Packaging material and method for producing the same

Abstract

A laminate packaging material (10) is provided that comprises a bulk layer (12) of paper or paperboard or other cellulosic material, one or more outer layers (14) laminated to the bulk layer (12), one or more inner layers (16, 18, 19) laminated to the bulk layer (12), and a plurality of longitudinally distributed primary holes (30) extending through the entire thickness of the laminate packaging material (10).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laminated packaging material for producing individually packaged containers for liquid food. The present invention also relates to a method for producing such a laminated packaging material. [Background technology]

[0002] Disposable packaging containers for liquid foods are often manufactured from packaging laminates based on paperboard or carton, and today there is a wide variety of such packaging containers on the market. One commonly used packaging container is sold under the trademark Tetra Brik Aseptic® and is mainly used for the aseptic packaging of liquid foods such as milk, fruit juices, etc., which are sold for long-term ambient storage. The packaging material of this known packaging container is typically a laminate comprising a bulk or core layer of paper, paperboard or other cellulosic material and an outer liquid-tight layer of thermoplastic plastic. To make the packaging container gas-tight, in particular oxygen gas-tight, for example for the purposes of aseptic packaging and packaging of milk or fruit juice, the laminates of these packaging containers usually comprise at least one additional barrier layer, most commonly aluminum foil.

[0003] On the inside of the laminate, i.e. the side intended to face the food contents filled in a container made from the laminate, there is an innermost layer applied onto the aluminum foil, which may comprise one or more partial layers comprising adhesive polymers and / or heat-sealable thermoplastic polymers such as polyolefins, and, outside the bulk layer, there is an outermost heat-sealable polymer layer.

[0004] Packaging containers are generally produced by modern high-speed packaging machines of the type that form, fill and seal packages from webs or from prefabricated blanks of packaging material. Thus, packaging containers can be produced by converting a web of laminate packaging material into a tube by bonding both longitudinal edges of the web together with an overlapping joint by welding together the innermost and outermost heat-sealable thermoplastic polymer layers. The tube is filled with the desired liquid food product and then divided into individual packages by repeated transverse sealing of the tube at a predetermined distance from each other below the level of the contents in the tube. The packaging material is separated from the tube by scoring along the transverse seals and given the desired geometric shape, usually a parallelepiped, by folding along creases made in the packaging material.

[0005] The main advantage of this continuous tube forming, filling and sealing packaging concept is that the web can be continuously sterilized just before tube forming, thus offering the possibility of an aseptic packaging process, i.e. a process in which the liquid contents to be filled and the packaging material itself are reduced from bacteria, the filled packaging containers are produced under clean conditions, there is no risk of microbial growth in the filled product and they can be stored for long periods even at ambient temperature. Another important advantage of the Tetra Brik® type packaging process is, as mentioned above, the possibility of continuous high speed packaging, which has a considerable impact on cost efficiency.

[0006] Packaging containers for sensitive liquid foods, such as milk and juice, can be produced from sheet blanks or prefabricated blanks of the laminate packaging material of the invention. Packaging containers are produced from flat-folded tubular blanks of the packaging laminate by first assembling the blanks to form an open tubular container capsule, one of whose open ends is closed by folding and heat sealing an integral end panel. The container capsule thus closed is filled through its open end with a food product, such as juice, and is then closed by further folding and heat sealing a corresponding integral end panel. Examples of packaging containers produced from sheet and tubular blanks are conventional so-called gable-top packages. Some of these packages have a molded top made of plastic.

[0007] To improve packaging, technologies have been developed to provide opening devices to packaging containers. This not only makes the package easier for the consumer to manipulate and reduces the risk of spills when pouring liquid foods, but also improves the overall integrity of the package when the opening device is properly manufactured and attached to the package. Opening devices can be resealable, non-resealable, or resealable, such as a screw cap.

[0008] Existing packaging containers with opening devices are manufactured by attaching a prefabricated opening device to a laminate packaging material. The laminate packaging material is provided with a prefabricated hole where the opening device is to be attached. This hole is provided by drilling a hole in the bulk or core layer before lamination and covering the hole on the inside and outside with additional laminate layers (which layers form a membrane) containing a barrier material. Such laminate packaging materials are described in WO 2012 / 072309. Thus, the packaging material remains intact at the opening device, and when the user operates the opening device for the first time to open the packaging container, the membrane is pierced, thereby allowing access to the contents in the packaging container.

[0009] Another option is injection molded opening devices. These opening devices can be formed over prefabricated holes covered with a membrane by injecting a polymeric material onto one or possibly both sides of the packaging material and molding the polymer into the shape of the opening device, as explained above. They can also be provided with a tear-away section that the consumer tears just before consumption. Another alternative to injection molded opening devices can be a cap that is tied to the spout of the opening device.

[0010] For consumer satisfaction, it is desirable for penetration and tear forces to be as low as possible, but the opening structure must provide some resistance to prevent unintentional penetration or tearing, so careful design is required to meet these requirements.

[0011] In view of the above, there is a need for improved laminate packaging materials that allow opening equipment to be used in a manner that ensures the required integrity of the package while at the same time ensuring that the required opening or tear forces are within clearly defined tolerance levels.

[0012] Another example of a method for providing a packaging material with an opening device is described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 274330. Here, a continuous, completely intact packaging material is produced and fed to a packaging forming and filling machine. In operation, a punching machine of the packaging forming and filling machine forms spouts. These spouts are covered with injection molded spout portions before the packaging material is formed and filled with the desired contents. This solution not only adds significant complexity to the packaging forming and filling machine, but also requires high precision, especially with regard to the positioning of the spouts in the lateral or transverse direction, taking into account the speed and the path of movement of the packaging material in the packaging forming and filling machine. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome one or more of the above identified limitations of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ready-to-use laminate packaging material that allows for an opening device to be injection molded directly into the laminate packaging material.

[0014] The term "ready to use" should be construed to mean a packaging material that can be fed into a packaging form-and-fill machine without the need for substantial modification.

[0015] According to a first aspect, a method for producing a laminated packaging material is provided, comprising: i) providing a bulk layer of paper or paperboard or other cellulosic material; ii) laminating one or more outer layers to the bulk layer, the outer layers intended to face the outside of a packaging container formed by the packaging material; iii) laminating one or more inner layers to the bulk layer, the inner layers intended to face the inside of a packaging container formed by the packaging material; vi) determining desired locations of a plurality of longitudinally distributed holes; and v) providing a plurality of longitudinally distributed holes at desired locations, each hole extending through the entire thickness of the associated laminated hole. The laminated packaging material is preferably stored or transported and is ready for use by feeding the packaging material to a packaging form and fill machine. With such a method, the laminated packaging material is ready for the addition of an opening device. The addition of this opening device may be achieved by injection molding, which may be easier compared to molding on the laminated packaging material, which may avoid hardening or flow of the polymer between the two sides of the packaging material. Additionally, the opening force and / or tear force required to open the opening device is determined entirely by the design of the opening device, independent of the composition and strength of the layers of the packaging material.

[0016] The method may further comprise providing the laminate packaging material with preferably resealable opening devices, each opening device covering one of the holes. Each opening device may be provided by injection molding directly into the laminate packaging material. By integrating the injection molding into the filling machine, very high throughputs can be achieved and do not require modification of the equipment used to manufacture the laminate packaging material.

[0017] The method may further comprise providing a plurality of crease lines and / or fiducial marks on the bulk layer prior to laminating one or more inner and / or outer layers to the bulk layer, and the desired positions of the plurality of longitudinally distributed holes may be determined based on the positions of the provided crease lines and / or the positions of the fiducial marks, thereby ensuring a correct positioning of the opening device on the final packaging container, since its shape is determined by the positions of the crease lines. Providing the longitudinally distributed holes during the conversion process, preferably with reference to the crease lines and / or the fiducial marks, has a great advantage, since undesired movements of the packaging material in the packaging forming and filling machine do not affect the positioning of the longitudinally distributed holes.

[0018] The step of determining desired positions of the longitudinally distributed holes may further comprise determining shrinkage of the bulk layer during lamination of one or more of the inner and / or outer layers and correcting the desired positions based on the determined shrinkage, which further improves the positional accuracy of the opening device and the correct alignment between the opening device and the holes.

[0019] The method may further comprise providing a plurality of crease lines and / or reference marks on the laminate packaging material after laminating one or more inner and / or outer layers to the bulk layer, and the desired positions of the longitudinally distributed plurality of holes are determined based on the positions of the crease lines and / or the positions of the provided reference marks, thereby facilitating accurate positioning of the holes relative to the crease lines by eliminating misalignment of the crease lines due to shrinkage.

[0020] The longitudinally distributed holes may be provided by a punching process, which allows for a simple and robust manufacturing process that can be attached to existing conversion equipment. By providing the longitudinally distributed holes by the conversion equipment, the positioning control is significantly improved. For example, the punching of holes by a punching process and the provision of creases after lamination of one or more inner and / or outer layers to the bulk layer may be provided simultaneously by the same processing unit and / or the same tool, such as a creasing roller with a punching tool. Thus, the position of the holes can be provided precisely based on the position of the crease lines. By providing the longitudinally distributed holes by the conversion equipment, the positioning control is significantly improved.

[0021] The holes may be distributed in both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the laminate packaging material, and the method may further include cutting the laminate packaging material longitudinally to form separate webs of laminate packaging material, each separate web of laminate packaging material comprising holes distributed only in the longitudinal direction. In this manner, holes can be provided in a multi-layer web of packaging material making the manufacturing process more efficient.

[0022] According to a second aspect, a ready-to-use laminate packaging material is provided, which comprises a bulk layer of paper or paperboard or other cellulosic material. The laminate packaging material further comprises one or more outer layers laminated to the bulk layer, one or more inner layers laminated to the bulk layer, and a plurality of longitudinally distributed primary holes extending through the entire thickness of the laminate packaging material. The diameter of each primary hole may be, and preferably is, substantially constant. In this way, the laminate packaging material is ready to be fed to a packaging form and fill machine and does not require additional equipment to prepare holes for an opening device.

[0023] Each primary hole may be circular, elliptical, rectangular, square, drop-shaped, or have at least one slit, which allows the primary hole to be adapted to different types of opening devices. Each primary hole may have at least one slit, in particular a shape formed by multiple slits such as perforations, more particularly a single line (-) in different directions, multiple lines with a common center point (i.e. the shape of a star key on a phone keypad), an arc shape, an X, Y, V, C or O shape, all of which are described by multiple slits such as perforations.

[0024] The laminate packaging material may further comprise secondary holes distributed along its length, each hole being adjacent to or in the extension of an associated primary hole, such that the secondary holes can add functionality to the final packaging, for example allowing the secondary holes to form a support for a cap holder for a tethered cap.

[0025] The laminate packaging material may further comprise a number of longitudinally distributed fiducial marks, preferably comprising readable information, which may function as registration marks for correctly locating the primary holes, but may also form fiducial or registration marks for correctly locating an opening device when added to the laminate packaging material.

[0026] One or more of the inner layers may comprise a gas barrier layer and / or a light barrier layer that is not an aluminum foil, meaning that the barrier layer is not entirely aluminum as in the prior art. Such a barrier layer may be very difficult for the user to penetrate when opening the final packaging container and / or when forming the opening device by injection molding, thus further improving the solution described herein. The gas that the barrier film prevents from penetrating may be oxygen or other gases that are known to have adverse effects on food, such as shortening the shelf life.

[0027] In a particular example, the barrier layer may be a fiber-based barrier layer (e.g., a paper-based barrier layer). The fiber-based barrier layer comprises a paper-based layer and a coating layer provided on the paper-based layer and having barrier properties. The paper-based layer may be coated by an aqueous dispersion coating method with a dispersion or solution of a composition capable of providing a barrier property against oxygen gas, water vapor, and / or other migrating substances. Examples of such compositions are aqueous compositions including vinyl alcohol polymers or starches or other polysaccharides, optionally further including fillers or layered mineral compounds such as talc or bentonite or other clay minerals. Alternatively, the paper-based layer may be coated by a vapor deposition method such as chemical vapor deposition and / or physical vapor deposition, and in a preferred embodiment, may be metallized, i.e., vapor-coated with a coating of only nanometers thick of a metal such as aluminum. Such fiber-based barrier layers may be difficult to punch, cut, or penetrate, depending on their thickness and mechanical properties, and therefore require specialized and powerful equipment. However, the conversion process allows such equipment to be installed, even if it requires a relatively large installation space and connections.

[0028] In another particular example, the barrier layer may be a polymer-based barrier layer. The polymer-based barrier layer may comprise a single polymer layer with inherent gas barrier properties, or a layer with a polymer-based layer and a coating layer with barrier properties coated on the polymer-based layer. The polymer-based layer may be a prefabricated film with a single layer or multi-layer structure, which is further coated by a deposition method such as chemical vapor deposition and / or physical vapor deposition in a similar manner as described above for the fiber-based barrier substrate, for example, such a polymer barrier substrate may be metallized and / or vapor-deposition coated with an inorganic oxide such as a metal oxide. Such polymer-based barrier layers are difficult to punch or penetrate, requiring specialized and powerful equipment.

[0029] Such fiber-based or polymer-based barrier layers are believed to be particularly beneficial in the recycling cycle of packages made from the claimed packaging materials.

[0030] Each primary aperture may be covered by a preferably resealable opening device that is injection molded directly into the laminate packaging material.

[0031] The laminate packaging material may be provided as a continuous web roll comprising a continuous series of continuous segments, each segment designed, sized and having one of the primary holes to form a single packaging container, so that the packaging material may be easily fed into a food filling machine as a continuous web to be formed into the packaging container.

[0032] According to a third aspect, there is provided a packaging container formed from the laminate packaging material according to the second aspect.

[0033] Further objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a filling machine for producing packages from a web of laminated packaging material. [Figure 2a] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a manufacturing process of a laminate packaging material according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2b] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a manufacturing process of a laminate packaging material according to another embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a laminate packaging material according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 1A-1D are top views of laminate packaging materials according to various embodiments. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a laminate packaging material according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a packaging container according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a top view of a web of laminate packaging material according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a method for producing a laminate packaging material according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] In FIG. 1, an example of a machine 1 for producing packaging containers 2 from a laminated packaging material 10 is shown. The laminated packaging material 10 comprises longitudinally distributed holes extending through the entire thickness of the laminated packaging material 10. Upon entering the machine 1, an injection molding station 3 is arranged to provide the laminated packaging material 10 with an injection molded resealable opening device 4. Downstream of the injection molding station 3, a sterilization station 5 is arranged to typically sterilize the laminated packaging material 10 that is fed to the machine 1 in rolls. Downstream of the sterilization station 5 is a tube forming section 6 that seals both longitudinal ends of the laminated packaging material 10 to each other. A filling section 7 is arranged to fill the longitudinal tube with the desired contents, and a transverse sealing section 8 provides transverse sealing and cutting to separate the packaging container 2 from the upstream tube of the laminated packaging material 10.

[0037] The laminate packaging material 10 can be manufactured according to a variety of processes and equipment, as illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b.

[0038] The laminate packaging material 10 in Figure 2a is made from layers of paper, paperboard or cellulosic material to form a bulk layer 12. Prior to entering the process shown in Figure 2a, the bulk layer 12 may be provided with a printed decoration.

[0039] In this embodiment, the bulk layer 12 is fed through a creasing nip 20, which forms multiple creases in the bulk layer 12. The creases are designed according to the desired shape of the final packaging container to be formed, and typically these creases are formed by a creasing roller that is pressed against the bulk layer 12. The bulk layer 12 is then provided with one or more outer layers 14. This can be accomplished by an extrusion device 21, followed by a cooling nip 22, to provide a uniform film on the bulk layer 12. The outer layers 14 can be provided in other embodiments as multiple coextruded polymer layers arranged on one another, as well as by other techniques such as wet lamination, dispersion coating, etc.

[0040] The inner layer comprises a barrier layer 16, which may be disposed on a polymeric or paper-based substrate. The barrier layer 16 is one-sided coated with an innermost layer 18, for example by means of an extrusion device 23 and a cooling nip 24. The barrier film 16 is then laminated to the inside of the bulk layer 12 by means of an additional extrusion device 25 providing an adhesive layer 19, followed by a cooling nip 26. With regard to the outer layers, it should be noted that in other embodiments the inner layers 16, 18, 19 may be provided as multiple coextruded polymer layers disposed on top of each other and by other techniques such as wet lamination, dispersion coating, etc.

[0041] The barrier layer may be an aluminum foil, but other materials are possible. Such useful materials include ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), polyethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (PVOH), nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), etc.

[0042] Suitable materials for preventing the transmission of oxygen and / or water vapor may be applied by vapor deposition coatings such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), in particular plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Examples of such nanometer thick vapor deposition barrier coatings include metallized coatings such as aluminum metallized, metal oxide coatings such as AlOx or SiOx, or coatings of amorphous carbon, i.e. amorphous diamond-like carbon coatings (DLC).

[0043] Other suitable materials for preventing oxygen and / or water vapor transmission may be applied by aqueous dispersion or solution coating of barrier polymers, or barrier compositions of polymeric binders and inorganic particles or fillers.

[0044] When laminate packaging material 10 is formed using bulk layer 12 and outer and inner layers 14, 16, 18, 19, the web of laminate packaging material 10 is provided with a plurality of holes. These holes, which may be formed by punch roller 28, are distributed at least in the longitudinal direction such that every package obtained from the web of laminate packaging material 10 has at least one hole.

[0045] The web of laminate packaging material 10 may be manufactured as a multi-lane web, which may then be cut to form individual single lane webs. One lane is used to form a series of packaging containers, and most filling machines 1 today operate by receiving such a single lane web of laminate packaging material 10. In such a multi-lane web embodiment, holes are distributed laterally / transversely through the laminate packaging material 10 for the same purpose. Thus, every packaging container resulting from the web of laminate packaging material 10 will have at least one hole.

[0046] To ensure proper positioning of the holes, the inventors have realized the importance of determining the desired location of the holes before actually forming them. These holes are usually well defined on the bulk layer 12 and aligned with the fold lines in the proper direction. However, during lamination of the outer layer 14 and the inner layer 16, 18, 19, the bulk layer 12 may shrink, especially in the lateral direction. It is therefore important to monitor the characteristics of the laminate packaging material 10 and adjust the hole forming device accordingly. This monitoring may be done in-line, for example by a camera or other information reading device, while adjustments may be made by changing the settings of the hole forming means, for example by replacing the punch roller 28 with another slightly different punch roller, or by changing the dimensions of the punch roller 28, for example by shifting the lateral position of the punch features of the punch roller 28. Other parameters that may affect the positioning of the holes are, for example, humidity, temperature, changes in the materials of the bulk layer and / or the inner or outer layer, etc.

[0047] The embodiment of Figure 2b is similar to that described with reference to Figure 2a, but in this embodiment the formation of the creases is performed after lamination of the inner layers 14, 16, 18, 19 and the outer layer 14. As an alternative to this embodiment the functions of the two rollers 20, 28 may be combined and the creasing roller may be fitted with a punching tool. In such a setup shrinkage is usually not an issue as the creases are formed after lamination.

[0048] 3a, there is shown in cross-section an example of a laminate packaging material 10. The laminate packaging material 10 comprises a bulk layer 10, one or more outer layers 14 arranged to form the outer surface of the final package 2, and one or more inner layers in the form of an innermost polymer layer 18, a barrier layer 16, and a tie layer 19.

[0049] The laminate packaging material 10 has longitudinally distributed holes 30 (only one circular hole 30 is shown in the example) that extend completely through the thickness of the laminate packaging material 10 and have a substantially constant diameter D.

[0050] 4 shows different shapes of the hole 30. In the example at the top left, the hole 30 has a circular shape. If circular, the diameter of the hole 30 may be 15 to 50 mm, for example about 30 mm. For other shapes, the dimensions can be selected so that the area of ​​the hole 30 is similar to the area of ​​the circular hole 30 exemplified above, or depending on the type of opening device 4 to be implemented in the laminate packaging material.

[0051] Additionally, in this embodiment, adjacent to the primary hole 30 is a secondary hole 32 which is significantly smaller than the primary hole 30. Typically, the secondary hole has a diameter of 1-5 mm, for example 3 mm. As will be explained with reference to Figure 5, the secondary hole 32 may aid in the injection molding of a cap holder for the cap of the opening device 4.

[0052] In the example at the top right of Fig. 4, the lamination holes 30 have an oval shape. Other possible shapes are shown in Fig. 4, such as a drop shape (center of Fig. 4), a rectangular shape (bottom right of Fig. 4), etc. It should be noted that any shape can be complemented by a secondary hole 32 located adjacent to the primary hole 30 or merged to some extent with the primary hole 30, such as a drop-shaped primary hole 30. Similar to the primary holes 30, the secondary holes 32 also extend entirely through the thickness of the laminate packaging material 10 and have fixed dimensions.

[0053] 5, there is shown in cross-section a detailed view of the laminate packaging material 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the laminate packaging material 10 is provided with a resealable opening device 4 that is injection molded directly into the laminate packaging material 10.

[0054] The laminate packaging material 10 has primary holes 30 that extend entirely through the thickness of the laminate packaging material 10 and have fixed dimensions, and secondary holes 32 that extend entirely through the thickness of the laminate packaging material 10 and have fixed dimensions, but the dimensions of the secondary holes 32 are much smaller than those of the primary holes 30.

[0055] The resealable opening device 4 is preferably injection molded in one operation and comprises a spout 4-1 extending upward from a planar edge 4-2. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the edge 4-2 surrounds the primary hole 30 and extends on both sides of the laminated packaging material 10 so that the edge of the hole 30 is completely covered by the edge 4-2 of the spout 4-1. The flexible portion 4-3 connects the spout 4-1 and the cap 4-4. Thus, even when the cap 4-4 is opened, the cap 4-4 remains connected to the spout 4-1 and is not separated from the packaging container 2. Therefore, the packaging container 2 can be recycled together with the cap 4-4 without being thrown away. Although a membrane (not shown) may be provided on the spout 4-1 or the cap 4-4, here the cap 4-4 itself acts as a membrane that can only be separated from the spout by the consumer before consumption. The cap 4-4 may, for example, include a pull tab 4-5 to allow a user to easily hold and manipulate the cap 4-4.

[0056] The lip 4-2 also covers a secondary aperture 32 that is filled with injection molded material of the opening device 4. This material forms a support for a cap holder 4-6 that is aligned with the secondary aperture 32. The cap holder 4-6 is used to hold the cap 4-4 during opening to aid in pouring.

[0057] In Fig. 6 an example of a packaging container 2 with a resealable opening device 4 is shown. The packaging container 2 is entirely formed in this example by a laminate packaging material 10 which is folded and sealed to obtain the desired parallelepiped shape. The upper part of the packaging container 2 is provided with an opening device 4 which is injection moulded over a hole 30 and, optionally, over a secondary hole 32. The edge 4-2 of the opening device 4 completely covers the laminate packaging material 10 at the edge of the holes 30, 32, ensuring protection both from the product enclosed in the packaging container 2 and from the external environment.

[0058] Referring again to Figure 1, the laminate packaging material 10 may enter a filling machine 1 (i.e., a machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages) in the form of a continuous web loaded onto a reel. Such a web of laminate packaging material 10 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. The laminate packaging material 10 comprises a continuous series of segments 40, each segment 40 designed and dimensioned to form a single packaging container 2 after being folded, formed, and sealed into a package 2.

[0059] A particular transverse seal area TSA of the laminate packaging material 10 will be part of the transverse seal formed in producing the final package 2 and will extend across the entire width of the laminate packaging material 10. A longitudinal seal area LSA which will form a vertical seal when the package 2 is produced will extend to one side edge of the laminate packaging material 10. Each segment 40 is provided with crease lines 42 which indicate where the laminate packaging material 10 will be folded to form the package 2.

[0060] Each segment 40 is further provided with holes 30 and, optionally, secondary holes 32. In Figure 7, the location of the holes 32 corresponds to the location of the opening device 4 shown in Figure 6, although different locations are possible. For correct positioning of the opening device 4, it is important to provide the holes 30 in the desired location, in particular the relationship between where the fold lines 42 are located and the location of the lamination holes 30.

[0061] As explained above, if the crease lines 42 are provided prior to lamination of the outer layer 14 and the inner layers 16, 18, 19, the bulk layer 12 may shrink during lamination, which may cause the crease lines 42 to be positioned slightly differently than their initial position prior to lamination.

[0062] To ensure the correct position of the hole 30, it is possible to use a reference position on the laminate packaging material 10. Such a reference position may be a specific reference feature of the fold line 42 as a reference mark 44, for example a corner where two or more fold lines intersect. Another option is to use a separate reference mark 46. Such a reference mark 46 may be printed or applied to the laminate packaging material before lamination, preferably to the bulk layer, and may comprise information data. For example, the reference marks 46 may be provided as printed spots made by a magnetizable ink comprising magnetizable particles, a solvent and a binder. These are preferably magnetized while the packaging material is being folded. Such a technique is described in EP 2 435 321 by the same applicant and will not be described further here.

[0063] The use of fiducial marks 44, 46 is advantageous both when drilling hole 30 and when injection molding opening device 4. Laminate packaging material 10 defines a coordinate system having vertical and horizontal axes. By knowing the desired location of hole 30 relative to fiducial marks 44, 46, the punching operation can be adjusted to provide hole 30 in the desired location.

[0064] Additionally, reference marks 44, 46 may be utilized when injection molding opening device 4 into the laminate packaging material. If it is determined that the actual location of holes 30 deviates slightly from the machine preset location, adjustments can be made to correct the location of subsequent holes 30. Similarly for the location of opening device 4.

[0065] 8, a method 100 for manufacturing a laminated packaging material 10 is shown in schematic form. The method 100 comprises a step 102 of providing a bulk layer 12 of paper or paperboard or other cellulosic material, a step 104 of laminating one or more outer layers 14 to the bulk layer 12, the outer layers 14 intended to face the outside of the packaging container 2 formed by the packaging material 10, and a step 106 of laminating one or more inner layers 16, 18, 19 to the bulk layer 12, the inner layers 16, 18, 19 intended to face the inside of the packaging container 2 formed by the packaging material 10. The method further comprises a step 108 of determining desired positions of longitudinally distributed holes 30, 31 and a step 110 of providing a plurality of longitudinally distributed holes 30, 32 at desired positions, each hole 30, 32 penetrating the entire laminated packaging material 10.

[0066] The method 100 may further comprise the step 112 of providing the laminate packaging material 10 with resealable opening devices 4, each opening device 4 covering one aperture 30, 32. This step 112 may be performed by injection molding directly onto the laminate packaging material 10.

[0067] The method 100 may further comprise a step 114 of providing a plurality of crease lines 42 in the laminate packaging material 10. The step 114 may be performed before the steps 104, 106 or after the steps 104, 106. Preferably, the step 108 is performed by determining desired positions of the plurality of longitudinally distributed holes 30, 32 based on the positions of the crease lines 42 or based on the positions of the reference marks 46 provided on the bulk layer 12.

[0068] Steps 114 and 110 may also be performed simultaneously, and preferably in the same tool. Thus, step 108 may be performed simultaneously with steps 114 and 110.

[0069] The above described method and laminate packaging material are complementary to each other. Any product / feature of any step of the method can be envisaged as a feature of the laminate packaging material, even if not explicitly mentioned as a feature of the laminate packaging material. Any method step that is explicitly or implicitly mentioned as a method for producing any feature of the laminate packaging material can be envisaged as a method step, even if not explicitly mentioned as a method step.

[0070] From the foregoing description, while various embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not limited thereto and may be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims.

[0071] Reference Number List 1. Machines for manufacturing packaging containers 2 Packaging container 3 Injection Molding Station 4 Resealable opening device 4-1 Spout 4-2 Edge of spout 4-3 Flexible part of spout 4-4 Cap 4-5 Pull tab 4-6 Cap holder 5 Sterilization Station 6 Tube forming section 7 Filling section 8 Horizontal seal part 10 Laminated packaging materials 12 Bulk layer 14 Outer layer 16 Barrier Layer 18 Innermost layer 19 Connecting layer 20 Creasing nip 21 Extrusion equipment 22 Cooling nip 23 Extrusion Equipment 24 Cooling nip 25 Extrusion Equipment 26 Cooling nip 28 Punch Roller 30 holes 32 Secondary hole 40 Laminated Packaging Materials Segment 42 Crease Line 44 Characteristics of the standard fold lines 46 Reference Mark 100 ways 102 Method Steps 104 Method Steps 106 Method Steps 108 Method Steps 110 Method Steps 112 Method Steps 114 Method Steps D Hole diameter LSA Longitudinal Seal Area TSA Transverse Seal Area

Claims

1. A method for producing a laminate packaging material (10), comprising the steps of: Providing a bulk layer (12) of paper, paperboard or other cellulosic material; laminating one or more outer layers (14) to said bulk layer (12), said outer layers (14) being intended to face the outside of the packaging container (2) formed by the packaging material; laminating said bulk layer (12) with one or more inner layers (16, 18, 19), said inner layers being intended to face the interior of the packaging container (2) formed by said packaging material; determining desired locations of said longitudinally distributed plurality of holes (30); Providing the plurality of longitudinally distributed holes (30) at desired locations, each hole extending through the entire thickness of the associated laminate hole and surrounded by the edge of the associated laminate hole; A method for producing a laminate packaging material (10).

2. The method further includes providing the laminate packaging material (10) with opening devices (4), each opening device covering one hole (30); The method of claim 1.

3. said opening devices (4) being provided by direct injection moulding into said laminate packaging material (10); The method of claim 2.

4. providing a plurality of crease lines (42) and / or fiducial marks (46) in the bulk layer (12) prior to laminating the one or more inner layers (16, 18, 19) and / or the outer layer (14) to the bulk layer (12); the desired positions of the longitudinally distributed holes (30) are determined based on the positions of the fold lines (42) or based on the positions of the provided reference marks (46). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. determining a desired location of the longitudinally distributed plurality of holes (30) further comprises determining shrinkage of the bulk layer (12) during lamination of the one or more inner layers (16, 18, 19) and / or the outer layer (14) and correcting the desired location based on the determined shrinkage. The method according to claim 4.

6. providing a plurality of crease lines (42) and / or reference marks (46) on the laminate packaging material (10) after laminating the one or more inner layers (16, 18, 19) and / or the outer layer (14) to the bulk layer (12), and determining desired positions of the longitudinally distributed holes (30) based on the positions of the crease lines (42) and / or the positions of the reference marks (46). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. the holes (30) are distributed in both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the laminate packaging material (10), and the method further comprises cutting the laminate packaging material (10) in the longitudinal direction to form separate webs of the laminate packaging material (10), each separate web of the laminate packaging material (10) comprising the plurality of holes distributed only in the longitudinal direction. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A laminate packaging material (10) comprising a bulk layer (12) of paper or paperboard or other cellulosic material, one or more outer layers (14) laminated to the bulk layer (12), one or more inner layers (16, 18, 19) laminated to the bulk layer (12), and a plurality of longitudinally distributed primary holes (30) extending through the entire thickness of the laminate packaging material (10). Laminated packaging materials.

9. Each primary hole (30) is circular, elliptical, rectangular, square, drop-shaped, or has at least one slit; The laminate packaging material according to claim 8.

10. The method further comprises: distributing secondary holes (32) in the longitudinal direction, each secondary hole (32) being disposed adjacent to an associated primary hole (31) or in the extension of an associated primary hole (30); The laminate packaging material according to claim 8 or 9.

11. further comprising a plurality of longitudinally distributed reference marks (44, 46), preferably said reference marks (46) including readable information; The laminate packaging material according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

12. the one or more inner layers (16, 18, 19) comprising a non-aluminum foil gas barrier layer and / or a light barrier layer (16); The laminate packaging material according to any one of claims 8 to 11.

13. each said primary aperture (30) is preferably covered by a resealable opening device (4) that is injection molded directly into said laminate packaging material (10); The laminate packaging material according to any one of claims 8 to 12.

14. as a continuous web roll comprising a continuous series of continuous segments (40), each segment (40) designed and dimensioned to form a single packaging container (2), each said segment (40) having one of said primary holes (30); The laminate packaging material according to any one of claims 8 to 13.

15. A packaging container (2) formed from the laminate packaging material according to any one of claims 8 to 14.

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