FLEXIBLE PACKAGING FOR A LIQUID AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SUCH A PACKAGING

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging (1) for a liquid, the packaging comprising two layers of flexible material which are arranged superimposed each other and sealed together to form a pouch. The two layers are furthermore sealed together in asealing region (3) extending at a distance from an edge (4) of the packaging (1) while leaving a transition region (5) free from sealing. The sealing region thereby forms a delimitation between a receptacle (6) for holding the liquid and an outlet channel (7) which is in fluid communication with the receptacle (6) via the transition region. The sealing region (3) comprises a splitter (18) extending along a part of the sealing region, the splitter being shaped and arranged so that it is configured to provide a spout (11) comprising the outlet channel. The spout is obtained by applying a separation extending from the edge to the splitter and then along the splitter, and wherein wherein the sealing region (3) has a shape comprising at least one bulge (15) protruding in a plane of the sealing region (3). The invention further relates to methods of manufacturing such a packaging.

Claims

1. Packaging for a liquid, the packaging comprising an area of two layers of flexible material which layers are arranged superimposed each other and sealed together to form or close a pouch, wherein the two layers are furthermore sealed together in a sealing region, wherein the sealing region: extends at a distance from an edge of the packaging, and leaves a transition region free from sealing, the sealing region thereby forming a delimitation between a receptacle for holding the liquid and an outlet channel, which outlet channel is in fluid communication with the receptacle via the transition region, wherein the sealing region comprises a splitter extending along a part of the sealing region, the splitter being shaped and arranged so that it is configured to provide a spout comprising the outlet channel, and wherein the spout is obtained by providing a separation extending from the edge to the splitter and wherein the sealing region has a shape comprising at least one bulge protruding in a plane of the sealing region.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the splitter is in the form of a first and a second spaced apart holes which are through-going and interconnected by a weakened line provided by partial cuts through the sealing region, the weakened line extending along the sealing region, the first hole being located so that the applying of the separation includes applying the separation extending from the edge to the first hole and then tearing along the weakened line into the second hole.

3. Packaging according to claim 2, wherein the first hole has an elongate shape with a longitudinal extension along the sealing region.

4. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the splitter is in the form of an elongate and through-going third hole extending along the sealing region.

5. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the splitter is in the form of a weakened line provided by partial cuts through the sealing region.

6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the packaging is provided with a notch extending from the edge in the direction towards the splitter.

7. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the overall shape of the packaging is rectangular.

8. Packaging according to claim 1, comprising a sealing next to the outlet channel, said sealing comprising a slit shaped and dimensioned to receive a free end of the spout.

9. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the transition region and the outlet channel as well as any sealing adjacent thereto is predetermined in order to provide a stiffness of the flexible material forming the transition region and the outlet channel resulting in a self-closing effect of the outlet channel, so that, after the spout has been obtained by applying the separation, there is no flow of liquid out of the receptacle, when no pressure is applied to the packaging.

10. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein there are two or more bulges distributed along the outlet channel.

11. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein additional stiffness is provided to the packaging by a method selected from the group consisting of: embossment on one or both layers, heating of the layers, application of one or more stiffening bands, and using material with different stiffness for the two layers.

12. Method of manufacturing a packaging for a liquid, the method comprising the following steps: arranging (A) two layers of flexible material superimposed each other, applying heat sealing and cutting (B) resulting in a packaging for a liquid, the packaging comprising an area of two layers of flexible material which layers are arranged superimposed each other and sealed together to form or close a pouch, wherein the two layers are furthermore sealed together in a sealing region, wherein the sealing region: extends at a distance from an edge of the packaging, and leaves a transition region free from sealing, the sealing region thereby forming a delimitation between a receptacle for holding the liquid and an outlet channel, which outlet channel is in fluid communication with the receptacle via the transition region, wherein the sealing region comprises a splitter extending along a part of the sealing region, the splitter being shaped and arranged so that it is configured to provide a spout comprising the outlet channel, and wherein the spout is obtained by providing a separation extending from the edge to the splitter and wherein the sealing region has a shape comprising at least one bulge protruding in a plane of the sealing region while omitting a part of the sealing to provide a filling region, filling (C) the receptacle with liquid via the filling region, and sealing (D) the filling region.

13. Method of manufacturing a packaging for a liquid, the method comprising the following steps: providing (E) two layers of flexible material in the form of sheet material which is larger than one packaging, applying heat sealing (F) resulting in a plurality of partially closed packagings for a liquid, the packaging comprising an area of two layers of flexible material which layers are arranged superimposed each other and sealed together to form or close a pouch, wherein the two layers are furthermore sealed together in a sealing region, wherein the sealing region: extends at a distance from an edge of the packaging, and leaves a transition region free from sealing, the sealing region thereby forming a delimitation between a receptacle for holding the liquid and an outlet channel, which outlet channel is in fluid communication with the receptacle via the transition region, wherein the sealing region comprises a splitter extending along a part of the sealing region, the splitter being shaped and arranged so that it is configured to provide a spout comprising the outlet channel, and wherein the spout is obtained by providing a separation extending from the edge to the splitter and wherein the sealing region has a shape comprising at least one bulge protruding in a plane of the sealing region, the packagings comprising the receptacles, and the heat sealing providing a filling region by omitting a part of the sealing, filling (G) the receptacle with liquid via the filling region, sealing (H) the filling region, applying cutting (I) to form the splitter, and cutting (J) along outer circumferences of the plurality of packagings to separate them from each other.

14. Method according to claim 12, wherein the step of filling is performed under aseptic conditions.

15. Method according to claim 12, wherein the liquid being filled in the packaging is selected from the group consisting of: fruit juice, ice tea, syrup, and drinking yoghurt.

16. Method according to claim 13, wherein the step of filling is performed under aseptic conditions.

17. Method according to claim 13, wherein the liquid being filled in the packaging is selected from the group consisting of: fruit juice, ice tea, syrup, and drinking yoghurt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0067] The flexible packaging according to the invention as well as a method for manufacturing such a packaging will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0068] FIGS. 1.a-1.f schematically show different overall designs of prior art packagings made from layers of flexible material.

[0069] FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a packaging according to the invention in which the splitter is in the form of two holes interconnected by a weakened line.

[0070] FIG. 3 schematically shows the packaging in FIG. 2 after opening.

[0071] FIG. 4 schematically shows another embodiment of a packaging according to the invention in which the splitter is in the form of an elongate and through-going hole without an interconnected weakened line.

[0072] FIGS. 5.a and 5.b schematically show two other embodiments of a packaging according to the invention in which the splitter is in the form of a weakened line.

[0073] FIG. 6 schematically shows another embodiment of a packaging in which the sealing region comprising the splitter extends from the same edge as where the notch is located.

[0074] FIG. 7 schematically shows another embodiment of a packaging in which the sealing region is provided with bulges.

[0075] FIG. 8 schematically shows packages according to the invention. The figure is used for the explanation of how the design of a packaging provides stiffening resulting in a self-closing effect when the packaging has been opened.

[0076] FIGS. 9.a and 9.b schematically show two embodiments of a packaging provided with a slit for receiving a free end of the spout.

[0077] FIGS. 10.a and 10.b are flow-charts of two different methods of manufacturing a packaging according to the invention.

[0078] FIG. 11 schematically shows an example of a manufacturing of packagings of the type shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0079] FIGS. 1.a-1.f schematically show different overall designs of prior art packagings made from layers of flexible material. Any of these types of packaging may be used with any combinations of sealing regions and splitters shown in the following figures. In the figures, the packagings are shown as having rectangular shapes. However, as mentioned above, the scope of protection covers any shape which allows for the implementation of the invention. It may e.g. be a triangular, a circular or a partly curved shape. The packagings comprise two layers of flexible material which are arranged superimposed each other and sealed together to form a pouch. As shown in the figures, the sealing may be located along four, three or two sides of the packaging. It may also be along one of the layers, such as midway between two sides of the packaging as shown in FIG. 1.e. FIG. 1.f shows an example of a packing comprising three layers of which one of them form a bottom side which allows the packaging to stand without being held or otherwise supported. Such a bottom side may also be referred to as a gusseted area.

[0080] FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a packaging 1 according to the invention. In addition to the sealing 2 forming the pouch itself, the two layers are furthermore sealed together in a sealing region 3 extending at a distance from an edge 4 of the packaging 1 while leaving a transition region 5 free from sealing. Hereby the sealing region 3 forms a delimitation between a receptacle 6 for holding the liquid and an outlet channel 7 which is in fluid communication with the receptacle 6 via the transition region 5. The sealing region 3 comprises a splitter 18 extending along a part of the sealing region 3 which in the embodiment in FIG. 2 is in the form of a first and a second spaced apart holes 8, 9 which are through-going and interconnected by a weakened line 10 extending along the sealing region 3. The weakened line 10 is provided by partial cuts through the sealing region 3, typically in the form of dashes and/or dots. For all the embodiments shown in this and the following figures, the splitter 18 is shaped and arranged so that it is configured to provide a spout 11 comprising the outlet channel 7, the spout 11 being obtained by applying a separation extending from the edge 4 to the splitter 18 and then along the splitter 18; see FIG. 3. In the embodiment in FIG. 2, the first hole 8 is located so that the applying of the separation includes applying the separation extending from the edge 4 to the first hole 8 and then tearing along the weakened line 10 ending in the second hole 9.

[0081] The packaging 1 is preferably provided with a notch 12 extending from the edge 4 towards the splitter 18 so that it can be ensured that the separation is applied at the desired location. Such a notch 12 will also facilitate the initiation of the separation when it is being done manually. This results in an opened packaging 1 as schematically shown in FIG. 3. By letting the weakened line 10 have first and second holes 8, 9 at the ends, the risk of tearing too far and thereby possibly providing an undesired leakage of the liquid is limited.

[0082] FIG. 4 schematically shows another embodiment of a packaging 1 according to the invention in which the splitter 18 is in the form of an elongate and through-going third hole 13 with a longitudinal extension along the sealing region 3. In this embodiment, the splitter 18 does not include an interconnected weakened line. The first hole 8 of the embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the third hole 13 in the embodiment in FIG. 4 have an elongate shape with a longitudinal extension along the sealing region 3. Since a side of such an elongate hole will form a part of the outer surface of the spout 11, such embodiments are particularly advantageous when the spout 11 is to form a drinking spout. Hereby it is obtained that the spout has a smooth surface to be put in the mouth during drinking. The second hole 9 might also be elongate, if desired.

[0083] FIGS. 5.a and 5.b schematically show two other embodiments of a packaging 1 according to the invention in which the splitter 18 is in the form of a weakened line 10 provided by partial cuts through the sealing region 3. The weakened line extends along a semi-circular path at the end regions 14 of the weakened line 10. Hereby it can be prevented that a tearing along the weakened line 10 continues into the surrounding material which might potentially result in leakage of liquid. Tests made during the development of the present invention have shown that by letting the weakened line 10 extend in a direction away from the main direction of extension of the sealing region 3, such as perpendicular thereto as shown in FIG. 5.b, it is easier to fold the spout 11 into an orientation of use.

[0084] Furthermore, it makes it easier to move the corner-piece out of the way, when the spout is used for drinking.

[0085] FIG. 6 schematically shows another embodiment of a packaging 1 in which the sealing region 3 comprising the splitter 18 extends from the same edge 4 as where the notch 12 is located. This is to illustrate that the sealing region 3 may have other shapes than in the above figures.

[0086] In any of the described embodiments, the self-closing effect of the outlet channel 7 can be obtained by predetermining the dimensions of the transition region 5 and the outlet channel 7 as well as any sealing adjacent thereto in order to provide a stiffness of the flexible material forming the transition region 5 and the outlet channel 7 resulting in such a self-closing effect. Hereby it can be ensured that after the spout 11 has been obtained by applying a separation, there is no flow of liquid out of the receptacle 6, when no pressure is applied to the packaging 1. FIG. 7 schematically shows such an embodiment in which the self-closing effect is obtained by using a sealing region 3 having a shape comprising bulges 15 protruding in a plane of the sealing region 3. Furthermore, the shape of the sealing in the corner 16 has been optimised for a given geometry and materials of the layers. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing region 3 has three bulges arranged in a manner which has been found to give the desired self-closing function. In a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated here there are two or more bulges 15 distributed along the outlet channel 7, said two or more bulges 15 are protruding from opposite sides of the sealing region 3 without facing one another. However, other numbers and locations of the bulges 15 are also possible. The exact design of a packaging 1 with respect to both the sealing region 3 and the splitter 18 will typically be determined based on all or some of the following parameters: the overall size and shape of the packaging, the type and thickness of the material used for the packaging, the sealing method, and the viscosity of the liquid. It will typically be determined based on experimental testing and/or computer simulations.

[0087] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the inventive idea behind a part of the invention relating to the self-closing effect. It can be explained by considering the outlet channel 7 and the transition region 5 as a normally closed valve. By normally closed is meant that the valve remains closed, when no external forces are applied thereto. Points c and d are connected by the sealing extending between these points. This provides a stiffening which means that the distance between points c and d remains substantially constant. The same applies to the points C and D. The stiffness of the imaginary line between points c and d will tend to keep the distance between points a and b constant, representing the closed position of the valve, i.e. the outlet channel. Similarly, the imaginary line between points C and D will tend to keep the distance between points A and B constant, representing the closed position of the valve, i.e. the transition region. By designing the packaging 1 as shown in the figures, stiffness in two directions are used to obtain a stronger normally closed valve than if only one flow passage had to be kept closed. By stronger is meant with more power to bring all points to their original position, meaning all surfaces flat and thereby the exit from the receptacle 6 closed. The stiffening and resulting self-closing effect may be further manipulated by providing the sealing region 3 with bulges 15 as explained in relation to FIG. 7. In this figure, there are three bulges, but for some embodiments one bulge may be sufficient to provide the necessary stiffening effect.

[0088] FIGS. 9.a and 9.b schematically show two embodiments of a packaging 1 comprising a sealing next to the outlet channel 7, said sealing comprising a slit 16 shaped and dimensioned to receive a free end of the spout 11. The figures show two possible locations of such a slit, but other locations may also be chosen provided that it is possible to bend the spout to reach the slit. By arranging the free end of the spout 11 in such a slit as shown in these figures, a high degree of self-closing of the spout 11 is obtained.

[0089] FIGS. 10.a and 10.b are flow-charts of two different methods of manufacturing a packaging according to the invention. The method in FIG. 10.a comprises the following steps: [0090] A: arranging two layers of flexible material superimposed each other; [0091] B: applying heat sealing and cutting resulting in a packaging according to the invention while omitting a part of the sealing to provide a filling region; [0092] C: filling the receptacle with liquid via the filling region; and [0093] D: sealing the filling region.

[0094] In some embodiments of the invention, steps A and B may be performed on another machine than the one used for steps C and D. In that case, the pouches made by steps A and B may also be temporarily stored, or they may even be provided from an external pouch manufacturer.

[0095] The method in FIG. 10.b comprises the following steps: [0096] E: providing two layers of flexible material in the form of sheet material which is larger than one packaging; [0097] F: applying heat sealing resulting in a plurality of partially closed packagings according to the invention, the packagings comprising the receptacles, and the heat sealing providing a filling region by omitting a part of the sealing; [0098] G: filling the receptacle with liquid via the filling region; [0099] H: sealing the filling region; [0100] I: applying cutting to form the splitter; and [0101] J: cutting along outer circumferences of the plurality of packagings to separate them from each other.

[0102] The steps H, I, and J could be performed as one main operation step. Sealing and cutting tools are often combined and doing their individual steps nearly timewise together.

[0103] As described in more details above, the step of filling may in any of the methods be performed under aseptic conditions.

[0104] FIG. 11 schematically shows an example of a manufacturing of packagings of the type shown in FIG. 7. In this example, the packagings are manufactured by a method as shown in FIG. 10.b. The flexible material is provided in the form of sheet material which is folded onto itself and sealed along an edge 17 extending in the longitudinal direction of the supply of material to form a tubular shape. Then a horizontal sealing is provided as shown within the circle marked F in FIG. 11. This sealing forms the receptacle 6 of the upper packaging in the figure which receptacle can then be filled. This receptacle is then closed by applying the subsequent sealing F. The steps I and J of applying cutting to form the splitter 18 and cutting along outer circumferences of the plurality of packagings to separate them from each other can be performed as two separate steps or in one combined step.

[0105] Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms comprising or comprises do not exclude other possible elements or steps. The mentioning of references such as a or an etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.