PLASTIC CONTAINER

Abstract

A plastic container for flowable and pourable filling material. The plastic container has a container body, which is preferably provided with one or more emptying openings (3) and which has container walls (4) and a container bottom (5), and the container walls and the container bottom enclosing a cavity. The container body has at least one support structure (10). The support structure and/or the container body is produced, at least in parts, by way of a 3D printing method.

Claims

1-33. (canceled)

34. A plastic container for flowable and pourable filling material, comprising a container body which is provided with one or more emptying openings and which comprises container walls and a container base which encompass a cavity, wherein the container body comprises at least one support structure, at least one of the support structure and the container body is/are manufactured, at least in regions, by a 3D printing method, in particular the emptying opening comprising a shoulder region, a neck region and the pour-out opening are manufactured together with the container body and/or the support structure in a 3D printing method.

35. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the support structure is arranged on at least one of an outer wall of the container body, on at least an inner wall of the container body, on the container base or within the cavity which is encompassed by the container walls and/or is embedded into at least one of the container walls and/or into the container base.

36. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the support structure comprises one of plastic, metal, ceramic, carbon structures, graphite structures, similar materials or material mixtures, paper or other plant-fibre-based materials.

37. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the support structure is arranged within the cavity which is encompassed by the container walls and extends essentially over an entire axial length of the container body.

38. The plastic container according to claim 37, wherein the support structure comprises one or more basic structure elements which are connected to one another and are essentially designed in the same manner.

39. The plastic container according to claim 37, wherein the support structure comprises one or more basic structure elements which are designed differently and are connected to one another.

40. The plastic container according to claim 37, wherein the basic structure elements have a diameter of between at least 0.05 mm to 1 mm.

41. The plastic container according to claim 37, wherein the support structure extends over a large part of the cavity which is encompassed by the delimitation walls.

42. The plastic container according to claim 38, wherein the support structure has a framework-like construction.

43. The plastic container according to claim 42, wherein the support structure is constructed in a three-dimensional manner and is designed, in at least one dimension, in an elastically deformable manner.

44. The plastic container according to claim 43, wherein the at least one dimension corresponds to a depth of the container body.

45. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the support structure is arranged on at least one of the container walls or is embedded into at least one of the container walls.

46. The plastic container according to claim 45, wherein the support structure is designed as a frame structure which extends, at least in regions, over an axial longitudinal extension and/or a peripheral extension of the container wall.

47. The plastic container according to claim 45, wherein the support structure is designed as a contour-providing structure, and the contour-providing structure defines a contour of the at least one container wall.

48. The plastic container according to claim 47, wherein the support structure is arranged between an outer wall and an inner wall of the container body.

49. The plastic container according to claim 45, wherein the support structure is designed as a contour-providing structure of the container body.

50. The plastic container according to claim 45, wherein the support structure can be unraveled into a plane surface.

51. The plastic container according to claim 45, wherein the support structure is manufactured from a flat tape material.

52. The plastic container according to claim 51, wherein the support structure is one of punched out, cut, laser cut or is manufactured in a desired shape according to similar methods.

53. The plastic container according to claim 51, wherein the support structure is manufactured in layers by a 3D printing method, and the layers are aligned parallel to one another and to a longitudinal axis of the plastic container.

54. The plastic container according to claim 53, wherein the basic structure elements have a diameter of between at least 0.05 to 1 mm.

55. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the support structure is arranged on the container base and/or is embedded into the container base.

56. The plastic container according to claim 45, wherein the support structure comprises a framework-like construction.

57. A plastic container wherein the container body comprises a combination of the features of claim 34.

58. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the container body at least in regions is manufactured in a blow molding method.

59. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein a container wall which is provided with a support structure has a wall thickness of between 0.05 mm to 1 mm, preferably of 0.15 mm to 0.30 mm, and the wall thickness is measured without the support structure.

60. The plastic container according to claim 45, wherein a combined wall thickness in regions, in which the support structure and the container wall overlap, is at least 0.1 mm.

61. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the container body comprises more than 50% thermoplastic plastics, PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE, other bio-based thermoplastic plastics, or PEF.

62. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the container body has a circular, a flat-oval or a polygonal cross section.

63. The plastic container according to claim 34, wherein the container body comprises an integrated handle.

64. A plastic container wherein the container body comprises a combination of the features of claim 45.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Further advantages and features result from the subsequent description of embodiment examples of the invention with reference to the schematic drawings. In a representation which is not true to scale are shown:

[0042] FIG. 1 a partly longitudinally sectioned perspective view of a plastic container;

[0043] FIG. 2 a perspective view of a basic structure element;

[0044] FIG. 3 a support structure which is put together from basic structure elements according to FIG. 2;

[0045] FIG. 4 an alternative variant of a basic structure element;

[0046] FIG. 5 a support structure which is put together from basic structure elements according to FIG. 4;

[0047] FIG. 6 a support structure of one variant of a plastic container; and

[0048] FIG. 7 container walls and a container base for a support structure according to

[0049] FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] A plastic container which is represented in a partially sectioned view in FIG. 1 in its entirety has the reference numeral 1. The plastic container 1 comprises a container body 2 which is provided with an emptying opening. The container body 2 comprises container walls 4 and a container base 5 which encompass a cavity 8. The container body 2 consists for example predominantly, i.e. to 90% or more of HDPE or LDPE. The container base 5 at the same time forms a placement surface for the plastic container 1 in the represented embodiment example. The container body 2, as is represented, at its longitudinal end which is opposite to the container base 5 can comprise an essentially flat container shoulder 6 which defines a shoulder section. Subsequent to the container shoulder 6, a neck section extends in the direction of a pour-out opening 3 which is designed as a pour-out spout 7. This pour-out spout 7 edges a pour-out opening 3. This configuration corresponds to the typical configuration of a bottle. In alternative embodiments of the plastic container, the container walls can also run out directly into the pour-out spout 7 with the pour-out opening 3. First engagement elements 9 in the form of threaded sections, thread flights or the like can be arranged on the outer wall of the pour-out spout and these positively interact with corresponding second engagement element on the inner wall of a closure (not represented). Alternatively, the first engagement means can also be arranged on the inner wall of the pour-out spout. In this case, the associated closure comprises corresponding engagement means on an outer wall of the closure. The outer or inner wall of the pour-out spout can for example also be designed in an unstructured or smooth manner and be designed for the frictional fixation of a closure plug.

[0051] As is evident from the drawing in FIG. 1, a support structure 10 is arranged within the cavity 8 which is encompassed by the container walls 4 and the container base 5. The support structure 10 extends essentially over the entire height of the container body 2 and provides this with the necessary mechanical stiffness and strength. The container walls 4 themselves do not need to accommodate mechanical forces. The barrier function of the container body 2 and the support function can be decoupled form one another by way of the support structure. 10. The barrier function is assumed by the container walls 4 which encompass the cavity 8 and by the container base 5. These can be optimised with regard to this function. In contrast, the support function is assumed by the support structure 10. This permits the container walls and/or the container base to be reduced in their wall thickness. The wall thickness of the container walls 4 or of the container base can be for example only 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably 0.15 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0052] The support structure 10 is constructed of a number of basic structure elements 11.

[0053] One example of such a basic structure element 11 is represented in FIG. 2. The basic structure element 11 is designed in a spatial manner and roughly has the shape of two ellipses of the same type which are connected to one another and whose longitudinal axes are aligned roughly perpendicularly to one another. The basic structure element 11 by way of example is manufactured in a 3D printing method. The basic structure element 11 has a diameter which does not fall short of 0.05 mm.

[0054] Several basic structure elements 11 are connected to one another and thus form the support structure 10 which is represented in FIG. 3. The basic structure elements 11 are herein designed in essentially the same manner and are connected to one another. On manufacture of the support structure in a 3D printing method there are hardly any restrictions with regard to the design and shaping of the basic structure elements. The basic structure elements can then be connected to one another for example by way of welding, e.g. laser welding.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a spatially designed basic structure element which is provided with the reference numeral 11′. The basic structure element 11′ has the shape of four rods which are spatially inclined to one another at the same angle. The individual rods have a diameter which is at least 0.05 mm. The manufacture of the basic structure elements 11′ is again effected for example in a 3D printing method.

[0056] The basic structure elements 11, 11′ consist of plastic and/or of metal and/or of ceramic and/or of carbon or graphite and similar materials or material mixtures or of paper or other plant-fibre-based materials. Restrictions with respect to the materials for the basic structure elements 11, 11′ only exist where the support structure comes into direct contact with the flowable or pourable filling material. In these cases, the material of the support structure must be suitable and permitted for example for foodstuffs and/or must be inert with respect to the filling material.

[0057] The basic structure elements 11′ can be joined together into a larger support structure 10′ which is represented for example in FIG. 5. The support structures 10, 10′ which are represented in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 comprise a framework-like construction. By way of this, the volume which is lost by the support structure 10, 10′ which is arranged in the cavity can be kept small. Support structures 10, 10′ which are constructed in a framework-like manner further have a high intrinsic stiffness and a high crush strength.

[0058] The support structure 10, 10′ which is constructed in a three-dimensional manner can be designed in an elastically deformable manner in at least one dimension. The elasticity of the support structure 10, 10′ in at least one dimension can for example simplify a bringing-out of the flowable or pourable filed material by way of pressing together two container walls which lie opposite one another along the specified dimension.

[0059] In an embodiment of the invention which is not represented in more detail, the support structure can be designed in an extensive manner. The support structure can herein be designed in a manner such that it can be unraveled into a plane surface. The support structure can also be manufactured of a flat tape material. The shaping of the support structure can herein be effected by way of punching, mechanical cutting, laser cutting or similar machining methods. On manufacturing the support structure in a 3D printing method, this can be manufactured in plane layers. Herein, the layers can be aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plastic container.

[0060] The structure which is designed in an extensive manner can be arranged on at least one of the container walls or on the container base or be embedded into at least one of the container walls or into the container base. Concerning this embodiment of the invention, the support structure forms a type of frame for the respective container wall or for the container base. The container wall or the container base itself merely needs to be designed as thickly as is necessary for the fulfilment of the barrier function. The mechanical strength of the container wall or of the container base is set by the support structure. In the regions, in which the support structure and the container walls overlap, the wall thickness is at least 0.25 mm.

[0061] The extensively designed support structure can be designed as a frame structure which at least in regions extends over an axial longitudinal extension and/or a peripheral extension of the container wall. The container wall can for example be joined into this frame structure in a manner such that the frame structure remains visible. In an alternative embodiment, the frame structure can be covered by the container wall. The support structure can be designed as a contour-providing structure and define the contour of the at least one container wall. The individual container walls can then be assembled together, for example into the plastic container. As a rule however, the support structure of the individual container walls are fastened to one another, in order to set the contour of the container body. Concerning a further embodiment of the plastic container, the support structure can be arranged between an outer wall and an inner wall of the container body. Concerning this variant, the support structure is embedded into the container walls. Assembled in such a manner, the support container does not come into contact with the flowable or pourable filed material. This increases the degrees of freedom with regard to the materials which can be used for the support structure.

[0062] FIGS. 6 and FIG. 7 show a further embodiment of a plastic container 21 which comprises a container body 22 with an extensively designed support structure 30 (FIG. 6) which already defines the complete contour of the container body 22. The container walls 24 and the container base 25 of the container body 22 (FIG. 7) are then joined onto the support structure at the inside or at the outside. The support structure 30 can be manufactured of a flat tape material. The shaping of the support structure 30 can herein be effected by way of punching, mechanical cutting, laser cutting or similar machining methods. The support structure 30 can also be manufactured in a 3D printing method. The container walls 24 and the container base 25 can be manufactured of a flat tape material or be manufactured in a 3D printing method. In any case, either the support structure 30 or the container walls 24 or the container base 25 or all components of the plastic container 21 are at least regionally manufactured in a 3D printing method. Herein, the container body consists predominantly, i.e. to 90% or more of HDPE or LDPE.

[0063] The plastic container according to the invention can comprise a container body with a circular or flat-oval or a polygonal cross section. The plastic container can also comprise a handle. The handle can already be integrated into the container body or not be assembled on the container body until at a later stage. For this, the support structure can already be provided with assembly points for the handle.

[0064] The invention has been described with the example of specific embodiment examples. The aforementioned description however merely serves for the explanation of the invention and is not to be considered as limiting. In contrast, the invention is defined by the patent claims and the equivalents which are derived by the person skilled in the art and encompassed by the general inventive concept.