Abstract
Shown and described is a plastic element for a package, comprising: a main body of plastic, and a flange for fastening a composite material of a package, wherein the plastic element is produced from a thermoplastic material. In order in the case of single-use packages to create a low-cost possible way of obtaining information about the state of content of the packages, it is proposed to arrange an electrical, in particular electronic element on the plastic element or integrate it in the plastic element. Also shown and described is a package with such a plastic element.
Claims
1. A plastic element for packaging, comprising: a base body made of plastic, and a flange for fastening a composite material of a packaging, wherein the plastic element is made of a thermoplastic characterised by an electrical, in particular electronic, element, which is arranged on the plastic element or is integrated into the plastic element.
2. The plastic element according to claim 1, characterised in that the electrical, in particular electronic, element comprises a sensor.
3. The plastic element according to claim 1, characterised in that the electrical, in particular electronic, element comprises a transmitter.
4. The plastic element according to claim 1, characterised in that the electrical, in particular electronic, element comprises an antenna.
5. The plastic element according to claim 1, characterised by at least one electrical conductor, which connects the electrical, in particular electronic, element to the flange.
6. The plastic element according to claim 5, characterised in that the electrical conductor is arranged at least in sections on the contact side of the flange.
7. The plastic element according to claim 1, characterised in that the plastic element is a pouring element of the packaging having a pouring opening.
8. The plastic element according to claim 1, characterised in that the plastic element is a base element of the packaging.
9. A packaging having a plastic element, comprising: at least one region made of a composite material, and at least one plastic element, wherein the composite material comprises at least one carrier layer made of a cellulose-containing fibre material, preferably made of paper, paperboard or cardboard, and has at least one plastic layer on both sides of the carrier layer respectively, wherein the plastic element has a flange for fastening the composite material, and wherein the composite material is connected to the flange of the plastic element, characterised by an electrical, in particular electronic, element, which is arranged on the plastic element or is integrated into the plastic element.
10. The packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that the plastic element is a plastic element according to claim 9.
11. The packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that the electrical, in particular electronic, element is arranged in such a way that it is in contact with the contents of the packaging, or in that the electrical, in particular electronic, element is arranged in such a way that it does not have any contact with the contents of the packaging.
12. The packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that the region of composite material is a circumferential sleeve surface.
13. The packaging according to claim 12, characterised in that the composite material has a longitudinal seam in the region of the sleeve surface.
14. The packaging according to claim 13, characterised in that the composite material is peeled and/or folded over in the region of the longitudinal seam and/or has a sealing strip.
15. The packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that the composite material has at least one electrical conductor.
16. The packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that the composite material has at least one layer made of an electrically conductive material, in particular of aluminium.
17. The packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that the electrical conductor and/or the layer of electrically conductive material is arranged at least in the region of the plastic element on the contact side of the composite material.
Description
[0027] The invention is described in the following on the basis of drawings showing only one preferred embodiment. In the drawings:
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plastic element known from the prior art for packaging,
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the plastic element of FIG. 1 with packaging sleeve fastened thereto,
[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of packaging known from the prior art having the plastic element of FIG. 1,
[0031] FIG. 4A shows a perspective view obliquely from above of a first embodiment of a plastic element according to the invention for packaging,
[0032] FIG. 4B shows a perspective view obliquely from below of the plastic element of FIG. 4A,
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of packaging according to the invention with the plastic element of FIG. 4A and of FIG. 4B,
[0034] FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a plastic element according to the invention for packaging,
[0035] FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a plastic element according to the invention for packaging, and
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of packaging according to the invention with the plastic elements of FIG. 5A and of FIG. 5B.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plastic element 1 known from the prior art for packaging. The plastic element 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a pouring element. The plastic element 1 has a base body 2 and a screw cap 3. The screw cap 3 is screwed onto a thread (not shown in FIG. 1) and can be unscrewed from the base body 2. The base body 2 has a circumferential flange 4 which serves to fasten a composite material of the packaging. In the plastic element 1 shown in FIG. 1, the flange 4 has the shape of a truncated pyramid. A projection 5 is integrally formed on the flange 4 in each of the four corner regions. The projections 5 serve to improve the join between the gable region of packaging sleeve and the flange 4. The plastic element 1 also has a tamper-evident seal 6 which connects the base body 2 to the screw cap 3 via two thin material bridges 7. When opened for the first time, the material bridges 7 are destroyed, so a customer can easily recognize whether packaging provided with this pouring element has already been opened once. Plastic elements 1 of this type are known, for example, from EP 3 112 283 A1 or EP 2 637 854 A1.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows the plastic element 1 of FIG. 1 with packaging sleeve 8 fastened thereto in a perspective view. Those regions of the plastic element 1 which have already been described in connection with FIG. 1 are provided in FIG. 2 and all further figures with corresponding reference numerals. At its two ends, the packaging sleeve 8 has a gable region 9 and a base region 10. The gable region 9 has already been closed, for which purpose the packaging sleeve 8 has been connected to the flange 4 (not shown in FIG. 2) of the plastic element 1. In this case, four obliquely extending gable surfaces 11 and four ears 12 formed and protruding from excess packaging material have been formed. Although the ears 12 are sealed in the situation shown in FIG. 2, they are neither folded over nor attached to the gable surfaces 11. In the base region 10, the packaging sleeve 8 is still unsealed and is only folded and closed along fold lines 13 in a later production step.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows packaging 14 known from the prior art having the plastic element 1 of FIG. 1 in a perspective view. Those regions of the plastic element 1 and of the packaging sleeve 8 which have already been described in connection with FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 are provided in FIG. 3and all further figureswith corresponding reference numerals. The packaging 14 shown in FIG. 3 is closed both in the gable region 9 and in the base region 10. In addition, the ears 12 are folded down and glued to one of the two gable surfaces 11 adjoining the respective ear 12. In the state shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen particularly clearly that the packaging 14 has approximately the shape of a truncated pyramid in the gable region 9. In its base region 10 the packaging 14 has a square base surface on which the packaging 14 stands.
[0040] FIG. 4A shows a first embodiment of a plastic element 1 according to the invention for packaging 14 in a perspective view obliquely from above. Those regions of the plastic element 1 which have already been described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3 are provided in FIG. 4Aand all further figureswith corresponding reference numerals. The embodiment of the plastic element 1 shown in FIG. 4A is characterised in particular in that one electrical element 15 is integrated into the plastic element 1. In the plastic element 1 shown in FIG. 4 and therefore preferred, the electrical element 15 is integrated into the base body 2 of the plastic element 1. The electrical element 15 can be, for example, a transmitter. The plastic element 1 additionally comprises two electrical conductors 16A, 16B, which connect the electrical element 15 to the flange 4. Starting from the electrical elements 15 the two electrical conductors 16A, 16B are first integrated into the base body 2 of the plastic element 1, but extend in their further course in an exposed manner on the outside of the flange 4, that is to say on that side of the flange 4 which will come into contact with the packaging sleeve 8. Furthermore, the plastic element 1 comprises two antennas 17A, 17B, which are approximately semi-circular in shape and are integrated in the base body 2 of the plastic element 1. The antennas 17A, 17B are also connected to the electrical element 15.
[0041] FIG. 4B shows the plastic element 1 of FIG. 4A in a perspective view obliquely from below. Those regions of the plastic element 1 which have already been described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4A are provided in FIG. 4Band all further figureswith corresponding reference numerals. In this view the plastic element 1 is shown without a screw cap 3, so a pouring opening 18 provided in the base body 2 is visible, which is surrounded by an approximately cylindrical pouring tube 19. In addition, the position of the two antennas 17A, 17B, which are arranged approximately circularly around the pouring opening 18 in the plastic element, can be seen clearly.
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of packaging 14 according to the invention having the plastic element 1 of FIG. 4A and of FIG. 4B in a perspective representation. Those regions of the plastic element 1 which have already been described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4B, are provided in FIG. 5and all further figureswith corresponding reference numerals. In addition to the plastic element 1, the packaging 14 comprises a packaging sleeve 8 made of a composite material. The packaging sleeve 8 is fastened to the flange 4 of the plastic element 1. The packaging sleeve 8 has a longitudinal seam 21 and two electrical conductors 22A, 22B running parallel to the longitudinal seam 21 (22B is concealed in FIG. 5). The conductors 16A, 16B extending in the circumferential direction (16B is concealed in FIG. 5) on the flange 4 of the plastic element 1 forms contact points 23 with the vertically extending conductors 22A, 22B of the packaging sleeve 8. In this way, the electrical element 15 (for example a sensor) provided in the packaging sleeve 8 is connected via electrical conductors 22A, 22B in the composite material of the packaging sleeve 8 and via electrical conductors 16A, 16B in the gable element to the electrical element 15 provided therein (for example a transmitter) and antennas 17A, 17B connected thereto.
[0043] FIG. 6A shows a second embodiment of a plastic element 1 according to the invention for packaging 14 in a perspective view. Those regions of the plastic element 1 which have already been described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5 are provided in FIG. 6Aand all further figureswith corresponding reference numerals. The second embodiment of the plastic element 1 is also characterised by an electrical element 15 integrated into the base body 2, which can be, for example, a transmitter. In this embodiment, the electrical element 15 is also connected to two electrical conductors 16A, 16B and two antennas 17A, 17B, the two electrical conductors 16A, 16B also lying exposed here on the outside of the flange 4, in other words, on that side of the flange 4, which comes into contact with the packaging sleeve 8. One difference between the first embodiment of the plastic element 1 (FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B) and the second embodiment of the plastic element 1 is that the second embodiment of the plastic element 1 has a round cross-sectional area, so the circumferential flange 4 is also circular.
[0044] FIG. 6B shows a third embodiment of a plastic element 1 according to the invention for packaging 14 in a perspective representation. Those regions of the plastic element 1 which have already been described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 6A are provided in FIG. 6Band all further figureswith corresponding reference numerals. This embodiment of the plastic element 1 also has a base body 2 with a circumferential flange 4 which serves to fasten a composite material of the packaging. The third embodiment of the plastic element 1 is likewise characterised by an electrical element 15 integrated into the base body 2, which element can be, for example, a sensor. In this embodiment, the electrical element 15 is also connected to two electrical conductors 16A, 16B, which are also arranged here on the outside of the flange 4, in other words, on that side of the flange 4 which comes into contact with the packaging sleeve 8. The third embodiment of the plastic element 1 has a round cross-sectional area, so the circumferential flange 4 is also circular. One difference between the third embodiment of the plastic element 1 and the first and second embodiment of the plastic element 1, 1 is that the third embodiment of the plastic element 1 is not a gable element, but rather a base element of the packaging.
[0045] Finally, FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of packaging 14 according to the invention having the plastic elements 1, 1 of FIG. 6A and of FIG. 6B in a perspective representation. In addition to the two plastic elements 1, 1, the packaging 14 comprises a circumferential sleeve surface 20 made of a composite material. The sleeve surface 20 is fastened to the flanges 4 of the two plastic elements 1, 1. The sleeve surface 20 has a longitudinal seam 21 and two electrical conductors 22A, 22B running parallel to the longitudinal seam 21. The conductors 16A, 16B running in the circumferential direction on the flanges 4 of the two plastic elements 1, 1 form, with the vertically extending conductors 22A, 22B of the sleeve surface 20, contact points 23. In this way, the electrical element 15 (for example a sensor) provided in the base element is connected via electrical conductors 16A, 16B in the base element and via electrical conductors 22A, 22B in the composite material of the sleeve surface 20 and via electrical conductors 16A, 16B in the gable element to the electrical element 15 provided therein (for example a transmitter) and antennas 17A, 17B connected thereto.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0046] 1, 1, 1, 1 plastic element [0047] 2 base body [0048] 3 screw cap [0049] 4 flange [0050] 5 projection [0051] 6 tamper-evident seal [0052] 7 material bridge [0053] 8 packaging sleeve [0054] 9 gable region [0055] 10 base region [0056] 11 gable surface [0057] 12 ear [0058] 13 folding line [0059] 14, 14 packaging [0060] 15, 15, 15 electrical element [0061] 16A, 16B electrical conductor [0062] 17A, 17B antenna [0063] 18 pouring opening [0064] 19 pouring tube [0065] 20 sleeve surface [0066] 21 longitudinal seam [0067] 22A, 22B electrical conductor [0068] 23 contact point
