Packaging laminate

Abstract

A packaging laminate includes a core layer having at least one through-hole which on one side is covered by a barrier film and an outer layer of a polymeric material, wherein said outer polymeric layer and said barrier film are laminated to each other in a manner such that said polymeric layer and said barrier film are separated from each other along parallel, visually detectable air-filled channels formed by these two layers within the area of said at least one through-hole.

Claims

1. A packaging laminate comprising a core layer having at least one through-hole which on one side is covered by a barrier film and an outer layer of a polymeric material, wherein said outer polymeric layer and said barrier film are laminated to each other in a manner such that said polymeric layer and said barrier film are separated from each other along parallel, visually detectable air-filled channels formed by these two layers within the area of said at least one through-hole and are in contact with each other in zones other than along the parallel, visually detectable air-filled channels within the area of said at least one through-hole.

2. The packaging laminate according to claim 1, wherein said visually detectable air-filled channels extend in a direction parallel to opposite longitudinal edges of said core layer.

3. The packaging laminate according to claim 1, wherein the core layer is made of paper or carton.

4. The packaging laminate according to claim 1, wherein the barrier film is made of Al.

5. The packaging laminate according to claim 1, wherein a second side of said packaging laminate is covered by a layer of polymeric material.

6. A package for enclosing a food product, wherein said package is made of a packaging laminate according to claim 1.

7. The packaging laminate according to claim 1, wherein said visually detectable air-filled channels are spaced apart at regular intervals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a line for laminating packaging material, which line comprises two press nips at least one of which uses a laminating roller in accordance with the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a press nip using a laminating roller according to prior art;

(4) FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a laminating roller according to an embodiment;

(5) FIG. 3b is a detailed side view of a portion of the laminating roller of FIG. 3a;

(6) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a press nip using a laminating roller according to an embodiment;

(7) FIG. 5 shows an enlarged top view of the press nip shown in FIG. 4; and

(8) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a packaging material manufactured by using a laminating roller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) A typical line for producing the inside part of a packaging laminate of the type which is referred to here, which line is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, comprises a storage reel 20 containing a web 21 of fibre material, i. e. paper or carton, which, on one of its sides, can exhibit a thin coating of a thermoplastic material, for example polyethylene. A storage reel containing a thin aluminium foil web 23 (5-20 m) is designated 22 and an extruder for forming a film of molten laminant thermoplast 25 (preferably polyethylene) is designated 24. A laminating roller 10 interacts, in a press nip 26, with a cooling counter roller 41 having a steel surface in the laminating machine which is formed from these elements and also the extruder 24. From this first laminating machine 10, 41,24, the packaging laminate, which is now semifinished, proceeds onwards to a second laminating machine which comprises a press nip 32, having an laminating roller 28, in accordance with the invention, and a cooling counter roller 29, and an extruder 30, which can be arranged to coextrude a double-sided molten polymer film or layer 31 consisting of two different thermoplastic materials. In the second laminating machine 28,29,30, the semifinished packaging laminate which comes from the first laminating machine 10,41,24 is laminated together with this double-sided film 31 on that side of the laminate which exhibits the aluminium foil. The double-sided film can, for example, comprise an adhesive polymer such as for example ethylene acrylic acid ester, EAA, which is laminated closest to the aluminium foil, and a low density polyethylene polymer, such as for example LDPE, on the outside of this. During operation of the lamination line which is shown in FIG. 1, the laminating roller 10 typically has a peripheral speed of up to 800 m/min, preferably 300-700 m/min, and even more preferably 400-700 m/min. The line load in the press nip 26 is typically 20-60 N/mm, preferably 20-50 N/mm, and the press nip length is at least 20 mm, preferably 20-35 mm, and even more preferably 20-30 mm.

(10) Although specific materials have been described, embodiments may include polymer barrier films, such as for example pre-manufactured blow moulded films, barrier films of metallized films or films coated by other means. Further, the layers of thermoplastic polymer may be provided as extrusion coated layers, i.e. solidified melt extrusion coated layers.

(11) With reference to FIG. 2, a press nip between a prior art laminating roller and a cooling roller is shown. The press nip is defined by the space between the elastic surface 50 of the laminating roller 28 and a cooling roller 29. The laminating roller 28 is rotating in the direction A, and the cooling roller 29 is rotating in the direction B. A first laminate is fed from a first line L1, comprising a core layer 21, and a thermoplastic layer 25. A barrier layer 23 is fed towards the press nip and the first laminate, and a second layer of extruded polymer material of thermoplastic material 31 is fed from a second line L2. The core layer 21 is pre-punched such that a hole is provided, which is shown as the interruption of the core layer 21.

(12) The elastic material 50 of the laminating roller will be urged to roll up in the feeding direction A, thus stretching and tucking the membrane formed by the thermoplastic layer 25, the barrier film 23, and the layer of thermoplastic material 31. This is due to the fact that the membrane is more flexible than the part of the packaging laminate also carrying the core layer. Consequently, wrinkles may occur leading to an increase risk of ruptures in the membrane covering the pre-punched hole.

(13) With reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, a laminating roller 100 according to an embodiment is shown. The laminating roller 100 may be arranged as the laminating roller 10 of FIG. 1, the laminating roller 28 of FIG. 1, or both. The laminating roller has a longitudinal axis 110, and the roller 100 is driven by the cooling roller 29 which in turn is driven by a motor (not shown) for rotating the laminating roller 100 around the longitudinal axis 110. The outer surface 120 of the laminating roller 100 is made of an elastic material such that the laminating roller 100 may provide a homogenous pressure along the complete length of the laminating roller 100, thus compensating for any irregularities on the pressing surface of the roller 100. The elastic material of the outer surface of the laminating roller may for example have a hardness of 50 to 100 Shore A. The laminating roller 100 may have a diameter of 100 to 450 mm.

(14) The laminating roller 100 further comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves 130 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 110 of the roller 100.

(15) Different configurations of the arrangement of the grooves 130 are available. For example, the roller may be provided with a plurality of circular grooves extending along the periphery of the roller, either perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roller or at a non-perpendicular angle. In another embodiment, the roller may be provided with a single groove extending in a helical direction from a first end of the roller to the second end of the roller. Preferably, such helical groove may extend at a constant angle relative the longitudinal axis of the roller. In a yet further embodiment, the roller may be provided with a plurality of wavy grooves extending along the periphery of the roller perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roller, or a single wavy groove extending in a helical direction from a first end of the roller to the second end of the roller.

(16) In an embodiment, the grooves 130 are disposed at equal distance from each other along the complete length of the laminating roller 100. In another embodiment, the grooves 130 are provided in specific areas 135 along the length of the roller 100. This particular embodiment is shown in FIG. 3b.

(17) The width of each groove is between 0.3 and 2.5 mm, preferably between 0.35 and 1.5 mm.

(18) The depth of each groove may be 0.2 mm or more, preferably between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

(19) The distance between two adjacent grooves may be between 2 and 8 mm depending on hole size and core layer thickness. For example, a bigger hole and a thicker core layer may require a smaller distance between two adjacent grooves.

(20) Again with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the laminating roller has four grooved areas 135, arranged at equal distance. Each area 135 comprises five circumferential grooves 130, arranged at a distance of 6 mm from each other. Hence, the width of each area 135 is approximately 2.65 cm. It should be noted that FIGS. 3a and 3b are not to scale.

(21) Each area 135 is arranged at a position corresponding to the lateral location of a pre-laminated hole of the packaging laminate when the packaging laminate is in contact and guided by means of the laminating roller 100. Consequently, the laminated roller of FIG. 3a is constructed to laminate a web having a width corresponding to four packages.

(22) When a packaging laminate enters a press nip between a laminating roller 100 and a cooling roller, the grooves 130 will allow the elastic material of the roller 100 to displace laterally along the longitudinal direction of the roller 100, instead of rolling or tucking up in the feeding direction, i.e. the circumferential direction, which has been described previously with reference to FIG. 2.

(23) The press nip is schematically shown in FIG. 4, where the laminating roller 100 is replacing the roller 28 of FIG. 1. The press nip is defined by the space between the elastic surface 150 of the laminating roller 100 and a cooling roller 200. The laminating roller 100 is rotating in the direction A, and the cooling roller 200 is rotating in the direction B. A first laminate is fed from a first line L1, comprising a core layer 21, and a thermoplastic layer 25. A barrier layer 23 is fed towards the press nip and the first laminate, and a second layer of extruded polymer material of thermoplastic material 31 is fed from a second line L2. The core layer 21 is pre-punched such that a hole is provided, which is shown as the interruption of the core layer 21.

(24) The elastic material 150 of the laminating roller will be urged to roll up in the feeding direction A. However, due to the provision of the grooves (not shown in FIG. 4), the elastic material will be allowed to flex and move not only in the feeding direction A, but also in the lateral direction. Hence, the resulting press nip is according to what is shown in FIG. 4, with no unintentional wrinkles or folds in the hole area.

(25) In FIG. 5, a portion of the press nip is shown from above. The portion, being an extract from a grooved area 135 receiving a pre-punched hole of the core layer, is formed by the impression of the laminating roller 100 on the cooling roller 200. The thermoplastic layer 25 and the barrier film 23 is fed from a first line, and the thermoplastic layer 31 is fed from a second line. These two layers are laminated in the press nip.

(26) When the thermoplastic layer 25 and the barrier layer 23 is directed by means of the laminating roller 100, the laminated sheet will be able to set in the grooves 130, such that the laminated sheet is allowed to flex into the grooves. This is due to the fact that the width of each groove 130 is large enough, while at the same time the flexibility of the laminated sheet will urge the sheet towards the surface of the laminating roller 100. Hence, the surface of the laminated sheet will not be planar at the positions of a groove 130. The second layer of thermoplastic material 31 is on the other hand directed by means of the cooling roller 200. Since the surface of the cooling roller 200 is planar without the provision of grooves 130, the layer of thermoplastic material 31 will not come into contact with the barrier layer 23 at the positions of a groove 130. Consequently, air will be allowed to travel in the tunnel formed between the barrier layer 23 and the thermoplastic sheet 31. This is advantageous in that any air entrapped due to the edge of the hole will be allowed to escape through the tunnel. Hence, a built-up pressure is avoided and defects caused by air explosions within the packaging material are reduced. Further, the air channels will provide stability to the laminated membrane covering the pre-punched hole.

(27) By using a laminating roller 100 according to the present invention, a packaging laminate may be provided that increases the manufacturing yield of packages having a pre-laminated hole. This is due to the fact that the provision of grooves in the laminating roller enables the elastic surface of the laminating roller to displace laterally and consequently the tucking of the membrane is reduced, Moreover, by designing the grooves according to specific dimensions, trapped air may be prevented from causing ruptures in the membrane due to explosions within the membrane. Moreover, the membrane formed at the pre-punched hole by means of the barrier layer 23 sandwiched between the thermoplastic layers 25, 31, will be made more rigid by the fact that air is enclosed within the packaging laminate, since the air channels will stabilize the membrane making it more resistant in the channel direction. This is shown in FIG. 6, which is a cross-sectional view of a packaging laminate 300 being formed by using a laminating roller 100 according to the present invention. The packaging laminate 300 comprises longitudinal portions 330 between the barrier layer 23 and the thermoplastic layer 31 enclosing air.

(28) Due to the air inclusions within the membrane, the robustness of the packaging laminate as well as the package formed by the packaging laminate is increased according to what has previously been described. This enables the membrane covering the hole to be opened by a clean cut, since the stability of the membrane is increased. Consequently, the user experience of the opening is increased, as well as the overall quality of a package formed by the described packaging laminate.

(29) The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims. For example, the laminating roller may also be used in a prior or subsequent laminating station where a layer of thermoplastic polymer is applied also to the opposite side of the paperboard, i.e. the side towards the outside of a package, produced from the packaging laminate.