Abstract:
The present invention relates to a composite material used in beverage packaging bag easily penetrated by a straw. The composite material is made of more than two layers. A hole used for a straw is pre-punctured at least in one layer of the composite material. And at least one layer is not punctured so as to act as sealing layer. The present invention provides a composite material that is easy to be penetrated by a straw and has a reliable sealability. Moreover this kind of composite material is effective in cost and sanitary.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a composite material for packaging containers, especially for packaging containers which can be easily inserted into by a straw.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The ordinary composite material for soft package generally comprises printing layer, blocking layer, reinforcing layer and sealing layer, etc, and the specific structure is determined according to the requirements of the package. As the bi-directional stretch film is employed for the printing and reinforcing layers, the strength of the composite material is relatively high and cannot be easily torn or punched. It brings much trouble to the customers as the beverage spurt out while they tear open the composite material containers. In market, there exists at present a kind of packaging container having a pre-punched hole. It is to weld a sheet of sealing material which is easily to be punched, onto the interior surface of the pre-punched composite material. This type of packaging container is good in sealing and inserting. However, as this can only be carried out in special packaging/molding machine having a puncher and sealer, and additional subsidiary materials are needed. It is not easy to be popularized.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention is to provide a beverage for packaging container composite material which a straw can be easily inserted into and with reliable sealing. This composite material can solve the above-mentioned problems and can be widely applied safely and reliably.  
         [0004]     The composite material of the present invention is compounded by using at least two layers of materials. Wherein at least one layer of the above-mentioned composite material has a pre-punched hole and at least one layer is used as sealing layer which has not been pre-punched.  
         [0005]     According to one of the embodiments of the present invention, said composite material comprises two layers. Wherein the material of the first layer is one selected from the group consisting of bi-directional stretch polypropylene film, bi-directional stretch polyester film, bi-directional stretch nylon film, cellophane film and double-sided damp-proof cellophane film; and the material of the second layer is one selected from the group consisting of the copolymer and coextrusion multilayer polyethylene film including polyethylene film, EAA, EMAA, EVA and SURLYN etc. Wherein the pre-punched hole is on said first layer.  
         [0006]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned composite material comprises three layers: the material of the first layer is one selected from the group consisting of bi-directional stretch polypropylene film, bi-directional stretch polyester film, bi-directional stretch nylon film, cellophane film and double-sided damp-proof cellophane film; the material of the second layer is one selected from the group consisting of aluminum film, casting nylon film, polyvinyl alcohol film, EVOH film, bi-directional stretch polyester film, bi-directional stretch nylon film and vacuum aluminum plating polyester film; and the material of the third layer is one selected from the group consisting of the copolymer film and coextrusion multilayer polyethylene film including polyethylene film, EAA, EMAA, EVA and SURLYN etc. Wherein the pre-punched hole is on said first layer or first and second layers.  
         [0007]     According to a third embodiment of the present invention, said composite material comprises four layers: the material of the first layer is one selected from the group consisting of bi-directional stretch polypropylene film, bidirectional stretch polyester film, bi-directional stretch nylon film, cellophane film and double-sided damp-proof cellophane film; the material of the second layer is one selected from the group consisting of aluminum film, casting nylon film, polyvinyl alcohol film, EVOH film, bi-directional stretch polyester film, bidirectional stretch nylon film and vacuum aluminum plating polyester film; the material of the third layer is one selected from the group consisting of aluminum film, casting nylon film, polyvinyl alcohol film, EVOH film, bi-directional polyester film, bi-directional stretch nylon film and vacuum aluminum plating polyester film; and the material of the fourth layer is one selected from the group consisting of copolymer and coextrusion multilayer polyethylene film including polyethylene film, EAA, EMAA, EVA and SURLYN etc. Wherein the pre-punched hole is on said first and second layers or on said first, second and third layers.  
         [0008]     In the embodiment of the present invention, the pre-punched hole on the composite material may be in the form of round or round having intermittent cuts. It may also be any one of the crisscross, U-shape, V-shape and those shapes having intermittent cuts.  
         [0009]     Besides, each two layers of the composite material are respectively connected by the adhesion agent, and form the adhesive layers.  
         [0010]     In the composite material of the present invention, the pre-punching treatment is carried out at the specified position of the layer which is uneasily to be inserted. The size and shape to be punched will be adjusted according to the different requirement of the package and the external form and dimension of the straw, whereas no pre-punching treatment is made for the easily inserting sealing layer. In a result, it guarantees the intact packaging performance of the composite material and also the performance of easily inserting at the specified position can be retained. Being accomplished the particular pre-punching treatment on the final finished composite material, the product of the present invention can be applied on automatic packaging machines or container-making machines of any type without the need of any special auxiliary equipment.  
         [0011]     The novel soft packaging composite material film easily inserted with straw possesses the following three characteristics:  
         [0012]     1. Convenient to consumers—the layer that is uneasily to be inserted is the first layer of the packaging composite material. It has been pre-punched and the specified pre-punched area is circled out by printing. Consumers can easily find the area and use with ease.  
         [0013]     2. Widely applied—The composite material easily inserted with straw can be applied to any packaging machines, handling in a conventional process without any subsidiary materials or auxiliary equipment, since the pre-punching treatment has been accomplished by the manufacturer of the composite material.  
         [0014]     3. Safe and reliable hygiene—Since the pre-punching treatment is a physically mechanical treatment without addition of any harmful substance and the means of compounding has no difference with that of the regular compounding. Thus, hygiene is safe and reliable. In addition, as an internal sealing layer, it gives rise to the integration of the whole composite material. Therefore, the soft packaging composite material easily inserted with straw can effectively protect the beverage contained therein. 
     
    
     FIGURE DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  and  7  show the composite material with round pre-punched hole in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  and  9  show the composite material with crisscross pre-punched hole in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  and  11  show the composite material with U-shape pre-punched hole in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  and  13  show the composite material with V-shape pre-punched hole in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention; 
     
    
     EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows side sectional view of the pre-punched area of the composite material of the first embodiment of the present invention. The composite material of the said embodiment comprises two layers: the first layer  16  is a printing layer; the second layer  19  is a sealing layer. There is an adhesive layer between the first layer  16  and the second layer  19 . A pre-punched hole  12  is formed on the first layer  16 .  
         [0025]     In the first example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  16  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 1  is bi-directional stretch polypropylene film, and the second layer  19  is polyethylene film.  
         [0026]     In the second example of the present invention, the first layer  16  of the composite shown in  FIG. 1  is bi-directional stretch polypropylene film as the printing layer, and the second layer  19  is vacuum aluminum plating/casting polypropylene film.  
         [0027]     In the third example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  16  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 1  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, and the second layer  19  is polyethylene film.  
         [0028]     In the fourth example of the present invention, the first layer  1 . 6  of the composite shown in  FIG. 1  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, and the second layer  19  is vacuum aluminum plating/casting polypropylene film.  
         [0029]     In the fifth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  16  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 1  is bidirectional stretch nylon film, and the second layer  19  is polyethylene film.  
         [0030]     In the sixth example of the present invention, the first layer  16  of the composite shown in  FIG. 1  is bi-directional stretch nylon film, and the second layer  19  is casting polypropylene film.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows side sectional view of the pre-punched area of the composite material of the second embodiment of the present invention. The composite material in said embodiment comprises three layers: the first layer  26  is a printing layer; the second layer  27  is a blocking layer; the third layer  29  is a sealing layer. There is an adhesive layer between the first layer  26  and the second layer  27 , and an adhesive layer between the second layer  27  and the third layer  29 . A pre-punched hole  22  is formed on the first layer  26 .  
         [0032]     In the seventh example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  26  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 2  is bi-directional stretch polypropylene film, and the second layer  27  is aluminum film, then the third layer  29  is polyethylene film.  
         [0033]     In the eighth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  26  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 2  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, and the second layer  27  is aluminum film, then the third layer  29  is polyethylene film.  
         [0034]     In the ninth example of the present invention, the first layer  26  of the composite shown in  FIG. 2  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, and the second layer  27  is aluminum film, then the third layer  29  is casting polypropylene film.  
         [0035]     In the tenth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  26  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 2  is bi-directional nylon film, and the second layer  27  is aluminum film, then the third layer  29  is polyethylene film.  
         [0036]     In the eleventh example of the present invention, the first layer  26  of the composite shown in  FIG. 2  is bi-directional nylon film, and the second layer  27  is aluminum film, then the third layer  29  is casting polypropylene film.  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows side sectional view of the pre-punched area of the composite material of the third embodiment of the present invention. The composite material in said embodiment comprises three layers: the first layer  36  is a printing layer; the second layer  37  is a reinforcing layer; the third layer  39  is a sealing layer. There is respectively an adhesive layer between the first layer  36  and the second layer  37 , an adhesive layer between the second layer  37  and the third layer  39 . A pre-punched hole  32  is formed on the first layer  36  and second layer  37 .  
         [0038]     In the twelfth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer - 36  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 3  is bi-directional stretch polypropylene film, and the second layer  37  is vacuum aluminum plating polyester film, then the third layer  39  is polyethylene film.  
         [0039]     In the thirteenth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  36  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 3  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, and the second layer  37  is vacuum aluminum plating polypropylene film, then the third layer  39  is polyethylene film.  
         [0040]     In the fourteenth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  36  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 3  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, and the second layer  37  is bi-directional stretch nylon film, then the third layer  39  is polyethylene film.  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  shows side sectional view of the pre-punched area of the composite material of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The composite material in said embodiment comprises four layers: the first layer  46  is a printing layer; the second layer  47  is a blocking layer; the third layer  48  is a reinforcing layer; and the fourth layer  49  is a sealing layer. There is respectively an adhesive layer between the first layer  46  and the second layer  47 , the second layer  47  and the third layer  48 , the third layer  48  and the fourth layer  49 . A pre-punched hole  42  is formed on the first layer  46 , the second layer  47  and the third layer  48 .  
         [0042]     In the sixteenth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  46  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 4  is bi-directional stretch polypropylene film, and the second layer  47  is aluminum film, the third layer  48  is bi-directional stretch nylon film and the fourth layer  49  is polyethylene film. There is respectively an adhesive layer  41  between the first layer  46  and the second layer  47 , an adhesive layer  43  between the second layer  47  and the third layer  48 , an adhesive layer  44  between the third layer  48  and the fourth layer  49 .  
         [0043]     In the seventeenth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  46  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 4  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, the second layer  47  is aluminum film, the third layer  48  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, and the fourth layer  49  is polyethylene film.  
         [0044]     In the eighteenth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  46  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 4  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, the second layer  47  is aluminum film, the third layer  48  is bi-directional nylon film, and the fourth layer  49  is polyethylene film.  
         [0045]     In the nineteenth example of the present invention, the first layer  46  of the composite shown in  FIG. 4  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, and the second layer  47  aluminum film, the third layer  48  bi-directional stretch nylon film and the fourth layer  49  casting polypropylene film.  
         [0046]     In the twentieth example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  46  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 4  is bi-directional stretch nylon film, the second layer  47  is aluminum film, the third layer  48  is bidirectional stretch nylon film, and the fourth layer  49  is casting polypropylene film.  
         [0047]      FIG. 5  shows side sectional view of the pre-punched area of the composite material of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The composite material in said embodiment comprises four layers: the first layer  56  is a printing layer; the second layer  57  is a reinforcing layer; the third layer  58  is a blocking layer; and the fourth layer  59  is a sealing layer. There is respectively an adhesive layer between the first layer  56  and the second layer  57 , an adhesive layer between the second layer  57  and the third layer  58 , an adhesive layer between the third layer  58  and the fourth layer  59 . A pre-punched hole  52  is formed on the first layer  56  and the second layer  57 .  
         [0048]     In the twenty first example of the present invention, the material of the first layer  56  of the composite material shown in  FIG. 5  is bi-directional stretch polyester film, the second layer  57  is bi-directional stretch nylon film, the third layer  58  is aluminum film, and the fourth layer  59  is polyethylene film.  
         [0049]     In the twenty-second example of the present invention, the first layer  56  of the composite shown in  FIG. 5  is bidirectional stretch polyester film, and the second layer  57  bi-directional stretch nylon film, the third layer  58  aluminum film and the fourth layer  59  casting polypropylene film.  
         [0050]     In the twenty-third example of the present invention, the first layer  56  of the composite shown in  FIG. 5  is bi-directional stretch nylon film as the printing layer, and the second layer  57  bidirectional stretch nylon film, the third layer  58  aluminum film and the fourth layer  59  casting polypropylene film.  
         [0051]     The pre-punched holes in all the above-mentioned examples of the present invention may be in the forms of round or shapes other than round. The method which can be used for forming the hole may be full size cutting or discontinuously cutting, for example, fully circular cutting shown in  FIG. 6 , discontinuously circular cutting shown in  FIG. 7 , crisscross cutting shown in  FIG. 8 , discontinuously crisscross cutting shown in  FIG. 9 , U-shape cutting shown in  FIG. 10 , discontinuously U-shape cutting shown in  FIG. 11 , V-shape cutting shown in  FIG. 12  and discontinuously V-shape cutting shown in  FIG. 13 . Any variations of the shape of the pre-punched hole and method forming the same will not depart from the basic concept of the present invention and ought to be within the protection scope of the present invention.  
         [0052]     The pre-punched composite material according to the present invention is a suitable material for making packaging containers for beverage. The description hereinabove in regard to the material does not constitute a limitation to the protection scope of the invention. Any modifications and variations made according to the above-mentioned basic concept and spirit are intended to be included within the protection scope of the present invention as herein defined in the appended claims.