Container and method for assembling the container

Abstract

A container is provided, comprising a side wall (2) which is bent to have a cylindrical shape, and the container further comprises at least one ring portion (11) and a connecting element (14) made of a fusible material, the connecting element connecting the ring portion to the side wall, where the ring portion (11) may be positioned in particular on the edge (edge) of the side wall (2) and / or surrounding the side wall. It may, in some cases, be joined to the edge of the side wall as well as to the outer or inner surface of the side wall (2) via the connecting element (14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of containers, particularly to containers for food and beverages. The present invention relates to a container, a method for assembling the same, and a corresponding assembling device.

[0002] Particularly, disposable containers for food and beverages are widely popular. Modern one-way containers have an impact on the environment, and reduction thereof is required. Existing approaches consider both manufacturing and disposal, focusing on the entire product life cycle. It is known to manufacture disposable containers for food, particularly from materials such as bamboo, wood, and straw. There is a need for containers with a smaller environmental impact compared to existing approaches.

[0003] WO 2010 / 043817 and WO 2023 / 280 895 show containers made of a single ply, i.e., cups, where the wall or the entire cup is made of a coated single ply respectively. The single ply has a significant advantage in that it has a smaller environmental impact compared not only to plastic as a container material but also to cardboard and paper.

[0004] The upper edge of the containers of WO 2010 / 043817 and WO 2023 / 280 895 is formed by the edge of the single ply. Therefore, they cannot be closed. Also, since the single ply has relatively limited flexibility compared to other materials, it is not easy to close the container using a cap having a cap edge that protrudes downward around the upper edge of the container wall. Enabling the container to be closed particularly tightly is generally a problem for containers made of a sheet material such as a single ply, unlike containers formed by, for example, molding or deep drawing. However, depending on the application, it may be desirable to have a container that can be closed. Also, due to the limited flexibility of the single ply, deformations caused by the joining of the single ply material on both sides, or deformations that may exist due to the inhomogeneity of the sheet material, or deformations that occur during transportation or storage remain in the container.

[0005] DE 25 41 912 and FR 2 322 003 relate to a method for manufacturing a container, particularly a cup-shaped container. The container has cardboard side walls and a plastic bottom. In addition, the container has a "rim" made from the plastic sheet used for the plastic bottom. A margin of thermoplastic film may be used to attach the rim to the outside of the side walls. The rim may serve to attach, for example, an aluminum foil or similar lid.

[0006] US 2,746,669 relates to the hermetically sealed construction of a paper container using a fiberboard disc, i.e., a paper lid. This sealing includes a plastic ring attached to the mouth of the paper container. In one embodiment, the plastic ring is first attached to the paper container, and then a paper disc coated with a thermoplastic film is attached to the paper container. The container itself has an inner wall coating of polyethylene film that is compatible with the material of the plastic ring.

[0007] DE 32 40 811 shows a cup with a ring-shaped reinforcement on its upper edge.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a container that can be manufactured using a sheet material and can be closed. A further object is to provide a container made of a sheet material that has a stable and reproducible shape and is in some cases relatively rigid.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing such a container. These and other objectives are achieved by the container, the method for assembling the container, and the assembly apparatus as defined in the claims.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention relates to a container, and the container is - The container has side walls, which are bent to have a cylindrical shape, and the container is further, - At least one ring section, - It comprises a connecting element made of a fusible material, the connecting element connecting the ring portion to the side wall.

[0011] Here, the ring portion may be positioned in particular on the edge (edge) of the side wall and / or surrounding the side wall. In addition to being joined to the edge of the side wall in some cases, it may be joined to the outer surface or inner surface of the side wall via a connecting element.

[0012] The sidewalls may be made of a sheet material, such as a cellulose-based sheet material. In particular, the sidewalls may be made of a single sheet, which may be coated on one or both sides with a (thin) film of another material, such as a thermoplastic material.

[0013] In this document, "sheet material" may refer to a material different from a synthetic thermoplastic polymer, that is, a material that cannot be welded to a polymer on its own (unless there is a coating, etc.). In particular, as mentioned above, the sheet material may be a cellulose-based sheet material.

[0014] In this embodiment, the connecting element may initially be a separate element from either the side wall or the ring portion. It may be a ring made of a thermoplastic material, for example, an O-ring. In particular, the connecting element may be a dedicated element that is different from a mere coating of the side wall or ring portion.

[0015] In particular, in the embodiment, the connecting element has a substantial extension in dimensions perpendicular to the side wall, which is different from a mere coating of the side wall. In the assembled state, the radial extension of the connecting element perpendicular to the side wall may be larger than the axial extension of the connecting element, i.e., the extension along the side wall.

[0016] It is understood that the shape of the sidewall being cylindrical may include being substantially conical or cylindrical, i.e., non-conical or cylindrical. Therefore, in the most common sense, a container is not limited to a cylindrical or conical sidewall with a circular base, nor is it limited to a circular ring portion. For example, the upper and / or lower base of a cone or cylinder may have the shape of a rounded triangle, a rounded square or rectangle, a rounded star-pentagon, or a generally rounded polygon, or an oval or ellipse. The shape being cylindrical may mean that the shape corresponds to the surface of a frustum or prism, the latter typically having rounded edges. The shape being cylindrical may include a combination of cylindrical and conical portions (each at different positions along the height of the cylinder).

[0017] Before assembly, the cylindrical shape of the side wall comprises two end openings, typically an upper and a lower opening, with edges extending around the opening, and these openings are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shape. Typically, the shapes of these openings correspond to the upper and lower bases of the cylinder and / or cone corresponding to the cylindrical shape. If the cylindrical shape is rotationally symmetric, the corresponding axis of symmetry coincides with the longitudinal axis.

[0018] In some embodiments, the edges extend in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. However, it is also possible for one edge (typically the upper edge if the container is designed to stand on a lower edge), or even both edges, to extend in a plane at an angle other than 90° to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, one or both edges do not extend in a plane, but instead form a more complex closed curve in 3D space.

[0019] The direction substantially perpendicular to the ring surface may also be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shape. This direction is typically also parallel to the direction of relative movement of tools, such as sonotrodes and anvils, which may play a role in compressing connecting elements between them during assembly, as will be described in more detail below.

[0020] However, in both embodiments in which at least one edge of the side wall extends into a plane at an angle different from 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis, and embodiments in which it does not, the ring surface may also be at an angle different from 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis.

[0021] In addition to the sidewalls containing sheet material, or alternatively, the ring portion may also be made of sheet material, such as a cellulose-based sheet material. In particular, the ring portion may be made of a single sheet, with one or both sides coated with a (thin) film of a film material, such as a thermoplastic material.

[0022] In certain embodiments, for high stability, the ring portion can be made by gluing together multiple veneer layers, for example, two veneer layers, with their in-plane orientations intersecting (a thin plywood with multiple layers).

[0023] The ring portion may define a ring surface (unlike, for example, a ring constructed by joining the ends of stripes together) and may have two flat sides parallel to the ring surface, as well as an inner and outer edge. The two flat sides may, in particular, correspond to the sheet surface of the sheet material on which the ring portion is made.

[0024] The ring surface may, in particular, be parallel to the plane defined by the edge of the side wall, i.e., the plane on which the edge extends, or it may coincide with such plane, for example. Alternatively, it may form a non-zero angle with such plane (if defined).

[0025] Here, according to the first option, the connecting element connects one of the flat sides of the ring part to the edge of the side wall. Thus, this edge is in contact with the flat side of the ring part, possibly through the material of the connecting element. According to the second option, the inner edge of the ring part is in contact with the side wall, possibly through a small amount of the material of the connecting element. In either case, the planes of the side wall and the ring part are not locally parallel at the place where the ring part and the side wall are joined, but form an angle with each other, particularly an angle of at least 45°. The ring plane (corresponding to the sheet plane of the sheet material from which the ring is made and thus corresponding to the plane defined by the two flat sides) may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. In addition or alternatively, the ring plane may be parallel to the end side plane of the side wall.

[0026] Generally, the ring part is relatively thin and the thickness (perpendicular to the ring plane) can be, for example, from 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

[0027] The ring part has the effect of improving stability. It defines and fixes the contour of the side wall at the ring plane. By doing so, various container shapes as described above, which may deviate from the side wall with a round contour, are also possible. Thus, the ring part, particularly its inner contour, may have a shape such as a circular ring, an oval ring, a rounded polygon, particularly a rectangular or triangular ring, such as a curved rectangle like a bent square, an asymmetric shape, etc.

[0028] Furthermore, when the ring part is near the plane at the end of the (cylindrical) side wall or essentially within the said plane, it enables the container to be closed by providing the possibility of attaching a closure, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0029] In addition to the side wall and the ring part, the container may include a cooperating part. The cooperating part may be arranged near the ring part, and there may be a 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 generally, the cooperating part may be made of, for example, a cellulose-based sheet material. In particular, the cooperating part may consist of a veneer, which may be coated on one or both sides with a film material, for example, a (thin) film of a thermoplastic material in some cases.

[0030] The cooperating part may be arranged parallel to the ring surface. The thickness of the cooperating part (perpendicular to its sheet surface) may be, for example, 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

[0031] Instead of being the first ring formed by the ring part, the cooperating part may be a second ring, for example. The second ring may surround the side wall. It is also possible for the second ring to be surrounded by the side wall, that is, in an embodiment, the outer edge of the second ring may contact the inner surface of the side wall through a small amount of connecting element material in some cases.

[0032] Instead of being the second ring, the cooperating part may be the lid or the bottom of the container. And the cooperating part may be located on the end side of the side wall. For example, it may be disc-shaped and form the closing part of this end side. This is particularly an option for embodiments where there is no need to remove the closing part, for example, when the closing part of the container formed by the cooperating part is the bottom of the container (the upper part of the container is sealed in a different way), or when the container is a closed capsule.

[0033] The cooperating part may have the same thickness as the ring part and / or may be made of the same material as the ring part. Instead of this, the ring part and the cooperating part may have different thicknesses. Instead of this, the ring part and the cooperating part may be made of different cellulose-based materials (for example, veneers of different wood species) for aesthetic or mechanical reasons, for example.

[0034] ]> If the ring portion is positioned at the end and located on the edge, or surrounds the side wall in the plane of the edge, the ring portion may serve to attach a separate seal, which may be configured to be peeled off, for example, to access the contents of a container. The ring portion, and any cooperating portion, have flat surfaces defined by the sheet surface, and are therefore well suited to foil-like or sheet-like seals attached to them.

[0035] Therefore, the container may further include a seal attached to the ring portion. Such a seal may be foil-like, with its edges closing an opening that extends around it. It may be joined to the ring portion by, for example, sealing, i.e., by local melting. In particular, the ring portion may be coated with a thin thermoplastic layer for this purpose, thereby the process of sealing the seal to the ring portion includes welding, in particular hot stamping welding or ultrasonic welding.

[0036] The connecting element can be ring-shaped and may extend parallel to the ring and, where applicable, parallel to the cooperating portion. Instead of being ring-shaped, the connecting element may comprise multiple separate parts. More generally, the connecting element may be continuous or composed of a number of individual parts (e.g., points). After applying the joining process, such separate parts can form a continuous or discontinuous joint, depending on the spacing between the parts.

[0037] The connecting element is joined to the outer or inner surface of the side wall. If the connecting element is ring-shaped, it may surround the side wall, or alternatively, be surrounded by the side wall. The connection between the side wall and the ring portion may be liquid-tight, for example, if the container is closed (for example, by having a seal) and contains nutritional products. To ensure liquid tightness, the connecting element may have the ring shape described above.

[0038] The connecting elements may be pressed or cut from sheet material, molded, made from filaments or strips of material bent to form a ring or part of a ring, cut into separate parts, cut from an extruded tube, or extruded or 3D printed onto a ring or cooperative part. The connecting elements may have any preferred cross-section, including one of rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular, or trapezoidal shapes. The connecting elements may have a variable cross-section, for example, to fill gaps in overlapping areas of sheet material (e.g., veneer) used to create side walls having a tubular shape.

[0039] The connecting elements may initially be separate elements, or they may be provided on the ring and / or cooperative section by, for example, 3D printing or other additional methods.

[0040] In embodiments, the material of the connecting element is a thermoplastic polymer with or without fillers. It may be, for example, one of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), PVAC (polyvinyl acetate), PVAL (polyvinyl alcohol), PP (polypropylene), PEHD (high-density polyethylene), PELD (low-density polyethylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate); cellophane, polyester or copolyester, polyamide; PLA (polylactic acid), PHB (polyhydroxybutyric acid), PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoic acid); PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate), and more generally, in embodiments, the material is a bio-source thermoplastic and / or compostable thermoplastic.

[0041] The material of the connecting element may be the same as, for example, the film material of the coating film of the side wall, ring portion, and / or (where applicable) the cooperative portion.

[0042] In the embodiment, the thickness of the connecting element is 0.1 to 1 mm, preferably 0.3 to 0.6 mm.

[0043] The container may optionally further comprise a connecting element containment portion attached to the ring, or, if applicable, to the cooperative portion. The connecting element containment portion may be ring-shaped and may extend around the connecting element to contain the radially outward flow of the connecting element material during the process of connecting the ring to the side wall.

[0044] In addition to the ring portion, and where applicable, the cooperative portion, the container may also comprise a bottom, particularly composed of a pair of bottom discs, and bottom connecting elements, particularly made of a fusible material. The bottom may consist of a sheet material, particularly a cellulosic material, particularly a veneer. The bottom connecting elements may have a ring shape. The bottom, the bottom connecting elements, and the method of attaching them to the side wall may be substantially as described, for example, in WO 2023 / 280 895.

[0045] In this embodiment, the bottom portion is joined to the inner surface of the side wall near one end opening (e.g., the lower opening), while the ring portion, and the cooperating portion where applicable, is joined to the outer surface near the other end opening and / or the edge of the other end opening (e.g., the upper opening).

[0046] To attach the ring portion to the container wall, a method may be used that includes the step of compressing the connecting element in a direction perpendicular to the ring surface while energy, particularly mechanical vibration energy, is striking the connecting element and / or immediately thereafter. The effect is that the connecting element softens and expands on the ring surface until it contacts both the side wall and the ring portion. This results in a joint after the energy input stops and the connecting element solidifies again. Such a joint may include welding if the side wall and / or the ring portion is coated with a fusible material, and / or adhesive bonding. The joint between the connecting element and the side wall may be brought about in a manner similar to the joint described in WO 2023 / 280 895.

[0047] Therefore, the method for assembling the container is: The method may include the step of providing a side wall, wherein the side wall is cylindrical in shape, and the method further includes The method may include the step of positioning the connecting element and the ring portion relative to the side wall, wherein the ring portion is located on the end side of the side wall and / or surrounds the side wall, and the method further includes • A step of softening the connecting element by applying energy to it, - A step of compressing the connecting element in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ring surface on which the ring portion extends, thereby causing the softened connecting element to expand in the plane on which the ring portion extends, This may include the step of joining the connecting element to the side wall and the ring portion.

[0048] If the connecting element is ring-shaped and extends along the entire length of the interface between the ring portion and the side wall, the connecting element not only mechanically connects the ring portion and the side wall but also forms a seal.

[0049] In embodiments with a cooperating portion, the step of compressing the connecting element may particularly include the step of compressing the connecting element between the two parts by opposing forces acting on the ring portion and the cooperating portion. For example, a sonotrode may act on the ring portion or the cooperating portion while subjecting it to mechanical vibration, pressing it against the other (the cooperating portion or the ring portion, respectively), while an anvil exerts a counteracting force on the other. The mechanical vibration energy is coupled to the connecting element through the portion pressed by the sonotrode, i.e., the ring portion or the cooperating portion, respectively. It is also possible that, instead of an anvil, a second sonotrode presses the other, thereby coupling the energy to the connecting element from both sides.

[0050] In the embodiment, the sidewall is heated, for example, by hot air before (and / or during) the application of energy to the connecting element in order to soften the film applied to the surface of the sidewall.

[0051] A method for assembling a container may further include a step of joining the bottom to the side walls. This step may include a substep of positioning the bottom relative to a cylindrical shape such that the side walls surround the bottom, applying energy to the bottom connecting elements to soften them, and compressing the connecting elements, particularly the bottom, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane on which the bottom extends (which may be parallel to the ring surface), thereby expanding the softened connecting elements in the plane on which the bottom extends, and thereby joining the connecting elements to the side walls and the bottom.

[0052] This step of joining the bottom to the side wall may be performed before or after the step of joining the ring portion to the side wall. However, if the cooperating portion is the bottom or lid, or if the cooperating portion is a second ring that protrudes further inward than the ring portion, the configuration may require that the step of joining the bottom to the side wall be performed before joining the ring portion to the side wall.

[0053] In the embodiment, the thickness of the material of the side walls and / or ring portion, particularly cellulosic material, particularly the veneer, is 0.2 mm to 1 mm, particularly 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm, and even more particularly 0.35 mm to 0.5 mm. If a cooperating portion and / or bottom / bottom disc is present, the same dimensions may apply to these as well.

[0054] In this embodiment, the veneer is made of hardwood. In particular, it may be made of maple, birch, poplar, or beech wood.

[0055] In general, in this document, cellulosic materials, particularly sheet materials based on veneers, include a layered structure having multiple layers, where the layers of cellulosic material, particularly veneers, account for the majority of the thickness. Specifically, the cellulosic sheet materials referred to in this document include sheet materials having at least one layer of cellulosic material, particularly veneers, where the cellulosic material, particularly veneers, accounts for at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% (up to 100%) of the weight of the layered material.

[0056] A suitable material of a special type is a single sheet coated on one or both sides with a thin film of a film material, particularly a thermoplastic film material.

[0057] Cellulosic materials are typically in the form of veneers, but in other embodiments they may be paper or cardboard. Other materials, which are part of the sidewalls and / or rings, and / or joints and / or bottoms where applicable, may be present to provide liquid tightness, improve bonding to connecting elements, provide a base for labels, etc. These other materials may be in the form of films or thin layers, as described below.

[0058] In the embodiment, the cellulosic material is covered with a film of a material that improves bonding to the connecting element, at least in the region where the cellulosic material is to be bonded, and in particular, the material is the same as the thermoplastic material and / or the material of the connecting element.

[0059] As a result, the bonding between the connecting element and the side wall / ring section / cooperative section / bottom section covered with the material film is improved.

[0060] In embodiments, the material film is applied to the sidewall by laminating, spraying, painting, or printing the material. The material film may consist of a single layer of the material or multiple layers of the same or different materials. One of the layers may be an adhesive or glue for bonding the film to the sidewall. Suitable materials for the film include, 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 include, for example, polylactic acid (PLA) or lignin-based materials. Specific examples include ecovio® or Mater-Bi®.

[0061] In the embodiment, the material for coating the sidewalls and / or covering the outer edges is a biodegradable polymer material.

[0062] The assembly apparatus for manufacturing the above-mentioned types of containers is: A first tool having a housing structure for housing at least a portion of the side wall, and a ring-shaped first engaging surface extending around the housing structure, It may also include a second tool having a second engagement surface, The first and second tools are configured such that at least one of them is moved toward the other to compress the positioned object, i.e., the ring portion, together with the connecting element and, if applicable, the cooperating portion, between the first and second engagement surfaces.

[0063] Here, one of the first and second tools may be a sonotrode, and the other may be an anvil. In one embodiment, the first tool may be a ring sonotrode, and the first engagement surface may be the ring-shaped outer coupling surface of the ring sonotrode, extending around a cavity that serves as a housing structure.

[0064] Therefore, the second tool may be an anvil. In embodiments, the anvil may comprise an anvil base and an anvil plunger, the anvil plunger may be shaped according to the inner shape of the side wall in order to support the side wall during assembly.

[0065] In another embodiment, the second tool may be an anvil having a cavity that serves as a housing structure, and the first tool may be a sonotrode that is a ring sonotrode, or a conventional sonotrode having a disc-shaped external bonding surface covering the ring or an external bonding surface of other shape.

[0066] The assembly apparatus may further be configured such that one or both of the first and second tools are heated in addition to or instead of mechanical vibration energy to combine heat with the connecting elements.

[0067] The surfaces of the first and second tools that contact the ring portion and the cooperating portion, respectively, or that directly contact the connecting element, may be flat and essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, or they may have a slight angle to press the molten material of the connecting element against the side wall.

[0068] The assembly apparatus may be equipped and programmed to perform the assembly methods substantially described in this document.

[0069] The uses of the containers described in this document include packaging for foods such as dairy products, instant foods, beverages, and fresh fruits or vegetables. More generally, the uses include packaging for any type of food for which disposable packaging is common. In addition, the uses include disposable tableware, packaging for non-food consumer goods, and plant pods. In particular, using veneer as the material for the side walls can give the container a high-quality and elegant impression, making it suitable for packaging luxury goods.

[0070] The subject matter of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0071] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of the container. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the container from Figure 1 without a seal. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the containers in Figures 1 and 2 in the assembly apparatus during assembly. [Figure 4] This is a partial cross-sectional view of a container showing a modified example in which the ring portion is positioned relative to the side wall. [Figure 5] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the container showing a different modification in which the ring portion is positioned relative to the side wall. [Figure 6] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the container showing a different modification in which the ring portion is positioned relative to the side wall. [Figure 7] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the container showing a different modification in which the ring portion is positioned relative to the side wall. [Figure 8] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the container showing a different modification in which the ring portion is positioned relative to the side wall. [Figure 9] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the container showing a different modification in which the ring portion is positioned relative to the side wall. [Figure 10] This is a diagram showing the shape of a ring. [Figure 11] This diagram shows different ring shapes. [Figure 12] This diagram shows different ring shapes. [Figure 13] This figure shows a container with a rectangular ring and base that has rounded corners. [Figure 14] This figure shows a bottle-shaped container that is closed or can be closed. [Figure 15] This figure shows variations of bottle-shaped containers that are closed or can be closed. [Figure 16] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a certain type of connecting element. [Figure 17] This diagram shows the configuration of a different type of connection element. [Figure 18] This is a diagram showing alternative containers. [Figure 19] This figure shows the containers in Figures 1 and 2 in an alternative assembly device used during assembly. [Figure 20] This figure shows yet another embodiment of a container, which is a container that can be closed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0072] In the diagram, identical reference numbers refer to the same or similar elements. Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled container 1. The container 1 comprises side walls 2 and a bottom 3 joined to each other by a bottom connecting element 4. The bottom 3 has two bottom discs 31, 32, with the bottom connecting element 4 positioned between them. The bottom connecting element has a ring shape and is positioned around the perimeter of the bottom 3. It is made of a thermoplastic material, which softens and deforms in a softened state to join the bottom discs 31, 32 to each other and to the side walls 2.

[0073] Both the side wall 2 and the bottom discs 31 and 32 are made of single plates in the embodiment shown.

[0074] The container further comprises a ring portion 11 and a cooperating portion 12. The ring portion 11 is located at the end, i.e., the edge, specifically the upper edge. It is in physical contact with the (upper) edge of the side wall 2. The ring portion 11 is a ring cut from a single sheet and has an inner diameter corresponding to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the side wall at its upper end. The ring surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 10 of the container, which is defined by the side wall and the axis around which the side wall 2 is bent. In the embodiment depicted, the side wall 2 has a frustum shape, and the longitudinal axis is also the axis of symmetry.

[0075] The cooperating portion surrounds the side wall 2 in a plane defined by this end (upper end in Figure 1) of the cylindrical shape formed by the side wall. The cooperating portion 12 is a second ring, also made of a single plate, and has an inner diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the ring portion.

[0076] Between the ring portion 11 and the cooperating portion 12 is a connecting element 14 that connects the ring portion 11 and the cooperating portion 12 to each other and to the side wall 2. The connecting element 14 also has a ring shape and extends around the side wall. It is made of a thermoplastic material, which softens and deforms in a softened state to join the ring portion 11 and the cooperating portion 12 to each other and to the side wall 2.

[0077] The ring portion, cooperative portion, side wall, and bottom disc may have a relatively thin coating made of a thermoplastic film material in addition to the single plate.

[0078] The container further includes a seal 40 attached to the ring portion 11. The seal may be joined to the ring portion 11 by being sealed with a film which is a coating of the ring portion. The seal 40 may be removable by the user of the container.

[0079] Figure 2 shows a diagram of a container 1 without a seal. Both the ring portion 11 and the cooperative portion have a collar 15 at the upper end of the side wall 2, which has a flat top surface suitable for sealing a lid element. Such a lid element may be foil, or it may be a lid element made of, for example, a cellulose-based material, with at least the lower side coated with a sealant layer. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the collar 15 has an optional notch 16 so that the user can grasp a disc-shaped lid element having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the collar in order to peel off the lid element. Such a notch 16 may initially be present in the ring portion 11, for example, or may be present in the cooperative portion 11, or can be added after the assembly of the container, for example by punching.

[0080] Figure 3 shows the assembled container after the steps prior to connecting the bottom 3 to the side wall 2 in the color assembly apparatus 50 (not shown in Figure 2, but performed as substantially described in, for example, WO 2023 / 280 895).

[0081] To assemble container 1, the container is placed inside the color assembly device 50, for example, in an inverted position opposite to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, although this is not necessarily the case.

[0082] To add color, the ring portion 11, the cooperating portion 12, and the connecting element 14 are positioned relative to the side wall 2. The ring portion 11 or the cooperating portion 12 is positioned together with the connecting element 14, for example. The ring portion 11 can be positioned from one side (corresponding to the upper side of Figure 1 / 2 and the lower side of Figure 3), while the cooperating portion 12 is positioned from the other side (the lower side of Figure 1 / 2).

[0083] The collar assembly apparatus 50 comprises a ring sonotrode 51 and an anvil. The anvil comprises an anvil base 52 and an anvil plunger 53, the outer shape of which is adapted to the inner shape of the open end of the container 1. The anvil plunger 53 is movable relative to the anvil base and protrudes from the anvil base cavity 54, and can be pushed to some extent into the anvil base cavity 54 against the spring force of the plunger spring 55. The ring sonotrode 51 has an inner diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the cooperative portion 12, is positioned around the side wall 2, and is sized to couple mechanical vibration energy to the cooperative portion 12 while the anvil supports the ring portion 11 and while the connecting element 14 is between the ring portion 11 and the cooperative portion 12.

[0084] The ring sonotrode has a cavity 59 which is a housing structure for accommodating the side walls during assembly, and the external bonding surface 56 of the ring sonotrode 51 is ring-shaped.

[0085] To create a connection between the side wall 2, the ring portion 11, and the cooperating portion 12, the ring sonotrode 51 is moved toward (or vice versa) the anvil base 52, compressing the subassembly of the ring portion 11, the cooperating portion 12, and the connecting element 14. Simultaneously, the ring sonotrode 51 imparts vibrational energy, i.e., ultrasonic vibrational energy, to this subassembly, softening the connecting element 14 by heating it. The movement of the ring sonotrode 51 relative to the anvil base 52 is essentially perpendicular to the ring plane. The movement of the material of the connecting element 4 is essentially radial, parallel to this plane. After the connecting element material has solidified again, it fuses the ring portion 11 and the cooperating portion 12 together and fuses them with the side wall 2.

[0086] In addition to or instead of coupling ultrasonic vibration energy or other vibration energy to the subassembly, heat can also be coupled to the subassembly using a tool comprising the ring sonotrode 51 and an anvil or other means. More generally, the method includes coupling an amount of energy to the connecting element sufficient to at least soften the connecting element, and compressing the connecting element while it is in a softened state to fuse the connecting element with the ring portion and sidewalls, and with the cooperative portion, if present.

[0087] In the embodiment depicted, the ring-shaped support surface 57 of the anvil base 52 exerts a counteracting force against the pressing force on the ring portion 11 by the ring sonotrode 51, the anvil plunger 53 plays a role in centering the side wall 2 with the bottom 3 during the process, and the plunger spring 55 allows the anvil plunger 53 to move the side wall 2 and the ring portion 11 when the connecting element 14 is compressed between the ring portion 11 and the cooperative portion 12.

[0088] Here, the anvil plunger serves to align the side wall 2, the ring portion 11, the cooperating portion 12, and the connecting element 14 (if necessary, the connecting element in the embodiment is pre-fixed to the ring portion or the cooperating portion). Alternatively, especially if the cooperating portion itself is not ring-shaped but, for example, a disc, the anvil could be designed to have a simple planar support surface without a base cavity 54 and without an anvil plunger. Next, if the alignment of the cooperating portion is performed in different ways, for example, depending on the surrounding features, or if, for example, the protrusion of the cooperating portion is cut off in a subsequent step, then alignment may not be necessary.

[0089] To prevent the side wall 2 from lifting away from the ring portion 11 during assembly, it is necessary to hold the side wall 2 in place relative to the ring portion 11. In the shown embodiment, this is achieved by a side wall spring 58 acting between one ring sonotrode (particularly at its vibration node position) and the other side wall 2 or the portion connected thereto. Other means, such as a temporary adhesive connection between the ring portion and the side wall, or a vacuum to hold the side wall in place, are also possible.

[0090] In the modified embodiment depicted, the container does not have a cooperating part. The subassembly connected to the side wall comprises only the ring portion 11 and the connecting element 14, and does not have a cooperating part. During assembly, the connecting element is compressed directly between the ring portion 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 portion 11, it is compressed between the ring portion 11 and the anvil.

[0091] Although container 2 is shown to have the shape of a frustum, particularly a frustum of a cone, in other embodiments the base of container 1 may have a shape other than a circle, and all the following examples conform to this shape. Also, container 1 has a cylindrical shape, i.e., the side walls form a hollow cylinder.

[0092] Figures 4 to 9 schematically show various modifications in which the ring portion 11 and the cooperative portion 12 are positioned with the connecting element 14 relative to the side wall 2. All of these figures show only a portion of the side wall 2, with the inside of the container on the right side. Figure 4 shows a configuration substantially described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. This has the advantage that the ring portion 11 has a precisely defined position because it is located on the edge 19 of the side wall 2 and is mechanically stabilized by the side wall. Nevertheless, the inner edge 21 of the ring portion 11 is essentially coplanar with the inner surface of the side wall 2, which is a favorable characteristic for many applications in which the user removes the seal through the top opening and accesses the contents of the container.

[0093] The advantages of the latter are also evident in the configuration shown in Figure 5, where the ring portion surrounds the side wall 2 and lies almost flush with its edge 19.

[0094] The configuration in Figure 6 is similar to that in Figure 4, but the inner contour of the ring portion 11 is radially inward from the inner surface of the side wall 2. In this configuration, the ring portion 11 has a larger outer surface for attaching seals, for example, without compromising the compactness of the container.

[0095] The configuration in Figure 7 differs from that in Figure 5 in that the partial assembly of the ring portion 11, the cooperating portion 12, and the connecting element 14 is not on the plane of the edge 19. The annular projection formed by the ring and the cooperating portion may have functions such as a holding grip or a stacking aid for transport, especially if the container is a drinking cup.

[0096] The embodiments in Figures 5 and 7 share the common feature that the ring portion 11 and the cooperating portion 12 may have the same shape. The difference between one ring portion 11 and the other cooperating portion 12 is somewhat arbitrary; that is, the cooperating portion can function as a ring portion, and vice versa. The same may be observed in other embodiments in which the cooperating portion 12 has a ring shape, including the embodiments in Figures 4, 6, 8, and 9, but not in embodiments in which the cooperating portion has a disc shape, as will be described later with reference to Figure 14.

[0097] In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, unlike the subassembly connected to the container wall in addition to the ring portion 11, the cooperative portion 12 and connecting element 14 also include a connecting element containment portion 16. In the embodiment shown, the connecting element containment portion 16 is attached to the cooperative portion on the side facing the ring portion 11. However, the connecting element containment portion 16 may also be located on the ring portion 11, or it may exist as a separate element between the ring portion and the cooperative portion. The dimensions of the connecting element 14 are adapted to the position and thickness of the connecting element containment portion 16, so that the volume of the connecting element 14 fits into the space created when the cooperative portion 12 is moved relative to the ring portion 11 to a position where the upper surface of the connecting element containment portion 16 contacts the ring portion 11 and closes the ring volume having the connecting element 14. This thereby traps the radially outward flow of the connecting element material by the connecting element containment portion 16.

[0098] Figure 9 shows that the configuration in Figure 4 functions independently of the cone angle α. In general, the cone angle of the side wall 2 in the plane of the ring can be 0° to 45°, and in particular, it can be 0° to 20°. Other configurations, including those in Figures 5 to 8, also function independently of the cone angle within the specified range of 0° to 45°.

[0099] Figures 10 to 13 show that the shape of the sidewall (for example, the shape of the base of a cylinder or cone) and the shapes of the ring and cooperating parts do not have to be circular. Figure 10 shows an elliptical shape, Figure 11 shows a triangular shape with rounded corners, and Figure 12 shows a rectangular shape with rounded corners. Figure 13 shows a container with a rectangular base shape with rounded corners. The ring, along with the bottom, plays a role in stabilizing the base shape, so the base shape can be selected as needed.

[0100] Figure 14 illustrates the possibility of fabricating a closed or reversibly closed container using the approach described in this document. The upper closing element comprises an upper ring portion resting on the upper edge of the side wall 2. The cooperating portion 122 for this upper ring portion 121 is ring-shaped and surrounded by the side wall 2. The connecting element 114 is located internally. Thus, the upper closing element of the embodiment in Figure 14 is an example of an embodiment in which the connecting element is connected to the inner surface of the side wall 2. In addition to the upper ring portion 122, the upper closing element comprises a bottleneck 91 with a bottle cap 92.

[0101] The lower closing element is disc-shaped and consists of a cooperating part 12 that is connected to the side wall together with the (lower) ring part 11 by the technology described above in this document. The configuration in Figure 14 is an example of a configuration in which the cooperating part itself is not ring-shaped.

[0102] Figure 15 shows a modified example of the above-described type of bottom 3 having two bottom discs 31, 32 and an upper closing element formed by a cooperating part 12. The cooperating part 12 holds the bottleneck 91 with the bottle cap 92 attached.

[0103] In both the embodiment shown in Figure 14 and the embodiment shown in Figure 15, the subassembly comprising the ring portion 11 and the cooperating portion 12 is connected to the side wall after the upper closing element or the bottom portion, respectively. In both embodiments, a modified anvil without an anvil plunger is used. In the embodiment shown in Figure 15, the anvil has a recess for accommodating the bottleneck 91 if the bottleneck is fixed to the cooperating portion 12 before assembly with the side wall 2.

[0104] Figures 16 and 17 schematically illustrate two possibilities for the configuration of the connecting element 14. In Figure 16, the connecting element is ring-shaped and extends around the outer surface of the side wall. The ring shape provides a seal between the side wall, the ring portion, and the cooperating portion. In Figure 17, the connecting element 14 comprises multiple separate parts. This reduces the amount of polymer material required. Embodiments with separate connecting element parts may be useful in embodiments where sealing between the ring portion and the side wall is not required, for example, in containers that package individually packaged or bulk goods.

[0105] Figure 18 illustrates the principle that the ring portion 11 and the cooperating portion 12, and therefore the connecting element 14 positioned between them, do not have to extend in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 10. Rather, they can form an angle different from 90° with respect to this axis.

[0106] Figure 19 shows an alternative configuration to that of Figure 3, comprising a collar assembly apparatus 50 with a sonotrode 51 having a flat external bonding surface, and an anvil in which the anvil base 52 houses the side walls within an anvil base cavity 54 during assembly. The anvil base cavity 54 tapers towards the opening (towards the top of Figure 19) to support the conical side walls during the process. Aside from these differences, the assembly process is similar to the process described with reference to Figure 3.

[0107] Figure 20 shows a further embodiment of a container having two bottom discs 31, 32 at the bottom, inside the anvil. The ring portion 11 belongs to the upper closing element and the bottleneck 91 is attached to it. Since the container has a bottom and the connecting element 14 and cooperative portion 12 are further inside the side wall 2, the anvil has an anvil support portion 58 in addition to the anvil base 52 and anvil plunger 53 to support the cooperative portion 12 during assembly and prevent the cooperative portion 12 from being pushed down by a sonotrode (not shown in Figure 20, but may be a ring sonotrode of the type shown in Figure 3). The anvil support portion consists of multiple parts held outward by a support spring 59, and is therefore removable from the bottleneck 91, which has a relatively large diameter, by compressing the support spring 59 after the assembly process.

[0108] Although the present invention has been described in this embodiment, it is clearly understood that the present invention is not limited thereto and can be embodied and implemented in various other ways within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Container (1), - The container is provided with a side wall (2), the side wall is bent to have a cylindrical shape, and the container is further, - At least one ring portion (11) and A container comprising a connecting element (14) made of a fusible material, wherein the connecting element connects the ring portion (14) to the side wall (2).

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the ring portion (11) is positioned on the edge (19) of the side wall (2) and / or surrounds the side wall.

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

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

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the cellulosic material of the side wall (2), particularly the veneer, accounts for at least 60%, or at least 70%, particularly at least 80%, and even more particularly at least 90% of the weight of the side wall (2).

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

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the ring portion (11) includes a cellulose-based material, particularly a veneer.

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

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the ring surface is parallel to the plane defined by the edge (19) of the side wall (2).

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

11. The container according to claim 10, wherein the aforementioned cooperative part (12) is made of sheet material.

12. The container according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the cooperating portion (12) has two flat sides parallel to the ring surface, and the two flat sides are parallel to the ring surface.

13. The container according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the aforementioned cooperative portion (12) includes a cellulose-based material, particularly a veneer.

14. The container according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the cooperative portion (12) is ring-shaped and surrounds the side wall (2).

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

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

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

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

19. The container according to claim 18, wherein the bottom portion (4) comprises two bottom discs (31, 32), and the bottom connecting element (4) is positioned between the discs (31, 32).

20. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a seal (40) attached to the ring portion (11), wherein the seal closes the cylindrical opening of the side wall (2).

21. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ring portion has an inner contour that is one of a circle, a rectangle with rounded corners, a triangle with rounded corners, or an ellipse, and the cylindrical shape has a corresponding outer contour.

22. A method for assembling a container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is: - The step of providing the side wall (2) having the cylindrical shape, - The step of providing the ring portion (11) and the connecting element (14), - The steps of arranging the ring portion (11) and the connecting element (14) with respect to the side wall (2) such that the ring portion is located on the edge (19) of the side wall (2) and / or surrounds the side wall, and the connecting element (14) is adjacent to the surface of the side wall (2) and adjacent to the ring portion (11), - A step of softening the connecting element (14) by applying energy to the connecting element (14), - A step of compressing the connecting element (14) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ring surface on which the ring portion (11) extends, thereby causing the softened connecting element (14) to expand on the ring surface, A method comprising the step of joining the connecting element (14) to the side wall (2) and the ring portion (11).

23. The step further includes providing a collaborative unit (12), The arrangement step includes arranging the ring portion (11), the connecting element (14), and the cooperating portion (12) relative to the side wall (2) such that the ring portion is located on the edge (19) of the side wall (2) and / or surrounds the side wall, and the connecting element (14) is positioned between the ring portion (11) and the cooperating portion (12) and adjacent to the surface of the side wall (2), The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of compressing the connecting element includes compressing the connecting element (14) between the ring portion (11) and the cooperating portion (12) by at least one of the ring portion and the cooperating portion toward the other of the ring portion and the cooperating portion.

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

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the container comprises the cooperating portion (12), and in the step of supplying energy, the sonotrode presses against one of the ring portion (11) and the cooperating portion (12), while the anvil exerts a counterforce on the other of the ring portion (11) and the cooperating portion (12).

26. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the side wall (2) comprises a film of a thermoplastic material, and the method further comprises a step of heating the side wall before the step of supplying energy to the connecting element and / or during the step of supplying energy to the connecting element in order to soften the film of the thermoplastic material.

27. An assembly apparatus (50) for manufacturing a container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the assembly apparatus (50) is - A first tool having a housing structure for housing at least a portion of the side wall (2) of the container, the first tool having a ring-shaped first engagement surface extending around the housing structure, and the assembly device (50) further, - A second tool having a second engagement surface, - An assembly apparatus in which the first tool and the second tool are configured such that at least one of the first tool and the second tool is moved toward the other to compress the ring portion (11) together with the connecting element (14) between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface.

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