DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PACKAGING PRECURSORS BY MEANS OF A HEATING DEVICE ACTING ON THE EDGE AREA OF THE PACKAGING PRECURSOR

Abstract

The invention relates in general terms to a device for production of a packaging precursor, wherein the packaging precursor consists to an extent of at least 80% by weight, based on the packaging precursor (1000), of a sheetlike composite, wherein the sheetlike composite includes: i. a composite plastic layer, ii. a composite carrier layer, iii. a first composite edge region, iv. a second composite edge region, wherein the device includes, as device constituents in a flow direction: a) a flat transport unit designed to transport the flat sheetlike composite, wherein the transport unit includes a transport surface designed to bear the composite; downstream of that b) a first heating unit designed to heat the first composite edge region, where the first heating unit includes energy release segments; downstream of that c) a contacting unit designed to bond the first composite edge region to the second composite edge region;
wherein the first heating unit is designed to release energy in the flow direction. The invention further relates to a method, to a packaging precursor obtainable by the method, to a packaging precursor and to a use of the device.

Claims

1. A device for production of a packaging precursor, wherein the packaging precursor consists to an extent of at least 80% by weight, based on the packaging precursor, of a sheetlike composite, wherein the composite includes: i. a composite plastic layer, ii. a composite carrier layer, iii. a first composite edge region, iv. a second composite edge region, wherein the device includes, as device constituents in a flow direction: a) a flat transport unit designed to transport the flat sheetlike composite, wherein the transport unit includes a transport surface designed to bear the composite; downstream of that b) a first heating unit designed to heat the first composite edge region, where the first heating unit includes energy release segments; downstream of that c) a contacting unit designed to bond the first composite edge region to the second composite edge region; wherein the first heating unit is designed to release energy in the flow direction.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first heating unit includes, in the flow direction, a first energy release segment and, in the flow direction, a last energy release segment furthest removed from the first energy release segment.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first energy release segment is designed to release a higher heating power than the last energy release segment.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first heating unit comprises an entry orifice through which gas can flow, wherein at least one of the following criteria is fulfilled: a) the entry orifice is provided opposite the energy release segments; b) the entry orifice is provided with a smaller distance from the first energy release segment than from the last energy release segment; c) the entry orifice has a greater internal cross-sectional area than the sum total of the internal cross-sectional areas of all energy release segments.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance (405) between exit orifice and the transport surface is at most as high as the length (409) of the exit orifices in flow direction.

6. A device which includes a sheetlike composite, wherein the sheetlike composite includes i. a composite plastic layer, ii. a composite carrier layer, iii. a first composite edge region, iv. a second composite edge region.

7. A method of producing a package precursor, comprising, as method steps, a) providing a sheetlike composite comprising i. a composite plastic layer, ii. a composite carrier layer, iii. a first composite edge region, iv. a second composite edge region, b) accelerating the sheetlike composite; d) heating the first composite edge region; e) bonding the first composite edge region to the second composite edge region, wherein, in method step d), a first temperature in a region between the transport surface and the first energy release segment is T1, and a second temperature in a further region between the transport surface and the last energy release segment is Tn.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein method step d) includes heating by thermal convection.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in method step d), a gaseous heat flow at an exit orifice of the first heating unit has a greater flow rate than at the entry orifice of the first heating unit.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in method step c) (303), the thickness (206) of the sheetlike composite at least in a subregion of the first composite edge region is reduced by more than 40% of the thickness (206) of the sheetlike composite.

11. A packaging precursor obtainable by a method as claimed in claim 7.

12. A packaging precursor comprising a sheetlike composite, wherein the sheetlike composite includes a first overlap region and a second overlap region; wherein the first overlap region comprises a first layer sequence comprising, as mutually superposed layers from an inner surface of the sheetlike composite to an outer surface, a first composite carrier layer and a second composite carrier layer; wherein the first composite carrier layer is bonded to the second composite carrier layer in the first overlap region; wherein the second overlap region comprises a second layer sequence comprising, as mutually superposed layers from an inner surface of the sheetlike composite to an outer surface, a first composite carrier layer, a second composite carrier layer and a third composite carrier layer; wherein the second composite carrier layer is bonded to the third composite carrier layer in the second overlap region; wherein the second overlap region, between the second composite carrier layer and the third composite carrier layer, comprises, as mutually superposed layers from an inner surface of the sheetlike composite to an outer surface, a third composite plastic layer and a second composite plastic layer; wherein the layer thickness of the third composite carrier layer in the second overlap region is greater than the respective layer thickness of the first composite carrier layer or of the second composite carrier layer or both; wherein, in the first overlap region, between the first composite carrier layer and the second composite carrier layer, as mutually superposed layers from an inner surface of the sheetlike composite to an outer surface, a composite color layer (209) is bonded to a composite plastic layer.

13. The packaging precursor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first overlap region and the second overlap region adjoin one another.

14. A container obtainable by closure of the packaging precursor as claimed in claim 12.

15. A use of a packaging precursor as claimed in claim 12, produced with a device for packaging of food and drink products, wherein said device includes, as device constituents in a flow direction: a) a flat transport unit designed to transport the flat sheetlike composite, wherein the transport unit includes a transport surface designed to bear the composite; downstream of that b) a first heating unit designed to heat the first composite edge region, where the first heating unit includes energy release segments; downstream of that c) a contacting unit designed to bond the first composite edge region to the second composite edge region; wherein the first heating unit is designed to release energy in the flow direction.

16. A use of a device as claimed in claim 1 for production of a packaging precursor, especially of a packaging precursor for packaging of food and drink products.

Description

FIGURES

[0150] The figures respectively show, in schematic form and not to scale, unless stated otherwise in the description or the respective figure:

[0151] FIG. 1a a schematic cross section of a sheetlike composite

[0152] FIG. 1b a schematic top view of a sheetlike composite

[0153] FIG. 2 a device of the invention

[0154] FIG. 3 a further device of the invention

[0155] FIG. 4 a schematic diagram of the heating unit

[0156] FIG. 4a a schematic diagram of the shape of the exit orifices

[0157] FIG. 5 a flow diagram of a method according to the invention

[0158] FIG. 6 a flow diagram of a further method according to the invention

[0159] FIG. 7 a container precursor of the invention in top view (upright)

[0160] FIG. 8 a schematic cross section of a container precursor in the region of the longitudinal seam

[0161] FIG. 9 a schematic cross section of a container precursor in the region of the longitudinal seam to show the external seal and the internal seal

[0162] FIG. 10 a closed container of the invention

[0163] FIG. 1a shows a sheetlike composite (200) in cross section. The sheetlike composite (200) includes, as a layer sequence from an outer surface (1107), which faces the environment in the finished container, of the sheetlike composite to an inner surface, which faces the food or drink product accommodated by the container in the finished container, of the sheetlike composite (1106): a composite color layer (209), an outer polymer layer (201) of LDPE, a composite carrier layer (202) of paperboard, a barrier layer (215) and a composite plastic layer (203) of LDPE. In addition, FIG. 1b shows a top view of the cut sheetlike composite (200) that has been provided with grooves (1102) before it goes through the device (100) of the invention, with the first composite edge region (204) and the second composite edge region (205), and a covered hole (1105).

[0164] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the device (100) of the invention. The device consists of a modified Diana folded-box bonding machine from the Heidelberg company, Heidelberg, Germany. The device (100) includes a sheetlike composite (200) which includes the layer sequence according to FIG. 1a. In addition, the sheetlike composite (200) includes a first composite edge region (204) and a second composite edge region (205) as shown in FIG. 1b. In addition, the device (100) includes a multitude of drive belts for transport of the sheetlike composite (200), which are designed to transport the sheetlike composite (200) in flow direction (1300) to a first heating unit (103). The transport is at 300 m/min. The first heating unit (103) is designed to heat the first composite edge region (204). This first heating unit (103) is a hot air nozzle made of stainless steel as shown in FIG. 4. The hot air nozzle has a length of 100 cm and is designed with 70 exit orifices (401) that have a length (mm)/width (mm) ratio of 10. The internal cross section of the entry region (410) is 500 mm.sup.2, and the sum total of the internal cross-sectional areas of the exit orifices (411) is 120 mm.sup.2. The sheetlike composite is then transported further with a multitude of drive belts to a contacting unit (104). The contacting unit (104) is designed to contact the first composite edge region (204) with the second composite edge region (205). The contacting unit (104) is a sealing station that seals the first composite edge region (204) and the second composite edge region (205) to one another. For this purpose, the two composite edge regions are pressed against one another in the sealing station.

[0165] FIG. 3 shows a further execution of the device (100) of the invention. The device consists of a modified Diana folded-box bonding machine from the Heidelberg company, Heidelberg, Germany. The device (100) includes a sheetlike composite (200) which includes the layer sequence according to FIG. 1a. In addition, the sheetlike composite (200) includes a first composite edge region (204) and a second composite edge region (205) as shown in FIG. 1b. The device (100) further includes, in flow direction (1300), an individualization unit (105) which enables a sheetlike composite to be pulled off from a multitude of stacked sheetlike composites. The individualization unit (105) is a feeder which assures the supply of the sheetlike composite (200) to the transport unit (101). The transport unit (101) is designed to transport the sheetlike composite (200) and consists of a multitude of transport belts. The transport unit (101) transports the sheetlike composite (200) to a peeling unit (102). The peeling unit (102) is a VN 50, Fortuna GmbH, Weil der Stadt, Germany, and is designed to reduce the composite carrier layer (202) and the outer polymer layer (201) in the first composite edge region (204). The sheetlike composite (200) is transported further to a first heating unit (103). The first heating unit (103) is designed to heat the first composite edge region (204). The first heating unit (103) is a hot air nozzle made of stainless steel as shown in FIG. 4. The hot air nozzle has a length of 100 cm and is designed with 70 exit orifices (401) that have a length (mm)/width (mm) ratio of 10. The internal cross section of the entry region (410) is 500 mm.sup.2, and the sum total of the internal cross-sectional areas of the exit orifices (411) is 120 mm.sup.2. The sheetlike composite (200) is transported further to an ionization unit (106). The ionization unit (106) is a plasma nozzle from Plasmatreat GmbH, Steinhagen, Germany, and is designed to ionize the polyolefin melt of the sheetlike composite (200) which is generated in the heating unit (103). Thereafter, the sheetlike composite (200) is transported to a contacting unit (104). The contacting unit (104) is designed to contact the first composite edge region (204) with the second composite edge region (205). The contacting unit (104) is a sealing station that seals the first composite edge region (204) and the second composite edge region (205) to one another. For this purpose, the two composite edge regions are pressed against one another in the sealing station.

[0166] FIG. 4 shows a schematic of the heating unit (103) of the device (100) of the invention. In the heating unit (103), 80 energy release segments (406) are mounted laterally to the flow direction of the sheetlike composite (200). But the energy release segments (406) are aligned in the direction of the transport surface (111, not shown). Between the energy release segments (406) and the transport surface (111), the sheetlike composite (200) moves in flow direction (1300). The heating unit (103) further includes an entry orifice (402) to accommodate a hot gas (444), which, in this example, is electrically heated ambient air. The entry orifice (402) of the heating unit (103) has an internal cross-sectional area (410) of 800 mm.sup.2. In addition, the heating unit (103) contains a first energy release segment (407) and, at a distance of 100 cm, a last energy release segment (408). The energy release segments in this example take the form of exit orifices (401).

[0167] The sum total of the cross-sectional areas of the exit orifices (401, 411) is 250 mm.sup.2. The sheetlike composite (200) is run past the exit orifices (401) of the heating unit (103) at a distance (405) of 10 mm. The temperature T1 (403) is 480 C. The temperature Tn (404) is 440 C.

[0168] FIG. 4a shows a schematic of the heating unit (103) of the device (100) of the invention. In the heating unit (103), 80 energy release segments (406) are mounted laterally to the flow direction of the sheetlike composite (200). But the energy release segments (406) are aligned in the direction of the transport surface (111, not shown). The energy release segments in this example take the form of exit orifices (401). The length of the exit orifices (409) is 10 mm. The ratio of the length (409) to the width (412) of the exit orifice is 10.

[0169] FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a method (300) of the invention as a flow diagram. In a method step a) (301) of the method (300), a sheetlike composite (200) is provided. This comprises, as mutually superposed layers, a composite color layer (209), an outer polymer layer (201), a composite carrier layer (202), a barrier layer (215) and a composite plastic layer (203) as shown in FIG. 1a. In addition, the sheetlike composite (200), as shown in FIG. 1b, includes a first composite edge region (204) and a second composite edge region (205). In a method step b) (302), a multitude of sheetlike composites (200) are individualized and the individualized sheetlike composite (200) is accelerated to a speed of 350 m/min. In method step d) (304), by heating with the aid of the heating unit (103), the first composite edge region (204) is heated to a temperature of 140 C. at a speed of 350 m/min, where the temperature T1 (403) of the hot gas (444) at the first energy release segment (407) of the heating unit (103) is 480 C. and the temperature Tn (404) of the hot gas (444) at the last energy release segment (408) of the heating unit (103) downstream of the temperature T1 (403) is 440 C. In a method step e) (305), the first composite edge region (204) and the second composite edge region (205) are pressed against one another, and sealed to one another, such that the first overlap region (250) and the second overlap region (260) are formed. Thus, a longitudinal seam (1001) is produced from the first overlap region (250) and the second overlap region (260), which results in formation of a packaging precursor (1000) in shell form for a single container (1200) from the folded sheetlike composite (200).

[0170] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a method (300) of the invention as a flow diagram. In a method step a) (301) of the method (300), a sheetlike composite (200) is provided. This comprises, as mutually superposed layers, a composite color layer (209), an outer polymer layer (201), a composite carrier layer (202), a barrier layer (215) and a composite plastic layer (203) as shown in FIG. 1a. In addition, the sheetlike composite (200), as shown in FIG. 1b, includes a first composite edge region (204) and a second composite edge region (205). In a method step b) (302), a multitude of sheetlike composites (200) are individualized and the individual sheetlike composite (200) is accelerated to a speed of 450 m/min. In method step c) (303), by peeling with the aid of the peeling unit (102), the thickness of the sheetlike composite (206) is reduced by 50%, in that the outer polymer layer (201) and part of the composite carrier layer (202) are reduced. The peeling is effected at a speed of 450 m/min. In method step d) (304), the first composite edge region (204) is heated to a temperature of 140 C. at a speed of 450 m/min, where the temperature T1 (403) of the hot gas (444) at the exit orifice (401) of the heating unit (103) is 480 C. and the temperature Tn (402) of the hot gas (444) at the exit orifice (401) of the heating unit (103) downstream of the temperature T1 (403) is 440 C. In a method step d)1 (306), the molten composite plastic layer (203) is ionized with the aid of the ionization unit (106) in the form of a plasma nozzle from Plasmatreat GmbH, Steinhagen, Germany. In a method step e) (305), the first composite edge region (204) and the second composite edge region (205) are pressed against one another and sealed to one another. Thus, a longitudinal seam (1001) is produced, which results in formation of a packaging precursor (1000) in shell form for a single container (1200) from the folded sheetlike composite (200).

[0171] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a shell-like packaging precursor (1000) of the invention, which has been formed by an overlap of the first composite edge region (204) and the second composite edge region (205) in a first overlap region (250) and a second overlap region (260) from a sheetlike composite (200). The first overlap region (250) and the second overlap region (260) form a longitudinal seam of the packaging precursor. The packaging precursor has been formed by folding at 4 folding sites from the sheetlike composite. The packaging precursor surrounds an interior (1108). The width of the first overlap region (250) is 7 mm. The width of the second overlap region (260) is 6 mm. In addition, the composite carrier layer (202) contains a covered hole (1105). Also shown are the regions for the withdrawal of the sample for measurement of the seam strength (1400) according to the above-specified test method.

[0172] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a detail of the first overlap region (250) and the second overlap region (260) of a packaging precursor (1000) of the invention, as shown in FIG. 7, produced from a sheetlike composite (200). In this case, the interior (1108) is below the first and second overlap regions. The first overlap region (250) and the second overlap region (260) adjoin one another. The first overlap region (250) comprises a layer sequence from an inner surface (1106) to an outer surface (1107) of mutually bonded layers: a first composite plastic layer (213), a first composite carrier layer (207), an outer polymer layer (201), a composite color layer (209), a second composite plastic layer (214) and a second composite carrier layer (208). In the first overlap region (250), all superposed layers are bonded to one another.

[0173] The second overlap region (260) comprises a layer sequence from an inner surface (1106) to an outer surface (1107) of mutually bonded layers: a first composite plastic layer (213), a first composite carrier layer (210), a second composite carrier layer (211), where the first composite carrier layer (210) and the second composite carrier layer (211) have been provided by peeling and folding from the first composite carrier layer (207), a third composite plastic layer (216), a second composite plastic layer (214) and a third composite carrier layer (212). The first composite carrier layer (210) is not bonded to the second composite carrier layer (211) in the second overlap region (260). Moreover, the third composite carrier layer (212) in the second overlap region (260) has a greater layer thickness than each of the first composite carrier layer (210) and the second composite carrier layer (211). The layer thickness of the first composite carrier layer (210) and the second composite carrier layer (211) in the second overlap region (260) is 60% of the layer thickness of the third composite carrier layer (212) in the second overlap region (260).

[0174] FIG. 9 shows the schematic cross-sectional diagram of a detail of a packaging precursor (1000) of the invention, as shown in FIG. 8, produced from a sheetlike composite (200). The external seal (270) is made between composite color layer (209) and the second composite plastic layer (214). The internal seal (270) is made between the third composite plastic layer (216) and the second composite plastic layer (214).

[0175] FIG. 10 shows a closed container (1200) of the invention. The closed container (1200) was obtained by folding and closing the packaging precursor from FIG. 7. Closure was effected by sealing the base region (1104) with hot air and the top region (1103) with ultrasound in a filling machine (CFA712, SIG Combibloc, Germany). The container is filled with a food or drink product in an aseptic zone between the sealing of the base region with hot air and the closing of the top region with ultrasound. Subsequently, the closed container (1200) is provided with an opening aid (1202) on the outer surface (1107). The hole (1105) is covered here by a lid of the opening aid (1202).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0176] 100 Device of the invention [0177] 101 Transport unit [0178] 102 Peeling unit [0179] 103 First heating unit [0180] 104 Contacting unit [0181] 105 Individualizing unit [0182] 106 Ionization unit [0183] 108 Further heating unit [0184] 111 Transport surface [0185] 200 Sheetlike composite [0186] 201 Outer polymer layer [0187] 202 Composite carrier layer [0188] 203 Composite plastic layer [0189] 204 First composite edge region [0190] 205 Second composite edge region [0191] 206 Thickness of the sheetlike composite [0192] 207 First composite carrier layer in the first overlap region (250) [0193] 208 Second composite carrier layer in the first overlap region (250) [0194] 209 Composite color layer [0195] 210 First composite carrier layer in the second overlap region (260) [0196] 211 Second composite carrier layer in the second overlap region (260) [0197] 212 Third composite carrier layer in the second overlap region (260) [0198] 213 First composite plastic layer [0199] 214 Second composite plastic layer [0200] 215 Barrier layer [0201] 216 Third composite plastic layer in the second overlap region (260) [0202] 217 Subregion of the first composite edge region [0203] 250 First overlap region [0204] 260 Second overlap region [0205] 270 External seal [0206] 280 Internal seal [0207] 300 Method according to the invention for production of a sheetlike composite [0208] 301 Method step a) [0209] 302 Method step b) [0210] 303 Method step c) [0211] 304 Method step d) [0212] 305 Method step e) [0213] 306 Method step d) 1 [0214] 401 Exit orifices [0215] 402 Entry orifice [0216] 403 Temperature T1 [0217] 404 Temperature Tn [0218] 405 Distance between exit orifices and sheetlike composite [0219] 406 Energy release segments [0220] 407 First energy release segment [0221] 408 Last energy release segment [0222] 409 Length of the energy release segment [0223] 410 Internal cross-sectional area of the entry orifice [0224] 411 Sum total of the internal cross-sectional areas of the energy release segments [0225] 412 Width of the energy release segment [0226] 444 Hot gas [0227] 445 Hot air [0228] 1000 Packaging precursor [0229] 1001 Longitudinal seam [0230] 1102 Grooves [0231] 1103 Top region [0232] 1104 Base region [0233] 1105 Hole [0234] 1106 Internal surface of the sheetlike composite [0235] 1107 External surface of the sheetlike composite [0236] 1108 Interior [0237] 1200 Container [0238] 1201 Food or drink product [0239] 1202 Opening aid [0240] 1300 Flow direction [0241] 1400 Sample for seam strength measurement