface as possible, in order to enable the molded part to be recycled according to type. Overall, however, when printing or labeling the molded part, it is achieved or at least promoted that the receiving container is not printed or otherwise provided with or mixed with ink or pigments, so that the receiving container particularly preferably remains free of dyes, varnishes or pigments.This is particularly advantageous because, unlike paper or similar materials, printed plastics, such as those used for the advantageous design of the receptacle, are particularly difficult to recycle. In the case of a printed or labeled molded body, this can at best be completely prevented. Preferably, in many cases of the tube according to the invention, not only the at least one molded body, but ideally also the receptacle, including any other components of the packaging tube connected to it, can be recycled.

[0030] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, at least two separable, preferably form-fitting, connections can be formed between the shaped body and the receptacle or a component of the packaging tube connected to the receptacle. This can particularly advantageously result in even more pure separation and improved recyclability of the tube, especially if the tube head or the receptacle alone or by itself is made of a recyclable plastic, in particular a monomaterial. At the same time, this can improve the stability of the tube during use. Furthermore, this can prevent unintentional displacement or migration of the receptacle within the tube, which could impair functionality or even lead to malfunction.According to a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the packaging tube, the first and / or second separable connection can be designed as a form-fitting connection that is reinforced in sections, preferably at specific points, with an adhesion promoter. This can particularly advantageously ensure the integrity of the separable connection during use of the packaging tube. Furthermore, the separable connections are secured against slipping during tube production.In addition, this allows, for example, that before the final filling and closing, which preferably takes place on the back, a basic securing device can be created between the receptacle and the molded body in a rear area of ​​the packaging tube opposite the tube head, even without the final formation of the separable connection, so that easy filling of the receptacle is possible by the adhesion promoter holding the receptacle open without, for example, having to be slipped over the end of a molded body.

[0031] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, the adhesion promoter can be designed to be removable without residue from a surface of the molded body and / or receptacle. This advantageously ensures that only minimal or minimal residues of the other material or material group or class remain on the partner of the separable connection after the irreversible separation. This further improves the purity of the respective components.

[0032] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, it can be provided that the at least second separable connection is formed in a rear region of the packaging tube, opposite the tube head, preferably as a smooth or folded and / or corrugated closing fold, in particular by microscopic embossing. The second separable connection is preferably initially designed to be open, whereby the receptacle can be filled from the rear with the material to be stored before the closing fold is closed by embossing. The microscopic embossing can ensure a particularly reliable connection, which nevertheless allows the packaging tube to be separated, in particular by type. The microscopic embossing is generally caused by the roughness or unevenness of the inside of the shaped body, for example the cardboard or the paper.When forming the separable connection in the form of a form-fit connection, the material of the receptacle is plastically deformed, preferably under pressure and / or heat, so that it takes on the surface structure of the adjacent inner side of the molded body. This embossing of the receptacle can form a completely stable and permanently stable connection, even without a material bond occurring, for example, by melting the receptacle. Therefore, it can be advantageous to select a material for the molded body that has a certain roughness, preferably selectively on an inner side.

[0033] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, it can be provided that the receiving container extends in the rear region of the packaging tube, opposite the tube head, in a longitudinal direction of the tube at least as far as the end of the molded body there, so that the second separable connection can be formed in a single and / or joint connecting step. As a result, the closing of the second separable connection during production can be made particularly simple and, if necessary, can be carried out automatically. Preferably, the individual connecting step can also simultaneously be a closing step in which the receiving container is closed, preferably at the rear. Preferably, the molded body can also be closed in the same manufacturing or processing step.In addition, this allows the receptacle to be formed with a minimum amount of material and the smallest possible offcuts or waste, while at the same time preventing the receptacle from becoming undesirably detached from the shaped body or from being displaced or slipping within the tube during use of the tube and the associated mechanical stresses and deformations. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, it can be provided that the shaped body has perforations in the region of the separable connections, preferably for forming tear strips. This can particularly advantageously enable an irreversible separation between the at least one shaped body and the receptacle. Furthermore, the embodiment is particularly desirable because the user is accustomed to such perforations and / or tear strips from different areas or different types of packaging.In addition, such perforations have the advantage that, without corresponding tearing movements and the corresponding attacking forces and impulses, the connection is very stable and, especially during normal use of the packaging tube, i.e. for removing portions or the entire packaged or stored substance, experiences little or no fatigue or wear, so that an almost unrestricted, intended use of the tube is possible.

[0034] According to a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the packaging tube, a first molded body can form an outer shell of a tube jacket. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because the tube jacket accounts for a large portion of the surface area of ​​the packaging tube and a significant portion of the weight or volume of the packaging tube. If this corresponding part or portion is largely realized by a recyclable molded body, the inventive design of the separable connection to the receptacle or associated components of the packaging tube allows a correspondingly large portion or portion of the entire packaging tube to be separated after intended use and transferred into a recycling cycle.

[0035] The shaped body as the outer shell of the tube jacket can enclose and / or delimit the receiving container or part of the receiving container on the inside. The outer shell of the tube jacket can preferably be formed by deforming a flat or planar material, for example in the form of a thin plate or a sheet of recyclable material. It can advantageously be provided that the outer shell is completely closed or sealed. This means that the receiving container is not visible or recognizable in the region of the tube jacket before the separable connection is separated. As will be explained in more detail below, advantageous embodiments are also possible in which the outer shell or the tube jacket is only closed in some areas or sections and is unlocked or open in other areas or sections.This can particularly advantageously enable simple and effective production, in particular forming, of the shaped body and at the same time achieve corresponding advantages in use, for example by enabling a view of the internally arranged receptacle in unsealed or open sections or regions, so that the unsealed regions can serve, for example, as viewing windows to detect or record the fill level of the receptacle and thus of the packaging tube. Furthermore, if the shaped body in the form of an outer shell of a tube jacket is not completely sealed, simplified separation of the separable connections after the tube has been emptied can be achieved by using open regions or sections as points of attack or engagement to irreversibly release the separable connections.

[0036] Furthermore, it can be provided that the first separable connection is formed between a tube head and the molded body forming the tube jacket, wherein the receptacle is connected, in particular welded, to the tube head. This configuration enables, for example, the use of plastic tube heads, which are widely used and well-known in the prior art.A particular advantage of using plastic tube heads is that they use already known and existing production machines for both the production and, at least in part, for the further processing of the tube heads. This means that although the overall proportion of the packaging tube that can be recycled after use may be reduced somewhat, existing production and processing techniques and systems can be used. This means that, particularly for the tube manufacturer, the additional or further effort required to produce a largely recyclable packaging tube is reduced accordingly.

[0037] In this case, a broad wealth of experience and known methods and machines can be used for the connection between a tube head, in particular a tube head made of plastic, and the receiving container, in particular if the latter is also made of plastic, for example from co-extruded plastic or from a multi-layer laminate, because in this case, apart from possibly totally degradable plastics or plastics of biological origin, the essential difference between the connection of a tube head with a tube jacket or tube tube is that the receiving container according to the invention is significantly thinner or has a significantly thinner wall thickness than classic tube tubes or tube jackets.

[0038] Nevertheless, in a particularly advantageous manner, by forming the separable connections with a shaped body, which preferably forms or provides the outer shell of the tube jacket, a packaging tube can be realized which is to a considerable extent, if not to a large extent, recyclable, since the irreversible separation of the separable connections takes place after use and at least one shaped body can be recycled.

[0039] In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, a third separable connection can be formed between the receptacle and the tube head. This can particularly advantageously result in even more pure separation and improved recyclability of the tube, especially if the tube head or the receptacle is made solely or individually from a recyclable plastic, in particular a monomaterial. It is also advantageously possible to form a third separable connection between the first molded part and the receptacle, especially if the first and / or second separable connection is not formed over the entire surface.

[0040] Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that a shaped body, preferably a second shaped body, forms at least part of a tube head, preferably a shoulder of a tube head. This can increase the overall recyclability or the proportion of recyclable material of the packaging tube. In this case, a first shaped body, preferably for forming an outer shell of a tube jacket, and the second shaped body can preferably be made of identical or different materials. For example, the shaped body that forms part of the tube head can be made of a correspondingly hard material, for example hard cardboard, whereas the shaped body for forming the outer shell of the tube jacket can be made of relatively deformable or less hard materials, for example paper or cardboard.If both molded parts are made of the same material, or at least of materials compatible with recycling, this results in potentially very efficient production and relatively few problems when joining the molded parts together. Furthermore, in this case, uniform, especially joint, recycling can be achieved. If the molded parts are made of different materials, the manufacturing and joining process may be more challenging or complex, but the packaging tube can then be even better adapted and improved with regard to mechanical properties and requirements.

[0041] According to a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the first separable connection is formed between a tube head and the receiving container, wherein the receiving container is connected to the tube head, in particular welded. In this case, for example, a part of the tube head, preferably even the entire tube head, can consist of a recyclable molded body, so that after the first separable connection has been severed, the tube head and the molded body forming the outer shell of the tube jacket are recycled, whereas the receiving container is disposed of separately. The receiving container can of course also be recycled if it is made of correspondingly recyclable material. If the tube head consists partly of a molded body made of recyclable material, it can advantageously be provided that a part of the molded body is designed such that a closure or a closure mechanism can be attached to it.For example, the molded body can be provided with an external thread for a screw cap with an internal thread or, alternatively, it can be provided with a snap ring to which a push-on cap with a flip-top lid can be attached.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be advantageously provided that the receptacle itself forms part of the tube head, in particular part of a closure mechanism of the tube head. This makes it possible, for example, to create a tube head that is formed partly from a molded body and partly from the receptacle, so that after the corresponding separation of the first separable connection, the tube head is split in two, and the two parts of the tube head can be disposed of separately and, if necessary, recycled.

[0043] It can be particularly preferably provided that the receiving container has an outlet section in the region of an outlet opening that is monolithically connected to the rest of the receiving container. This monolithically connected outlet section can be particularly advantageously produced by compacting and / or heating the material of the receiving container, optionally assisted by a molding process.For example, it can be provided that an overall tubular receptacle undergoes a compression in an outlet section with a correspondingly reduced diameter, which is then formed or reshaped in a shaping process to form an outlet section of the receptacle, which is then formed monolithically with the rest of the receptacle, but at the same time has a correspondingly greater wall thickness and stability, so that the said outlet section of the receptacle is well suited to form or at least co-form parts of a tube head and / or parts of a closure mechanism of a tube head.

[0044] Preferably, the outlet section of the receptacle can also extend from the interior of the outlet hole and be arranged inverted or folded over a portion of the tube head. Particularly preferably, the outlet section can be inverted on the outside up to a shoulder of the tube head. This ensures that the tube contents only come into contact with the interior of the receptacle and, if applicable, a lid until they exit the tube.

[0045] In other words, it can be particularly advantageous for the receiving container to extend at one end into an outlet hole of a tube head or beyond.

[0046] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, it can be provided that a bead, in particular an annular bead, is formed by the receiving container, which is arranged on the shaped body in such a way that the first separable connection is supported by a positive engagement between the receiving container and the shaped body, in particular against slipping along the longitudinal direction of the packaging tube. The positive connection can be formed particularly advantageously by compaction with deformation and / or thermal exposure. The bead makes it particularly easy to secure the positive, separable connection, which is fixed in particular by surface adhesion, against slipping during operation, especially when squeezing out the tube.As an alternative to a bead or annular bead, a plurality of individual beads can also be provided, which are formed, for example, in the form of points or as strips along or perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation of the tube.

[0047] The receptacle can be filled with the substance to be stored both from the rear and through an outlet hole. Therefore, the receptacle can be initially designed to be open at the rear and have a closure, in particular a closure seam, that closes the initially open end after filling. Conversely, if filled through a later outlet hole, the receptacle could also be designed as a bladder, preferably a seamless one.

[0048] A closure of the packaging tube can be attached to or connected to a tube head in a conventional manner, independently of the tube head, or the tube head can be formed as a molded body or part of a molded body. For example, it is possible for a tube head that has a molded body or is formed from a molded body to have an external thread for screwing on a screw cap. Alternatively, the tube head, even if partially or completely formed by a molded body, can have a snap ring to accommodate and / or secure a pressure closure ("push-on cap").

[0049] Advantageous embodiments of the packaging tube according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematically illustrated figures showing advantageous exemplary embodiments. Therein: Fig. 1a: a first perspective view of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

[0050] Fig. 1 b: a second perspective view of the packaging tube according to the invention according to Fig. 1a;

[0051] Fig. 2: a preliminary stage of a shaped body for forming a packaging tube according to the illustration in Figs. 1a and 1b;

[0052] Fig. 3: a packaging tube according to the invention according to a second embodiment;

[0053] Fig. 4a: a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention in a third embodiment;

[0054] Fig. 4b: a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment;

[0055] Fig. 4c: a section through a part of an inventive

[0056] Packaging tube according to a fifth embodiment;

[0057] Fig. 4d: a section through a part of an inventive

[0058] Packaging tube according to a sixth embodiment;

[0059] Fig. 5a: a section through a part of an inventive

[0060] Packaging tube according to a seventh embodiment;

[0061] Fig. 5b: a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention according to an eighth embodiment; Fig. 6: a cross-section through a tube of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a ninth embodiment in the direction of a longitudinal central axis;

[0062] Fig. 7: a perspective view of part of a packaging tube according to the invention in a tenth embodiment;

[0063] Fig. 8: a label for application to a molded part of a packaging tube according to the invention.

[0064] Fig. 9a: a perspective view of the rear end and a lateral section of the closing fold of a packaging tube according to the invention according to an eleventh embodiment

[0065] Fig. 9b: a perspective view of the rear end and a lateral section of the closing fold of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a twelfth embodiment

[0066] Figs. 1 a and 1 b show two perspective views of a tube 02 according to the invention. In the head region 06 of the tube 02, a closure 15 is formed on the tube body 01, which closes an outlet hole, which is not shown for reasons of clarity. The tube body 01 comprises an outer shell 19 of a tube jacket 05. The tube jacket 05 is formed from a molded body 20 and partially encloses a receptacle 09. The outer shell 19 of the tube jacket 05 has unsealed sections 21, which accordingly generate spaced-apart edges 13 of the tube jacket 05, between which the receptacle 09 is freely accessible or visible. The tube jacket 05 is closed in the area of ​​the tube end 07 and has a kink 08 there, so that both sides 05.1, 05.2 of the tube jacket 05 can be made from a common, preferably from a flat or curved material, as shown with reference to Fig.2 will be described in more detail. Alternatively, the molded body can also comprise a plurality of parts, preferably made of the same material, which are connected to one another or to one another, at least in sections. Thus, instead of the bend 08, a connection, for example an adhesive connection, could also be provided, which then connects two individual parts in the form of the two sides 05.1 and 05.2 to one another in sections to form the molded part 20 and / or the tube jacket 05. Furthermore, instead of the bend 08, a second separable connection 22.1 designed as an embossed closing fold can also be provided, as shown in Figs. 9a and 9b.

[0067] The receiving container 09, which is not shown in full, can be dimensioned such that, when filled, it has a smaller volume than the volume partially enclosed by the tube jacket 05. Alternatively, the receiving container 09 can also be dimensioned such that its volume capacity is limited by the at least one molded part 20. In this case, when the receiving container 09 is filled, folds form in its wall, which rest against the inside of the molded part 20. The receiving container 09 can therefore be larger, at least in sections, than the volume defined by the molded part 20.

[0068] As can be seen from Fig. 1a and 1b, the molded part 20 and the receptacle 09 make it possible to shape the entire tube or the tube casing 05 in a way that deviates significantly from a cylindrical shape. In the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 1a and 1b, for example, the receptacle 09 can be connected at one end in the region 06 of the tube head 06.1 to a tube head 06.1 (not shown in detail), which essentially corresponds to a classic tube head 06.1 made of plastic, wherein both a circumferential shoulder and an outlet region 23, optionally with an external thread for fastening a lid or the closure 15, can be arranged. The tube head 06.1 and the tube head 06.1 connected receptacles 09 could be formed using a conventional tube manufacturing process, in which, however, the receptacle 09 is formed many times thinner or with a significantly smaller wall thickness than a conventional plastic tube sleeve. The first molded body 20, which provides the outer shell of the tube sleeve 05, is then connected according to the invention via a first separable, preferably form-fitting, connection 22 to the tube head 06.1 and indirectly to the receptacle 09. The separable connection 22 can have perforations (not shown). Furthermore, the separable connection 22 can be formed using adhesive or adhesion promoters, wherein preferably no or only insignificant amounts of adhesive or adhesion promoter are used. The first separable connection 22 can also be provided by a welded connection between the molded part 20 and the tube head 06.1, wherein the molded part 20 made of recyclable material may then optionally have a corresponding coating in the area for forming the separable connection 22 in order to enable or improve the connections of the aforementioned type.

[0069] As indicated in Figs. 1a and 1b, the first separable connection 22 can preferably be designed as a linear connection that extends over the entire circumference and particularly preferably only over a small fraction of the length of the tube 06. Alternatively, the separable connection 22 can also be designed intermittently over the circumference. It is also possible to provide an additional second separable connection 22.1 between the receiving container 09 and the molded part 20 in the rear area of ​​the tube facing away from the tube head 06.1. This can, for example, be implemented at specific points and distributed over the circumference; in particular, the second separable connection 22.1 is designed as a corrugated or smooth closing fold, as shown by way of example in Figs. 9a and 9b. This separable connection 22.1 can, for example, facilitate or improve the rearward filling of the tube, in particular of the receptacle 09, by enabling a defined position or a defined state of the receptacle 09 in the region of the rear end of the tube for an unfilled tube, thus facilitating mechanical filling. The closure of the second separable connection 22.1 is preferably achieved by embossing, with adhesive being used at least only in quantities that do not impair the tool-free release of the separable connection.

[0070] The separable connections 22.1 and 22.2 are preferably retained after tube production until the disposal of the tube 02 after its use and are accordingly designed to be similarly stable as the first separable connection 22. The second and third separable connections 22.1 and 22.2 can also be provided so that they can be separated manually and / or without tools, preferably by cracking.

[0071] Fig. 2 shows a flat state of the first molded part 20, which can be produced, for example, from a sheet of a thin material, for example a paper material or a cardboard material, for example by punching. The molded part 20 in the illustration in Fig. 2 consists of a continuous piece of a recyclable and / or renewable raw material. As already described with reference to Figs. 1a and 1b, the molded part 20 comprises a kink, wherein alternatively a separable connection 22.1 formed by embossing as a smooth or corrugated closing fold can be provided, as shown by way of example in Figs. 9a and 9b. It can advantageously be provided that the two sides 05.1, 05.2 of the molded part 20 are connected to the remaining tube components, in particular to the tube head 06.1, only via the first separable connection 22. The molded part 20 comprises a label 18.The label 18 may include instructions for use and / or disposal. The label 18 may preferably be detachable from the molded body 20.

[0072] It is possible to connect parts of the edges 13 of the molded part 20 or the entire edges 13 of the molded part 20. If the entire edges 13 are connected to one another and / or to the other components of the tube 02, for example within the framework of the first separable connection 22, a viewing window 14 can be particularly advantageously formed by a recess 12 in the molded part 20, as shown in the illustration in Fig. 3.

[0073] The recess 12 and / or the viewing window 14 in the tube jacket 05 formed by the molded part 20 also provide a viewing window onto the receiving container 09. If the receiving container 09 is transparent, this also allows a view of the material to be stored or packaged inside the packaging tube. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, it can also be provided that a separable connection 22 running around the circumference is formed at a transition (not shown in detail) between the molded part 20 and a tube head 06. In this case, after the tube 02 according to the invention has been used as intended, the first molded body 20 can be separated from the rest of the packaging tube 02 along the separable connection 22. In this case, the connection of the separable connection 22 is irreversibly removed or severed. The first molded body 20, as shown for example in Fig.2, can be disposed of separately from the other components of the tube 02 and, in particular, recycled, since the molded body 20 is made of correspondingly recyclable or recyclable material. If a part of the tube 02, for example the tube head 06.1 and / or the receptacle 09, cannot be recycled, the first separable connection 22 can be designed such that a remainder of the molded body 20 remains after the separation of the separable connection 22, but the separated part does not contain any residues of a coating, an adhesion promoter, or other contaminants that could impair recycling.

[0074] Fig. 4a shows a cross-section through a tube head 06.1 or a tube head region 06 of a tube 02 according to the invention, in which the molded part 20, in addition to the tube jacket 05, also forms the shoulder 03 of the tube head 06 and an outlet section 29 of the tube head 06.1, which delimits the outlet opening 04 at the end. The receiving container 09 is connected to the molded part 20 in the region of the shoulder 03 of the tube head 06.1. In this connecting section 16, the separable connection 22 extends circumferentially around the circumference between the receiving container 09 and the molded body 20 made of recyclable material. As shown in Fig. 4a, the outer surface 25 of the receiving container 09 is connected to the inner surface 26 of the shoulder 03 of the tube head 06.1.

[0075] The molded part 20 is preferably provided with a waterproof coating, for example a rubber coating, in the outlet section 29, starting at the separable connection 22 from the inside and optionally from the outside. The outlet section 29 of the tube head 06.1 also comprises a snap ring 17 to which a push-on closure can be anchored. Fig. 4c shows a modification compared to Fig. 4a, in which an inner surface 27 of the receptacle 09 is connected to the inner surface 26 of the molded part 20, in particular the shoulder 03 of the tube head 06.1, for which purpose the receptacle 09 has a turn-up section 28 at one end, in particular in the region of the tube head 06. In this embodiment, it is ensured that the material or substance to be stored or packaged can only come into contact with the inner surface 27 of the receiving container 09.Contact with an end section or an outer surface 25 is thereby prevented.

[0076] In Figs. 4a and 4c, a molded body 20 can advantageously be provided, which, in addition to the tube jacket 05, also forms the tube head 06.1. This molded body can consist of one or more individual parts. When implemented using multiple parts, a stronger or stiffer material can advantageously be selected for the tube head 06.1 and a thinner and / or more deformable material for the tube jacket. The tube head 06.1 can, for example, be made of hard cardboard, whereas the tube jacket 05 can be made of softer cardboard. The separable connection 22 can advantageously be formed in the region of the cover section 28.

[0077] The embodiment of Fig. 4b essentially corresponds to the embodiment already described with reference to Figs. 1a, 1b, and 2, in which the molded body 20 essentially provides the tube jacket 05, and the receptacle 09 is connected to a tube head 06.1 made, for example, of plastic. In this case, the separable connection 22 runs at the transition between the molded part 20 providing the tube jacket 05 and the tube head 06.1. In this area, an adhesive or adhesion promoter can be arranged, for example, in the transition region 11. The connection between tube head 06.1 and receiving container 09 can also be designed as a third separable connection 22.2 if, for example - and in this respect deviating from the description of Fig. 1 a, 1 b - the tube head 06.1 consists of a recyclable plastic, which, however, does not belong to the material group or to the same material as the recyclable material of the molded body 20.In this case, after irreversible separation of the two separable connections 22, 22.2, separate disposal of the molded part 20, the tube head 06.1 and the receiving container 09 can take place, wherein preferably the tube head 06.1 and the molded body 20 are fed to a special or joint recycling process.

[0078] With regard to the arrangement of the open end of the receiving container 09 relative to the tube head 06,1, the embodiment of Fig. 4b essentially corresponds to the embodiment of Fig. 4a. An alternative embodiment is shown in Fig. 4d. There, the shaped body 20 is also essentially designed such that it provides the tube jacket 05 or an outer shell of the tube jacket 05. The receiving container 09 is inserted with its open end into a transition region 11 between the tube head 06 and the shaped body 20. In this case, the separable connection 22 can extend between the shaped body 20 and the receiving container 09 as well as the tube head 06, wherein the connections to one another are designed such that when the separable connection 22 is irreversibly separated manually and / or without tools, the tube head 06 and the receiving container 09 remain connected to one another.Preferably, it can also be provided that a total of three separable connections 22, 22.1 and 22.2 are formed, between the shaped body 20 and the tube head 06.1 and the receiving container 09, between the shaped body and the receiving container at the rear end of the tube and between the receiving container 09 and the tube head 06.1. In this case, by applying appropriate force, in particular by applying appropriate manual and tool-free force to the separable connections 22, 22.1 and 22.2, a separation of the shaped body 20 from the tube head 06.1 and the receiving container 09 and a further separation of the tube head 06.1 from the receiving container 09 can be achieved, so that the tube head 06.1, the receiving container 09 and the shaped body 20 can each be disposed of separately and, ideally, recycled.

[0079] A further embodiment is outlined in Fig. 5a. This serves merely as a schematic illustration of a principle. The illustrated tube or tube head 06.1 very schematically shows a receiving container 09 that is compacted in the area of ​​the outlet hole 04 and in the area of ​​the outlet section 29. The compaction of the receiving container 09 is caused, for example, by a reduction in the diameter of the receiving container 09 in the outlet section 29 and in the area of ​​the outlet hole 04.

[0080] In the embodiment of Fig. 5a, it can advantageously be provided that the receiving container is guided up to the outlet hole 04 and / or forms this. In contrast to other embodiments of the invention, such as in Figs. 4a, 4b, this prevents contact of the substance to be stored with the tube head.

[0081] In order to advantageously utilize this compaction, it can be provided that the receiving container 09 is not only loosely arranged in the compacted state, as might be suggested by the schematic representation in Fig. 5a, but that the compaction is accompanied by a deformation and / or thermal loading, so that a section of the receiving container 09 is formed as a compacted and / or monolithic continuation, as shown by way of example in Fig. 5b, which has a correspondingly greater wall thickness and thus either co-forms parts of the tube head 06.1 or merely reinforces other parts of the tube head 06.1, for example from a mechanical point of view. The compaction of the material of the receiving container in the region of the outlet section 29 can be carried out, for example, using a heated male die. A bead, in particular an annular bead 32, can advantageously be provided on the receiving container 09 in the region of the tube head 06.1 may be provided, for example at the level of a snap ring 17, which secures the positive, separable connection 22 in particular against slipping along the longitudinal alignment of the tube.

[0082] In the example of Fig. 5a, the separable connection 22 can be formed at different locations or in different areas; for example, the separable connection 22 can be formed in the area of ​​the outlet hole 04. However, it is also fundamentally possible to form the separable connection 22 in the lower section of the outlet section 04 or even in the area of ​​the shoulder 03, possibly even in the area of ​​the tube jacket 05.

[0083] As a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 5a, it can also be provided that the receiving container 09 is led out of the outlet hole 04, folded or turned inside out over the outlet section 29 and guided backwards in the outer region or on the outer surface of the head and / or the tube. A separable connection can then be formed on the outer surface of the head 06.1 or the shaped body 20. Preferably, the receiving container 09 can merge into itself or form a self-connected double-walled tube, in the interior of which the shaped body 20 and / or the tube head 06.1 is then enclosed. In this case, the receiving container can serve as a coating in the outer region. Preferably, the receiving container 09 can also be separated from the at least one shaped body in the outer region of the tube by means of a separable connection without leaving any significant residue.

[0084] Fig. 6 shows a cross-section through a further embodiment of a tube according to the invention along a longitudinal axis. This differs from the embodiments of Figs. 1a to 3 particularly with regard to the shaped body 20. Fig. 6 shows that the receiving container 09 is enclosed by a shaped body 20 formed by rolling up a strip of recyclable material, which provides the tube jacket 05 or the outer shell of the tube jacket 05 of the tube. A wound embodiment of the shaped body 20 for providing an outer shell of a tube jacket can, for example, enable advantageous attachment in which the tube head 06.1 and the receiving container already attached thereto are rotated about a longitudinal axis. The winding can have one or more layers. If there are multiple layers, these can advantageously be unconnected to one another or connected to one another only along one longitudinal side.

[0085] Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the packaging tube according to the invention, in which the shoulder 03 is flat. The shoulder 03 and the jacket 05 can, for example, be formed from one or two separate molded parts 20. When two molded parts 20, 30 are provided, it can be provided in this embodiment as well as in other embodiments that the plurality of molded parts 20, 30 are connected to one another by crimping. Instead of a snap ring 17, the remaining tube head 06.1 comprises a thread 31 for attaching a closure. This outlet section 29 of the tube can, for example, be formed entirely by a compacting and / or deformed section of a receiving container 09, which is then guided through a corresponding opening in the second molded part 30 or in the common molded part 20 to form the shoulder 03 and the jacket 05.In this case, for example, a separable connection 22 can be formed in the region of the shoulder 03. Alternatively, the separable connection 22 can also be formed in the region of the tube jacket 05. The opening or the edge of the opening could also serve to form the separable connection 22.

[0086] Fig. 8 shows an example of a label with disposal instructions that can be applied to the tube according to the invention. Of course, the tube casing 05 can also be printed with such a notice. However, it is particularly advantageous for the receptacle 09 to be dye- or pigment-free, in order to enable or improve the reuse or recycling of the receptacle 09.

[0087] Figs. 9a and 9b show examples of an embodiment of the rear end of a packaging tube according to the invention. The second separable connection 22.1 is formed, for example, as a smooth seam, as in Fig. 9a, or as a folded closing seam, as in Fig. 9b. Advantageously, the separable connection 22.1 is formed, in particular, by microscopic embossing, wherein the material of the receiving container 09 is plastically deformed, preferably under pressure and / or heat, so that it assumes the surface structure of the adjacent inner side of the molded body 20. Advantageously, an insignificant amount of adhesive or adhesion promoter can provide basic security for the connection between the receiving container 09 and the molded body 20 before the separable connection 22.1 is closed, whereby the separable connection 22.1 is secured, in particular, against slipping before or during closing. Reference numerals

[0088] 01 Tube body

[0089] 02 Tube / Packaging tube

[0090] 03 Shoulder

[0091] 04 Outlet hole

[0092] 05 Tube jacket

[0093] 05.1 Side of the tube jacket

[0094] 05.2 Side of the tube jacket

[0095] 06 Tube head area

[0096] 06.1 Tube head

[0097] 07 Tube end

[0098] 08 Kink

[0099] 09 Receptacle

[0100] 11 Transition area

[0101] 12 Recess

[0102] 13 edges

[0103] 14 viewing windows

[0104] 15 Closure

[0105] 16 connecting section

[0106] 17 Snap ring

[0107] 18 labels

[0108] 19 Outer shell

[0109] 20 first molded body

[0110] 21 unsealed sections of the tube jacket

[0111] 22 separable connection

[0112] 22.1 separable connection (second)

[0113] 22.2 separable connection (third)

[0114] 23 Outlet area

[0115] 25 Exterior surface

[0116] 26 Inner surface 27 Inner surface

[0117] 28 Cover section

[0118] 29 Outlet section

[0119] 30 second molded part 31 thread

[0120] 32 bulge

Claims

Claims 1. Packaging tube with a receiving container (09) for the direct storage of a material to be packaged or stored and at least one shaped body (20, 30) for providing mechanical, static and / or dynamic stability of the packaging tube (02), characterized in that the shaped body (20, 30) consists of a recyclable material and the receiving container (09) consists of a material that is adapted to the material to be packaged, wherein at least one separable, preferably positive-locking, connection (22) is formed between the shaped body (20, 30) and the receiving container (09) or a component of the packaging tube (02) connected to the receiving container (09), which is designed such that the connection is maintained when the packaging tube (02) is used as intended and an irreversible manual and / or tool-free separation of the separable connection (22), in particular by the formation of a crack, is possible.

2. Packaging tube according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two separable, preferably form-fitting, connections (22, 22.1) are formed between the shaped body (20, 30) and the receiving container (09) or a component of the packaging tube (02) connected to the receiving container (09). Packaging tube according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and / or second separable connection (22, 22.1) is designed as a form-fitting connection that is reinforced in sections, preferably at specific points, with an adhesion promoter. Packaging tube according to claim 3, characterized in that the adhesion promoter is designed to be removable without residue from a surface of the molded body and / or receptacle. Packaging tube according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the at least second separable connection (22.1) is formed in a rear region of the packaging tube, opposite the tube head, preferably as a smooth or folded closing fold, in particular by microscopic embossing.Packaging tube according to claim 5, characterized in that the receiving container extends in the rear region of the packaging tube, opposite the tube head, in a longitudinal direction of the tube at least as far as the end of the shaped body there, so that the second separable connection can be formed in a single and / or joint connection step. Packaging tube according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that. that the shaped body (20, 30) has perforations in the region of the separable connection (22), preferably for forming tear strips.

8. Packaging tube according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a first shaped body (20) forms an outer shell (19) of a tube jacket (05).

9. Packaging tube according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first separable connection (22) is formed between a tube head (06.1) and the shaped body (20) forming the tube jacket (05), wherein the receiving container (09) is connected, in particular welded, to the tube head (06.1).

10. Packaging tube according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that a third separable connection (22.2) is formed between the receiving container (09) and the tube head (06.1).

11. Packaging tube according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a shaped body (20), preferably a second shaped body (30) forms at least part of a tube head (06.1), preferably a shoulder (03) of a tube head (06.1).

12. Packaging tube according to claim 11, characterized in that the first separable connection (22) is formed between a tube head (06) and receiving container (09), whereinthe receiving container (09) is connected, in particular welded, to the tube head (06). Packaging tube according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the receiving container (09) forms part of a tube head (06.1), in particular part of a closure mechanism of the tube head (06.1). Packaging tube according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the receiving container (09) has, in the region of an outlet area (29), an outlet section that is monolithically connected to the rest of the receiving container (09). Packaging tube according to claim 14, characterized in that the outlet section is formed from compressed and / or deformed, preferably plasticized, material of the receiving container (09). Packaging tube according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the receiving container (09) extends at one end into an outlet hole (04) of a tube head (06) or beyond.Packaging tube according to claim 15, characterized in that a bead, in particular an annular bead, is formed by the receiving container (09), which is arranged on the shaped body (20, 30) in such a way that the separable connection. (22) is supported by a positive locking between the receiving container (09) and the shaped body (20, 30), in particular against slipping along the longitudinal direction of the packaging tube.

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