PACKAGING CONTAINER AND A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE SAME

Description

Technical field:

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging container and a method for the production of the same as defined in the introductory portion of the independent claims. The packaging container according to the invention is particularly suitable for storing food and it is of such a type that advantageously can be put directly on a breakfast-table or the like.

Prior art:

[0002] Packaging containers for food such as butter and the like and which can be placed on a table ready laid are known earlier and they are shaped differently. They all have a cover by which they can be closed. A common feature with packaging containers of said kind is that they are all made of more than one material. They consist of a stiffer outer material which can be pasteboard, paper, thick plastics or the like and an inner somewhat thinner but air and water impermeable material for example a suitable type of a plastic foil. These materials which separately contribute to the good function of the packaging container are joined to each other in different ways. The most common way is however that they are welded to each other either at the edges or over the whole surface or they can be joined by gluing or the like. The packaging container will therethrough get an even appearance and its function will be troublefree.

[0003] A container of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1 is known from SE-B-350 943, which discloses a container which has an inner and outer tray. The outer tray is made of cardboard and is raised from a blank whereupon the overlapping end flaps are stuck together using adhesive. The inner is thermoformed into the outer tray and at the corner regions protrusions of the inner tray through the outer tray occur, by means of holes suitably provided in the outer. A vertical separation of the tray elements is thus made more difficult. The container thus formed can be complemented by the addition of glue between the inner and outer trays to exclude the possibility of accidental separation.

Technical problem:

[0004] One problem with the above mentioned packaging containers which has grown continuously stronger during recent years is that they consist of two or more materials. This is not a problem per se of the packaging container itself, but it provides a great hindrance when the packaging container has been used and one intends to recover materials from which it has been made. Due to the good joint between the different materials it is very difficult to separate these materials in a simple way. This is however necessary if the materials shall be recovered. One cannot melt plastics together with cellulosic fibres and recover either plastics or the cellulosic fibres in the paper material and these parts or different kinds of plastic materials have to be separated before recovering using known techniques can be started.

[0005] Whilst the aforementioned SE-B-350 943 goes some way to solving this problem, flexing of the container may initiate the separation of the layers of the container unless an adhesive is used. However, the use of adhesive between the layers affects the recycling characteristics of the container.

The invention:

[0006] To make recovering of different materials possible which are part of the packaging containers, one has according to the invention solved the problem with the above said articles and brought about a packaging container consisting of layers of two or more like or different materials such as plastics and cardboard and which is characterized by the features of claim 1. Thus, the layers are kept together substantially by means of mechanical attachment with each other and can be separated without using a tool.

[0007] Preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

[0008] The mechanical attachment comprises wartlike protrusions in one of the parts which are pressed into holes in the second part. These protrusions suitably extend out through the holes in the other part and form skulls on the outer side thereof.

[0009] It is further preferable that the mechanical attachment also comprises overhangs at the upper part of the inner part forming a groove in which the upper part of the outer part fits. Both these measures can be combined.

[0010] It is advantageous that the overhang with a groove is arranged at each corner of the packaging container if it has four corners and that the wartlike protrusions are arranged in one or more horizontal rows.

[0011] The outer part of the packaging container according to the invention can suitably comprise two or more overlapping materials which are kept together substantially by means of the wartlike protrusions and grooves.

[0012] The invention also comprises a method for the production of a packaging container according to the above, which is characterized by the features of the independent method claim.

[0013] The inner part can suitably be shaped over the edge of the outer part.

[0014] According to a modification of the method the inner part can first be preformed and thereafter joined with the outer part through snapping.

Detailed description of the invention:

[0015] The invention will in the following be described more in detail with connection to the drawings where

Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of a packaging container according to the invention,

Fig. 2

shows a section according to the line A-A in Fig. 1, per se not being an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3

shows a section according to the line B-B in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4

shows a section through the wall in the packaging container according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a packaging container for food having an outer part 1 and an inner part 2. The outer part 1 consists in the present embodiment of paste board which has been punched out and folded in a mould. In this paste board blank holes 3 have been punched out. In the inner part 2 one has instead arranged wartlike protrusions 4 which fit in the holes 3 and which are arranged directly opposite these and finally have been pressed into the holes 3. The holes 3 and the protrusions 4 are suitably arranged in horizontal rows. On the figure one row is shown, but even a plurality of such rows can be arranged.

[0017] At the four corners of the packaging container an overhang 5 has been arranged in the inner part of the plastic box. In these overhangs grooves have been made in which the outer part fits. This is further described in connection with Fig. 3.

[0018] Fig. 2 which is a section along the line A-A in Fig. 1 shows the inner part 2 of the packaging container and the outer part 1. As appears from the figure wartlike protrusions 4 are made in the inner part 2 which have been pressed into the holes 3 in the outer stiffer part. In this way the inner part is locked with the outer part so that no movement upwardly or downwardly can occur of one or the other part in relation to the other one. The protrusions 4 according to the figure have been made somewhat deeper than the holes so that they protrude outside the outer surface of the outer wall 1 and form skulls outside the surface. The bottom of the protrusions can however be flush with the outer wall of the outer part 1.

[0019] Fig. 3 which is a section along the line B-B in Fig. 1 shows that the inner part 2 has been made with an overhang which forms a groove 7 in the inner part 2. In this groove 7 the outer part 1 fits. This overhang 6 is close to the upper part of the inner part 2 and one has therefore made a recess in the outer part 1 so that it shall fit in the groove 7.

[0020] In the embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 4 the outer part has been made in two materials of the same kind which overlap each other. They are kept together by the wartlike protrusions 4 with or without skulls and the grooves 7 in the inner part. The holes 3 can be equal or the inner one can be made somewhat larger than the outer one.

[0021] By locking the inner part 2 mechanically to the outer part 1 by means of the protrusions 4 and the overhang 6 with grooves 7 one has obtained a very stable arrangement, but which nevertheless is easy to separate. When the packaging container has been emptied one can easily separate the two parts without using any tool and put them into different compartments when sorting out. Herethrough one gains of course great environmental advantages as the two parts in their entirety can be recovered by known methods.

[0022] If one so wishes one may strengthen the attachment by means of a suitable adhesive at some place, but one has then to observe that the adhesive completely at the separation will remain on only one of the parts where it can not cause any pollution.

[0023] The packaging container according to the present invention can be manufactured by first punching out a carton blank which shall be the outer part 1 of the packaging container and place this in a mould. In the mould one can thereafter by means of known techniques apply a plastic foil which will be the inner part 2 and either press this or suck it in by means of vacuum forming, thermoforming, pressure forming or extrusion.

[0024] Another way of producing the packaging container according to the invention is that one first makes the inner part 2 and then snaps this on the folded outer part 1.

[0025] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and it can be modified in different ways within the scope of the claims. The materials in the packaging container accordingly do not have to be different, but they can be made of the same material which one nevertheless may wish to separate after use. One of the materials may for example be provided with printing colours and should therefore not be mixed with the other.

Claims

1. Packaging container consisting of two or more layers such as plastics/plastics or plastics/carton, whereby the different layers are kept together substantially through mechanical attachment to each other by wartlike protrusions (4) in the inner part (2) which extend out through holes (3) in the outer part (1), characterized in that said wartlike projections form skulls on the outer side of this part (1), said skulls overlapping the outer side of said outer part (1).

2. Packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical attachment further comprises an overhang (5) at the upper part of the inner part (2) forming a groove (7) in which the upper part of the outer part (1) fits.

3. Packaging container according to claim 2, characterized in that the overhang (5) with grooves (7) is arranged at each corner.

4. Packaging container according to any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the wartlike protrusions (4) are arranged in one or more horizontal rows.

5. Packaging container according to any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the outer part (1) forms overlapping connections of at least two overlapping layers which are mainly kept together by means of the wartlike protrusions (4) and the grooves (7).

6. Method for the production of a packaging container according to any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that the outer part (1) for example in the shape of a punched carton blank is placed in a mould whereupon the inner part (2) for example in the shape of a plastics blank is applied through vacuum forming, thermoforming, pressure forming or extrusion in such a way that wartlike projections in the inner part (2) extend out through holes (3) in the outer part (1), thus forming skulls on the outer side of said outer part (1), said skulls overlapping the outer side of said outer part (1).

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the inner part (2) is formed over the edge of the outer part (1).

8. Modification of the method according to claim 6, characterized in that the inner part (2) is initially preshaped and thereafter joined to the outer part (1) by snapping in such a way, that said skulls overlap the outer side of said outer part (1).

Ansprüche

1. Verpackungsbehälter aus zwei oder mehreren Schichten, wie beispielsweise Kunststoff/Kunststoff oder Kunststoff/Karton, wobei die unterschiedlichen Schichten im wesentlichen durch mechanische Befestigung aneinander mit Hilfe von kropfähnlichen Vorsprüngen (4) im Innenteil (2) zusammengehalten sind, die sich durch Löcher (3)in dem Außenteil (1) nach außen erstrecken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die kropfähnlichen Vorsprünge auf der Außenseite dieses Teils (1) kleine Kappen bilden, wobei die Kappen die Außenseite des Außenteils (1) überlappen.

2. Verpackungsbehälter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zu der mechanischen Befestigung weiterhin ein Überhang (5) an den oberen Abschnitt des Innenteils (2) gehört, der eine Nut (7) bildet, in welcher der obere Abschnitt des Außenteils (1) passend sitzt.

3. Verpackungsbehälter nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Überhang (5) mit Nuten (7) an jeder Ecke angeordnet ist.

4. Verpackungsbehälter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die kropfähnlichen Vorsprünge (4) in einer oder mehreren horizontalen Reihen angeordnet sind.

5. Verpackungsbehälter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Außenteil (1) Überlappende Anschlüsse von wenigstens zwei Überlappenden Schichten bildet, die hauptsächlich mittels der kropfähnlichen Vorsprünge (4) und der Nuten (7) zusammengehalten sind.

6. Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Verpackungebehälters nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Außenteil (1) beispielsweise in Form eines gestanzten Kartonrohlings in einer Form angeordnet wird, wonach der Innenteil (2), beispielsweise in Form eines Kunstetoffrohlings, durch Vakuumformgebung, Heißformen, Druckformen oder Extrusion derart aufgebracht wird, daß die kropfähnlichen Vorsprünge in dem Innenteil (2) sich durch Löcher (3) in dem Außenteil (1) nach außen erstrecken, um auf diese Weise kleine Kappen an der Außenseite des Außenteils (1) zu bilden, wobei die Kappen die Außenseite des Außenteils (1) überlappen.

7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Innenteil (2) über den Rand des Außenteils (1) geformt wird.

8. Verfahren in Abwandlung von Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Innenteil (2) anfangs vorgeformt und danach mit dem Außenteil (1) durch eine Schnappverbindung derart verbunden wird, daß die kleinen Kappen die Außenseite des Außenteils (1) überlappen.

Revendications

1. Récipient de conditionnement comprenant au moins deux couches, par exemple de type matière plastique-matière plastique ou matière plastique-carton, dans lequel les différentes couches sont maintenues en coopération pratiquement par fixation mécanique mutuelle par des saillies sous forme d'excroissances (4) à la partie interne (2) sortant par des trous (3) de la partie externe (1), caractérisé en ce que les saillies analogues à des excroissances forment des calottes à la face externe de la partie externe (1), les calottes recouvrant le côté externe de la partie externe (1).

2. Récipient de conditionnement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la fixation mécanique comprend un organe en surplomb (5) placé à la partie supérieure de la partie interne (2) formant une gorge (7) dans laquelle la partie supérieure de la partie externe (1) se loge.

3. Récipient de conditionnement selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la partie en surplomb (5) ayant des gorges (7) est formée à chaque coin.

4. Récipient de conditionnement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que les saillies (4) en forme d'excroissances sont placées en une ou plusieurs lignes horizontales.

5. Récipient de conditionnement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que la partie externe (1) forme des connexions qui se recouvrent d'au moins deux couches qui se recouvrent et qui sont maintenues essentiellement en coopération par les saillies (4) en forme d'excroissances et les gorges (7).

6. Procédé de fabrication d'un récipient de conditionnement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que la partie externe (1), ayant par exemple la forme d'un flan de carton perforé, est placée dans un moule, et la partie interne (2), par exemple sous forme d'une ébauche de matière plastique, est appliquée par un procédé de formage sous vide, de thermoformage, de formage sous pression ou d'extrusion afin que des saillies analogues à des excroissances de la partie interne (2) sortent par les trous (3) de la partie externe (1), et forment ainsi des calottes à la face externe de la partie externe (1), les calottes recouvrant la face externe de la partie externe (1).

7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que la partie interne (2) est formée sur le bord de la partie externe (1).

8. Variante du procédé selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que la partie interne (2) est initialement mise à une configuration préalable puis raccordée à la partie externe (1) par enclenchement élastique, afin que les calottes recouvrent la face externe de la partie externe (1).

Drawing