Patent Publication Number: US-2023150745-A1

Title: Spout for flexible thin-walled packagings

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/609,186, entitled “SPOUT FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-WALLED PACKAGINGS,” filed on Nov. 5, 2021, which is a national stage entry of PCT Application No. PCT/IB2020/054309, entitled “SPOUT FOR FLEXIBLE THIN-WALLED PACKAGINGS,” filed May 7, 2020, which claims priority of IT 102019000006687, filed on May 9, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of flexible thin-walled packagings, in jargon called “pouches,” typically provided with a spout provided with a cap. Such packagings are widely used to contain products such as fruit juices, fruit or vegetable puree, yogurt, drinks, creams, honey, mostly intended for consumption by children. 
     The sterilization of these packagings has enormous importance for the prevention of infections and the correct preservation of the product contained therein. 
     Sometimes, chemical sterilization is carried out, during which the packaging is washed with disinfectant agents, for example hydrogen peroxide, and then dried, before being sent to subsequent filling operations. However, chemical sterilization has some drawbacks such as, for example, the presence of residues of the disinfectant agent in the dry container or the presence of non-disinfected areas due to complex or irregular geometries of the packaging. This drawback is particularly felt in the pouch sector. 
     A significant diffusion in the sector, on the other hand, is sterilization by ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays or electron beams. For example, the Applicant is the owner of the International Applications WO-A1-2012/147007 and WO-A1-2012/147008. 
     Usually, the sterilization by ionizing radiation is carried out in specialized centers, to which the packaging manufacturer sends the packagings to be treated; after sterilization, the sterile packages are sent to the person who carries out the filling and the application of the closure, using measures that allow the maintenance of the sterility condition inside the packaging. Such logistics obviously imply considerable transport costs between the sites and a considerable complexity of managing the packagings within the sites themselves. 
     To overcome this drawback, the Applicant has already devised a system for managing the sterilization of flexible thin-walled packagings in which the use of a plurality of sacrificial closures applied to the spout outlet mouth before sterilization is provided, subsequently separated from the spout in a sterile chamber, just before filling the packaging. This system is illustrated in International Applications WO-A1-2017/001947 and WO-A1-2017/168322. 
     As may be understood, in order for this system to be fully effective, the application of the sacrificial closure to the spout outlet mouth should ensure air tightness, in order to prevent the interior of the packaging from being contaminated before filling it in the sterile chamber. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a spout for a flexible thin-walled packaging which is particularly effective for the application of a sacrificial closure. 
     Such an object is achieved by a spout including a thin-walled flexible package provided with a spout comprising a connection portion and a tube having an outer surface and ending with an outlet mouth, a sacrificial closure applied to the spout to close the outlet mouth, wherein the sacrificial closure comprises a skirt suitable for sealingly engaging the outer surface of the tube at a sealing region having a sealing distance from the outlet mouth, wherein on the outer surface of the tube there is a circumferential dividing line having a division distance from the outlet mouth, the dividing line being contained in an annular band of the outer surface, the band being free of projections and divided by the band into an upper band, towards the outlet mouth, and a lower band, on the opposite side; and wherein the sealing distance is less than the division distance; wherein the dividing line divides the tube into a lower portion and an end portion provided with the outlet mouth, wherein the skirt engages the end portion; wherein the spout comprises a thread, protruding from the outer surface of the tube, entirely contained in the lower portion. The dependent claims describe further advantageous embodiments of the invention, wherein the skirt of the sacrificial closure comprises a lip seal, protruding radially internally, operating on the outer surface of the tube in the sealing region, wherein the sacrificial closure is reversibly applicable to the spout, wherein the sacrificial closure is irreversibly applicable to the spout. 
    
    
     
       The features and the advantages of present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of an indicative and non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows an assembly comprising a flexible packaging and a sacrificial closure, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2   a    shows a spout according to an embodiment of the present invention, with sacrificial closure applied; 
         FIG.  2   b    shows the spout of  FIG.  2   a   , with separate sacrificial closure; 
         FIG.  3    shows a cross-sectional view of the spout of  FIG.  2     a;    
         FIG.  4    shows a sacrificial closure, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5   a    shows the spout according to the present invention, according to a side view; 
         FIG.  5   b    shows the spout of  FIG.  5   a   , according to a cross-sectional view; and 
         FIG.  6    shows a diagram of a mold for making the spout according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     With reference to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral  1  indicates a flexible thin-walled packaging, comprising a packaging body  2 , comprising thin walls  4  facing each other, and a spout  6 , sealingly fixed, preferably by welding, between the thin walls  4  of the packaging body  2 . 
     The packaging  1  is provided with a sacrificial closure  200  applied to the outlet mouth of the spout  6 . 
     According to a first embodiment, the sacrificial closure  200  is applied reversibly to the spout  6 , that is, so that it may be separated from the spout to have access to the outlet mouth; for example, the sacrificial closure is a cap applied by pressure to the spout and separable from it. 
     According to a further embodiment, the sacrificial closure  200  is irreversibly applied to the spout, i.e. in such a way that it must be at least partially torn to allow access to the outlet mouth; for example, the sacrificial closure is a cap applied by pressure to the spout so as not to be removable and comprises a tear-resistant membrane. 
     According to the sterilization process, a packaging  1  is produced on a production site. 
     Subsequently, the sacrificial closure  200  is applied to the empty packaging  1 , preferably at the production site. 
     The empty packaging—sacrificial closure assembly, for example after being transported from the production site to a sterilization site—undergoes a sterilization process, typically by ionization by gamma or beta rays, obtaining a sterilized assembly. 
     According to an alternative embodiment, the sacrificial closure  200  is applied to the spout  6  at the sterilization site, however, before carrying out the sterilization process. 
     The sterilized assembly, preferably after being transported to a filling site, is sent to a filling machine, where at least part of the spout  6  passes through a sterile chamber. 
     In the sterile chamber, the sacrificial closure  200  is tampered with so as to access the outlet mouth of the spout  6 . 
     The packaging  1  is then filled through the outlet mouth of the spout. 
     If the sacrificial closure  200  is irreversibly applied to the spout  6 , the sacrificial closure  200  is at least partially torn, for example by breaking a surface membrane; the packaging  1  is then filled through the outlet mouth of the spout. 
     Subsequently, according to an embodiment of the invention, while the full packaging is still in the sterile chamber, a definitive closure, for example a cap with a thread, is applied to the spout  6 ; in this way a filled packaging-final closure assembly for marketing is obtained. 
     According to an alternative embodiment, while the full packaging is still in the sterile chamber, a temporary closure is applied to the spout, for example consisting of the sacrificial closure; a filled packaging-temporary closure assembly is thus obtained, to which the definitive closure is subsequently applied outside the sterile chamber. According to such embodiment variant, the definitive closure is suitable for engaging with the temporary closure, so that, once the definitive closure has been removed, the temporary closure is also removed from the spout. 
     The spout  6  extends mainly along a main axis X, between a lower end  8  and an upper end  10 . 
     At the lower end  8 , the spout  6  comprises a connecting portion  12 , usually defined as a “welding boat”, intended for welding between the thin walls  4  of the packaging body  2 . 
     Preferably, the spout  6  further comprises a lower plate  14 , which extends on an imaginary plane orthogonal to the main axis X, adjacent to the connecting portion  12 , and an upper plate  16 , parallel to and separated from the lower plate  14 . 
     The spout  6  further comprises a tube  18 , provided with an outer surface  18   e , which protrudes from the upper plate  16  and extends to the upper end  10 , where there is an outlet mouth  20 . 
     On the outside of the tube  18  a thread  22  is preferably provided for screwing the final closure. 
     Internally, the spout  6  has a through dispensing duct  24  which extends from the outlet mouth  20  to the lower end  8 , having a central axis coinciding with the main axis X of the spout  6 . 
     The sacrificial closure  200  comprises a skirt  202  consisting of an annular wall having a predefined axial height, provided with an inner diameter such as to allow the skirt to be fitted on the outer surface of the tube  18 . 
     Preferably, the skirt  202  comprises a seal  204  consisting of a lip protruding radially internally, suitable for achieving an airtight seal by adhering to the outer surface of the tube  18 . 
     Furthermore, the sacrificial closure  200  comprises a base  206  which closes the skirt  202  at the top; in the embodiment in which the sacrificial closure is irreversible, the base  206  is a tearable membrane. 
     The spout  6  is made of a single piece of plastics material, preferably by injection molding. 
     In particular ( FIGS.  5   a  and  5   b   ), the spout  6  consists of two portions: a first portion  602 , comprising the connecting portion  12 , eventually the lower plate  14  and the upper plate  16 , and a lower portion  182  of the tube  18 , and a second portion  604  comprising an end portion  184  of the tube  18 , provided with the outlet mouth  20 . 
     The spout  6  is obtained in a single piece by injection molding, using for example a mold assembly  300  ( FIG.  6   ). 
     The mold assembly  300  comprises a first half-mold  302  having a first half-cavity  302   a  and a second half-mold  304  having a second half-cavity  304   a . The two half-molds  302 ,  304  come into contact with each other on a first contact plane P 1 , so that the two half-cavities  302   a ,  304   a  form a first cavity. 
     The first portion  602  of the spout is obtained by filling the first cavity. At the first contact plane P 1 , on the first portion  602  of the spout  6  it is possible to see a first dividing line L 1 . 
     Preferably, the first dividing line L 1  is contained on an imaginary plane which also contains the main axis X. 
     The mold assembly  300  further comprises an annular insert  306 , having a second cavity  306   a  which has complete annular extension; the insert  306  couples with the two half-molds  302 ,  304  so that the second cavity  306   a  is arranged astride the two half-molds  302 ,  304  and is joined to the first cavity. 
     The second portion  604  is obtained by filling the second cavity  306   a.    
     At the connection between the first portion  602  and the second portion  604 , a second circumferential dividing line L 2  may be seen, having a predefined distance H 2  from the outlet mouth  20 . 
     The second dividing line L 2  lies on an imaginary plane P 2  orthogonal to the main axis X. 
     Furthermore, between the first portion  602  and the second portion  604 , on the outer surface  18   e  of the tube  18 , a smooth annular band  606  is defined, free of any flanges, projections, protrusions and the like. 
     The second dividing line L 2  is contained in the band  606 , dividing it into an upper band  606   a , towards the outlet mouth  20 , and a lower band  606   b , on the opposite side. 
     Finally, the mold assembly  300  comprises a male element  308  which crosses the insert  306  and passes through the second cavity  306   a  and through the first cavity, so as to create the inner cavity of the spout. 
     The skirt  202  of the sacrificial closure  200  cooperates with the outer surface  18   e  of the tube  18  to seal the inlet mouth, along a sealing region having an axial distance H from the outlet mouth  20 , wherein the sealing distance H is less than or equal to the division distance H 2  between the second dividing line L 2  and the outlet mouth  20 . 
     In other words, the sacrificial closure  200  engages the tube  18  only at the second portion  604 , i.e. only on the outer surface of the end portion  184  of the tube  18 . 
     In particular, the seal  204  of the skirt  200  operates on the outer surface of the end portion  184  of the tube  18  at a sealing distance H from the outlet mouth  20 , wherein the sealing distance H is less than the division distance H 2  of the second dividing line L 2  from the outlet mouth  20 . 
     This allows the sealing between the skirt  202  and the outer surface  18   e  of the tube  18  to be achieved on a smooth surface, without dividing lines which could compromise the sealing itself, to the advantage of maintaining the seal. 
     Preferably, moreover, the thread  22  is made on the lower portion  182  of the tube  18 . 
     Innovatively, this allows an excellent seal to be obtained between the sacrificial closure and the spout tube, and to preserve it for the subsequent steps of the production process. 
     It is clear that a man skilled in the art may make changes to the invention described above in order to meet incidental needs, all falling within the scope of protection defined in the following claims.