BAG-IN-BOX PACKAGING

Abstract

A bag-in-box packaging is proposed, preferably for the packaging of milk powders, comprising or consisting of: a closable container, a closure cap for the container and a fillable tubular bag, wherein the tubular bag is connected flat to the inside of the container and the bottom of the container is concave on the inside.

Claims

1. A bag-in-box package comprising that or consisting of: (i) a sealable container; (ii) a closure cap for the container; and (iii) a fillable tubular bag, wherein (a) the tubular bag is connected flat to the inside of the container and (b) the bottom of the container is concave on the inside.

2. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that the container is made of a recyclable material.

3. A package according to claim 2, characterized in the material is cardboard.

4. A package according to claim 1, wherein the closure cap is placed on the container.

5. A package according to at claim 1, wherein the closure cap is made of a recyclable plastic.

6. A package according to claim 1, wherein the tubular bag is made of a plastic approved for the storage of foodstuffs.

7. A package according to claim 11 wherein the tubular bag is glued flat to the inside of the container.

8. A package according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the container is concave on the inside and flat on the outside.

9. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that it wherein the package further contains a dosing aid.

10. A package according to claim 9, wherein the dosing aid is a spoon.

11. A package according to claim 10, wherein the spoon is reversibly arranged on the underside of the closure cap.

12. A method of producing a packaged food product, consisting of or comprising the following steps: (i) providing a bag-in-box package according to claim 1; (ii) sterilely filling the food product into the tubular bag of the package; and (iii) closing the package by placing the closure cap.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the foodstuff is in powder form.

14. A method of using a package according to claim 1 comprising packaging of a foodstuff in powder form in the package.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the foodstuff is milk powder.

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0006] A first object of the invention relates to a bag-in-box package comprising or consisting of: [0007] (i) a sealable container; [0008] (ii) a closure cap for the container; and [0009] (iii) a fillable tubular bag, [0010] wherein [0011] (a) the tubular bag is connected flat to the inside of the container and [0012] (b) the bottom of the container is concave on the inside.

[0013] The invention solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art all at the same time: by gluing or sealing the tubular bag to the inside of the container over a large area and by making the inside of the container base concave, removal is made considerably easier and no residues remain in the packaging. The use of recyclable materials, in particular cardboard instead of plastics for the container, also facilitates the separation of the materials and their recyclability.

[0014] Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises packaging in which the container is made of a recyclable material, in particular cardboard.

[0015] The closure device (closure) is usually designed such that it is placed on the container; however, it is also conceivable that it is connected to the container via a flap. It is preferably made of a recyclable plastic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene in particular. The closure can therefore be designed in such a way that it can either be removed or folded over.

[0016] The tubular bags have an opening through which the contents are filled. Reasonably, the bags are therefore inserted into the container in such a way that the opening also points towards the opening of the container. However, it is also possible to close the tubular bags after filling, for example by sealing them. The bags consist of thin barrier films made of plastics that are approved for food storage. Preferably, the tubular bags are glued to the inside of the container. The bonding can only take place in the upper third of the container, but can also be over the entire surface. Common-also water-soluble-hot-melt adhesives or stick-on adhesives are particularly suitable for this purpose.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, the lid and bag are connected in such a way that the bag opens when the container is opened, for example by folding, and folds up again when it is closed.

[0018] The design of the container is not critical, nor is its volume, which can range from about 100 ml to about 2 L. Oval or round basic shapes with a diameter of around 10 to around 40 cm and heights of around 10 to around 40 cm are typical. While the base is concave on the inside to facilitate emptying, the base is preferably flat on the outside so that the container can be put down. After emptying, the container and bag can simply be disposed of separately.

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to the manufacture of the packaging, in which a film is first inserted into a folding box, which forms the container. A further film is welded/glued to the top and the container is erected again. The first and second films together form the bag. Preferably, the second film is perforated at the opening point to facilitate opening.

[0020] The container can also contain a dispensing aid, in particular a spoon. It is possible to attach the spoon to the outside of the container with an adhesive film. Preferably, however, it is reversibly arranged on the underside of the lid, for example by means of a clamping device.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0021] A further object of the invention relates to a method of making a packaged food product, comprising or consisting of the following steps: [0022] (i) providing a bag-in-box package as described at the beginning; [0023] (ii) sterile/aseptic filling of the food product into the tubular bag of the package; and [0024] (iii) closing the packaging by putting on the closure cap.

[0025] After filling, it is also possible to close the tubular bag, for example by sealing it under vacuum, and only then to fit the sealing cap.

[0026] The foodstuffs are preferably powdered products, such as in particular milk powder, as used for infant nutrition.

[0027] A further object of the invention relates to the use of the above-mentioned packaging for packaging foodstuffs in powder form, preferably milk powders.