Laminate Construct, Blanks And Containers Formed Therefrom, Sealing Apparatus Therefor, And Associated Methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024150096-A1
Application number	US-202318386287-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2023
Priority date	Nov 4, 2022
Publication date	May 9, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A laminate structure for forming a barrier member of a container, the laminate structure includes a base layer, a barrier film layer, a first functional polymer layer, and a second functional polymer layer configured to at least partially seal the laminate structure to a container wall of the container, the first functional polymer layer reactive to the application of radiofrequency energy for promoting joining the second functional polymer layer to the container wall of the container. Also disclosed is a sealing assembly for joining a barrier member to a container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A laminate structure for forming a barrier member of a container, the laminate structure comprising:
a base layer; a barrier film layer; a first functional polymer layer; and a second functional polymer layer configured to at least partially seal the laminate structure to a container wall of the container, the first functional polymer layer reactive to the application of radiofrequency energy for promoting joining the second functional polymer layer to the container wall of the container.

2 . The laminate structure of claim 1 , wherein the first functional polymer layer is configured to at least partially melt when subjected to radiofrequency energy.

3 . The laminate structure of claim 2 , the barrier film layer being adhered to the base layer, the first functional polymer layer being applied to the barrier film layer, and the second functional polymer layer being applied to the first functional polymer layer.

4 . The laminate structure of claim 3 , wherein the first functional polymer layer comprises a copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate.

5 . The laminate structure of claim 3 , wherein the copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate comprises above about 15% methyl acrylate by weight.

6 . The laminate structure of claim 5 , wherein the first functional polymer layer is present in an amount of between about 2 g/m 2 and about 50 g/m 2 .

7 . The laminate structure of claim 6 , wherein the second functional polymer layer comprises one or more polyolefins.

8 . The laminate structure of claim 7 , wherein the barrier film layer comprises a carrier film and at least one barrier deposited on the carrier film, the at least one barrier selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicone oxide, and aluminum oxide.

9 . A container for holding one or more products, the container comprising:
a container body comprising a container wall extending at least partially around an interior of the container; a top end; a bottom end; and a barrier member positioned in the interior of the container, the barrier blank comprising:
a base layer;
a barrier film layer;
a first functional polymer layer; and
a second functional polymer layer configured to at least partially seal the laminate structure to the container wall of the container,
the first functional polymer layer reactive to the application of radiofrequency energy for promoting joining the second functional polymer layer to the container wall of the container.

10 . The container of claim 9 , wherein the first functional polymer layer is configured to at least partially melt when subjected to radiofrequency energy.

11 . The container of claim 10 , the barrier film layer being adhered to the base layer, the first functional polymer layer being applied to the barrier film layer, and the second functional polymer layer being applied to the first functional polymer layer.

12 . The container of claim 11 , wherein the first functional polymer layer comprises a copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate.

13 . The container of claim 11 , wherein the copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate comprises above about 15% methyl acrylate by weight.

14 . The container of claim 13 , wherein the first functional polymer layer is present in an amount of between about 2 g/m 2 and about 50 g/m 2 .

15 . The container of claim 14 , wherein the second functional polymer layer comprises one or more polyolefins.

16 . The container of claim 15 , wherein the barrier film layer comprises a carrier film and at least one barrier deposited on the carrier film, the at least one barrier selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicone oxide, and aluminum oxide.

17 . A method of forming a container for holding one or more products, the method comprising:
obtaining a container wall; positioning the container wall extending at least partially around an interior of the container and such that the container has a top end and a bottom end; obtaining a barrier blank, the barrier blank comprising:
a base layer;
a barrier film layer;
a first functional polymer layer; and
a second functional polymer layer, the first functional polymer layer reactive to the application of radiofrequency energy;
positioning the barrier blank at least partially in the interior of the container; and applying radiofrequency energy to the barrier blank to join the second functional polymer layer to the container wall of the container.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein applying radiofrequency energy to the barrier blank comprises at least partially melting the first functional polymer layer.

19 . The method of claim 18 , the barrier film layer being adhered to the base layer, the first functional polymer layer being applied to the barrier film layer, and the second functional polymer layer being applied to the first functional polymer layer.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first functional polymer layer comprises a copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate comprises above about 15% methyl acrylate by weight.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first functional polymer layer is present in an amount of between about 2 g/m 2 and about 50 g/m 2 .

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the second functional polymer layer comprises one or more polyolefins.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the barrier film layer comprises a carrier film and at least one barrier deposited on the carrier film, the at least one barrier selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicone oxide, and aluminum oxide.

25 . A sealing assembly for sealing a portion of a barrier blank to a container wall, the sealing assembly comprising:
a receiving assembly, the receiving assembly comprising a support defining an opening, and a receiving conductive member positioned extending at least partially around the opening; and a transmitting assembly, the transmitting assembly comprising a transmitting conductive member defining a first electrode feature, a reciprocating member, a flexible member defining a sealing feature and positioned between the conductive member, and a plunger plate defining a second electrode feature, the transmitting assembly movably supported relative to the receiving assembly such that the transmitting assembly is for being aligned with the receiving conductive member in the opening of the support so that at least one radiofrequency wave is for being transmitted from the first electrode feature and the second electrode feature of the transmitting assembly to the conductive member of the receiving assembly to heat one or more portions of a barrier blank positioned therebetween.

26 . The sealing assembly of claim 25 , wherein the conductive member has a body defining an interior, the reciprocating member and the flexible member at least partially received in the interior of the conductive member.

27 . The sealing assembly of claim 26 , wherein the reciprocating member is attached to the flexible member such that the flexible member is reconfigurable upon movement of the reciprocating member.

28 . The sealing assembly of claim 27 , wherein the flexible member is reconfigurable between a first configuration, wherein the sealing feature defines a first transverse distanc

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Llc

Inventors

• Lagerwall Nils
• Holka Simon
• Bengtsson Stefan

Classifications

• B29C66/545

  one hollow-preform being placed inside the other · CPC title

• B29C66/542

  joining hollow covers or hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies · CPC title

• B29C66/81457

  comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber (pressing elements supported or backed-up by resilient material B29C66/8161) · CPC title

• B29C66/851

  Bag or container making machines · CPC title

• B29L2031/7162

  Boxes, cartons, cases · CPC title