A DRINKING STRAW STRUCTURE, A SEALING DEVICE FOR FORMING THE DRINKING STRAW STRUCTURE, A METHOD FOR FORMING THE DRINKING STRAW STRUCTURE AND A LIQUID FOOD PACKAGE

Abstract

A drinking straw structure is disclosed. The drinking straw structure comprising: a U-shaped drinking straw comprising a first portion, a second portion and a bending portion, wherein the first and second portions are connected via the bending portion, and a drinking straw wrap enclosing the U-shaped drinking straw, wherein the first and second portions of the U-shaped drinking straw extend substantially parallel along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw structure, the drinking straw wrap comprising: a main seal being arranged along a circumference of the drinking straw wrap thereby forming a first unsealed area of the drinking straw wrap, and a longitudinal seal extending in a longitudinal direction of the drinking straw structure from the main seal at a first edge of the drinking straw wrap along a longitudinal seal length.

Claims

1. A drinking straw structure for a liquid food package holding a drinkable food product, the drinking straw structure comprising: a U-shaped drinking straw comprising a first portion, a second portion and a bending portion, wherein the first and second portions are connected via the bending portion, and a drinking straw wrap enclosing the U-shaped drinking straw, wherein the first and second portions of the U-shaped drinking straw extend substantially parallel along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw structure, the drinking straw wrap comprising: a main seal being arranged along a circumference of the drinking straw wrap thereby forming a first unsealed area of the drinking straw wrap, and a longitudinal seal extending in a longitudinal direction of the drinking straw structure from the main seal at a first edge of the drinking straw wrap along a longitudinal seal length.

2. The drinking straw structure according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the U-shaped drinking straw is longer than the second portion of the U-shaped drinking straw thereby a distal end of the first portion is arranged further away from the bending portion than a distal end of the second portion.

3. The drinking straw structure according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal seal has a longitudinal seal width of 1-3 mm as seen along a transverse axis being transverse to the longitudinal axis.

4. The drinking straw structure according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal seal has the longitudinal seal length of 10-100 mm as seen along the longitudinal axis.

5. The drinking straw structure according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal seal length is shorter than a distance between the respective distal ends of the first and second portions of the U-shaped drinking straw seen along the longitudinal axis.

6. The drinking straw structure according to claim 1, wherein the drinking straw wrap further comprises a transverse seal extending in a transverse direction of the drinking straw structure from the main seal at a second edge of the drinking straw wrap.

7. The drinking straw structure according to claim 6, wherein the transverse seal has a transverse seal width of 1-3 mm as seen along the longitudinal axis.

8. The drinking straw according to claim 6, wherein the transverse seal has a transverse seal length of 5-30 mm as seen along the transverse axis.

9. The drinking straw structure according to claim 6, wherein the transverse seal extends to the longitudinal seal.

10. The drinking straw structure according to claim 9, wherein a portion of the main seal at the first edge of the drinking straw wrap, a portion of the main seal at the second edge of the drinking straw wrap, the longitudinal seal and the transverse seal form a second unsealed area being separate from the first unsealed area.

11. The drinking straw structure according to claim 1, wherein the U-shaped drinking straw is made of paper-based material or synthetic-based material.

12. The drinking straw structure according to claim 1, wherein the drinking straw wrap is made of paper-based material or synthetic-based material.

13. A sealing device for forming a drinking straw structure 200 according to claim 1, the sealing device comprising a sealing roller and an abutment device, the sealing device being configured to: receive a U-shaped drinking straw being arranged between a first film and a second film, the first and second films being configured to form the drinking straw wrap, the U-shaped drinking straw being arranged such that a first portion and a second portion of the U-shaped drinking straw extend substantially parallel along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw wrap, and provide a main seal, sealing the first film to the second film, and extending along a circumference of the drinking straw wrap and a longitudinal seal, sealing the first film to the second film, and extending in a longitudinal direction of the drinking straw structure from the main seal at the first edge of the drinking straw wrap by compressing the sealing roller towards the abutment device thereby forming the drinking straw structure.

14. A method for forming a drinking straw structure according to claim 1, the method comprising: arranging a U-shaped drinking straw between a first film and a second film, the first and second films being configured to form a drinking straw wrap, the U-shaped drinking straw being arranged such that a first portion and a second portion of the U-shaped drinking straw extend substantially parallel along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw wrap, and providing a main seal, sealing the first film to the second film, and extending along a circumference of the drinking straw wrap and a longitudinal seal, sealing the first film to the second film, and extending in a longitudinal direction of the drinking straw structure from the main seal at the first edge of the drinking straw wrap.

15. A liquid food package for holding a liquid food product, the liquid food package comprising: a main body for holding the liquid food product, and a drinking straw structure according to claim 1 being attached to an outside surface of the main body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which

[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid food package comprising a drinking straw structure.

[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates a drinking straw structure.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement of drinking straw structures.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sealing device for forming a drinking straw structure.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a sealing roller and an abutment device which are comprised in the sealing device as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating steps of a method for forming a drinking straw structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] With reference to FIG. 1 a liquid food package 100 is illustrated by way of example. The liquid food package 100 is for holding a drinkable food product or a liquid food product. The liquid food package 100 is formed as a rectangular bottle formed by a carton-based main body 102. The carton-based main body 102 is preferably made of carton-based laminate. It should be noted that the liquid food package 100 may be formed in any suitable way, from any suitable material, as long as it is configured to hold the drinkable food product, preferably in an easy and safe way.

[0053] The liquid food package further 100 comprises a drinking straw structure 200 which is further illustrated and discussed in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. The drinking straw structure 200 is attached to an outside surface 104 of the main body 102. The drinking straw structure 200 is preferably adhered to the outside surface 104 of the main body 102. The drinking straw structure 200 may be glued to the outside surface 104 of the main body 102.

[0054] The liquid food package 100 further comprises a weakened area 106. The weakened area 106 is arranged on a top surface 108 of the main body 102, or another suitable position known in the art. The weakened area 106 is usually a hole laminated with thin layers of materials, such as polymer and aluminum or other barrier materials.

[0055] With reference to FIG. 2, the drinking straw structure 200 as introduced in FIG. 1 is illustrated by way of example. The drinking straw structure 200 comprises a U-shaped drinking straw 220, herein also referred to as a straw 220, and a drinking straw wrap 240, herein also referred to as a wrap 240.

[0056] The straw 220 comprising a first portion 221, a second portion 222 and a bending portion 223. The first and second portions 221, 222 are connected via the bending portion 223. The straw 220 is preferably formed as one unit, wherein the first portion 221, the second portion 222 and the bending portion 223 are integrally formed. The dotted lines between the first portion 221 and the bending portion 223 and between the second portion 222 and the bending portion 223 are only for illustrative purposes. The first portion 221 has a first length L1 seen in a longitudinal direction LD. The second portion 222 has a second length L2 seen in the longitudinal direction LD. The second length L2 is short than the first length L1 and thus, the first portion 221 is longer than the second portion 222 seen along a longitudinal axis LA.

[0057] The first portion 221 comprises a distal end 221a. In this context, the distal end should be seen as a distal end of the first portion 221 in relation to the bending portion 223. The distal end 221a of the first portion 221 may be a cut tip. The cut tip is cut and shaped to have a sharp edge. The cut tip is able to tear the weakened area 106 of the liquid food package 100 and break the liquid food package material. The cut tip may be obtained by cutting one end of the straw 220 along a hypothetical line angled compared to the longitudinal axis LA thereby forming a tip angle.

[0058] The second portion 222 comprises a distal end 222a. In this context, the distal end 222a should be seen as a distal end of the second portion 222 in relation to the bending portion 223. The distal end 222a of the second portion 222 may be a suction tip from which the consumer is configured to drink the drinkable food product held in the liquid food package 100. As the first portion 221 is longer than the second portion 222, the distal end 221a of the first portion 221 is arranged further away from the bending portion 223 than the distal end 222a of the second portion 222. Thereby, the distal end 221a of the first portion 221 and the distal end 222a of the second portion 222 are arranged at a distance D from each other seen along the longitudinal axis LA.

[0059] Although not illustrated, the bending portion 223 may be a corrugated portion having an adjustable length.

[0060] The straw 220 is enclosed by the wrap 240. The straw 220 is arranged inside the wrap 240 such that the first portion 221 and the second portion 222 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal axis LA of the drinking straw structure 200. Although the warp 240 is illustrated as being of a rectangular shape, the wrap 240 may have any suitable shape. The wrap 240 is preferably formed by a first film 401 and a second film 402 (illustrated in FIG. 4). The straw 220 is arranged between the first and second films 401, 402.

[0061] The wrap 240 comprises a main seal 241. The main seal 241 is arranged along a circumference of the wrap 240. The main seal 241 forms a first unsealed area 242. Put differently, the unsealed area 242 is surrounded by the main seal 241.

[0062] The wrap 240 further comprises a longitudinal seal 243. The longitudinal seal 243 extends in the longitudinal direction LD of the drinking straw structure 200 from the main seal at a first edge 247 of the wrap 240. The longitudinal seal 243 is arranged in parallel with the first portion 221 of the straw 220. The longitudinal seal 243 has a longitudinal seal width LSW of 2 mm as seen along a transverse axis TA, being transverse to the longitudinal axis LA. Other longitudinal seal widths, such as a longitudinal seal width of 1-3 mm, may be used to advantage. The longitudinal seal 243 has a longitudinal seal length of 60 mm as seen along the longitudinal axis LA. Other longitudinal seal lengths, such as a longitudinal seal length of 10-100 mm, may be used to advantage.

[0063] The wrap 240 further comprises a transverse seal 245. The transverse seal 245 extends in the transverse direction TD of the drinking straw structure 200 from the main seal 241 at a second edge 248 of the wrap 240 to the longitudinal seal 243. The longitudinal seal 243 and the transverse seal 245 are arranged end to end with each other. The transverse seal 245 has a transverse seal width TSW of 2 mm as seen along the longitudinal axis LA. Other transverse seal widths, such as a transverse seal width of 1-3 mm, may be used to advantage. The transverse seal 245 has a transverse seal length of 15 mm as seen along the transverse axis TA. Other transverse seal lengths, such as a transverse seal length of 5-30 mm, may be used to advantage.

[0064] It is further illustrated in FIG. 2 that a portion of the main seal 241 at the first edge 247 of the wrap 240, a portion of the main seal 241 at the second edge 248 of the wrap 240, the longitudinal seal 243 and the transverse seal 245 forms a second unsealed area 246. The second unsealed area 246 is separated from the first unsealed area 242. The second unsealed area 246 is arranged in parallel with the first portion 221 of the straw 220 seen along the longitudinal axis LA of the drinking straw structure 200. The second unsealed area 246 is arranged in line with the second portion 222 of the straw 220 seen along the longitudinal axis LA of the drinking straw structure 200. Thus, when the straw 220 is pushed out from the wrap 240, the first portion 221 of the straw 220 breaks a portion of the main seal at the first edge 247 of wrap 240 and the second portion 222 of the straw 220 breaks the transverse seal 245 of the wrap 240, preferably at different times, for instance by a delay in time. Thereafter, the second portion 222 is moved within the second unsealed area 246 before breaking a further portion the main seal 241 at the first edge 247 of the wrap 240. The further portion of the main seal 241 at the first edge 247 is different than the portion of the main seal 241 at the first edge 247. Thus, the second end 222 breaks the main seal 241 at the first edge 247 at a different position of the main seal 241 than the first portion 221.

[0065] The straw 220 may be made of paper-based material or synthetic-based material. The wrap 240 may be made of paper-based material or synthetic-based material.

[0066] With reference to FIG. 3, an arrangement 300 of drinking straw structures 200 is illustrated by way of example. The depicted arrangement 300 comprises eight drinking straw structures 200 arranged in two rows, wherein each row comprises four drinking straw structures 200. The drinking straw structures 200 of the respective row are connected to each other. The rows of drinking straw structures 200 are also connected to each other. The arrangement 300 comprises three perforated vertical lines 302 and one perforated horizontal line 304. The perforated lines 302, 304 are arranged along at least a portion of the main seal 241 of the respective drinking straw structure 200. The perforated lines 302, 304 are preferably formed by using a toothed knife or toothed roller after the arrangement 300 has been formed.

[0067] In practice, a large number of drinking straw structures 200 are preferably formed after each other when forming an arrangement 300 of drinking straw structures 200. In other words, hundreds or thousands of drinking straw structures 200 may be connected after each other in an arrangement 300 of drinking straw structures 200. Similarly, a plurality of drinking straw structures 200 may be connected side by side in an arrangement 300 of drinking straw structures 200. For instance 3, 6, 10, 12 or 20 drinking straw structures 200 may be connected side by side in an arrangement 300 of drinking straw structures 200.

[0068] Preferably, the drinking straw structure 200 is formed as the arrangement 300 of drinking straw structures 200 that can be fed to a straw structure application device to attach a liquid food package. Before attaching a drinking straw structure 200 to the liquid food package 100 as discussed above, a single drinking straw structure 200 is teared off from the arrangement 300 along the perforated lines 302, 304.

[0069] Each drinking straw structure 200 of the arrangement 300 comprises the features as discussed in connection with FIG. 2.

[0070] It should be noted that the arrangement 300 may comprise any number of rows and any number of columns of drinking straw structures 200.

[0071] With reference to FIG. 4, a sealing device 400 is illustrated by way of example. The sealing device 400 is for forming the drinking straw structure 200 as discussed above. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the sealing device 400 is forming the arrangement 300 of drinking straw structures 200 as discussed in connection with FIG. 3.

[0072] The sealing device 400 comprises a sealing roller 410 and an abutment device 430 which both are illustrated and discussed in further detail in connection with FIG. 5. The sealing device 400 further comprises a further roller 450 and a straw provider or applicator 470. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the abutment device 430 and the further roller 450 are configured to rotate in opposite directions as illustrated by the arrows of the abutment device 430 and the roller 450, respectively, wherein the abutment device 430 and the roller 450 are separated by a first gap G1. The abutment device 430 and the sealing roller 410 are configured to rotate opposite direction as further illustrated by the arrows of the abutment device 430 and the sealing roller 410, respectively. The surface area of the sealing roller 310 and the surface area of the abutment device 430 meet in a point P1.

[0073] The sealing device 400 is configured to receive a first film 401 via the abutment device 430 and a second film 402 via the further roller 450. Due to the opposite directions of rotation of the abutment device 430 and the further roller 450, the films 401, 402 are moved towards each other and towards the first gap G1 formed between the abutment device 430 and the roller 450. It is to be noted that the abutment device 430 and the further roller 450 are rotated at different rotational speeds such that the first film 401 and the second film 402 are fed towards the first gap G1 formed between the abutment device 430 and the further roller 450 at corresponding or similar speeds. Before the films 401, 402 are moved towards each other and towards the first gap G1, the straw provider 470 is configured to provide straws 220 to the first film 401. When the sealing device 400 is forming the arrangement 300 of drinking straw structures 200, the straw provider 570 provides straws 220 to the first film 401 at a predetermined interval. Thereby, when the films 401, 402 are moved towards each other, the one or more straws 220 are arranged between the films 401, 402 which are configured to form the drinking straw wrap 240. The one or more straws 220 are arranged between the films 401, 402 at predetermined intervals.

[0074] Due to the opposite directions of rotation of the abutment device 430 and the sealing roller 410, the films 401, 402 and the straw 220, which is arranged between the films 401, 402, are moved towards the point P1. In the point P1, the sealing roller 410 is pressed towards the abutment device 430 such that the respective seal 241, 243, 245 is provided. It is to be noted that the abutment device 430 and the sealing roller 410 are rotated at different rotational speeds such that the first film 401 and the second film 402 are fed towards the point P1 at corresponding or similar speeds.

[0075] Thus, the sealing device 400 is configured to provide the main seal 241, the longitudinal seal 243 and the transverse seal 245, thereby sealing the first film 401 to the second film 402, as said above. The sealing device 400 is configured to provide the respective seal 241, 243, 245 by pressing the sealing roller 410 towards the abutment device 430 thereby forming the drinking straw structure 200. The sealing roller 410 is pressed towards the abutment surface 430 at the point P1.

[0076] The sealing roller 410 is a heated sealing roller. The abutment device 430 and the further roller 450 are cold devices.

[0077] Although not illustrated or discussed, it should be understood that the sealing device 400 may typically comprise other components than the sealing roller 410, the abutment device 430, the roller 450 and the straw provider 470.

[0078] With reference to FIG. 5, the sealing roller 410 and the abutment device 430 as introduced in connection with FIG. 4 are illustrated and discussed in further detail by way of example.

[0079] When the sealing roller 410 is pressed towards the abutment device 430, the sealing roller 410 and the abutment device 430 create a sealing pressure together such that the seals 241, 243, 245 are being formed by heat sealing. The seals 241, 243, 245 are formed by the heated sealing roller 410. In other words, the heated sealing roller 410 locally melts and thus welds the first film 401 and the second film 402 together. The sealing roller 410 and the abutment device 430 illustrated in FIG. 5 are configured to form two rows of drinking straw structures 200 in parallel.

[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the abutment device 430 comprises a plurality of slots 430a, 430b. For reasons of simplicity, only two slots 430a, 430b are illustrated. It should however be noted that the abutment device 430 typically comprises as many slots 430a, 430b as needed in order to form a full circle forming the complete abutment device 430 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The slots are preferably rubber slots. Each slot 430a, 430b comprises two cavities 431. Each cavity 431 is configured to receive a straw 220 from the straw provider 470 before being moved towards the first gap G1. The straw 220 is arranged on the first film 401 as discussed above.

[0081] The sealing roller 410 comprises a plurality of elevated portions 441 configured to form the main seal 241 of the respective drinking straw structures 200. The sealing roller 410 further comprises a plurality elevated portions 443 for forming the longitudinal seal 243 of the respective drinking straw structure 200. The sealing roller 410 further comprises a plurality of elevated portions 445 for forming the transverse seal 245 of the respective drinking straw structure 200. The depicted elevated portions 441, 443 and 445 are integrally formed in the depicted sealing roller 410. The elevated portions 441, 443 and 445 may however be formed separately. The elevated portions 441, 443 and 445 may be formed of separate parts. The elevated portions 441, 443 and 445 may exhibit different shapes to advantage.

[0082] The sealing roller 410 comprises a plurality of first cavities 411 and a plurality of second cavities 412. The sealing roller 410 and the abutment device 430 being arranged such that, in the point P1, the cavity 431 of the abutment device 430 coincides with a first cavity 411 of the sealing roller 410 thereby forming the first unsealed area 242 of the drinking straw structure 200 when the first and second films 401, 402 are sealed to each other. The second cavities 412 is for forming the second unsealed area 246 of the drinking straw structure 200 when the first and second films 401, 402 are sealed to each other.

[0083] With reference to FIG. 6, a flowchart illustrating a method 600 for forming the drinking straw structure 200 by way of example. The method 600 comprises a first step S602 in which the U-shaped drinking straw 220 is arranged between the first film 401 and the second film 402, wherein the films 401, 402 are configured to form the drinking straw wrap 240. The U-shaped drinking straw 220 is arranged such that the first portion and the second portion of the U-shaped drinking straw 220 extend substantially parallel along the longitudinal axis LA of the drinking straw wrap 240. Thereafter, in a second step S604, the main seal 241 and the longitudinal seal 243 is provided on the wrap 240 thereby sealing the first film 401 and the second film 402.

[0084] The main seal 241 and the longitudinal seal 243 may be formed simultaneously or separately.

[0085] Optionally, the transverse seal 245 may be provided on the wrap 240 thereby sealing the first film 401 and the second film 402.

[0086] The main seal 241, the longitudinal seal 243 and the transverse seal 245 may be formed simultaneously or separately.

[0087] Even though illustrated and described in a certain order, other orders may also be used.

[0088] From the description above follows that, although various embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, the invention is not restricted thereto, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject-matter defined in the following claims.