Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A STRETCH BLOW-MOLDED OR THERMOFORMED POUCH AND A METHOD FOR MAKING SUCH POUCH
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stretch blow-molded or thermoformed pouch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pouches are well known in the art. Pouches are used as containers for food,
beverage and non-
food products such as for example cosmetics, fragrances, personal care
products, or detergents.
Pouches are typically flexible containers which come in multi-dosage or single-
dosage forms,
and which can be easily discarded after use. Pouches are made of plastic foils
or sleeves, or
laminates thereof with co-extruded barrier (eg nylon) films, which are welded
at the edges.
One disadvantage with conventional pouches is however that they easily tear,
especially at the
welds or at the edges.
It is therefore desirable to provide pouches which do not suffer from this
drawback. It is further
desired to provide pouches which are cheaper to be processed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stretch-blow molded or
thermoformed pouch
comprising a neck with an opening.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for making
and handling said
pouch. The process comprises the steps of
a. blow molding a preform or thermoforming a sheet or film into a mold to
create a
pouch with a neck comprising an opening
b. removing the pouch from the mold
c. transporting the pouch at the neck
d. filling the pouch with a product
e. closing the pouch
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a pouch according to the present invention.
CONFIRMATION COPY
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Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a preferred embodiment of the pouch of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in Fig. 1, the present invention relates to a stretch-blow molded or
thermoformed
pouch 10 comprising a neck 20 with an opening 30.
The wall 40 of the pouch 10 preferably has an average thickness of from about
25 micrometers
to about 250 micrometers, preferably from about 50 micrometers to about 200
micrometers,
even more preferably from about 50 micrometers to about 75 micrometers, and
most preferably
from about 60 micrometers to about 70 micrometers. Preferably, the average
thickness of the
wall 40 is less than about 200 micrometers, preferably less than about 150
micrometers, more
preferably less than about 120 micrometers, even more preferably less than
about 100
micrometers, even more preferably less than about 75 micrometers, and most
preferably less
than about 70 micrometers. For determining the average wall thickness of the
pouch, the neck of
the pouch does not have to be taken into account.
By stretch-blow molding or thermoforming, a pouch is created which is
seamless. Because of
the absence of seams, the pouch 10 according to the present invention is less
prone to rupturing
during the manipulation (e.g. during filling), transportation, packaging and
handling (by a
consumer).
The pouch 10 can be blown in many shapes, and can vary from very flexible (bag-
like) to more
rigid. In one preferred embodiment, the pouch is a self-supporting stand-up
pouch 10, as shown
in Fig 2. In this embodiment, the pouch is blown into a form such that the
pouch comprises a
base 50 that supports the pouch.
The neck 20 is preferably a cylindrical neck, and can be positioned at various
locations. For a
stand-up pouch, the neck can be positioned opposite the base, centrally or off-
centered (e.g.
more towards the side). In one embodiment, the neck is in the form of a spout
which facilitates
emptying the content of the pouch. The opening 30 can be closed by any means
known in the
art, such as for example a plastic, screwable cap or a tear-off seal such as
for example an
aluminum foil glued over the opening 30. In another preferred embodiment, a
separate
dispenser may be provided which can be connected (e.g. screwed onto) to the
neck. As such,
the pouch can be used as a refill (e.g. hand soaps).
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The pouch can be made in many sizes, with internal volumes preferably ranging
from 25 ml to
25 I. However volumes below or above this range may also be envisaged. In one
embodiment,
the pouch is a single unit-dose pouch.
The pouch of the present invention can be used for containing a variety of
products such as food
products, beverages, and non-food products. The product can be in a liquid
form, gel, paste,
flowable powder or solid as long as it can be squeezed or poured out of the
pouch.
Examples of food products include, but are not limited thereto, oils,
dressings, sauces, cream
cheese, dairy products such as yoghurt, purees, fruit mousse, meat, syrups,
flakes, muesli,
pasta, rice, or nuts.
Examples of beverages include non-alcoholic (milk, juice, water) and alcoholic
beverages,
carbonated or non-carbonated beverages.
Examples of non-food products include personal care products such as skin or
hair care
products, toothpaste, bath, shower and washing products such as gels, bath
foam, bath pearls,
detergents, pharmaceuticals, and the like.
The pouch 10 according to the present invention may further comprise a handle
or grip. The
handle or grip can be designed in the mold such that it is blown
simultaneously with the pouch,
and thus seamlessly integrated. Alternatively, a separate handle may be
provided which can be
attached to the neck.
The pouch 10 can be made by means of stretch-blow molding or by thermoforming.
In the stretch-blow molding process, a thermoplastic material is first molded
into a preform
typically using injection molding. These preforms are produced with the neck
of the pouch, if
desired including threads. These performs are packaged and fed later (after
cooling) into a
reheat stretch blow molding machine. In the stretch blow molding process, the
preforms are
heated (typically using infrared heaters) above their glass transition
temperature, and then blown
using high pressure air into pouches using metal blow molds. The preform
manufacture and
pouch blowing can also be performed in the same machine (single-stage
process). Preferably,
the stretch ratio of total volume of the preform to the total volume of the
pouch is higher than
about 7, preferably higher than about 20, more preferably higher than about
25, even more
preferably higher than about 30. For very thin walled pouches, the stretch
ratio may even be
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higher than about 40. In a preferred embodiment, the stretch ratio is higher
than about 25 and
the average wall thickness is less than 120 micrometers, even more preferably
the stretch ratio
is higher than about 30 and the average wall thickness is less than about 75
micrometers.
Thermoforming is a process where a thermoplastic sheet or film is heated to a
high-enough
temperature such that it can be stretched into or onto a mold and cooled to a
finished shape.
The thermoplastic material, sheet or film can be, but is not limited thereto,
polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephtalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC),
polystyrene (PS),
polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinylchloride (PVC). A preferred thermoplastic
material is polyethylene
terephtalate (PET). The aforementioned thermoplastic materials may also be
blended with
barrier materials such as for example nylon, oxygen scavengers, weakeners or
combinations
thereof. Alternatively, the pouch 10 made of the thermoplastic material may
comprise a barrier
coating.
In addition to the benefit of making a pouch which is less prone to rupturing,
there is an
additional advantage during the filling, handling and packaging of the pouch.
Indeed, after the
manufacturing of the pouch, the pouch can be manipulated at its neck when the
pouch is
removed from the mold. As such during the filling, transportation and up to
the moment that the
pouch is packaged, the pouch can be transported at the neck. This provides
full control of the
process, and reduces the risk of rupturing during the entire process. Hence,
according to
another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process
comprising the steps of:
- blow molding a preform or thermoforming a sheet or film into a mold to
create a pouch
with a neck comprising an opening
- removing the pouch from the mold
- transporting the pouch at the neck to the filling unit
- filling the pouch with a product
- closing the pouch
If the pouch is created out of a preform, in one preferred embodiment, the
preform manufacture
and pouch blowing are performed in a single-stage process, as described
hereinbefore.
The closing of the pouch can be done by any means known in the art, such as
for example a
plastic, screwable cap or a tear-off seal such as for example an aluminum foil
glued over the
opening.
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When the pouch is closed, the pouch is then preferably transported, still at
the neck to the
packaging unit. As such, the present invention allows for a continuous process
with full control of
the pouch, which was not possible before.
In preferred embodiments, the starting materials (preform, sheet or film) or
the pouch is
5 sanitized, pasteurized or sterilized either before filling (aseptic
filling) e.g. by means of bleaching
products such as peroxides, or by hot filling of the product wherein the
product which is to be
contained in the pouch is added at high temperature (i.e. the product itself
sanitizes or sterilizes
the pouch). In aseptic filling, it may further be preferred to employ aseptic
equipment. This allows
the pouch to be used for food products requiring a long shelf life such as
e.g. milk-based
products.
In preferred embodiments, the pouch is decorated. This can be done through
conventional
printing or labeling processes at the external surface of the pouch. In a
preferred embodiment,
the pouch can be decorated in the mold (in-mold labeling).
Through thermoforming it is further possible to create a series of pouches,
all thermoformed
simultaneously and connected to each other e.g at their side walls, wherein
the pouches contain
the same products or alternatively, contain different products.
