Method of making shoulder/nozzles with film barrier liners

The method comprises an automated technique for making and inserting flexible laminate film barrier liners into the shoulder/nozzles of product tube packaging. The shoulder/nozzles are made and oriented with the shoulder opening to be facing the laminate film. The film is fed to a station that forms the nozzle aperture, die cuts the laminate film to fit into the shoulder of the shoulder/nozzle, and inserts this laminate film into the shoulder/nozzle. The laminate film can be heat bonded to the shoulder nozzle at this station or in a subsequent sealing station. After the shoulder/nozzle leaves the station that forms and inserts the laminate film into the shoulder/nozzle there can be a detection station to determine if the laminate film is properly aligned in the shoulder/nozzle. There also can be a detection station after a subsequent sealing station. Shoulder/nozzles with sealed laminate film liner are then sent to tube making. The laminate film will have a polymer layer and a barrier layer comprising ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers, polyethylene terephthalate polymers, polyethylene naphthalate polymers and acrylonitrile methyl-acrylate copolymers The tube packages produced using these shoulder/nozzles are very useful for products which contain flavorants, such as dentifrices.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to film barrier liners for the shoulder/nozzles of tube packaging. In addition this invention relates to continuous methods for making tube shoulder/nozzles with film laminate liners to preclude the absorption of product components from a packaged substance in contact with the shoulder/nozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to tube packaging and a method of making that tube packaging so as to minimize the absorption of components of the product in the tube by the tube components. A tube package consists of the tube body, the tube shoulder/nozzle and a closure. The absorption of product components by the tube body can be minimized by the use of a tube laminate structure that includes a barrier such as a metal foil or a plastic film such as ethylene vinyl alcohol, polythylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, or acrylonitrile methyl-acrylate copolymers. The shoulder/nozzle consists of a large amount of a polymer or copolymer that has a plurality of alkene groups. Therefore, a barrier is required between the shoulder/nozzle and the product in the tube.

The barrier requirement has been recognized in the prior art for more than 30 years. U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,968 discloses the friction fit of a barrier insert into the shoulder nozzle of a tube. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,565,293 and 4,185,757 disclose the forming of a shoulder/nozzle on and around a barrier insert. In this way the shoulder/nozzle and the barrier insert are essentially a single piece. It is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,757 that at the time that the shoulder/nozzle is being formed on and around the barrier nozzle that the shoulder/nozzle can be attached to the tube body. This has many structural and manufacturing advantages. U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,346 discloses performing an insert with the insert having a polyethylene layer and a polyethylene terephthalate layer or ethylene vinyl alcohol layer. The polyethylene layer will be adjacent to the shoulder/nozzle material and will bond to the shoulder/nozzle material and the polyethylene terephthalate layer or ethylene vinyl alcohol layer will be in contact with the product to function as a barrier between the product and the shoulder/nozzle. U.S Patent Application 2005/0029216 is directed to a preformed insert that has a particular geometry. However, that geometry appears to be disclosed in the aforementioned patents.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to using flexible film laminates as the barrier in shoulder/nozzles and to a method of producing the laminate film liners and the inserting and sealing of these laminate film liners in the shoulder/nozzles. These laminate film liners are film laminates that are not preformed to the shape of the shoulder/nozzle. They conform to the shape of the shoulder/nozzle upon being inserted into the shoulder/nozzle and sealed to the shoulder/nozzle. The shape of the shoulder/nozzle can vary within certain bounds and the same laminate film liner can be used. If the shape of the shoulder nozzle is outside of the certain bounds, then all which will be needed is a different die cutter to form the nozzle opening and to cut the film laminate to the required diameter. This is an easy equipment change that can be made in minutes. There also is the advantage that less manufacturing equipment is needed when using film laminate of the present invention as opposed to preformed barrier inserts. More specifically, injection molding equipment to make preformed inserts, hoppers and sorting equipment to hold the preformed inserts, equipment to align the preformed inserts for input into a formed shoulder/nozzle, or into equipment to form the shoulder/nozzle on the preformed insert, are not required when using the laminate film liner as in the present invention. In the present invention there is only the need to store rolls of film laminate material. The net result is a savings on the capital cost of equipment and a savings in manufacturing operations. There is set out an effective way to use film laminate material as the barrier in shoulder/nozzles of tubes.

The methods for making tube shoulder/nozzles with a barrier for the tube shoulder/nozzles comprises forming the tube shoulder/nozzle, placing the tube shoulder/nozzle in a holder with the shoulder end exposed, placing a film laminate comprising a barrier layer and a polymer layer above the shoulder end, the polymer layer facing into the shoulder/nozzle, contacting the film laminate with a die/mandrel to (i) cut the film laminate to fit into the shoulder/nozzle, and (ii) insert the film laminate into the shoulder/nozzle. The cutting of the film laminate to fit into the shoulder/nozzle comprises two operations, one is to form a nozzle opening in the film laminate and the other is to cut the film laminate to a diameter that can fit the shoulder of the shoulder/nozzle. The cut film laminate in the area of the nozzle is comprised of one of a circular aperture, a plurality of slits and a circular aperture, and a plurality of slits.

The method can comprise a plurality of stations, the die cutting of the film laminate to fit into the shoulder/nozzle being at one station and the sealing of the film laminate into the shoulder/nozzle being at another station. The die cutting of the film laminate to fit into the shoulder/nozzle comprises two operations, one is to form a nozzle opening in the film laminate and the other is to cut the film laminate to fit into the shoulder of the shoulder/nozzle. The nozzle opening of the film laminate is comprised of one of an aperture, usually a circular aperture, a plurality of slits or an aperture with a plurality of peripheral slits. The shoulder/nozzles after the film laminate is inserted into the shoulder/nozzle, and prior to sealing the film laminate in the shoulder/nozzle, are fed to a detector to determine the positioning of the film laminate in the shoulder/nozzle. If not properly positioned, it will be rejected. The film laminate is sealed to the shoulder/nozzle by heat bonding the polymer layer of the film laminate to the inner surface of the shoulder/nozzle. After the film laminate is sealed into the shoulder/nozzle, the shoulder/nozzle is fed to a detector to determine the positioning of the film laminate sealed into the shoulder/nozzle. If the film laminate is not properly positioned, the shoulder/nozzle is rejected. After the film laminate is sealed into the shoulder/nozzle, the shoulder/nozzle is fed to be attached to a tube body. The tube body with the shoulder/nozzle attached will have a closure attached, the tube filled with a product and the lower end crimped sealed to close the tube body. This tube structure is particularly useful for dentifrice products. Such products are usually sold in tubes.

In an alternate embodiment, the film laminate can be bonded to the shoulder/nozzle at the time that the film laminate is being die cut to form the nozzle aperture and to fit into the shoulder. In such an embodiment the die/mandrel is at a temperature to seal the die cut film laminate into the shoulder/nozzle after inserting the die cut film laminate into the shoulder/nozzle. The shoulder/nozzle, after the film laminate is sealed into the shoulder/nozzle, is fed to a detector to determine the positioning of the film laminate sealed into the shoulder/nozzle. If not properly positioned, it will be rejected. The shoulder/nozzles then are fed to be attached to a tube body.

The film laminate has a thickness of about 100 micron to about 400 micron, the barrier layer having a thickness of about 15 micron to about 100 micron and the polymer layer having a thickness of about 75 micron to about 250 micron. A tie layer bonding the barrier layer to the polymer layer will have a thickness of about 10 micron to about 50 micron. The barrier layer of the barrier/polymer laminate film can be any polymeric material that is essentially inert to the substances that are to be packaged in the tube. Useful barrier layers can be selected from polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylnaphthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, ethylene vinylalcohol copolymers, acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymers, amorphous polyamides, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid polymers and polyhydroxy alkanote polymers. The polymer of the barrier/polymer film laminate can be any polymer that can be bonded to the shoulder plastic. Usually it will be essentially the same as the nozzle/shoulder10plastic. Preferably the polymer will contain a fluorescent material. After the film laminate has been inserted into shoulder of the shoulder/nozzle the film laminate is contacted with a light source to activate the fluorescence to ascertain the position of the film laminate in the shoulder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION

The invention will be described in more detail in its preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. Modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein, but such modifications will be within the present inventive concept.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2concurrently,FIG. 1is a top plan view of the layout design for the equipment to make the shoulder/nozzles10(a) of the present invention andFIG. 2is a side elevation view of the equipment. The equipment and the manufacturing method comprise a hopper12which holds a plurality of molded shoulder/nozzles10for tube packages. The shoulder/nozzles10are conveyed from the hopper12by a conveyor11to a sorting and aligning table14which is a part of a shoulder/nozzle unit15. The sorting and aligning table14, through vibration and other means, causes the shoulder/nozzles10to align in an upright orientation, that is with the nozzle end13oriented upwards, as seen inFIG. 6A. The oriented shoulder/nozzles10flow through a chute16to a rotating table20. The shoulder/nozzles10exit the rotating table20through a row of channels24. Shown in this view are four channels24. The invention is not limited to any particular number of channels24, however, and the number of channels24can be less or more than four channels. Six or eight channels24would increase the capacity of the equipment. The shoulder/nozzles10move into the channels24by a gravity feed and a push from the trailing shoulder/nozzles10. The shoulder/nozzles10are maintained in the channels24by means of a rolled over edge on the side of each channel24. The rolled over edge functions as a rail to hold each of the shoulder/nozzles10in the channels24. The channels24bend at an obtuse angle to a modified alignment. At an inverted U-turn22, the channels24undergo a 180 degree change in direction and a new orientation. The shoulder/nozzles10become inverted so that the nozzle end13is now oriented downward. The shoulder/nozzles10are maintained in the channels24through and after the inverted U-turn by the rolled over edges of the channels24which function as holding rails. In section25the shoulder/nozzles10flow in an inverted orientation. The shoulder/nozzles10exit the channels24at a rotating forming unit30which rotates clockwise. The rotating forming unit30has an intermittent motion so that work can be done on the shoulder/nozzles10at a plurality of stations. The inverted shoulder/nozzles10are held in slot holders34(seeFIG. 2). The rotating forming unit30moves a set of the shoulder/nozzles10to die punch station32(a) where the nozzle opening as shown inFIG. 3orFIG. 4may be formed. The nozzle opening may also be preformed on the shoulder/nozzles10before they are loaded into the hopper12. In such a case, the rotating forming unit30will not create the nozzle opening. Additionally, the set of shoulder/nozzles10illustrated includes four shoulder/nozzles10, however, more or less shoulder/nozzles10may be included in a set.

A roll (not illustrated) of film laminate28is positioned near the rotating forming unit30. The film laminate28moves tangentially to the rotating forming unit30. The film laminate28moves above the shoulder/nozzle10so that a section of the film laminate28can be inserted into each of the shoulder/nozzles10. At the die punch station32(a), an aperture is formed on the film28. As seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, the aperture54,59formed in the die cutting station32(a) can vary in size and shape. After the aperture54,59is formed, the shoulder/nozzles10and film laminate28with apertures54,59move to die punch/insertion station32(b). In the die punch/insertion station32(b), an outer perimeter of the film laminate28around each nozzle aperture is formed by a cutting operation on the film. The film laminate28has now been severed so that the severed portion can fit the shoulder of the shoulder/nozzle10. The film liner52or56(shown inFIGS. 3 and 4), i.e. film laminate28having one of the nozzle aperture54,59and cut to fit the shoulder, is inserted into shoulder/nozzle10. A set of shoulder/nozzles10(a), now with the film liner52/56inserted therein passes through a first quality detection station36. At the first quality detection station36, it is determined if the film liner52/56has been properly inserted into the shoulder/nozzle10(a). The film laminate28will in a preferred embodiment contain a fluorescent material. The function of the fluorescent material is to determine the positioning of the formed film in the shoulder nozzles. A wavelength of light is focused on the film liner52/56when it is positioned in the shoulder/nozzle10(a). A sensor in the quality detection station36picks up the position of the fluorescence. If the film liner52/56has been properly positioned, then the shoulder/nozzles10(a) proceed to a heat seal station38. Otherwise, they are rejected.

At the heat seal station38, the film liner52/56is heated via a heated mandrel (not shown) which enters the inverted shoulder/nozzles10(a) and bonds the inserted film liner52/56to the interior surface of the shoulder/nozzle10(a). The operating temperature of the heated mandrel is dependent upon the materials of the film liner52/56and the shoulder/nozzle10. The heated mandrel preferably applies heat at a temperature between 149° C. and 260° C. for a time frame between 0.4 seconds and 1.5 seconds and more preferably between 215° C. and 248° C. for a time frame of between 0.7 seconds and 0.9 seconds. The pressure applied by the heated mandrel to the shoulder/nozzle10(a) is preferably between 2 bar and 6 bar, and more preferably between 4.5 bar and 5 bar. The invention is not limited to a particular applied temperature range, time and pressure, however, unless specifically claimed. After the film liner52/56is bonded to the shoulder/nozzle10(a), the shoulder/nozzles10(a) then pass through a second quality detection station40. Again, the fluorescence of the film liner52/56is detected to determine if the film liner52/56has been properly inserted into the shoulder/nozzle10(a). The shoulder/nozzles10(a) then enter the chute42. The shoulder/nozzles10(a) that meet the quality standards determined at the quality detection station40pass to the channel44. The shoulder/nozzles10(a) that do not meet the quality standards are ejected through the chute46by a burst of air from blow off from an air jet43. The shoulders/nozzles10(a) that exit the channel44proceed to tube making where they are used to make a tube such as the tube60shown inFIG. 7.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, film liners52,56are illustrated. The film liners52/56were formed from the barrier film28as discussed with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. The film liner52comprises an aperture54and a perimeter53. The aperture54is preferably a circular shaped opening having a diameter generally equal to the diameter of the nozzle opening of the shoulder/nozzle10. The perimeter53of the film liner52is a circular shaped opening. The film liner56comprises a center aperture59, three slits58and the perimeter57. The center aperture59is a circular shaped opening that is smaller than the nozzle opening of the shoulder/nozzle10. The three slits58extend from the aperture59in a radial direction. Although not illustrated, film liner may be cut so as to have only slits and a perimeter without a circular aperture.

FIGS. 6A and 6Bshow shoulder/nozzle10(a) comprising one of the film liners52,56. The shoulder/nozzle10(a) comprises the nozzle13and the shoulder17. The nozzle has aperture19and threads21for the attachment of a closure. InFIG. 6Athe film liner52is solely in the shoulder17while inFIG. 6Bthe film liner56is in both the shoulder17and the nozzle13.

FIG. 7shows a tube60with a tube body61and a tube closing crimp62. On the other end is the shoulder/nozzle10(a) with nozzle13, shoulder17, aperture19and threads21. This tube can have the shoulder/nozzle ofFIG. 6Aor6B.

The shoulder/nozzle10usually is comprised of a polymer such as a polyethylene or a polypropylene, co-polymers of ethylene or propylene, including ethylene-propylene copolymers, and vinyl polymers and copolymers. The tube body60can be comprised of any of the known tube structures disclosed and/or used in the prior art. Usually these tube body structures will be a laminate and have a barrier layer of a metal foil, a polyester, polyamide, or an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. The film liners52/56formed from the laminate film28, will have a laminate structure of two or more layers with a polymer layer on one side so as to bond to inner surface of the shoulder/nozzle10and a barrier layer on the other side that contacts the product in the tube60. A tie layer that bonds the barrier layer to the polymer layer may also be included. The laminate film28will in a preferred embodiment also contain a fluorescent material. The fluorescent material will preferably be in the polymer layer since it will then not be in contact with the product in the tube. The function of the fluorescent material is to determine the positioning of the laminate film in the shoulder/nozzles. The fluorescent material will be blended into the polymer material of the film laminate when this polymer is being manufactured. It must be compatible with and blendable into the polymer. The film laminate28has a thickness of about 100 micron to about 400 micron, the barrier layer having a thickness of about 15 micron to about 100 micron and the polymer layer having a thickness of about 75 micron to about 250 micron. The tie layer bonding the barrier layer to the polymer layer will have a thickness of about 10 micron to about 50 micron.

The polymer layer of the film laminate28can be a polyethylene, a polypropylene, co-polymers of ethylene or propylene, including ethylene-propylene copolymers, and vinyl polymers and copolymers. The polymer layer of the film laminate28will be one that can be heat bonded to the polymer of the shoulder. Usually these will be the same since like polymers will readily bond to like polymers. The fluorescent material will be blended into the polymer material of the film laminate28when this polymer is being manufactured. It must be compatible with and blendable into the polymer. Useful fluorescent materials include the benzoxanthene, benzothiazine, perylene imide, thioxanthene, thioindigoid, naphthalimide and coumarin fluorescent dyes. Various fluorescent dyes that can be used in the polymer layer of the film laminate are available from the DayGlo Color Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio. The barrier layer of the film laminate28will be a material that is essentially inert to the components of the product that is to be contained in the tube. The barrier layer can be a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polytrimethyl naphthalate, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polyamides such as amorphous polyamides (aliphatic and aromatic), a metal foil, or an acrylonitrile methyl-acrylate copolymer. The barrier layer may also be an in-organic coating such as SiOx (x from 1 to 2) and aluminum oxide, an organic coating such as epoxy amine based, amorphous carbon based and polyvinyl alcohol based, and polymer nanocomposites. The tie layer of the film laminate28will be a polymer that will adhere to the polymer layer and to the barrier layer. Various polymers are useful as the tie layer. These include ethylene/vinylacetate copolymers, ethylene methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene butyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/acrylic ester/maleic anhydride terpolymers, and ethylene/vinyl acetate/maleic anhydride terpolymers. These are commercially available tie layers. The products that are packaged in the tubes with this structure are those where the absorption of organic components of the products will deleteriously affect the product. This includes dentifrices, and other oral care products, personal care products, and food products.