OPENING DEVICE TO A PACKAGE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an opening device, in particular to a reclosable opening device, configured to be applied onto a package containing a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product.

The present invention further relates to a method for applying an opening device onto a package containing a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product.

BACKGROUND ART

As it is generally known, many pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high temperature-treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.

A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark) , which is made by folding and sealing a laminated sheet of packaging material .

In particular, the packaging material has a multilayer structure substantially comprising a base layer for stiffness and strength, which may be made of fibrous material, e.g. paper or mineral-filled polypropylene material, and a number of lamination layers made of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene films, covering both sides of the base layer .

In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk or fruit juice, the packaging material also comprises a layer of gas-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material. This latter layer of plastic material forms the inner face of the package eventually contacting the pourable food product.

Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, in which a continuous tube is formed from the sheet of packaging material .

Furthermore, the sheet of packaging material is sterilized in the packaging machine by applying a chemical sterilization agent, which is then removed after sterilization is completed.

Subsequently, the sheet of packaging material is maintained in a closed, sterile environment and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form the tube.

In order to complete the forming operations, the tube is filled from above, by means of a pipe, with the pourable food product and is formed, sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced transversal cross sections .

Pillow packs are obtained thereby, which have a longitudinal sealing band, a top transversal sealing band and a bottom transversal sealing band, and which are then folded mechanically to form respective finished substantially parallelepiped-shaped packages.

Alternatively, the packaging material may be cut into blanks, which are formed into packages on forming spindles, and the resulting packages are filled with the food product and sealed. One example of such package is the so-called "gable top" package commonly known by the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trademark) .

To open the packages described above, various solutions have been proposed, one of which involves the use of reclosable opening devices made of plastic material .

Opening devices of such type generally comprise:

- a frame defining an opening and fitted over a hole or a pierceable or tear-off portion in a wall of the package; and

- a cap configured to be coupled to the frame in order to close the opening.

According to a known solution, the frame is fitted over a so-called prelaminated hole, i.e. a hole formed through the base layer only and covered, by means of a lamination process, by the other lamination layers of the packaging material, including the layer of gas- barrier material.

In other words, the frame is fitted, typically glued, onto the pierceable portion of the prelaminated hole, which is made of such lamination layers.

According to an alternative solution, the pierceable portion may be defined by a patch attached to the packaging material to close a hole formed, in this case, through the full thickness of the packaging material .

Threaded opening devices are known, in which the frame typically comprises an externally threaded, substantially cylindrical-shaped collar, whereas the cap comprises an internal thread and is initially screwed to the collar. Furthermore, the cap is normally injection- molded integrally with a relative tamper-evidence ring, which is coaxially connected to the cap itself by means of a plurality of breakable bridges and which is destined to remain fitted to the collar once the bridges are broken and the cap is unscrewed.

It is known in the field that, after unsealing the cap, i.e. after detaching the cap from the tamper- evidence ring and unscrewing the cap from the frame by applying torque, the user must also remove (i.e. cut or tear) the pierceable portion covering the prelaminated hole, in order to access the inside of the package.

For this purpose, according to a known configuration, the opening device comprises a pull-off tongue coupled to the pierceable portion and configured to be torn by the user, once the cap has been unscrewed from the frame.

According to an alternative solution, the known opening devices comprise a substantially tubular cutting member screwed inside the collar and having an edge with a number of substantially triangular end teeth, which cooperate with and partly detach the pierceable portion from the relative wall, preferably with the exception of a small-angle portion, so as to avoid the torn pierceable portion to fall into the inside of the package after cutting.

More precisely, the cutting member is activated by the cap by means of a one-way ratchet-type transmission means, operated during disengagement of the cap from the collar of the frame. In detail, the cutting member is movable along a spiral path with respect to the frame, from a raised rest position, in which the end teeth face the pierceable portion, into successive lowered cutting positions, in which the end teeth interact with the pierceable portion, thereby cutting the pierceable portion .

It is known in the field the constantly growing need for reducing the environmental impact that comes along with packaging and bottling of foodstuff and non foodstuff products. In particular, due care must be taken with regard to the plastic components of the packages, which can pollute aquatic and terrestrial environments .

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an opening device for a package containing a pourable product, which is designed to meet the above- mentioned need in a straightforward and low-cost manner.

This object is achieved by an opening device as claimed in claim 1.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for applying an opening device onto a package containing a pourable product, which is designed to meet the above-mentioned need in a straightforward and low-cost manner .

This object is achieved by a method for applying an opening device onto a package as claimed in claim 13.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Two non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a top portion of a sealed package for containing pourable products, onto which an opening device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is fitted;

Figure 2 is a larger-scale, partially sectioned side view of the opening device and package of Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity;

Figure 3 is a larger-scale sectioned side view, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the opening device and package of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a top portion of a sealed package for containing pourable products, onto which an opening device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is fitted.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates as a whole a package made of a multilayer sheet of packaging material 2, adapted to contain a pourable product, and having a wall, in particular a top wall 4, onto which an opening device 3, preferably made of plastic material, is fitted.

In particular, package 1 is adapted to contain a pourable food product, such as milk, water, fruit juice or the like.

In the example shown, opening device 3 is fitted to an opening area of package 1 by conventional fixing means, such as adhesive substances, e.g. glue, or by means of welding systems, e.g. laser welding or microflame welding.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, packaging material 2 comprises a base layer 5 for providing stiffness and strength, which may be made of fibrous material, e.g. paper or mineral-filled polypropylene material, and a cover layer arrangement 6.

In detail, cover layer arrangement 6 comprises a first covering layer 6a and a second covering layer 6b, both made of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene film, and covering both sides of base layer 5.

Packaging material 2 comprises, at top wall 4 of package 1, a pierceable portion 7 which is covered externally, in use, by opening device 3 and which is configured to be detached, at least partially, from top wall 4 in order to allow the pourable product to exit package 1.

In one embodiment, pierceable portion 7 defines the opening area to which opening device 3 is fitted.

In another embodiment not shown, opening area may be a through hole made in the packaging material 2, in particular in the portion of packaging material 2 forming top wall 4.

In the present case, package 1 is an aseptic package for long-storage food products; accordingly, cover layer arrangement 6 also comprises a barrier layer 8 made of gas-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, which is superimposed on the second covering layer 6b and is in turn covered with a third covering layer 6c of cover layer arrangement 6, made of heat-seal plastic material.

In particular, third covering layer 6c forms the inner face of package 1 eventually containing the pourable food product .

In other words, first covering layer 6a, second covering layer 6b, barrier layer 8 and third covering layer 6c define lamination layers applied, by a lamination process, to base layer 5 when producing packaging material 2 in the form of a continuous sheet, before cutting and folding it to form package 1.

Pierceable portion 7 is defined by a through hole formed only through base layer 5 and covered by first covering layer 6a, second covering layer 6b, barrier layer 8 and third covering layer 6c.

In practice, pierceable portion 7 is made of the above-mentioned lamination layers and closes the through hole formed in base layer 5.

Preferably, pierceable portion 7 is an integral part of cover layer arrangement 6.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, pierceable portion 7 may be made of only one or more of first covering layer 6a, second covering layer 6b, barrier layer 8 and third covering layer 6c. For example, pierceable portion 7 may be made solely of barrier layer 8.

In a further alternative embodiment not shown, pierceable portion 7 may be defined by a patch attached to packaging material 2 to cover a hole formed, in this case, through the full thickness of packaging material 2. Pierceable portion 7 has an axis A, preferably orthogonal relative to top wall 4, in particular vertical when package 1 stands on a bottom wall (not shown and substantially parallel to top wall 4) .

According to the non-limiting example shown, pierceable portion 7 has a substantially circular shape concentric to axis A.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, opening device 3 comprises :

- a frame 10 defining a passage 11 for the pourable product ending with an opening 11a through which the pourable product is poured, in use, and fitted about pierceable portion 7, onto top wall 4 of package 1; and

- a cap 12 configured to cooperate in contact with frame 10 to close passage 11 and opening 11a.

In detail, opening 11a is arranged coaxially to axis A and cap 12 is configured to engage frame 10 coaxially to axis A to close passage 11.

More specifically, frame 10 comprises a base plate 13, preferably flat, configured to be attached to package 1 substantially parallel to top wall 4 and surrounding pierceable portion 7, and a cylindrical collar 14 projecting transversally, in particular orthogonally, from base plate 13, and having a longitudinal axis B coaxial, in use, to axis A. In particular, collar 14 coaxially and internally defines passage 11. Hence, opening 11a is arranged coaxially also to axis B.

Cap 12 comprises a substantially flat circular top wall 15 and a cylindrical wall portion 16, which projects from top wall 15 along a longitudinal axis C of cap 12 itself and which is configured to coaxially engage collar 14 in order to close passage 11.

For this purpose, collar 14 is provided with an outer thread 17 extending onto an external lateral surface 18 of collar 14 itself, and cap 12 is provided with an inner thread 19 extending onto an internal lateral surface 20 of cylindrical portion 16.

In detail, outer thread 17 and inner thread 19 are configured to mutually engage so as to determine, in use and under the action of the user, unscrewing and screwing of cap 12 relative to frame 10, and therefore collar 14, thereby causing opening and closing of passage 11.

Opening device 3 further comprises tamper-evidence means, in particular a tamper-evidence ring 21, preferably formed integrally with cap 12, for example injection-molded together with cap 12, and initially connected coaxially to an edge 22 of cap 12 by means of a number of breakable connecting bridges.

In detail, cap 12 is fitted initially to frame 10 in a closed position, wherein cap 12 is screwed completely onto collar 14, with edge 22 and tamper- evidence ring 21 still connected to one another.

In greater detail, tamper-evidence ring 21 is angularly fixed relatively to axis A and axis B, and, once detached from cap 12, tamper-evidence ring 21 remains angularly fixed relatively to axis A and axis B.

To this end, collar 14 comprises a number of recesses 23 configured to be engaged by corresponding protrusions 23a of tamper-evidence ring 21.

In particular, recesses 23 are distributed circumferentially onto collar 14, relatively to axis B, and protrusions 23a are distributed circumferentially onto tamper-evidence ring 21.

During fitting of cap 12 onto frame 10, tamper- evidence ring 21 is fitted to collar 14 so that protrusions 23a face recesses 23, thereby engaging corresponding recesses 23.

More precisely, each recess 23 acts as rotational and axial stop for the respective protrusion 23a, thereby preventing the angular motion, i.e. the rotation, of tamper-evidence ring 21 with respect to axis A and axis B.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, tamper-evidence ring 21 is rotatably fitted to collar 14 - i.e. it is freely rotatable with respect to collar 14.

Once unsealed, cap 12 is moveable between:

- an open position, in which cap 12 is unscrewed off collar 14 and detached from frame 10; and

- the closed position, in which cap 12 is screwed again on collar 14 thereby closing passage 11 and opening 11a.

During first disengagement of cap 12 from collar 14, that is during first movement of cap 12 from its closed position to its open position, the connecting bridges initially connecting tamper-evidence ring 21 and cap 12 are broken.

More specifically, after the first disengagement of cap 12 from collar 14, each protrusion 23a of tamper- evidence ring 21 remains engaged into one respective recess 23, which, as stated above, acts as a rotational stop for such protrusion 23a.

Due to the resisting torque transmitted to the connecting bridges, these latter break, thereby freeing cap 12 from tamper-evidence ring 21 and permitting the unscrewing of the latter off collar 14.

In view of the above, cap 12 is movable, in use, towards and away from collar 14, i.e. towards and away from the opening area of package 1, in order to respectively close and open passage 11.

According to this non-limiting embodiment shown, opening device 3 further comprises a known tubular cutting member 24 which engages collar 14 axially and in a movable manner and is activated by cap 12 to interact with pierceable portion 7 to open package 1.

In detail, cutting member 24 is provided with cutting means (known per se and not described in detail) and is connected to collar 14 by means of a guiding arrangement such as thread elements or cam elements (also known per se and not described in detail) and is configured to move between a raised resting position and a lowered opening position, during first disengagement of cap 12 from collar 14.

In greater detail, in the raised resting position, cutting member 24 is entirely housed within collar 14, with the cutting means facing pierceable portion 7; in the lowered position, cutting member 24 projects axially from collar 14 to cut, penetrate and tear off pierceable portion 7 in a known manner, thereby allowing a fluid connection between the inside of package 1 and passage 11 (and also opening 11a) .

Displacement of cutting member 24 is controlled via a one-way angular transmission device 25 carried by cap 12, in particular fitted to top wall 15, in a manner known and not described in detail.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, opening device 3 comprises a pull-off tongue coupled to pierceable portion 7 and configured to be pulled by the user, once cap 12 has been unscrewed from collar 14, in order to manually tear off pierceable portion 7.

According to an important aspect of the present invention, opening device 3 comprises a connection element, in particular a strip 26 made of flexible material, particularly a flexible plastic material, fitted to cap 12 and configured to be fitted to frame 10, in particular fitted to frame 10 after assembly of opening device 3 is completed.

In this way, strip 26 tethers cap 12 to frame 10 and defines a maximum distance at which cap 12 can move, in use, away from collar 14 and the opening area of package 1.

In detail, such maximum distance is substantially equal to the longitudinal extension of strip 26.

Strip 26 is so configured as to allow cap 12 to be unscrewed from collar 14 and to prevent cap 12 from being detached (and in particular disposed of separately) from frame 10, i.e. from package 1.

As visible in Figures 1 and 2, strip 26 comprises:

- a first end portion 27 fitted to cap 12; - a second end portion 28 configured to be fitted to frame 10, in particular fitted to frame 10 after assembly of opening device 3 is completed; and

- a connection portion 29 connecting first end portion 27 to second end portion 28.

In the example shown, first end portion 27, second end portion 28 and connection portion 29 are formed integrally. In particular, first end portion 27, second end portion 28 and connection portion 29 are obtained integrally from a not-shown sheet of flexible plastic material, preferably more flexible than the plastic material forming opening device 3.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, strip 26 is made of a plurality of lamination layers of different flexible plastic materials.

According to this non-limiting preferred embodiment, second end portion 28 is configured to be attached onto base plate 13, in particular is attached onto base plate 13 after the assembly of opening device 3 is completed.

Hence, second end portion 28 is angularly fixed relatively to axis B and also to axis A.

Preferably, second end portion 28 is attached onto a peripheral portion of base plate 13 with respect to collar 14. In detail, such peripheral portion is a rear portion of base plate 13 with respect to the pouring trajectory of the pourable product exiting, in use, from package 1.

Thanks to this configuration, during pouring of pourable product outside of package 1, a movement of cap 12 in front of the pouring trajectory of the pourable product exiting from package 1 is prevented, thereby avoiding undesired interferences between cap 12 and/or strip 26 and the pourable product exiting from package

1.

In practice, strip 26 defines a region having a radius equal to the above-mentioned maximum distance of cap 12 from frame 10, within which cap 12 can be moved away from and towards to frame 10, without interfering with the pourable product exiting, in use, from passage 11.

As visible in Figures 1 and 2, first end portion 27 is attached onto top wall 15 of cap 12.

In detail, first end portion 27 is attached on top wall 15 in an eccentric position with respect to axis C. In this way, strip 26 does not hinder the rotation of cap 12 during screwing/unscrewing onto/off collar 14.

In an alternative preferred embodiment not shown, first end portion 27 is attached onto cylindrical portion 16.

Opening device 3 of the above-described type is configured to be attached to package 1 after the filling, sealing and folding of package 1.

In detail, strip 26 can be applied to opening device 3 after opening device 3 is applied to top wall 4 of package 1.

In greater detail, after assembling of opening device 3 with package 1, first end portion 27 can be attached onto top wall 15 of cap 12 and second end portion 28 can be attached onto base plate 13. Alternatively, strip 26 can be applied to opening device 3 before assembling of this latter with package

1.

Furthermore, second end portion 28 can be attached onto base plate 13 after assembly of opening device 3 with package 1, whereas first end portion 27 can be already attached onto top wall 15 of cap 12.

The operation of opening device 3 is described hereinafter with reference to Figure 1 and 2 and starting from a condition in which cap 12 is still screwed on frame 10.

Starting from this condition, to open package 1, the user unscrews cap 12, thereby causing the connecting bridges of tamper-evidence ring 21 to break and causing the activation of cutting member 24, which determines the tearing of pierceable portion 7.

The action of unscrewing displaces cap 12 from its closed position to its open position.

During the displacement of cap 12 from the closed position to the open position, cap 12 is tethered to frame 10 by means of strip 26, as described above.

Once the desired amount of pourable product has been poured through passage 11, the user can close passage 11 by screwing again cap 12 on collar 14.

With reference to Figure 4, number 3' indicates as a whole an opening device fitted to package 1 and made according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Since opening device 3' is similar to opening device 3, the following description is limited to the differences between them, and using the same references, where possible, for identical or corresponding parts and components .

In particular, opening device 3' differs from opening device 3 by comprising a strip 26 having a first end portion 21 which is attached onto top wall 15 of cap 12, likewise first end portion 27 of strip 26, and a second end portion 28' which is configured to be fitted directly to top wall 4 of package 1, and not on base plate 13 of frame 10.

In particular, second end portion 28' is fitted, preferably attached, to top wall 4 after the assembly of opening device 3' is completed.

Hence, second end portion 28' is attachable onto top wall 4.

First end portion 27' and second end portion 28' are connected to one another by a connection portion

29' .

In this second embodiment, strip 26' can be applied after opening device 3' is applied to top wall 4 of package 1.

In greater detail, after assembling of opening device 3' with package 1, first end portion 27' can be attached onto top wall 15 of cap 12 and second end portion 28' can be attached onto top wall 4.

Alternatively, strip 26' can be applied to opening device 3' before assembling of this latter with package 1.

The advantages of opening device 3, 3' according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description .

In particular, thanks to the presence of strip 26, 26', cap 12 is firmly tethered to frame 10 and the risk of dispersing cap 12 in the environment after use of package 1 is consistently reduced, thereby preventing plastic pollution of the environment deriving from packages 1 of the above-mentioned type.

In addition, thanks to the fact that first end portion 27, 27' is attached to top wall 15 eccentrically relatively to axis C, strip 26, 26' does not affect the normal operation and use of opening device 3, 3', maintaining at least the same versatility of the opening devices known in the art and not provided with strip 26, 26', and at the same time being more environment- friendly .

Furthermore, strip 26, 26' can be easily fixed to known opening devices 3, 3' either before or after assembling of opening devices 3, 3' with the relative packages 1.

Hence, strip 26, 26' requires no substantial modifications to known opening devices 3, 3', in order to be implemented thereon.

Clearly, changes may be made to opening device 3, 3' as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims .

In particular, frame 10 of opening device 3 could be directly molded, for example by injection molding, at the opening area of package 1. In this case, a predetermined amount of molten plastic material is injected onto, and through, the pierceable portion 7 by means of a known molding device. During molding, the plastic material is forced to pierce the pierceable portion 7 from a first side thereof, due to the injection pressure and the geometry of the molding device used to form the opening device 3, so as to pass through the pierceable portion 7, and protrude from a second side of the pierceable portion 7, opposite to the first side. The lamination layers forming the pierceable portion 7 and closing the hole of the base layer 5 are first pierced through and then resealed by the plastic material forming frame 10.

In such a case, the finished package 1 is defined by the assembly comprising the filled, folded and sealed package 1 and the frame 10 which has been injection molded on the top wall 4 of package 1, in particular at the opening area thereof. In other words, frame 10 can be regarded as part of both package 1 and opening device 3. Therefore, in this case, strip 26, 26' is fitted to cap 12 and to top wall 4 of package 1, that is, it secures cap 12 to package 1, as frame 10 is part of package 1.

Furthermore, second end portion 28 of strip 26 could be fitted between frame 10 and top wall 4, that is underneath base plate 13 and over the portion of top wall 4 covered by base plate 13.