Tetra Pak International Ab

Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Tetra Pak Developpement Sa

Kenth Jacobsson

Jan E Lagerstedt

Tom Kjelgaard

Hans Hesselroth

Anders Hallberg

Christer Andersson

ÖRjan Perman

Lennart Kindmo

Karin Lennstam

The invention relates to an opening arrangement for single-use disposable packages (1) of the type which are manufactured from a continuous material web or a material sheet. The packaging material consists of a core of paper or paperboard to which are laminated different layers of thermoplastics and possibly a barrier layer, normally consisting of aluminium foil. The opening arrangement includes a hole (2) made in the packaging material and at least covered by the inside layer or layers of the packaging material, a perforation line (3) which extends at least from one side of the hole (2), and an outer penetration device (4) applied on the outside of the packaging container (1). One end of the penetration device (4) is designed as a hook (11). The penetration device (4) is intended to be broken free from the packaging container (1) and, with the tip (20) of the hook-shaped portion (12), the layers covering the hole (2) are penetrated. The penetration device (4) is thereafter pulled along the perforation line (3) thereby opening a large part of the packaging container side (5, 8 or 10).

Opening arrangement

Non-returnable packages for liquid contents, e.g. milk, are made frequently from a flexible packing laminate, and are provided with an opening arrangement in the form of a tear-off strip which covers a pouring opening in the packing container wall. So as to avoid spatter and spillage at the actual moment of opening, an opening arrangement for packing containers is realized comprising a pouring opening (8) which has a projection (8') of small area directed against the direction of tearing of the tearing strip (6). This part of the pouring opening (8) formed as a projection (8') thus will be opened first, and air will flow into the packing container, and the liquid level will drop so that the continued opening can be performed without any risk of spillage. By varying the sealing strength between the tearing strip and the packing laminate an automatic delay of the removal of the tearing strip after the opening of the projecting part can be achieved, which further improves the functioning of the opening arrangement.

Opening arrangement for packing containers

An opening arrangement on a packing container of the type which comprises a pouring opening 6 formed in the upper side of the container. The opening arrangement comprises a cover strip 8 and a pouring edge strip 7 arranged between the cover strip 8 and the packing container. To make possible the reclosure of the pouring opening 6 the cover strip 8 is provided with a gripping strip 9' sealed to its underside which preferably has a free gripping edge 9' facilitating the hooking of the cover strip 8 to the pouring tab 7.

Reclosable opening arrangement on a packing container

Opening arrangements for packing containers which are manufactured from a flexible material and intended for pressurized contents, e.g. beer, are sometimes in the form of a tear-off cover strip which is sealed to the packing container wall and covers a pouring opening punched out in the same. In order to withstand the high internal pressure which is caused by the contents, the seal between the cover strip and the packing material must be strong, which detrimentally affects the openability of the packing container. By ensuring that the mutual bond between the different layers in the packing laminate is weaker than the seal between the cover strip and the outer layer of the container material, a readily opening packing container is provided, in spite of the seal between the cover strip and the packing laminate being of a strength such that the risk of leakage or unintentional opening is small. By sealing the cover strip in a zone extending around the pouring opening which zone is at some distance from the actual pouring opening and by providing the pouring opening with a 'set in' pouring edge, the properties of the opening arrangement are optimized further without increasing the risk of leakage or making the handling more difficult.

Opening arrangement for packing containers with pressurized contents

Growing community of inventors

Sodra Sandby, Sweden

Kenth Jacobsson