Procedure for Manufacturing a Laminated Package for Solid Products in Powder or Grain Form, as Well as a Package Obtained by This Procedure

Abstract

A laminated package for solid products in powder or grain form, includes a set of stiffening notches, a dispensing mouth with a seal, valves for loading inert gas, in which the lateral folds of the upper face are folded inwards under the front and rear flaps, and the lateral folds of the lower face are folded outward and folded and stuck on the lower face over the front and rear flaps, and a method for forming the package.

Claims

1. A laminated package for solid products in powder or grain form, comprising a die-pressed coil of printed and laminated material which defines an outer shape of a template of the package, a window at a top of one side of the package, an opening injected-plastic dispensing mouth positioned in the window, and a set of main stiffening notches set in front and rear faces of the package.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the window includes upper corners provided with cutaways, and the dispensing mouth which is located in the window includes a frame positioned in the window and including tabs in concordance with said cutaways.

3. A package according to claim 1, wherein the notches include main notches in an “X” shape, and defining upper, lower and lateral triangular zones.

4. A package according to claim 3, wherein the main notches each have a grooved section with divergent lateral walls.

5. A package according to claim 3, wherein the notches include a set of parallel, vertically oriented secondary notches in one said lateral triangular zone opposite to a side of the package in which the dispensing mouth is fitted, extending from a corresponding vertical edge to a zone of intersection of the main notches.

6. A package according to claim 5, wherein the secondary notches each have a curved section.

7. A package according to claim 1, wherein the notches include third notches in a lateral face of the package opposite to a lateral face in which the dispensing mouth is positioned.

8. A package according to claim 7, wherein the third notches are parallel to each other.

9. A package according to claim 7, wherein the third notches are placed in an oblique position.

10. A package according to claim 5, wherein the third notches each have a curved section.

11. A package according to claim 1, wherein: an upper face of the package is formed with a front upper flap, a rear upper flap and lateral upper flaps, folded in respect of lateral faces of the package and of each other, forming a flat face, in which lateral folds are bent inwards under the front and rear upper flaps; and a lower face of the package is made up of a front lower flap, a rear lower flap and lateral lower flaps, folded in respect of lateral faces of the package and of each other and outer edges of said flaps have a sealing over-extension, such that the lateral lower flaps are folded outward and folded and stuck on said lower face outside the front and rear lower flaps.

12. A package according to claim 1, further comprising at least one further window in said package, and at least one valve for loading inert gas and evacuating air contained in the package, positioned in the at least one further window.

13. A package according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing mouth comprises at least one valve for loading inert gas and evacuating air contained in the package.

14. A method for manufacturing a laminated formed package for solid products in powder or grain form according to claim 1, said package being made from a coil of printed and laminated material, comprising the steps of: making a set of notches in said coil of printed and laminated material, said notches including main notches and secondary notches corresponding to front and rear faces of the formed package, and third notches corresponding to the lateral face opposite that of the dispensing mouth; die-stamping the outer shape of the template of the package; die-stamping the window which receives the dispensing mouth; folding and welding the template around a retractile plunger, thereby forming a tubular body; fitting and welding a frame of the dispensing mouth in the window, with the dispensing mouth further including a moving body connected with the frame; folding and joining flaps forming an upper face of the package by welding, such that a front flap thereof overlaps a rear flap thereof, and lateral flaps being position to an inside under the front and rear flaps; turning the moving body of the dispensing mouth over a joining hinge with the frame, and inserting the moving body into the window which forms the frame, until the dispensing mouth is closed; fitting a seal over the dispensing mouth; turning the package over to leave the upper face facing downward and a lower face of the packaging, which is open, facing upward; filling the package with the solid product; folding and welding by ultrasonic welding flaps of the lower face, which are facing upward, with lateral folds being position outward therefrom; folding the welded flaps, and folding and sticking the lateral folds over a surface of the lower face; and turning the package over to leave the upper face facing upward and the lower face facing downward.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of: die-stamping at least one further window in the package for inserting at least one valve for at least one of injecting inert gas and extracting air contained in the package; fitting valves in said at least one further window; and once the package has been filled and closed, injecting inert gas and extracting the air contained in the package through said valves.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the dispensing mouth includes valves for at least one of injecting inert gas and extracting the air contained in the package, and comprising the step of at least one of injecting inert gas and extracting air contained in the package through said valves.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] In order to illustrate the following explanation we are enclosing 16 sheets of drawings with this descriptive report, in which seventeen figures represent the essence of this invention, as an example without constituting any limitation thereto, and in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a view of the package of the invention, with the dispensing mouth open, in usage condition;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a view of a first phase of manufacturing the package with a plunger inserted inside this, and with the upper and lower faces not yet folded;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a view of the package in a second phase of manufacturing the package, with the plunger still inside this, in which a dispensing mouth is fitted;

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a view of the package in the manufacturing stage of FIG. 3, with the frame of the dispensing mouth already fitted in the package;

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a view of the package in a third manufacturing stage, in which the upper face is being folded;

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a view of the package in a fourth manufacturing stage, in which the moving body of the dispensing mouth is inserted into the window of the frame of said mouth, by turning this in respect of the hinge that joins them;

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a view of the package with the previous operation completed, with the upper face completely folded and the dispensing mouth completely closed, but with the lower face still not folded;

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a view of the package in a fifth manufacturing stage in which a seal is placed over the dispensing mouth;

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a view of the package from an angle opposite to that of the dispensing mouth, in an operation in which the gas valves are being fitted; this operation can be carried out simultaneously with the phase of fitting the dispensing mouth or in a separate phase;

[0048] FIG. 10 shows a view of the package in a sixth stage of the operation in which the package has been turned over, placing the lower face upward, and filling the package with the required product;

[0049] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a view of the package in a seventh stage of the operation, in which a sealing flap of the lower face is respectively welded and folded;

[0050] FIGS. 13 and 14 show different views of the package in an eighth phase of the operation in which the sealing flap is folded over the lower face and the triangular portions projecting over said lower face are folded, after which the package is turned over again so that the lower face is facing downward and the upper one upward;

[0051] FIG. 15 shows a view of the package in a ninth stage of the operation, in which inert gas is inserted and the air inside the package is extracted through the gas valves;

[0052] FIG. 16 shows a schematic cross-section view of an embodiment of the main notches;

[0053] FIG. 17 shows a schematic cross-section view of an embodiment of the secondary notches and third notches.

[0054] The following reference numbers are used in these figures: [0055] 1 package [0056] 2 dispensing lid [0057] 3 window made in the package for the dispensing lid [0058] 4 frame of the dispensing lid [0059] 5 moving body of the dispensing lid [0060] 6 seal of the dispensing lid [0061] 7 main notches [0062] 8 secondary notches [0063] 9 upper face of the package [0064] 9a front and rear upper flaps of the package [0065] 9b lateral upper flaps of the package [0066] 10 lower face of the package [0067] 10a front and rear lower flaps of the package [0068] 10b lateral lower flaps of the package [0069] 10c lower flaps for sealing [0070] 11 plunger or piston placed inside the package in the forming stage [0071] 12 windows for the insertion of valves for loading gas and extraction of the air contained in the package [0072] 13 valves [0073] 14 third notches [0074] 15 packaged product [0075] 16 inert gas injected in the package [0076] 17 air with oxygen extracted from the package

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0077] A laminated package (1) is described, intended for solid products (15) in powder or grain form, which is made from a coil of a laminated material. This material is made up of a paperboard sheet with at least one layer of outer coating and at least one layer of inner coating made of a plastic material. There could be additional layers, although said lamination is not the subject of this invention. Although polyethylene is normally used for coatings due to its low price and appropriate isolation capacity, it has been found that polypropylene furthermore has better characteristics for welding different items on this, particularly by ultrasonic means, such as a dispensing mouth (2) of injected plastic (normally polypropylene), or valves (13) for loading inert gas (16) or extraction of air (17) with oxygen. Other plastics could nevertheless be used for the outer layers, these plastics being able to be different for the inner layer and for the outer layer.

[0078] The package (1) is provided with an opening dispensing mouth (2) located on one of the lateral faces in a position close to the upper face (9). Lower face (10) is defined throughout this description as the supporting face of the package, in which the lower folds are located, and upper face (9) means the opposite face. The laminated material of which the package is made is previously printed.

[0079] The surface of the package is provided with a set of notches (7,8,14) for stiffening this. The notches (7,8) are located on the front and rear faces, as well as also (14) on the opposite face to the one which has the dispensing mouth (2).

[0080] Said notches are main notches (7) in the form of an “X” which are placed on the front and rear faces (larger faces). These main notches (7) divide each of said faces into four triangular zones. These triangular zones are an upper zone, a lower zone, a lateral zone close to the face provided with the dispensing mouth and a lateral zone farther from the face provided with the dispensing mouth. According to one embodiment of the invention, the triangular zone furthest from the dispensing mouth is provided with a set of second notches (8) which are placed in parallel to each other (vertically). Other triangular zones can also be provided with stiffening notches according to less preferred options.

[0081] Although it is designed for the main notches (7) and the second notches (8) to be straight, it is also possible, within the scope of the invention, for these to have a curved shape or any other irregular form.

[0082] According to a preferred option, the main notches (7) have a grooved section with divergent lateral walls, and the second notches (8) have a curved section.

[0083] According to a non-limiting option, the number of second notches (8) is four, decreasing to the centre of the “X” formed by the main notches.

[0084] The lateral face opposite to that of the dispensing mouth is also provided with third notches (14). According to a preferred, non-limiting option, said third notches (14) are arranged in parallel to each other and obliquely in respect of the edges of the package. Said third notches (14) could also be in another shape, such as a curved or irregular form, within the scope of the invention.

[0085] Also according to a preferred option, the third notches have a curved section.

[0086] According to a non-limiting option, the number of third notches is eight.

[0087] The upper face (9) of the package is formed of upper front flaps and upper rear flaps (9a) and lateral upper flaps (9b), folded in respect of the lateral faces and in themselves, forming a flat face in which the lateral folds are bent inwards under the front and rear flaps.

[0088] The lower face (10) of the package is formed of front lower and rear lower flaps (10a) and lateral lower flaps (10b), folded in respect of the lateral faces and in themselves, and in which the outer edge of said flaps has an over-extension (10c) for sealing. The lateral folds (10b) are folded outwards and later folded and stuck on said lower face (10) outside the front and rear flaps (10a).

[0089] It is designed for either the package or the dispensing lid to be provided with valves (13) for loading inert gas (16) and extracting the air (17) contained in the package. If the valves are placed in the package, it is designed for these to be placed beside the upper edge of the face opposite to the one with the dispensing lid (2). A single valve (13) can optionally perform both functions, with a dual action nozzle (injecting inert gas and extracting air). In the event of the valves being located in the dispensing mouth (2), this is totally and hermetically sealed over the surface of the package, in the window made for this purpose in the template or register from which said package is made.

[0090] The invention also refers to a procedure for making the package of claim 1.

[0091] Said procedure involves the following stages being carried out:

[0092] A set of notches is made through deformation of the surface from a coil of material (paperboard) previously printed and laminated, especially by means of outer and inner sheets of a plastic material such as polypropylene. Said notches normally include main notches (7) and second notches (8) corresponding to the front and rear faces and third notches (14), corresponding to the lateral face opposite to the one in which the dispensing mouth will be placed. Because the notches represent a deformation (a retraction) of the material, the printing must be done considering said retraction.

[0093] After the notches have been made, the next procedure is to make the folding marks, corresponding to the vertical edges, the horizontal edges, and the closing folds of the upper (9) and lower (10) faces of the package. Simultaneously or consecutively to the above a window (3) is die-pressed, in which the dispensing mouth will be placed, as well as the outer contour or the template or register from which the package will be made. The dispensing mouth (2) may be fitted with valves for loading inert gas and extracting air. According to another option, one or more windows (12) are also die-pressed for placing the valves for loading inert gas (16) and extracting the air (17) contained in the package.

[0094] The operations for forming the notches and die-stamping can also be performed in any order, always taking into account the contraction rate.

[0095] After making the template, this is fitted onto a plunger (11), folded at its vertical edges and welding, normally by ultrasonic means, the lateral ends to form a tubular body. The plunger is retractile to be able to perform the successive later operations.

[0096] With the tubular body formed, the frame (4) of the dispensing mouth is then fitted and welded in the window made for this purpose in the template. As has been stated, the dispensing mouth is provided with the frame (4) and with a moving body (5) joined to said frame by means of a hinge. In the case of windows having been made for the valves (12), the corresponding valves (13) for loading inert gas and extracting air will also be fitted.

[0097] After the dispensing mouth has been fitted and welded, the next steps carried out are the folding and joining by welding, normally by ultrasonic means, of the different flaps forming the upper face (9) of the package. The flap hinged to the front face is placed over the flap hinged to the rear face. The lateral folds are located on the inside, under the front and rear flaps.

[0098] The moving body is turned in respect of the hinge and then inserted in the window which forms the frame of the dispensing mouth until the dispensing mouth is completely closed.

[0099] With the dispensing mouth closed a seal (6) is fitted over said mouth, guaranteeing total watertightness of the package, after being closed. The seal can be fitted in this operation or in later operations.

[0100] The aforementioned operations can be done with the package in “normal” position with the upper face upward (the face that is closed to the dispensing mouth) and the lower face downward or in inverted position, with the upper face downward and the lower face up.

[0101] In the event of the package not being inverted, the package is turned over so that the package has its upper face, already formed, downward, and the lower face, still not formed, open, upward.

[0102] In this position the package is filled with the corresponding consumer product.

[0103] After the package has been filled with the required amount of product the lower face (now facing upward) is closed and sealed. To this end the over-extension of the flaps of the lower face is folded and welded, normally by ultrasonic means, the lateral folds being left outward. The flap folded over the lower face is folded and stuck, and then the lateral folds projecting over the surface of the lower face are stuck.

[0104] The full and closed package is turned over so that its upper face is upward and its lower face downward and with the valves for loading inert gas and extracting air located in the zone close to the upper face.

[0105] As the final operation, nozzles are fitted on the valves for loading inert gas and extracting air, whether these valves are placed in the package or in the dispensing mouth. Inert gas, normally nitrogen, is injected and the air contained in the package is simultaneously extracted.

[0106] In these conditions a long-lasting package prior to the first opening is obtained, this duration being prolonged in respect of packages with no closure due to the dispensing mouth which can be effectively closed; the package is also free of any additional materials such as bags, simplifying both the manufacture of the package and its packing and the recycling of said package after being used.