Plastic container made of a uniform material, and method for producing same

Abstract

The invention relates to a plastic container (10) for receiving liquids, in particular beverages, comprising a base section (10a), a main part (10b) which adjoins the base section, and an opening section which adjoins the main part, wherein the base section (10a), the main part (10b), and the opening section (10c) are formed as a single part and are made of a specified plastic. The invention is characterized in that a label (14) is arranged on the plastic container (10), said label being made of a specified plastic, and a printing produced by a laser is arranged on the label (14).

Description

[0001] Plastic container made of uniform material and process for its manufacture

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a plastic container and a method for its production. Such plastic containers, particularly those made of PET, have long been known in the art. Such PET bottles are typically labeled. The label material is generally polyolefins, i.e., a different material than that of the containers themselves. Furthermore, PET bottles printed directly with colored ink are known in the art. Furthermore, it is known in the art to print specific product information directly onto the containers. This can include, for example, the expiration date.

[0004] Furthermore, such containers are usually closed with screw caps made of LDPE, HDPE or PP.

[0005] The polyolefin label material cannot currently be recycled into food-safe material. Direct printing inks also pose recycling challenges because they end up in the wash water and are difficult to remove. Information lasered directly onto containers is very time-consuming, as the processes are very slow, especially too slow for high-speed applications. Furthermore, these laser prints pose the risk of compromising the stability and leak-tightness of very lightweight containers.

[0006] Furthermore, the commonly used closure materials cannot be recycled along with the PET material of the container. This is even more true with a new EU regulation requiring container closures to remain directly attached to the container. Such container closures are also referred to as tethered caps.

[0007] Such a closure on a container is known from US 2021 36 29 10 A1.

[0008] EP 0 766 546 B1 describes plastic labels that can be marked with a laser. These labels have a core layer and an outer skin layer.

[0009] A label that can be removed from a container is known from KR 2022 0145015 A.

[0010] From DE 10 2018 108 094A1 a method for the sustainable and energy-saving production of a recyclable container having a label is known,

[0011] The present invention is therefore based on the object of producing such plastic containers that are easier to recycle. This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0012] A plastic container according to the invention for holding liquids and in particular beverages has a base section, a base body adjoining (in particular directly) the base section and a mouth section adjoining (in particular indirectly and in particular via a shoulder section) the base body, wherein the base section, the base body and the mouth section are formed in one piece and are made of a predetermined plastic.

[0013] According to the invention, a label is arranged on the plastic container, wherein a print produced by a laser is arranged on the label.

[0014] It is possible for this laser print to be applied to the label, and then the label with the laser print applied to the container. However, it is also possible for labels already provided with a laser print. Preferably, the label is already laser printed before it is applied to the container.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, a closure made of the same plastic as the plastic container is arranged on the mouth section. It should be noted that this embodiment can also be used without a label or a laser-printed label.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, both the container itself and the closure and / or label arranged on the container are made of the same plastic. This improves the recyclability of the container. Therefore, the container is particularly preferably formed as a single piece and consists of the aforementioned base section, the main body, and the mouth section. Particularly preferably, the complete container, in particular including the container closure and label, is made of the same material.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, the container is designed to be free of printing inks and / or inks. In particular, no prints containing printing inks or inks are arranged on the container.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the container has a storage volume which is greater than 0.1 l, preferably greater than 0.3 l. Particularly preferably, the container has a storage volume which is less than 20 l, preferably less than 15 l, preferably less than 10 l and particularly preferably less than 5 l.

[0019] The container is preferably a bias-molded container, and in particular a stretch-blow-molded container. In a further preferred embodiment, the container has a pressure applied by the blow mold of a blow-molding machine. This means that the pressure, or a pressure, is preferably also created on the outer wall of the container during the blow-molding process.

[0020] Particularly preferably, the container is a sealed container, in particular one sealed with a container closure. The closure is preferably a screw cap. Particularly preferably, the closure is screwed onto an external thread of the container.

[0021] Particularly preferably, a closure made of this predetermined plastic is arranged on the mouth section, and a label made of this predetermined plastic is arranged on the plastic container.

[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the specified plastic is selected from a group of plastics including PET, OPP (oriented polypropylene), and the like. This plastic is particularly preferably PET.

[0023] The container is particularly preferably made of PET.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment, the label is made of PET or OPP.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment, the container's closure is made of PP or PE. It would also be conceivable for the closure to be made of PET.

[0026] Particularly preferably, the plastic of the container contains a predetermined proportion of recycled PET. This proportion is preferably greater than 10%, preferably greater than 20%, preferably greater than 25%. Particularly preferably, this proportion of recycled PET is less than 99%, preferably less than 97%, preferably less than 95%, and particularly preferably less than 93%.

[0027] A beverage container is therefore proposed that is preferably made entirely (possibly with the exception of the closure) of a (plastic) material, in particular PET. The PET container thus has a base body made of PET.

[0028] Preferably, there is a marking on the base body and it is preferably applied via a laser. In addition, the labels are preferably made of PET material, and the container closure is preferably also made of PET. Particularly preferred are labels made of PET material (or OPP). PET has the advantage that it can be recycled into food-safe material. It is further proposed that these labels not be printed, but rather that all relevant and prescribed product information be laser-etched onto them. Particularly preferred are these labels arranged or applied to the container in a conventional manner, for example, by gluing.

[0029] PET can be recycled into food-grade material and, preferably, the container closure is easier to label when using PET.

[0030] The advantage described is that the labels are recyclable along with the PET container. For example, the container can be shredded with the attached label.

[0031] No ink or foreign material enters the PET recycling stream, and the container itself is not "perforated" (by the laser) (or rather, this risk is eliminated because the label, not the container, is being printed) and therefore does not require precise guidance. Furthermore, high output rates are possible, and the solution described here can also be retrofitted to older systems, as standard labeling technology is preferred. For example, so-called stretch sleeves or wrap-around labels can be used.

[0032] In a decoupled label production process, the label can be guided and positioned much more precisely, for example, via rollers. It is also possible to connect multiple lasers in sequence and produce the entire print with a large amount of information (even at high outputs), thus enabling a large amount of clearly legible information to be applied.

[0033] In a further advantageous embodiment, a wall of the plastic container and in particular a wall of the base body has a wall thickness which is greater than 0.02 mm, preferably greater than 0.04 mm, preferably greater than 0.06 mm, preferably greater than 0.08 mm and particularly preferably greater than 0.1 mm.

[0034] In a further advantageous embodiment, a wall of the plastic container and in particular a wall of the base body has a wall thickness which is less than 1.0 mm, preferably less than 0.8 mm, preferably less than 0.6 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm and particularly preferably less than 0.4 mm.

[0035] These wall thicknesses, or ranges of wall thicknesses, have proven particularly suitable for attaching a PET label. These wall thicknesses also ensure high processing speeds.

[0036] In a further advantageous embodiment, the label has a thickness which is greater than 1 pm, preferably greater than 2 pm, preferably greater than 5 pm and particularly preferably greater than 10 pm.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment, the label has a thickness which is less than 400 pm, preferably less than 300 pm, preferably less than 200 pm and particularly preferably less than 150 pm.

[0038] In a further advantageous embodiment, a laser-printed print is arranged on the plastic container and / or on the label and / or on the container closure. In particular, this print is produced by a CO2 laser, a solid-state laser, or a UV laser. In a further preferred embodiment, the container closure is attached and / or arranged to the container by means of a connecting device. This container closure is preferably arranged such that it remains attached and / or held to the container even when the container is open.

[0039] The container closure is therefore preferably a so-called tethered cap. This can, for example, be arranged at the mouth of the container with a lasso-like connecting device. This connecting device is particularly preferably formed integrally with the container closure.

[0040] Particularly preferably, this connecting device is made of the same material as the container closure and / or the container. Particularly preferably, this connecting device is also made of PET.

[0041] In a further embodiment, the container closure can be manufactured in one piece from one or two materials. Preferably, a retaining ring remaining on the container is made of PET, in particular injection-molded, and the thread with the closure lid is preferably made of conventional materials, for example, PP or PE. This allows for simple material separation by detaching the lid from the tear-off ring.

[0042] In a further advantageous embodiment, the closure has an inscription and / or a print, wherein this inscription and / or the print is produced in particular by means of a laser.

[0043] This print could, for example, be a manufacturer's logo or something similar. However, this print or labeling can also be complex. It is possible that the container, including its closure, was manufactured and / or labeled and / or printed using multiple lasers. For example, different lasers can be used for the closure or its labeling or printing than for the container and / or label or their labeling or printing.

[0044] Advantageously, the manufacturing materials are coded on the label or the lid or closure, so that before a recycling process it is already known whether individual reprocessing steps can be skipped or whether they can be subjected to a simplified treatment, for example by removing a container closure.

[0045] In another preferred embodiment, the label is attached to the container using an adhesive. This adhesive is preferably a hot melt adhesive that dissolves in the regular cleaning fluid of a container washing machine. A PET-Cycle hot melt adhesive based on synthetic polymers (colfix HM 4433 / 2) has become known.

[0046] The label preferably completely surrounds the plastic container in at least one section of the plastic container, and in particular in a section of the base body in its circumferential direction. The label is preferably arranged on the plastic container without any overlap. It would be possible for the label to be pulled over the plastic container using the stretch sleeve method, so that it adheres to the container both without any overlap and completely. Another established method is shrink-fitting sleeves.

[0047] Preferably, the base body of the container has a cylindrical shape.

[0048] The present invention is further directed to a method for producing a plastic container and in particular a plastic container of the type described above, wherein the plastic container has a base section, a base body adjoining the base section and a mouth section adjoining the base body, and wherein the base section, the base body and the mouth section are formed integrally with one another.

[0049] In the described manufacturing process, the container is first manufactured, which is made in one piece from a specified plastic. The container is then filled with a liquid, in particular a beverage. Finally, a container closure is attached to the container, which closure is preferably made of the same plastic as the container.

[0050] Furthermore, a laser-printed label is attached to the container. Preferably, the label is attached to the filled and sealed container, but it is also conceivable that the container is not yet filled or sealed when the label is applied.

[0051] By consisting of a plastic is meant in particular that this plastic has a (mass) proportion of at least 80%, preferably of at least 85%, preferably of at least 90%, preferably of at least 95%, preferably of at least 97%, preferably of at least 98% and particularly preferably of at least 99% of the material of the object, ie of the container, the label and / or the container closure.

[0052] In a preferred method, a label is applied to the container, preferably made of the same plastic as the container. As mentioned above, this is, in particular, PET.

[0053] In a further advantageous method, the container closure and / or the label and / or the container is inscribed with a laser.

[0054] Preferably, different lasers are used for marking the container or label and / or the container closure, and in particular different laser types.

[0055] In a further preferred method, the container is manufactured by a blow molding process and in particular a stretch blow molding process and in particular by means of a stretch blow molding machine.

[0056] Particularly preferably, a label or a plurality of labels is transported via rollers. Particularly preferably, the label is inscribed with several lasers, in particular arranged one after the other.

[0057] In a further preferred method, the label is pushed over the container in its longitudinal direction and / or stretched over the container or glued to the container.

[0058] Further advantages and embodiments can be seen in the attached drawing:

[0059] It shows:

[0060] Fig. 1 shows a container according to the invention.

[0061] Fig. 1 shows a container 10 according to the invention. This container has a base section 10a, a base body 10b, and a mouth section 10c. This container 10 is preferably made of PET, whereby the PET can be either virgin PET or recycled PET or a mixture of virgin and recycled PET.

[0062] A container closure 12 is arranged and, in particular, screwed onto the container 10. Reference numeral 12a denotes a marking arranged on the container closure; this marking can be produced, for example, by a laser.

[0063] Inside the container there is a liquid, especially a drink.

[0064] Reference numeral 14 denotes a label arranged on the container. Reference numeral 14a denotes an inscription arranged on the label, which is preferably also produced by a laser.

[0065] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided they are novel, individually or in combination, over the prior art. It is further noted that the individual figures also describe features that may be advantageous in and of themselves. The skilled person will immediately recognize that a specific feature described in a figure may be advantageous even without adopting additional features from that figure. Furthermore, the skilled person will recognize that advantages may also arise from a combination of several features shown in individual or different figures.

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Plastic container (10) for holding liquids and in particular beverages, with a base section (10a), a base body (10b) adjoining the base section and a mouth section adjoining the base body, wherein the base section (10a), the base body (10b) and the mouth section (10c) are formed in one piece and are made from a predetermined plastic, characterized in that a label (14) is arranged on the plastic container (10), which label is made from a predetermined plastic, wherein a print produced by a laser is arranged on the label (14).

2. Plastic container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container and the label are made of the same plastic.

3. Plastic container (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a closure (12) is arranged on the mouth section (10c), which closure is made of a predetermined plastic and is preferably made of the same plastic as the container.

4. Plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined plastic is selected from a group of plastics which includes PET, OPP and the like and the predetermined plastic is preferably PET.

5. Plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wall of the plastic container has a wall thickness that is greater than 0.02 mm, preferably greater than 0.04 mm, preferably greater than 0.06 mm, preferably greater than 0.08 mm and particularly preferably greater than 0.1 mm and / or a wall of the plastic container has a wall thickness that is less than 1.0 mm, preferably less than 0.8 mm, preferably less than 0.6 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm and particularly preferably greater than 0.4 mm.

6. Plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this label has a thickness which is greater than 1 .m, preferably greater than 2 .m, preferably greater than 5 .m, preferably greater than 10 .m and / or this label has a thickness which is less than 400 .m, preferably less than 300 .m, preferably less than 200 .m and preferably greater than 150 .m.

7. Plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the print is made by a CO2 laser or by a UV laser.

8. Plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container closure (12) is fastened to the container by means of a connecting device such that it is still fastened to the container even when the container is in an open state.

9. Plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure (12) has a label and / or a print, wherein this label and / or the print is produced in particular by means of a laser.

10. Plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the label (14) is attached to the container by means of an adhesive.

11. Plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the label completely surrounds the plastic container (10) in at least one section of the plastic container (10) in its circumferential direction, wherein the label is preferably arranged on the plastic container (10) without overlap.

12. Plastic container according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the label is a shrink label.

13. A method for producing a plastic container (10) and in particular a plastic container (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic container (10) has a bottom section (10a), a base body (10b) adjoining the bottom section (10a) and a mouth section (10c) adjoining the base body (10b), wherein the bottom section (10a), the base body (10b) and the mouth section (10c) are formed in one piece, comprising the steps: - Production of the plastic container (10), wherein the plastic container (10) is made in one piece from a predetermined plastic; - Filling the plastic container with a liquid and in particular with a beverage - Attaching a label to the container, the label being laser-engraved. - Attaching a closure (12) to the plastic container.

14. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the label (14) is made of the same plastic as the container.

15. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure (12) is inscribed with a laser.

Images