Packaging blank, method for molding a lid-spout assembly onto a packaging blank, lid spout assembly, package having a lid-spout assembly and method and apparatus for forming a packaging blank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025269996-A1
Application number	US-202318856930-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2023
Priority date	Apr 29, 2022
Publication date	Aug 28, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A packaging blank having a multilayer structure for forming a package includes a fibrous base layer, a layer of gas-barrier material, a plurality of layers of heat-seal plastic material, a hole configured to allow the molding of a lid-spout assembly about the hole and a separation membrane covering the hole and comprising a layer of gas-barrier material. The separation membrane comprises one or more weakening lines defining a plurality of covering portions.

First claim

1 . A packaging blank having a multilayer structure for forming a package comprising:
a fibrous base layer; a layer of gas-barrier material; a plurality of layers of heat-seal plastic material; a hole configured to allow the molding of a lid-spout assembly about the hole; and a separation membrane covering the hole and comprising a layer of gas-barrier material; wherein the separation membrane comprises one or more weakening lines defining a plurality of covering portions.

2 . The packaging blank according to claim 1 , wherein the hole extends within a plane being defined by a longitudinal axis and a transversal axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
wherein an imaginary longitudinal line parallel to the first longitudinal axis and an imaginary transversal line parallel to the transversal axis intersect at a respective center point of the hole; wherein the hole is symmetric with respect to the imaginary longitudinal line and/or a first extension of the hole along the imaginary longitudinal line is larger than a second extension of the hole along the imaginary transversal line; wherein the at least one weakening line extends substantially parallel to and/or along the imaginary longitudinal line.

3 . The packaging blank according to claim 1 , wherein a first weakening line extends between and is transversal, in particular perpendicular, to a second weakening line and a third weakening line.

4 . The packaging blank according to claim 1 , wherein each covering portion is configured to move during molding of the respective lid-spout assembly and such to cover a respective portion of an outer surface of a collar of the molded lid-spout assembly.

5 . The packaging blank according to claim 1 , wherein each weakening line has a substantially linear shape.

6 . The packaging blank according to claim 1 , wherein each weakening line is defined by a perforation or an incision or an ablation or a cut.

7 . A method for molding a lid-spout assembly onto a packaging blank;
wherein the packaging blank comprises a fibrous base layer, a layer of gas-barrier material, a plurality of layers of heat-seal plastic material, a hole configured to allow the molding of a lid-spout assembly about the hole and a separation membrane covering the hole and comprising a layer of gas-barrier material and one or more weakening lines defining a plurality of covering portions; the method comprises the steps of:
providing the packaging blank;
closing around the packaging blank a molding tool having a molding cavity such that the hole is received within the molding cavity; and
injecting a molten polymer into the molding cavity for molding a lid-spout assembly about the hole and such that the covering portions are fused onto an outer surface of a collar of the lid-spout assembly.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein during the step of providing, the following sub-steps are executed:
supplying a base package blank comprising a base layer, a layer of gas-barrier material, a plurality of layers of heat-seal plastic material, a hole configured to allow the molding of a lid-spout assembly about the hole and a separation membrane covering the hole and comprising at least a layer of gas-barrier material; forming one or more weakening lines on the separation membrane for obtaining the packaging blank.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein during the sub-step of forming, the one or more weakening lines are formed by operation of cutting knives or a perforation tool or an ablation tool.

10 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the molding tool comprises an injection point through which the molten polymer enters into the molding cavity;
wherein the injection point is laterally displaced with respect to a central axis of a collar of the lid-spout assembly formed during the step of molding.

11 . A lid-spout assembly comprising a collar having a pouring outlet and a layer of gas-barrier material fused to an outer surface of the collar.

12 . A package for a pourable product comprising a main body formed from a multilayer packaging blank according to claim 1 and a lid-spout assembly according to claim 11 connected to the main body.

13 . A method, in particular a converting method, for producing a packaging blank;
wherein the packaging blank comprises a fibrous base layer, a layer of gas-barrier material, a plurality of layers of heat-seal plastic material, a hole configured to allow the molding of a lid-spout assembly about the hole; wherein the packaging blank comprises a separation membrane covering the hole and comprising a layer of gas-barrier material; wherein the separation membrane comprises one or more weakening lines defining a plurality of covering portions; wherein the method comprises the steps of:
providing a base blank comprising a fibrous base layer;
creating a hole configured to allow the molding of a lid-spout assembly about the hole within the base blank;
laminating, during which the respective plurality of layers of heat-seal plastic material and the layer of gas-barrier material are laminated onto the base blank having the respective hole; and
forming the one or more weakening lines on the separation membrane for obtaining the packaging blank.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein during the step of forming, a punching tool comprising cutting knives, or a perforation tool is approached onto the separation membrane.

15 . An apparatus, in particular a converting apparatus, for forming a packaging blank;
wherein the packaging blank comprises a fibrous base layer, a layer of gas-barrier material, a plurality of layers of heat-seal plastic material, a hole configured to allow the molding of a lid-spout assembly about the hole; wherein the packaging blank comprises a separation membrane covering the hole and comprising a layer of gas-barrier material; wherein the separation membrane comprises one or more weakening lines defining a plurality of covering portions; the apparatus comprises:
an advancement device for advancing base package blanks comprising a base layer, a layer of gas-barrier material, a plurality of heat-seal plastic material, a hole configured to allow the molding of one lid-spout assembly about the hole and a separation membrane covering the hole and comprising at least a layer of gas-barrier material;
a weakening line forming tool, in particular a punching tool, configured to form the one or more weakening lines on the separation membrane.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Martini Pietro
• Bertani Giulio
• Golfieri Daniele

Classifications

• B32B2439/00

  Containers; Receptacles · CPC title

• B32B2307/31

  Heat sealable · CPC title

• B32B27/12

  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer · CPC title

• B32B5/02

  characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)} · CPC title

• B32B3/04

  characterised by {at least one} layer folded at the edge, e.g. over another layer {; characterised by at least one layer enveloping or enclosing a material} · CPC title