Container and method assembling a container

Abstract

A container is presented, the container comprising: - A side wall (2), the side wall being bent to have a tubular shape, - At least one ring part (11), - A connecting element (14) made of a fusible material, the connecting element connecting the ring part to the side wall. In this, the ring part (11) may especially be arranged to lie on an end rim (edge) of the side wall (2) and / or to circumscribe the side wall. It is bonded, via the connecting element (14), to an outer or inner surface of the side wall (2), possibly in addition to being bonded to the end rim of the side wall.

Description

[0001] CONTAINER AND METHOD ASSEMBLING A CONTAINER

[0002] The invention relates to the field of containers, in particular to containers for food and beverages. It relates to a container, a method for its assembly and a corresponding assembly device.

[0003] Disposable containers, in particular for food and beverages, are ubiquitous. Modern one-way containers have an environmental impact that calls for mitigation. Existing approaches focus on the complete product life cycle, taking into account both production and disposal. It is known to manufacture disposable containers, in particular for food, from materials such as bamboo, wood, straw, etc. There is a need for containers that have a smaller environmental impact with regard to existing approaches.

[0004] WO 2010 / 043817 and WO 2023 / 280 895 show containers, namely cups, made of veneer, with a wall part or the entire cup, respectively, made of coated veneer. Veneer has the substantial advantage of having a small environmental impact, not only compared to plastics but also compared to cardboard and paper as container materials.

[0005] The upper rims of the containers of WO 2010 / 043817 and WO 2023 / 280 895 are formed by edges of the veneer. They are, therefore, not closable. Also, Veneer has, compared to other materials, a relatively limited pliability so that it is not readily possible to use a cap with a circumferential, downwardly protruding cap rim that encloses the upper rim of the container wall to close the containers. To make the container closable, especially in a tight manner, is generally a challenge for containers made of sheet material like veneer, in contrast to containers formed by molding or deep drawing for example. For some applications, however, it would be desirable to have a container that is closable. The limited pliability of veneer also causes the container to maintain deformations that are caused by the veneer material being joined on two sides or that may be present due to inhomogeneities of the sheet material or that have been caused during transportation or storage.

[0006] DE 25 41 912 and FR 2 322 003 concern methods for manufacturing containers, in particular cup-shaped containers. The containers have a cardboard side wall, and a plastic bottom. In addition, the containers have a "rim" that is manufactured out of the plastic sheet used for the plastic bottom. For attaching the rim to the outer side of the side wall, a margin of a thermoplastic film may be used. The rim may for example serve for attaching an aluminium foil or similar cover thereto.

[0007] US 2,746,669 concerns the hermetic sealing of paper containers using a fibrous board disc, namely a paper cover. The sealing includes a plastic ring attached to the mouth of the paper container. In an embodiment the plastic ring is first attached to the paper container, and only then the disc of paper coated by a thermoplastic film is attached thereto. The container itself contains, on an inner wall a coating of a polyethylene film that is compatible with the material of the plastic ring.

[0008] DE 32 40 811 shows a cup with a ring-shaped reinforcement of the upper rim.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a container that can be manufactured using sheet material and that is closable. It is a further object to provide a container, possibly of a relatively stiff sheet material, that has a stable and reproducible shape. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing such container.

[0010] These and other objects are achieved by a container and a method for assembling a container and an assembly device as defined in the claims.

[0011] Accordingly, the present invention concerns a container comprising:

[0012] - A side wall, the side wall being bent to have a tubular shape,

[0013] - At least one ring part,

[0014] - A connecting element made of a fusible material, the connecting element connecting the ring part to the side wall.

[0015] In this, the ring part may especially be arranged to lie on an end rim (edge) of the side wall and / or to circumscribe the side wall. It is bonded, via the connecting element, to an outer surface of the side wall or an inner surface of the side wall, possibly in addition to being bonded to the end rim of the side wall.

[0016] The side wall can be of a sheet material, for example a cellulose-based sheet material. Especially, the side wall can be of veneer, possibly coated on one or both sides with a (thin) fdm of other material, for example thermoplastic material.

[0017] In the present text, "sheet materials" may be materials different from synthetic thermoplastic polymers, i.e. materials that are by themselves (if there is no coating or similar) not weldable to polymers. Especially, as mentioned, sheet materials may be cellulose-based sheet materials.

[0018] In embodiments, the connecting element may an element that is initially separate from both, the side wall and the ring part. It may for example be a ring of a thermoplastic material, similar to an O-ring. Especially, the connecting element may be a dedicated element different from a mere coating of the side wall or of the ring part. Especially, in embodiments, by being different from a mere coating of the side wall, the connecting element has a substantial extension in dimensions perpendicular to the side wall. In the assembled state, a radial extension of the connecting element perpendicular to the side wall may be larger than an axial extension of the connecting element, i.e. an extension along the side wall.

[0019] It is understood that a shape of the side wall being tubular can comprise the shape being conical or cylindrical, in the shape of a general cone or cylinder, that is, a noncircular cone or cylinder. In the most general sense, the container thus is not limited to a cylindrical or conical side wall with a circular base, and not to a circular ring part. For example, a top and / or bottom base of the cone or cylinder can have the shape of a rounded triangle, rounded square or rectangle, rounded pentangle, or generally of a rounded polygon, or of an oval, or an ellipse or the like. A shape being tubular can mean that the shape corresponds to the surface of a truncated cone or prism, the latter typically having rounded edges. The shape being tubular can comprise a combination of cylindrical and conical sections (each at different locations along the tube's height).

[0020] Prior to assembly, the tubular shape of the side wall comprises two end side openings with end rims extending around the openings, typically a top opening and a bottom opening, and these openings are distanced from one another along a longitudinal axis of the tubular shape. Typically, the shapes of these openings correspond to the top and bottom bases of a cylinder and / or cone corresponding to the tubular shape. If the tubular shape has rotational symmetry, then a corresponding axis of symmetry coincides with the longitudinal axis.

[0021] In embodiments the end rims extend in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. However, it is possible, too, that one end rim (typically the upper end rim if the container is designed to stand on the lower end rim) or even both end rims extend in planes at an angle different from 90° to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, one end rim or both end rim does not extend in a plane at all but describes a more complex closed curve in 3D-space.

[0022] The direction substantially normal to the ring plane may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shape. This direction typically also is parallel to a direction of relative movement of the tools, for example sonotrode and anvil, that may act to compress the connecting element between them during assembly as explained in more detail hereinafter.

[0023] However, it is possible, too, that the ring plane is at an angle different from 90° to the longitudinal axis, both, in embodiments in which at least one end rim of the side wall extends in a plane at an angle different from 90° to the longitudinal axis, and in embodiments in which this is not the case.

[0024] In addition or an alternative to the side wall comprising a sheet material, also the ring part can be of a sheet material, for example a cellulose-based sheet material. Especially, the ring part can be of veneer, possibly coated on one or both sides with a (thin) film of film material, for example thermoplastic material.

[0025] In certain embodiments, for strong stability, the ring part can be made out of a plurality of layers of veneer, for example two layers of veneer, with crossed in-plane orientation, glued together (thin plywood with a plurality of layers).

[0026] The ring part may be such as to define a ring plane (in contrast for example to a ring that is built by attaching ends of a stripe to each other), with two flat sides parallel to the ring plane, an inner rim and an outer rim. The two flat sides may especially correspond to the sheet surfaces of the sheet material the ring part is made of. The ring plane may especially be parallel to, and for example coincide with, the plane defined by the end rim of the side wall, i.e., a plane in which the end rim extends. Alternatively, it may be at a non-zero angle to such a plane (if defined).

[0027] In this, according to a first option the connecting element connects one of the flat sides of the ring part to the end rim of the side wall. This end rim thus is in contact with a flat side of the ring part, possibly with material of the connecting element in-between. According to a second option, the inner rim of the ring part is in contact with the side wall, possibly with a small portion of material of the connecting element in-between. In both cases, the planes of the side wall and of the ring part, respectively, are not parallel locally where the ring part and the side wall are joined, but at an angle, especially an angle of at least 45°, to each other. The ring plane (corresponding to the sheet plane of the sheet material of which the ring is made, and accordingly to the plane defined by the two flat sides) may be normal to a longitudinal axis of the vessel. In addition or as an alternative, the ring plane may be parallel to an end side plane of the side wall.

[0028] Generally, the ring part may be relatively thin, with a thickness (perpendicular to the ring plane) of for example between 0.2 mm and 1 mm.

[0029] The ring part has the effect of adding stability. It defines and fixes the contour of the side wall in the ring plane. By doing so, it also makes different container shapes possible, as mentioned hereinbefore, potentially departing from side walls defining a round contour. Thus, the ring part, or especially its inner contour, may have the shape of a circular ring, or of an elliptical ring, a polygonal, in particular rectangular or triangular, ring with rounded corners, a curved rectangle for example curved square, an asymmetrical shape, etc. Further, if the ring part is near to or essentially in the plane of an end of the (tubular) side wall, it allows to close the container by providing a possibility for attaching a closure, as is explained in more detail hereinafter.

[0030] The container may comprise, in addition to the side wall and the ring part, a cooperating part. The cooperating part may be placed near the ring part, with the connecting element between the ring part and the cooperating part. The cooperating part may be made of a sheet material, for example the same material as the ring part. More in general, the cooperating part may for example be made a cellulose-based sheet material. Especially, the cooperating part can be of veneer, possibly coated on one or both sides with a (thin) film of film material, for example thermoplastic material.

[0031] The cooperating part may be arranged parallel to the ring plane.

[0032] The cooperating part may have a thickness (perpendicular to its sheet plane) of for example between 0.2 mm and 1 mm.

[0033] The cooperating part may for example be a second ring, in addition to the first ring constituted by the ring part. The second ring may circumscribe the side wall. It is also possible that the second ring is circumscribed by the side wall, i.e., in embodiments the outer rim of the second ring may be in contact with the inner surface of the side wall, possibly with a small amount of connecting element material in-between.

[0034] As an alternative to being a second ring, the cooperating part may be a cover or bottom of the container. Then, the cooperating part may lie on an end side of the side wall, for example being disc shaped and constituting a closure of this end side. This is especially an option for embodiments in which the closure of the container, constituted by the cooperating part, does not have to be removed, for example if it is a bottom of the container (with the top of the container being sealed in a different way) or if the container is a closed capsule, etc. The cooperating part may be of the same thickness and / or material as the ring part; alternatively, the ring part and the cooperating part may be of different thicknesses; alternatively; the ring part and the cooperating part may be of different cellulose-based material (for example veneer from different wood species), for example for aesthetic or mechanical reason.

[0035] If the ring part is arranged at the end side, lying on the end rim or circumscribing the side wall in the plane of the end rim, the ring part may serve for attaching a separate seal, which can for example be configured for being peeled off for accessing the content of the container. Since the ring part and, if present, the cooperating part have a flat surface defined by the sheet plane, they are well suited for a foil-like or sheetlike seal to be attached thereto.

[0036] Accordingly, the container may further comprise a seal attached to the ring part. Such seal may be foil-like and close off the opening around which the end rim extends. It may for example be attached to the ring part by sealing, i.e., by local melting and thereby bonding to the ring part. Especially, the ring part may to this end comprise a coating of a thin thermoplastic layer, whereby the process of sealing the seal to the ring part comprises welding, especially hot stamp welding or ultrasonic welding.

[0037] The connecting element can be ring-shaped and extend parallel to the ring and, if applicable, the cooperating part. As an alternative to being ring shaped, the connecting element may comprise a plurality of discrete portions. More in general, the connecting element may be continuous or made up of a multitude of individual portions (for example points). After the application the bonding process, such discrete portions can create a continuous or non-continuous bond, depending on the spacing of the portions.

[0038] The connecting element is bonded to an outer surface or an inner surface of the side wall. If the connecting element is ring shaped, it may circumscribe the side wall, or alternatively, it may be circumscribed by the side wall. The connection between the side wall and the ring part may be liquid-tight, for example if the container is closed (for example by comprising the seal) and contains a nutritional product. For assuring liquid-tightness, the connecting element may have the mentioned ring shape.

[0039] The connecting element can be stamped or cut from a sheet material, moulded, made of a filament or strip of material bent to form a ring or a section of a ring or cut into the discrete portions, or cut from an extruded tube or extruded or 3D-printed on the ring part or cooperating part. The connecting element may have any suitable cross section, including one of rectangular, round, elliptic, triangular, trapezoidal. It is possible that the connecting element has a variable cross section, for example to close a gap in a region of the overlap of the sheet material (for example veneer) used to make the side wall that has a tubular shape.

[0040] The connecting element can be an initially separate element, or it may be provided on the ring and / or cooperating part, for example by being applied by 3D printing or other additive method.

[0041] In embodiments, the material of the connecting element is thermoplastic polymer, with or without a filler. It may for example be one of EVA (ethylene -vinyl acetate), , PVAC (polyvinyl acetate), PVAL (polyvinyl alcohol), PP (polypropylene), PEHD (polyethylene high-density), PEED (polyethylene low-density), PET (Polyethylene terephthalate); Cellophane, polyester or copolyesters, , polyamides; PLA (polylactide), PHB (Polyhydroxybutyrate), PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) ; PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephtalate,); more in general, in embodiments, the material is a bio-sourced and / or compostable thermoplastic material.

[0042] The material of the connecting element may for example be identical with the film material of the coating film of the side wall, the ring part and / or (if applicable) the cooperating part. In embodiments, the connecting element has a thickness between 0.1 and 1 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 0.6 mm.

[0043] The container may optionally further comprise a connecting element confining part attached to the ring or, if applicable, to the cooperating part. The connecting element confining part may be ring-shaped and may extend around a periphery of the connecting element to confine any flow of the material of the connecting element towards radially-outwardly during the process of connecting the ring to the side wall.

[0044] In addition to the ring part and - if applicable - the cooperating part, the container may comprise a bottom part, especially constituted by a pair of bottom part discs, and a bottom part connecting element, especially of a fusible material. The bottom part may be of a sheet material especially a cellulose-based material, especially veneer. The bottom part connecting element may have a ring shape. The bottom part, the bottom part connecting element and the method for its / their attachment to the side wall may for example be substantially as described in WO 2023 / 280 895.

[0045] In embodiments, the bottom part is bonded to an inner surface of the side wall near one end side opening of the side wall (for example the bottom opening) whereas the ring part and, if applicable, the cooperating part are bonded to an outer surface of near the other end side opening and / or to the end rim of the other end side opening (for example the top opening).

[0046] For attaching the ring part to the container wall, a method may be used that comprises compressing the connecting element in a direction perpendicular to the ring plane while, and / or immediately after, energy, especially mechanical vibration energy, impinges thereon. The effect of this is that the connecting element softens and expands in the ring plane until it is in contact both, with the side wall and with the ring part. This will yield a bond after the energy input has stopped and the connecting element re-solidifies. Such bond may comprise a weld - if the side wall and / or ring part is coated by a fusible material - and / or an adhesive connection. The bond between the connecting element and the side wall may be caused in a way similar to the bond as described in WO 2023 / 280 895

[0047] A method of assembling the container, therefore, may comprise the steps of

[0048] • providing the side wall, the side wall being in the tubular shape;

[0049] • arranging the connecting element and the ring part relative to the side wall, the ring part lying on an end side from of the side wall and / or circumscribing the side wall;

[0050] • causing energy to impinge on the connecting element, thereby softening the connecting element;

[0051] • compressing the connecting element in a direction substantially normal to the ring plane in which the ring part extends, thereby expanding the softened connecting element in the plane in which the ring part extends;

[0052] • thereby bonding the connecting element to the side wall and to the ring part.

[0053] If the connecting element is ring shaped and extends around the full length of the interface between the ring part and the side wall, it creates a seal in addition to mechanically connecting the ring part and the side wall.

[0054] In embodiments that comprise a cooperating part, the step of compressing the connecting element may especially comprise compressing the connecting element between the ring part and the cooperating part, especially by opposing forces acting on these two parts. For example, a sonotrode may act on the ring part or cooperating part to press it against the other one (the cooperating part or ring part, respectively) while it is subject to mechanical vibration, while an anvil exerts the counter force against the other one. The mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the connecting element via the part against which the sonotrode presses, i.e., the ring part or cooperating part, respectively. It is not excluded that instead of an anvil, a second sonotrode presses against the other one so that the energy is coupled into the connecting element from both sides.

[0055] In embodiments, the side wall is heated up prior to the application of the energy to the connecting element (and / or during this application), for example by hot air, in order to soften the fdm applied on the surface of the side wall.

[0056] The method of assembling the container may further comprise bonding a bottom part to the side wall. The step of doing so may comprise the sub-steps of arranging the bottom part relative to the tubular shape so that the side wall circumscribes the bottom part, causing energy to impinge on the bottom part connecting element for softening the bottom part connecting element, and compressing the connecting element and in particular also the bottom part in a direction substantially normal to a plane in which the bottom part extends (which plane may be parallel to the ring plane), thereby expanding the softened connecting element in the plane in which the bottom part extends, thereby bonding the connecting element to the side wall and to the bottom part.

[0057] This step of bonding the bottom part to the side wall may be carried out before or after the step of bonding the ring part to the side wall. If the cooperating part is a bottom or cover or if it is a second ring that protrudes further towards inwardly than the ring part, then, however, the configuration may demand that the step of bonding the bottom part to the side wall is carried out first, before bonding the ring part to the side wall.

[0058] In embodiments, the thickness of the material of the side wall and / or the ring part, especially the cellulose-based material, in particular the veneer is between 0.2 millimetres and one millimetre, in particular between 0.3 millimetres and 0.7 millimetres, more in particular between 0.35 millimetres and 0.5 millimetres. The same dimensions may apply, if present, to the cooperating part and / or to the bottom part / bottom part discs.

[0059] In embodiments, the veneer is made of hard wood. It may in particular be made of maple wood or birch wood or poplar wood or beech wood.

[0060] Generally, in this text, sheet materials based on cellulose-based materials, especially veneer, include layered structures with a plurality of layers, wherein the cellulose- based material, especially veneer, layers make up most of the thickness. Especially, cellulosed based sheet materials mentioned in this text include sheet materials with at least one layer of cellulose-based material, in particular veneer, where the cellulose- based material, in particular veneer, constitutes at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80% or at least 90% (and up to 100%) of the weight of the layered material.

[0061] A special class of suitable materials is veneer coated on one side or on both sides with a thin film of a film material, especially a thermoplastic film material.

[0062] The cellulose-based material typically is veneer, but in other embodiments is paper or cardboard or the like. Other materials that are part of the side wall and / or ring part and / or, if applicable, the cooperating part and / or bottom part can be present to provide liquid-tightness, improve bonding to the connecting element, provide a basis for a label, etc. These other materials can be in the form of a film or thin layer, as described below.

[0063] In embodiments, the cellulose-based material is covered, at least in a region in which it is to be bonded, with a film of material that improves the bonding to the connecting element, in particular wherein the material is a thermoplastic material and / or the same material as the material of the connecting element. This will improve the bonding between the connecting element and the side wall / ring part / cooperating part / bottom part covered with the film of material.

[0064] In embodiments, the film of material is applied by laminating, spraying or painting or printing the material on the side wall. The film of material can comprise a single layer of material or multiple layers of the same material or of different materials. One of the layers can be an adhesive material or glue for bonding the film to the side wall. Suitable materials for the film are, for example, Polyethylene (PE), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), High-density polyethylene (HDPE), EVA (ethylene -vinyl acetate), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PVAC (polyvinyl acetate), PVAL (polyvinyl alcohol), PP (polypropylene), or biodegradable materials. Biodegradable materials are, for example, based on Polylactic acid (PLA) or lignin. Specific examples are ecovio® or Mater-Bi®.

[0065] In embodiments, a material for coating the side wall and / or covering the outer edge is a biodegradable polymer material.

[0066] An assembly device for manufacturing a container of the above-described kind may comprise

[0067] • a first tool having an accommodating structure for accommodating at least a portion of the side wall, and having a ring shaped first engaging face extending around the accommodating structure;

[0068] • a second tool having a second engaging face;

[0069] • the first and second tools being configured for at least one of the first and second tools to be moved towards the other one and to compress an object arranged, namely the ring part together with the connecting element and, if applicable, the cooperating part, between the first and second engaging faces. In this, one of the first and second tools may be a sonotrode, and the other one may be an anvil. In an embodiment, the first tool may be a ring sonotrode, with the first engaging face being a ring-shaped outcoupling face of the ring sonotrode, extending around a cavity serving as the accommodating structure.

[0070] The second tool may accordingly be an anvil. In embodiments, the anvil may comprise an anvil base and an anvil plunger, the anvil plunger shaped according to the inner shape of the side wall, for supporting the side wall during assembly.

[0071] In another embodiment, the second tool may be an anvil with a cavity serving as the accommodating structure, and the first tool may be a sonotrode being a ring sonotrode or a conventional sonotrode with a disc-shaped outcoupling face or outcoupling face of other shape covering the ring.

[0072] The assembly device may further be configured for one of the first and second tool, or both, to be heated for coupling heat into the connecting element, in addition or as an alternative to the mechanical vibration energy.

[0073] The faces of the first tool and of the second tool that come into contact with the ring part and with the cooperating part or directly the connecting element, respectively, can be flat and essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction or have a slight angle to push the melted material of the connection element to the side wall.

[0074] The assembly device may be equipped and programmed to carry out the method of assembling substantially as described in the present text.

[0075] Applications of containers described in this text include packaging for food products, such as dairy products, convenience food, beverages, fresh fruits or vegetable, etc. More in general, applications include packaging of any kind of food for which disposable packaging has been common. In addition to this, applications include disposable tableware, packaging of non-food consumer articles, plant pods, etc. In particular, the use of veneer as material of the side wall can give the container a precious, elegant impression, making it suitable also for packaging of luxury goods.

[0076] The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings, which schematically show:

[0077] Figure 1 a container in cross section;

[0078] Figure 2 a view of the container of Fig. 1 , without the seal;

[0079] Figure 3 the container of Figs. 1 and 2 in an assembly device, during assembly;

[0080] Figures 4-9 partial cross sections of containers, illustrating different variants of arranging the ring part relative to the side wall;

[0081] Figures 10-12 different ring shapes;

[0082] Figure 13 a view of a container having a ring and bottom part with a shape of a rectangle with rounded corners;

[0083] Figure 14 a closed or closable, bottle-like container;

[0084] Figure 15 a variant of a closed or closable, bottle-like container;

[0085] Figures 16-17 two kinds of configuring the connecting element;

[0086] Figure 18 an alternative container;

[0087] Figure 19 the container of Figs. 1 and 2 in an alternative assembly device, during assembly; and

[0088] Figure 20 an even further embodiment of a container being a closable container..

[0089] In the figures, same reference numbers refer to same or analogous elements.

[0090] Figure 1 shows a sectional view of an assembled container 1. The container 1 comprises a side wall 2 and a bottom part 3 bonded to one another by a bottom part connecting element 4. The bottom part 3 has two bottom part discs 31, 32, between which the bottom part connecting element 4 is arranged. The bottom part connecting element has a ring shape and follows the circumference of the bottom part 3. It is of a thermoplastic material that has been softened and in the softened state been deformed to bond the bottom part discs 31, 32 to each other and to the side wall 2.

[0091] Both, the side wall 2 and the bottom part discs 31, 32 are, in the shown embodiment, of veneer.

[0092] The container further has a ring part 11 and a cooperating part 12. The ring part 11 is placed on the end side, i.e., on an end rim, namely the upper end rim. It is in physical contact with the (upper) rim of the side wall 2. The ring part 11 is a ring cut out of a sheet of veneer, with the inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the side wall at its upper end or slightly smaller than it. The ring plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 10 of the container, which longitudinal axis 10 is defined by the side wall and is the axis around which the side wall 2 is bent. In the depicted embodiment, the side wall 2 has the shape of a truncated cone, and the longitudinal axis is also the axis of symmetry.

[0093] The cooperating part circumscribes the side wall 2 in the plane defined by this end side - the upper end side in Fig. 1 - of the tubular shape formed by the side wall. The cooperating part 12 is a second ring, also of veneer, with an inner diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the ring part.

[0094] Between the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12, there is a connecting element 14 connecting the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12 to each other and to the side wall 2. The connecting element 14 has a ring shape, too and extends around the periphery of the side wall. It is of a thermoplastic material that has been softened and in the softened state been deformed to bond the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12 to each other and to the side wall 2. The ring part, the cooperating part, the side wall and also the bottom part discs may comprise, in addition to the veneer, a comparably thin coating being a film of a thermoplastic film material.

[0095] The container further comprises a seal 40 attached to the ring part 11. The seal may be bonded to the ring part 11 by being sealed to the film that is a coating of the ring part. The seal 40 may be capable of being peeled off by a user of the container.

[0096] Figure 2 shows a view of the container 1 without the seal. The ring part 11 and the cooperating part together constitute a collar 15 of the side wall 2 at its upper end, with a flat upper surface that is suitable for cover element to be sealed on. Such cover element may be a foil or also a cover element for example of cellulose-based material, coated at least on the underside with a sealant layer. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the collar 15 has an optional cut-out 16, whereby a user, for peeling of the cover element, can grip the cover element that has a circular disc shape with a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the collar. Such cut-out 16 may be initially present in the ring part 11 and for example also in the cooperating part 11 , or it can be added after the assembly of the container, for example by punching.

[0097] Figure 3 shows the container during assembly, after a previous step of connecting the bottom part 3 to the side wall 2 (not shown in Fig. 2, for example carried out substantially as described in WO 2023 / 280 895) in a collar assembly device 50.

[0098] For assembling a container 1, container is placed in a collar assembly device 50, for example - but not necessarily - in an inverted position as opposed to the position in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0099] For adding the collar, the ring part 11, the cooperating part 12 and the connecting element 14 are placed relative to the side wall 2. The ring part 11 or the cooperating part 12, for example together with the connecting element 14. The ring part 11 may be brought into position from one side (the top side in Fig. 1 / 2, corresponding to the bottom side in Fig. 3), whereas the cooperating part 12 is brought into position from the other side (the bottom side in Fig. 1 / 2).

[0100] The collar assembly device 50 comprises a ring sonotrode 51 and an anvil. The anvil comprises an anvil base 52 and an anvil plunger 53, whose outer shape is adapted to the inner shape of the container 1 at its open end. The anvil plunger 53 is movable relative to the anvil base and protrudes out of an anvil base cavity 54 into which it can be pushed, to some extent, against a spring force of a plunger spring 55. The ring sonotrode 51 has an inner diameter approximately corresponding to the inner diameter of the cooperating part 12 and is dimensioned for being placed around the side wall 2 and for coupling mechanical vibration energy into the cooperating part 12 while the anvil supports the ring part 11 and while the connecting element 14 is between the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12.

[0101] The ring sonotrode has a cavity 59 being an accommodating structure for accommodating the side wall during assembly, the outcoupling face 56 of the ring sonotrode 51 being ring-shaped.

[0102] For causing the connection between side wall 2, ring part 11 and cooperating part 12, the ring sonotrode 51 is moved towards the anvil base 52 (or vice versa) to compress the sub-assembly of the ring part 11, the cooperating part 12 and the connecting element 14. At the same time, the ring sonotrode 51 imparts vibration energy, namely as ultrasound vibration energy, to this sub-assembly, to heat and thereby soften the connecting element 14. The movement of the ring sonotrode 51 relative to the anvil base 52 is in a direction essentially normal to the ring plane. The movement of material of the connecting element 4 is essentially in radial directions that are parallel to this plane. After re-solidification of the connecting element material, this material fuses the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12 together and fuses them to the side wall 2. In addition or as an alternative to coupling ultrasonic vibration energy or other vibration energy into the sub-assembly, the tools constituted by the ring sonotrode 51 and the anvil or other means could also be used to couple heat into the sub-assembly. Most generally, the method comprises coupling energy into the connecting element in an amount sufficient to at least soften it and compressing it, while it is in a soft state, to cause it to fuse the ring part and the side wall and, if present, the cooperating part together.

[0103] In the depicted embodiment, it is a ring-shaped support surface 57 of the anvil base 52 that exerts the counterforce to the pressing force by the ring sonotrode 51 on the ring part 11 while the anvil plunger 53 acts to center the side wall 2 with the bottom part 3 during the process and the plunger spring 55 allows the anvil plunger 53 to allow the movement of the side wall 2 and the ring part 11 when the connecting element 14 is compressed between the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12.

[0104] In this, the anvil plunger acts to align the side wall 2, the ring part 11, the cooperating part 12, and the connecting element 14 (if necessary; the connecting element in embodiments has already before been secured to the ring part or the cooperating part). Alternatively, it would also be possible to design the anvil to have simply a plane support surface, without the base cavity 54 and without the anvil plunger, especially if the cooperating part is not itself ring-shaped but for example a disc. Alignment of the cooperating part is then carried out in a different manner, for example by peripheral features - or might not be necessary, for example if projecting portions of the cooperating part are cut off in a subsequent step.

[0105] To prevent the side wall 2 to be lifted off from the ring part 11 during the assembly, it needs to be held relative to the ring part 11. In the shown embodiment, this is achieved by a side wall spring 58 that acts between the ring sonotrode (especially between a vibration node position thereof) on the one hand and the side wall 2 or a part connected thereto on the other hand. Other means would be conceivable, for example a temporary adhesive connection between the ring part and the side wall, a vacuum that holds the side wall down, etc.

[0106] In a variant of the depicted embodiment, the container does not comprise any cooperating part. Then, the sub-assembly connected to the side wall comprises just the ring part 11 and the connecting element 14, without any cooperating part. During assembly, the connecting element is then directly compressed between the ring part 11 and the ring sonotrode 51 or, if the positions of the ring sonotrode 51 and the anvil are reversed and the ring sonotrode is in physical contact with the ring part 11 , between the ring part 11 and the anvil.

[0107] While the container 2 is shown to have the shape of a truncated cone, in particular a truncated circular cone, in other embodiments the base of the container 1 can have a shape other than a circle, all of the following examples being adapted to this shape. Also, the container 1 have a cylindrical shape, that is, with the side wall forming a hollow cylinder.

[0108] Figures 4-9 schematically illustrate different variants of arranging the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12 together with the connecting element 14 relative to the side wall 2. All these figures show only a part of the side wall 2, the inner side of the container being on the right. Fig. 4 shows the configuration substantially as described referring to Figs. 1-3. It has the advantages that the ring part 11 lies on the end rim 19 of the side wall 2 and thereby has a precisely defined position and is mechanically stabilized by the side wall. Nevertheless, the inner rim 21 of the ring part 11 is essentially flush with the inner surface of the side wall 2 - a property that is advantageous for many applications in which the user accesses the content of the container after removal of a seal through the top opening.

[0109] The latter advantage is also manifest in configurations as shown in Fig. 5, in which the ring part circumscribes the side wall 2 and is approximately flush with its end rim 19. The configuration of Fig. 6 is similar to the one of Fig. 4, but the inner contour of the ring part 11 is radially-inwardly of the inner surface of the side wall 2. In this configuration, the ring part 11 has a larger outer surface, for example for attaching a seal, without compromising the compactness of the container.

[0110] The configuration of Fig. 7 is distinct from the one of Fig. 5 in that the sub-assembly of the ring part 11, the cooperating part 12 and the connecting element 14 is not on the plane of the end rim 19. The annular protrusion formed by the ring and the cooperating part may for example have the function of a holding grip, a stacking aid for transportation, etc., especially if the container is a drinking cup or similar.

[0111] The embodiments of Figs. 5 and 7 have in common that the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12 may have identical shapes. The distinction between the ring part 11 on the one hand and the cooperating part 12 on the other hand is somewhat arbitrary, i.e. the cooperating part also serves as ring part and vice versa. The same may be perceived for the other embodiments in which the cooperating part 12 has the shape of a ring, including the embodiments of Figs. 4, 6, 8 and 9, but not for embodiments with a disc shaped cooperating part as described hereinafter referring to Fig. 14.

[0112] In the embodiment of Fig. 8, in contrast to the sub-assembly connected to the container wall in addition to the ring part 11, the cooperating part 12 and the connecting element 14 also comprises a connecting element confining part 16. In the depicted embodiment, the connecting element confining part 16 is attached to the cooperating part, on the side thereof facing the ring part 11. However, the connecting element confining part 16 could also be present on the ring part 11 or as a separate element between the ring part and the cooperating part. The dimension of the connecting element 14 is adapted to the position and thickness of the connecting element confining part 16 so that its volume fits into the space that is created if the cooperating part 12 is moved relative to the ring part 11 into a position in which the upper surface of the connecting element confining part 16 contacts the ring part 11, closing off a ring volume with the connecting element 14. Thereby, the flow of the connecting element material towards radially-outwardly is confined by the connecting element confining part 16.

[0113] Fig. 9 illustrates that the configuration of Fig. 4 works independent of the cone angle a. Generally, the cone angle of the side wall 2 in the plane of the ring part can be between 0° and 45°, especially between 0° and 20°. Also the other configurations, including the configurations of Figs. 5-8, work independently of the cone angle in the named range between 0° and 45°.

[0114] Figures 10-13 illustrate the fact that the shape of the side wall (for example meaning the shape of the base of the cylinder or cone) as well as the shape of the ring part and cooperating part does not have to be circular. Fig. 10 illustrates and elliptical shape, Fig. 11 a triangular shape with rounded corners, and Fig. 12 a rectangular shape with rounded corners. Fig. 13 shows a view of the container hat has a base shape being a rectangular shape with rounded corners. The ring part acts, together with the bottom part, to stabilize the base shape, which therefore can be chosen based on the needs.

[0115] Figure 14 illustrates the possibility of making a closed or reversibly closable container using the approach described in the present text. An upper closure element comprises an upper ring part, resting on the upper end rim of the side wall 2. The cooperating part 122 for this upper ring part 121 is ring-shaped and circumscribed by the side wall 2. The connecting element 114 is arranged in an interior. Thus, the upper closure element of the embodiment of Fig. 14 is an example of an embodiment in which the connecting element is connected to the inner surface of the side wall 2. The upper closure element in addition to the upper ring part 122comprises a bottle neck 91 with a bottle cap 92.

[0116] The lower closure element is constituted by a cooperating part 12 that is disc shaped and that is connected to the side wall together with a (lower) ring part 11 by the technique described hereinbefore in the present text. The configuration of Fig. 14 is an example of a configuration in which the cooperating part itself is not ring shaped.

[0117] A variant with a bottom part 3 of the kind described hereinbefore, with two bottom part discs 31, 32, and with the upper closure element constituted by the cooperating part 12 is shown in Figure 15. The cooperating part 12 carries the bottle neck 91 with the bottle cap 92.

[0118] In both, the embodiment of Fig. 14 and the embodiment of Fig. 15, the sub-assembly comprising the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12 is connected to the side wall after upper closure element or the bottom part, respectively. In both embodiments, a modified anvil without the anvil plunger is used. In the embodiment of Fig. 15, the anvil has a recess for accommodating the bottle neck 91 if the bottle neck is secured to the cooperating part 12 prior to the assembly with the side wall 2.

[0119] Figures 16 and 17 schematically illustrated two possibilities of configuring the connecting element 14. In Fig. 16, the connecting element is ring-shaped, extending around the outer surface of the side wall. Due to the ring-shape, the connecting element yields a seal between the side wall and the ring part and the cooperating part. In Fig. 17, the connecting element 14 comprises a plurality of discrete portions. This reduces the amount of polymer material needed. Embodiments with discrete connecting element portions may be beneficial if a sealing between the ring part and the side wall is not necessary - for example for embodiments in which the container serves as packaging for individually packaged goods or piece goods.

[0120] Figure 18 illustrates the principle that the ring part 11 and the cooperating part 12 - and accordingly also the connecting element 14 that is arranged between these two - does not need to extend in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis 10. Rather, it can be at an angle different to 90° to this axis. Figure 19 shows an alternative to the configuration of Fig. 3, with a collar assembly device 50 comprising a sonotrode 51 with a flat outcoupling face, and with an anvil the anvil base 52 of which accommodates the side wall during assembly, in an anvil base cavity 54. The anvil base cavity 54 tapers towards the mouth (towards the upper end in Fig. 19) for supporting the side wall, having a conical shape, during the process. Apart from these differences, the assembly process is similar to the process described referring to Fig. 3.

[0121] Figure 20 yet shows a further embodiment of a container - having a bottom part with two bottom part discs 31 , 32 - in an anvil. The ring part 11 belongs to an upper closure element, with a bottle-neck 91 attached to it. Because the container comprises a bottom part and in addition the connecting element 14 and the cooperating part 12 are in an interior of the side wall 2, the anvil has, in addition to the anvil base 52 and the anvil plunger 53, an anvil supporting part 58 supporting the cooperating part 12 during assembly and preventing it from being pushed downwardly when the sonotrode (not shown in Fig. 20, possibly a ring sonotrode of the kind illustrated in Fig. 3). The anvil supporting part is constituted of a plurality of components held against an outside by a supporting part spring 59, whereby it is removable, by compressing the supporting part spring 59 after the assembly process, through the bottle neck 91, which has a comparably large diameter.

[0122] While the invention has been described in present embodiments, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the claims.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S1. A container (1), comprising:• a side wall (2), the side wall being bent to have a tubular shape;• at least one ring part (11); and• a connecting element (14) made of a fusible material, the connecting element connecting the ring part (14) to the side wall (2).

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the ring part (11) is arranged to lie on an end rim (19) of the side wall (2) and / or to circumscribe the side wall.

3. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein the side wall (2) is made of a sheet material.

4. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall (2) comprises a cellulose-based material, in particular veneer.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the cellulose-based material, in particular the veneer, of the side wall (2) constitutes a least 60% or at least 70%, in particular at least 80%, even more in particular at least 90% of the weight the side wall (2).

6. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ring part (11) is made of a sheet material.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the ring part (11) comprises a cellulose-based material, in particular veneer.

8. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ring part (11) defines a ring plane and has two flat sides parallel to the ring plane, and inner rim (21) and an outer rim.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the ring plane is parallel to a plane defined by the end rim (19) of the side wall (2).

10. The container of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cooperating part (12), wherein the connecting element (14) is between the ring part (11) and the cooperating part (12).

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the cooperating part (12) is made of a sheet material.

12. The container of claim 10 or 11, wherein the cooperating part (12) has two flat sides parallel to the ring plane, wherein the two flat sides are parallel to the ring plane.

13. The container of any one of claims 10-12, wherein the cooperating part (12) comprises a cellulose-based material, in particular veneer.

14. The container of any one of claims 10-13, wherein the cooperating part (12) is ring shaped and circumscribes the side wall (2).

15. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting element (14) is bonded to an outer surface of the side wall (2).

16. The container of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the connecting element (14) is bonded to an inner surface of the side wall (2).

17. The container of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the connecting element (14) is ring shaped and circumscribes the side wall.

18. The container of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a bottom part (3) bonded to an inner surface of the side wall (2) by a bottom part connecting element (4).

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the bottom part (4) comprises two bottom part discs (31 , 32), the bottom part connecting element (4) being arranged between the discs (31, 32).

20. The container of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a seal (40) attached to the ring part (11), the seal closing off an opening of the tubular shape of the side wall (2).

21. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ring part has an inner contour that is one of round, rectangular with rounded corners, triangular with rounded corners, elliptical, and wherein the tubular shape has an according outer contour.

22. A method of assembling the container (1) of any one of the previous claims, the method comprising the steps of:• Providing the side wall (2) having the tubular shape;• Providing the ring part (11) and the connecting element (14);• Arranging the ring part (11) and the connecting element (14) relative to the side wall (2) so that the ring part lies on an end rim (19) of the side wall (2) and / or circumscribes the side wall and the connecting element (14) is adjacent a surface of the side wall (2) and adjacent the ring part (H);• imparting energy to the connecting element (14), thereby softening the connecting element (14);• compressing the connecting element (14) in a direction substantially normal to a ring plane in which the ring part (11) extends, thereby expanding the softened connecting element (14) in the ring plane;• thereby bonding the connecting element (14) to the side wall (2) and to the ring part (11).

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of providing a cooperating part (12), wherein the step of arranging comprises arranging the ring part (11), the connecting element (14) and the cooperating part (12) relative to the side wall (2) so that the ring part lies on an end rim (19) of the side wall (2) and / or circumscribes the side wall and the connecting element (14) arranged between the ring part (11) and the cooperating part (12) and adjacent a surface of the side wall (2), and wherein the step of compressing the connecting element comprises compressing the connecting element (14) between the ring part (11) and the cooperating part (12), by at least one of the ring part and of the cooperating part towards the other one of the ring part and of the cooperating part.

24. The method of claim 22 or 23, wherein the step of imparting energy comprises using a sonotrode to couple mechanical vibration energy into the connecting element (14).

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the container comprises the cooperating part (12), and wherein the in the step of imparting energy, the sonotrode presses against one of the ring part (11) and the cooperating part (12), whereas an anvil exerts a counter force on the other one of the ring part (11) and the cooperating part (12).

26. The method of any one of claims 21-24, wherein the side wall (2) comprises a film of a thermoplastic material, the method comprising the further step of heating the side wall prior to the step of imparting energy to the connecting element and / orduring this step of imparting energy to the connecting element to soften the film of the thermoplastic material.

27. An assembly device (50) for manufacturing a container (1) according to any one of claims 1-19, the assembly device (50) comprising• A first tool having an accommodating structure for accommodating at least a portion of the vessel side wall (2), the first tool having a ring-shaped first engaging face extending around the accommodating structure;• a second tool having a second engaging face; • the first and second tools being configured for at least one of the first and second tools to be moved towards the other one, and to compress the ring part (11) together with the connecting element (14) between the first and second engaging faces.

Images