Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Convenience Food Systems B.v.

Convenience Food Systems

Jacques Laurent

Michel Pittet

Pierre Fayet

Robert Devidal

The inventive method for producing packaging materials consisting of a polyolefin foam layer (B) coated with a coating film (A) on at least one side, which packaging material is formable into self supporting packaging items, such as trays, by thermoforming or folding, comprises a coextrusion step or an extrusion lamination step in which step the bonding between the polyolefin foam layer (B) and the coating is achieved. With the extrusion lamination step, the method is as follows: In a first method step, a single-layer or multi-layer coating film (A) is produced by extrusion or coextrusion, in a second method step a polyolefin foam sheet (B) is produced by expansion and extrusion and in the third method step the polyolefin foam sheet (B) is coated with the coating film (A) by extrusion lamination, wherein a polyolefin bonding layer ( ) is extruded between the foam sheet (B) and the coating film (A) and pressure is applied to the combination. At least the one surface of the coating film (A) facing the foam layer (B) consists of a polyolefin and this bonding layer ( ) and the further bonding layer ( ) extruded in the third method step consist of polyolefins based on the monomer which is the main monomer of the polyolefin of the foam layer (B).

Method for manufacturing packaging materials with a polyolefin foam layer

The apparatus for treating the inside surface of a bottle ( ) in a plasma enhanced process comprises a vacuum chamber ( ), a microwave confinement ( ) with a microwave generator ( ), evacuation means and gas feed means ( ). The microwave confinement ( ) is substantially cylindrical and adapted to the shape of at least the body portion of the bottle ( ) to be treated as closely as possible. The microwaves are coupled into the microwave confinement ( ) form the bottom side of the bottle ( ) and the microwave confinement is excited in a TM mode of resonance. The inventive apparatus is very compact and very simple. It can be integrated into a stretch-blow-moulding apparatus or into a filling apparatus. For upscaling, a plurality of one-bottle apparatuses is arranged in a row or in a matrix and all the one-bottle apparatuses are connected to a net of energy, vacuum and gas supply lines. Each of the one-bottle apparatuses may have its own vacuum chamber or a plurality of microwave confinements ( ) may be arranged in one common vacuum chamber.

Method and apparatus for treating the inside surface of plastic bottles in a plasma enhanced process

The described device is introduced into a plastic container with a narrow opening and serves a plasma enhanced process for treating the inside surface of the container. The device ( ) extends between the container opening and the container bottom along the container axis (X) and comprising a gas feed tube ( ) for feeding a process gas into the container and permanent magnets ( ) for establishing a stationary magnetic field inside the container. The magnets ( ) form a column of superimposed magnets which is arranged inside the gas feed tube ( ). The north and south poles of each magnet are positioned on opposite sides of the container axis (X). The device may also comprise cooling means ( ) for cooling the gas feed tube and the magnets. Preferably the plasma used in the plasma enhanced process is sustained by microwaves or radio frequency waves and the magnets ( ) are preferably designed such that electron-cyclotron-resonance conditions are established in an area distanced from the container inner surface by 0 to 30 mm.

Device and method for treating the inside surface of a plastic container with a narrow opening in a plasma enhanced process

A process for creating a SiOx barrier layer on the interior wall of a container is disclosed in the present invention. A gas mixture consisting of an organosilicon precursor gas, an oxidizer gas and a carrier gas is introduced into a polymeric container. The gas mixture is then irradiated with ultraviolet light to create a reaction within the container. The reacted gas then coats the interior wall of the container with a SiOx barrier layer. The remainder of the gas mixture is then purged from the container. The gas mixture may also be utilized to blow mould a container. The polymeric container may be composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of polypropylene, copolymers of polyethylene, polyethylene terphthalate, copolymers of polyethylene terphthalate or mixtures thereof. An excimer ultraviolet lamp is preferred to irradiate the gas mixture inside of the container. The process may be performed at a station on a manufacturing line, or at an off-line site.

Growing community of inventors

Blonay, Switzerland

Jacques Laurent