Pouring element for a package and composite package having such a pouring element

Abstract

A pouring element for a package having a base body, a polyhedrally formed flange, the flange inner surfaces of which converge in face abutments, for joining to a package sleeve and at least one holding element projecting on the inside of the flange for operatively connecting to a mandrel of a packaging machine, as well as a pouring element with polyhedrally formed gable surfaces, which are correspondingly joined to the polyhedrally formed flange. Provision is made for the holding element to be formed as a rounding in the area of the face abutments on the inside of the flange, in order to prevent the pouring element from becoming damaged during the whole joining process with the package sleeve when putting the pouring element onto, holding it on and removing it from the mandrel and additionally in order to guarantee a secure and precise hold.

Claims

1. A pouring element for a package comprising a base body, a polyhedrally formed flange, inner surfaces of which converge in face abutments at four separate corners, for joining to a package sleeve and at least one holding element projecting on an inside of the flange for operatively connecting to a mandrel of a packaging machine, wherein the holding element defines a substantially rectangular aperture with four rounded corners in an area of the corners on the inside of the flange to assist in smoothly attaching and detaching the pouring element from the mandrel, and wherein the at least one holding element are protrusions, each of which extend from the inner surface of the flange of the pouring element.

2. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is circumferentially formed.

3. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the holding element runs in an area of a bottom edge of the flange.

4. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein an operative connection between the holding element and the mandrel is carried out in a form-fit manner.

5. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the operative connection between the holding element and the mandrel is carried out in a frictionally-engaged manner.

6. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the face abutments on the inside of the flange are formed as fillets.

7. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the flange of the base body is in a shape of a truncated pyramid.

8. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the base body has a rectangular base plate.

9. The pouring element according to claim 8, wherein the base plate is square.

10. The pouring element according to claim 8, wherein transitions between the base plate and the flange are formed as fillets.

11. The pouring element according to claim 8, wherein corners formed by the face abutments on the inside of the flange and the base plate are shaped as spherical rounding s.

12. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the base body has a pouring neck.

13. The pouring element according to claim 12, wherein the pouring neck is sealed with a screw cap.

14. The pouring element according to claim 12, wherein the base body is closed below the pouring neck by means of a retaining wall and has a circumferential weakening zone.

15. The pouring element according to claim 14, wherein a barrier film abuts on the retaining wall.

16. The pouring element according to claim 14, wherein a handle is integrally formed on the retaining wall, so that the retaining wall can be removed by manually pulling on the handle.

17. The pouring element according to claim 14, wherein a cutting element is arranged in the pouring neck, so that the retaining wall can at least partly be cut open in an area of the weakening zone.

18. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element is made for a composite package for liquid foods with polyhedrally formed gable surfaces, wherein the gable surfaces are correspondingly joined to the polyhedrally formed flange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the figures illustrating one exemplary embodiment.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a pouring element according to the invention in a perspective view from above,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the pouring element from FIG. 1 in a perspective view from below without the screw cap

(4) FIG. 3 shows the pouring element in vertical cross section along the line III-III from FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a package according to one example of the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pouring element of FIG. 1 with a handle; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pouring element of FIG. 1 with a cutting element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a preferred exemplary embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention in a perspective illustration at an angle from above. The pouring element in the illustrated and in this respect preferred exemplary embodiment has a base body 1 and a screw cap 2. The screw cap 2 fits on a pouring neck 3 (easily identifiable in FIGS. 2 and 3) which forms a part of the base body 1.

(9) The base body 1 has a polyhedrally formed—more precisely truncated pyramid shaped—flange 4. The flange 4 and the pouring neck 3 project in opposing directions from a square base plate 5 and together form the actual base body 1. The shape of the polyhedrally formed flange 4 is adapted to the shape and in particular to the angle of inclination of the gable area 32 of a package sleeve 30. The gable area 32 of the package P is therefore at least in the area adjoining the flange 4 likewise in the shape of a truncated pyramid.

(10) The angled outer surfaces of the flange 4 have outer ribs 6 which, on the one hand, mechanically reinforce the flange 4 and, on the other hand, enable the gable surfaces of the package sleeve 30 to be bound better to the flange 4 during sealing. In each corner area, a wing-like projection is integrally formed on the flange 4. The projections also serve to improve the join between the gable area 32 of the package sleeve 30 and the flange 4 of the pouring element.

(11) In the case of the pouring element illustrated in FIG. 1, a tamper-evident safety seal 7 with material bridges (not specified in more detail) formed as predetermined break points connects the base body 1 to the screw cap 2. When the package is opened for the first time, the material bridges are destroyed, so that a consumer can easily identify whether a package provided with this pouring element has already been opened before.

(12) FIG. 2 shows the pouring element according to the invention in a perspective illustration at an angle from below. The polyhedrally formed flange 4 has corresponding flange inner surfaces 8 on its inside, which form face abutments 9 in the area in which they converge. The flange 4 ends in a bottom edge 10. A projecting, circumferential holding element 11 runs in the area of this bottom edge 10 and extends continuously over all flange inner surfaces 8. The holding element 11 creates a mechanical connection with a free coupling end 31 of a mandrel 33 of a packaging machine (not illustrated) when the package top and the gable area 32 are being formed. The holding element 11 is formed as a rounding 12 in the area of the face abutments 9 on the inside of the flange, so that it can be put onto and detached from the mandrel smoothly. The pouring element remains precisely and securely held during all the production steps.

(13) In the illustrated and in this respect preferred exemplary embodiment, the face abutments 9 are also formed as fillets 13. Reinforcement ribs 14 are also integrally formed in the area of the face abutments 9 on the inside of the flange and additionally increase the strength in the corner areas. As shown in FIG. 2, the holding element 11 defines a substantially rectangular aperture with four rounded corners in an area of the corners on the inside of the flange 4 to assist in smoothly attaching and detaching the pouring element from the mandrel. The areas of the surface transitions between the flange inner surfaces 8 of the flange 4 and the inner surface of the base plate 5 are also formed as negative rounded grooves, i.e. as fillets 15. The corners formed between the face abutments 9 on the inside of the flange and the base plate 5 are formed as spherical roundings 16.

(14) It can also be identified in the vertically cut illustration of FIG. 3 that the underside of the pouring neck 3 in its original state is sealed by a retaining wall 17. This is joined to the base body 1 via a weakening zone 18. In order to guarantee a sufficient shelf life and preserve the flavor of the filled product, a barrier film 19 is applied on the inside of the base plate 5 and the retaining wall 17. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a package according to one example of the present disclosure. It is also contemplated that a handle 34 may be included in the pouring element as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 shows a cutting element 35 that cuts through the weakening zone 18 when the screw cap 2 is unscrewed for the first time and in this way exposes the opening of the pouring neck 3 for pouring.