U.S. patent application number 14/709020 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-21 for packaging for pulverulent material.
The applicant listed for this patent is N.V. NUTRICIA. Invention is credited to Karen Rita Crawford, Nicolaas Luttik.
Application Number | 20160016715 14/709020 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34833678 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160016715 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crawford; Karen Rita ; et
al. |
January 21, 2016 |
PACKAGING FOR PULVERULENT MATERIAL
Abstract
Packaging and method for the production thereof. A packaging for
pulverulent material is proposed consisting of a container part,
made up of a laminate consisting of paper (board), metal foil and
plastic material. The powder is filled into such a container and a
seal consisting of a plastic film that is fixed to the container
wall by heat sealing is applied on top of the powder. A small gap
remains between the film and the lid to be placed on the container
(in the closed state). A scoop is fitted in this gap. After first
use, the scoop is snapped into a fixing in the lid. The lid is
provided with an elevation for accommodating the scoop in the
lid.
Inventors: |
Crawford; Karen Rita; (Bath,
GB) ; Luttik; Nicolaas; (Culemborg, NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
N.V. NUTRICIA |
Zoetermeer |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
34833678 |
Appl. No.: |
14/709020 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10585902 |
Mar 29, 2007 |
|
|
|
PCT/NL05/00089 |
Feb 7, 2005 |
|
|
|
14709020 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/229 ; 53/456;
53/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/0093 20130101;
B65B 7/2878 20130101; B65B 31/028 20130101; B65D 51/20 20130101;
B65D 51/247 20130101; B65D 83/06 20130101; B65D 21/022 20130101;
B65D 43/169 20130101; B65D 2401/10 20200501; B65D 2251/1016
20130101; B65D 2577/205 20130101; B65B 31/00 20130101; B65D 81/2076
20130101; B65D 77/30 20130101; B65B 43/08 20130101; B65D 25/2897
20130101; B65D 2251/0021 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 77/30 20060101
B65D077/30; B65B 43/08 20060101 B65B043/08; B65B 31/00 20060101
B65B031/00; B65D 83/06 20060101 B65D083/06; B65B 7/28 20060101
B65B007/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 5, 2004 |
EP |
04075365.9 |
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. A packaging for pulverulent material comprising a container, a
lid and a metering scoop, as well as an accommodation in the space
delimited by the lid for accommodating said measuring scoop,
wherein said lid is provided with an elevation oriented outwards
when the lid is in the fitted position on said container, the
interior of which elevation delimiting a cavity for at least
partially accommodating said scoop and the inside of said lid being
provided with fixing means for said scoop, said container having a
seal for separating the contents of the container from the
environment and extending over the free cross-sectional area of
said container, said seal being spaced from the top of said
container to accommodate part of said metering scoop, that the
height of said accommodation in said lid is smaller than the height
of said scoop such that when the lid is closed on said container
the scoop can be received in the accommodation defined between said
lid and said seal and in that said scoop is separate from said lid
and container.
21. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein the highest point
of said elevation extends at least 4 mm (a) above the top
peripheral edge of said packaging.
22. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein said lid is fixed,
such that it can hinge, to a supporting edge, which is fixed to
said container wall, wherein said lid and supporting edge comprise
a single part of plastic material.
23. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein said supporting
edge is provided with a levelling-off surface.
24. The packaging according to claim 23, wherein said levelling-off
surface is arranged close to a corner of said container.
25. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein said supporting
edge is provided with a raised part, within which the lid is fitted
horizontally, which raised part is provided with a cut-out,
provided with a closure part that can be removed easily.
26. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein said scoop
comprises a cup and wherein said fixing means are arranged to
receive the scoop such that the open part of the cup is directed to
said lid.
27. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein the container wall
contains a heat-sealable material on the inside and wherein said
seal comprises a plastic film seal, which seal is fixed to said
container wall by heat sealing.
28. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein said container and
said lid are essentially rectangular.
29. The packaging according to claim 27, wherein the distance (r)
between the top of said film and the lowest point of the
accommodation in the lid for the scoop is between 35 and 50 mm.
30. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein said container
wall consists of a paper/metal foil/plastic laminate.
31. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein said wall of the
container extends downwards beyond the base of said container to
delimit an upright rim.
32. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein said lid has a
circumferential edge and the top of said container has a peripheral
edge, wherein in the closed position of said lid, said
circumferential edge of said lid is inaccessibly accommodated
within said peripheral edge, means being provided to interrupt said
peripheral edge for access to said circumferential edge.
33. The packaging according to claim 32, wherein said means to
interrupt said peripheral edge comprise a breakable peripheral edge
portion.
34. The packaging according to claim 32, wherein said lid comprises
a lip being locked in position by said means.
35. A method for providing a pack filled with powder, comprising
the provision of a container provided with a base, the inside wall
of the container consisting of a heat-sealable material, wherein
the method is comprised of the steps of: filling powder into said
container, placing a heat-sealable film above the powder, and
joining said film to said container wall, provision being made for
the fitting of a lid.
36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the provision of a
container comprises using blanks of wall material and base material
as the starting materials and joining these together immediately
before filling with product.
37. The method according to claim 35, wherein inert gas is fed into
the space located below the film before/when sealing the film to
the container wall.
38. The method according to claim 36, wherein gas is fed to a
number of packs simultaneously.
39. The packaging according to claim 20, wherein the pulverulent
material is baby food.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a package for pulverulent
material according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Stringent requirements with regard to hygiene and dosage are
imposed on packaging for baby food. Therefore, such a powder is
currently stored in cylindrical metal cans that are sealed by a
metal lid or plastic lid that has to be opened before use and that
is reclosable in a simple manner. Scoops that are so designed that
an accurate volume for pulverulent material is delimited therein
are used for dosage. By levelling off, a predetermined amount can
be accommodated in the volume of the scoop cavity. It is important
that this amount is accurately specified in order, on the one hand,
to guarantee that the baby receives sufficient food and, on the
other hand, as far as possible to prevent problems with
constipation in the children. It must be understood that
pulverulent material must be understood, to be any granular
material, in particular spray-dried food products, as well as
agglomerates of the powder particles.
[0003] In such a packaging, such a scoop is generally loose between
the top of the contents and the bottom of the lid on the
product.
[0004] After the scoop has been used, some users replace the scoop
in or on the product. Other users consider it to be unhygienic to
put the scoop back into the contents of the container after use.
Therefore, the scoop is frequently stored outside the container,
which in practice further increases the risk of contamination. On
the other hand, the size and the height of such containers are so
designed that as compact as possible a volume is obtained in order
to obtain optimum filling of the shelf at the point of sale.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,645 B1 discloses a container having a
lid to which a scoop is moulded and connected thereto by a film
hinge. The top of the container is provided with a seal enclosed by
the assembly of the lid and scoop. At first use the scoop is
separated from the lid. Sealing of the container at the location
where the lid should connect to the wall of the container is very
complicated. Stack ability of the lid prior to assembly with the
container is limited due to the shape thereof.
[0006] FR 2 747 107 discloses a container which is sealed off and
having on top thereof a ring comprising a scoop as well as a lid.
After removal of the scoop from the ring and tearing off the seal,
the ring can be positioned on the container after which the lid can
become effective.
[0007] In both U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,645 and FR 2 747 107 the user
has to break away the scoop from a further plastic part involving
the risk of particles getting into the food material which might be
highly dangerous.
[0008] The invention aims to provide a container, lid, scoop
assembly wherein the scoop is not permanently connected with the
lid so that breakage is not longer necessary. Furthermore, the lid
to be used with the container should be easily stackable with other
lids during production thereof. The contents of the container
should be guaranteed by the provision of a seal on top of the
contents. The use of scoops having a different volume should be
possible without substantive changes to the lid.
[0009] According to the invention this is realized with the
characterizing features of claim 1.
[0010] Stacking of the lids is provided by keeping the height of
the lid relatively low. On the other hand there is an indication on
the lid that a scoop is provided inside the container. Such an
indication is an elevation of the lid having (part of) the shape of
the scoop. The scoop is not connected to any of the lid and
container, after filling the container with the intended contents.
This means that breaking away of the scoop from another part of the
package is not necessary after it has been filled.
[0011] According to the invention part of the volume of the scoop
is accommodated by the top part of the container. To that end the
seal is provided somewhat below the top edge of the container. This
distance between the seal and the top edge of the container is
preferably between 20 and 50 mm, and more in particular about 30
mm.
[0012] According to the present invention the user is encouraged to
place the scoop in a accommodation made in the lid after using the
scoop for the first time. This accommodation is partially delimited
by the elevation described above. In particular, the open end of
the bowl-shaped part of the scoop can be accommodated in this
elevation. As a result the volume of the container does not
increase to a significant extent, but, on the other hand, it can be
ensured that the scoop can be stored in the container under the
most hygienic conditions out of contact with the filling in the
container.
[0013] More particularly, the elevation described above has a
height of 2-25, in particular 4-15 mm, measured between the maximum
of the height and the base of the elevation.
[0014] The lid according to the present invention preferably
consists of a plastic material, that is hingedly connected to a lid
rim, which likewise consists of plastic and is clamped on the
container wall or fixed thereto in some other way. Preferably, the
lid rim is provided with a levelling off edge, that is to say an
angled portion or strip to avoid accumulation of powder in the
corner under which the top edge of the scoop can be scraped in a
simple way in order to provide accurate reproducible and convenient
dosage of the volume of product in the scoop.
[0015] In the case of conventional packaging it has proved to be a
problem to remove the entire contents from the packaging. The
reason for this is that manipulation within the relatively
restricted space of the packaging is difficult. Moreover, it is not
hygienic always to replace the scoop in the contents of the
packaging after use, as is now customary.
[0016] In the case of known packaging, on hygienic grounds the
scoop is first introduced into the container, after which the
container is filled with the pulverulent material. Closure then
takes place and on turning the packaging upside down the scoop will
come to the top. This has the disadvantage that under adverse
conditions pieces of plastic that break away or other particles
from the production process can get into the powder, with all the
associated consequences. Moreover, as a result of this procedure
there is a relatively large empty space between the top of the
product, such as powder, and the bottom of the lid (the so-called
headspace). In the case of perishable substances, such a large head
space filled with gas is disadvantageous. During the long storage
time, certain substances contained in the product can be converted
by the oxygen that is present in the gas.
[0017] A further aim of the present invention is to provide a
packaging that does not have these disadvantages or has them to a
lesser extent.
[0018] This further aim is realised with a packaging as described
above in that the container wall contains a heat-sealable material
on the inside and in that a plastic film seal extending over the
free cross-sectional surface area of the container is arranged
close to the top of the container, which seal is fixed to said
container wall by heat sealing.
[0019] According to the present invention the space in which the
scoop is accommodated is separated in an essentially gastight
manner from the space in which the powder is present. Such a
separation is possible by making the interior of the container wall
of a heat-sealable material and, after introducing the powder, to
produce a film cover on the powder with the heat-sealable material
by heat sealing. A film providing a gastight seal is thus produced
above the powder. The scoop can be placed on this film in some way
or other.
[0020] The film is preferably a film that can be fixed to the
peripheral wall by means of heat and that has odour-absorbing
characteristics.
[0021] Optionally it is possible further to counteract perishing
by, before or during application of the seal described above,
removing the air or oxygen that is present in the powder or
container by applying a vacuum and introducing into the product a
gas that counteracts perishing, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or
any other inert gas or mixture of such gases under normal
conditions.
[0022] Under normal conditions, the quality of the product will not
deteriorate or will barely deteriorate after the packaging has been
opened because the contents of the packaging will be used
relatively rapidly after opening. The problem is the potentially
long storage time, which can be achieved without any problem with
the seal according to the invention. The packaging can be provided
with a hinging lid, as a result of which the packaging can be
effectively closed again after use.
[0023] However, it is also possible to arrange a snap-fit
accommodation in the lid for snapping the scoop into this. This
accommodation is preferably in or close to the centre of the lid
and can enclose the bowl of the scoop and possibly the handle.
Preferably during production the scoop is entered in the space
between the lid and the seal without using the snap-fit
accommodation. Only after first opening of the container the user
will clamp the scoop to the snap-fit accommodation to prevent
contact with the contents of the container.
[0024] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the packaging is made essentially rectangular. A
rectangular construction has significant advantages with regard to
packing and positioning on the shelf. Optimum use of volume can be
achieved, it also being possible, when positioning on the shelf,
easily to place the desired side facing the consumer in order to
increase the power for stimulating an impulse to buy. A further
advantage of an essentially rectangular packaging is that
manipulation with the scoop is appreciably simplified. After all,
for a given surface area, compared with a circle, the length of the
diagonal of a rectangle is appreciably greater than the diameter of
a circle. Preferably, the corners of the rectangle are rounded.
There is preferably a levelling-off edge in the corner. This edge
is preferably more than 9 mm wide measured from the corner and can
comprise a triangle or a strip spaced from the corner. If a strip
is used powder cannot accumulate in the adjacent corner. Such strip
can have a width of 7-11 mm. The space from the nearest edge
thereof to the corner is more than 4 mm and preferably about 5-9
mm.
[0025] It is possible to fit an accommodation for at least
partially accommodating the scoop in the lid. The various aspects
depend on the amount of product that has to be packed in the
container, the desired cross-sectional surface area and the height
of the container. As indicated above the free space (r) between the
seal described above and the bottom of the lid is preferably
between 14 and 27 mm. It has been found that in this way an optimum
volume for the scoop is provided, whilst the packaging, when
containing, for example, 900 g product, can be arranged stacked on
a shelf in a simple manner.
[0026] Stringent requirements in respect of gas tightness and
opacity are imposed on the packaging for certain products, such as
baby food. Therefore, it is proposed according to the invention to
make the wall of the container, like the bottom thereof, from a
paper/metal foil/plastic laminate. The metal foil provides gas
tightness and opacity. Paper or board functions as a support,
whilst the plastic functions as heat-sealable material. The plastic
used can be any material known in the state of the art.
[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the seal,
which is applied on the product, is provided with a tear lip and a
weakening line. By pulling on the lip an opening can be obtained
along the tear line, via which opening the contents can be removed
from the packaging. On the one hand this provides easy access to
the product, the user having to perform few special operations,
and, on the other hand, tampering can easily be detected in this
way. A further advantage is that any product particles that have
come between the seal and the wall during heat sealing are not able
to escape and remain enclosed.
[0028] After removing the film along the tear line, an edge of the
film remains on the side walls. This edge will preferably be less
than 5 mm, more preferably less than 4 mm, in order to allow the
opening to the product to be as large as possible. The film
consists of a material on which the user cannot injure him- or
herself.
[0029] The container is preferably provided with means promoting
gripping, such as finger recesses. As a result of the rectangular
design of the container, one side of the packaging is optimum for
each size of hand. One of the sides may have a maximum width of at
most approximately 12.0 cm and is preferably 6 to 11.6 cm in order
to make good grasping by the consumer possible. The other side may
have size of 11.6-15.0 cm and more preferably 12.4-13.5 cm. The
maximum height of the packaging including the lid is 22 cm and
preferably approximately 10-20 cm and more preferably 15-20 cm.
[0030] The invention also relates to a method for providing a pack
filled with powder, comprising the provision of a container
provided with a base, the inside wall of the container consisting
of a heat-sealable material, filling powder into said container,
placing a heat-sealable film above the powder and joining said film
to said container wall, provision being made for the fitting of a
lid.
[0031] More particularly, the containers are produced from blanks
at the packing location, so that only small volumes of packaging
material have to be fed to the packaging installation. More
particularly, the container is first produced and this is then
filled and provided with the seal described above and only then is
the lid, including lid rim, fitted. The introduction of gas
before/during application of the seal can be carried out either on
a continuous basis or batchwise.
[0032] It has been indicated above that the container is preferably
of rectangular cross-section. More particularly, this rectangular
shape bulges outwards to some extent in the middle of at least two
opposing sides. Such bulging can be limited and is preferably less
than approximately 7 mm and more preferably less than 2 mm on the
short side and less than approximately 16 mm on the long side.
However, acute angles should preferably be avoided. That is to say,
with respect to the straight line connecting the points of greatest
deflection/inflection, the outward deviation is less than
approximately 7 mm and approximately 16 mm, respectively, and
preferably 3-6 and 7-15 mm, respectively. Moreover, the container
can be provided with finger holds to facilitate handling.
[0033] As a result of the specific choice of the abovementioned
dimensions, the base surface area of the container is 120-150
cm.sup.2, in particular 125-140 cm.sup.2, for example 126-136
cm.sup.2.
[0034] The invention is in particular provided with a closure
indicating tamper (tamper evidence). This is implemented in that
the lid rim is provided with a peripheral part that extends upwards
and that extends to the top of the lid periphery or beyond this. As
a result it is not easily possible to raise the lid located within
it. The circumferential rim of the lid is not accessible in the
closed position. The peripheral edge accommodating the
circumferential rim can be interrupted to obtain access to for
example a lip extending from the lid. Such means for interrupting
the peripheral edge can comprise a break away portion thereof. This
is effected, for example, by fixing the break away part at two
points on each side of edge. By breaking away the part the lip of
the lid is exposed and the lid can be opened. When the part is
broken away the abovementioned joins to the lid rim (peripheral
edge) are destroyed, so that it is clear that tampering has taken
place through the interruption of the circumference line.
Thereafter the lid can always easily be opened after closing.
[0035] The invention will be explained in more detail below with
reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing. In
the drawing:
[0036] FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a perspective and partially
exposed view of the container according to the invention;
[0037] FIG. 1a is a detail of FIG. 1 with the lid in closed
condition;
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the seal according to the
invention;
[0039] FIG. 3 shows the section along the line III-III in FIG.
1;
[0040] FIG. 4 shows the section along the line IV-IV of the lid and
the container in closed position;
[0041] FIG. 5 shows in perspective view a further embodiment of the
lid according to the invention;
[0042] FIG. 6 shows in top view the lid of FIG. 5; and
[0043] FIG. 7 shows, diagrammatically, an installation for the
production of packs according to the invention.
[0044] In FIG. 1 a packaging according to the invention is
indicated by 1. This consists of a container 2 with base 17. The
base 17 is positioned inside the container so that it is somewhat
raised, so that an upright rim 29 is produced. This upright rim
facilitates stacking of further containers.
[0045] 3 indicates a lid with lip 18 that is joined via a hinge 5
to a lid rim 4. Lid and lid rim consist of a plastic material and
are produced by injection moulding. As can be seen from FIG. 4, in
the closed position the top of lid 3 close to the periphery thereof
is somewhat below the top of the raised peripheral edge 23 of the
lid rim. The lid 3 is provided with a depending edge 26 fitting
relatively closely inside the circumferential edge 27 on the lid
rim 4. The circumferential upper part of lid 3 is referred to by 28
and fits closely adjacent to peripheral edge 23. As a result it is
not possible to grasp the lid except at the location of the cut-out
24 in the peripheral edge 23. In the closed position the depending
part of lip 18 extends in front of cut-out 24. Access to lip 18 is
prevented by part 25 being in front of lip 18. This is shown in
more detail in FIG. 1a. It is clear that lip 18 has a barbed
protrusion engaging below a projection of part 25 and preventing
lifting of lip 18 as long as part 25 is present. On delivery, the
cut-out 24 is closed off by part 25, which is joined to the
peripheral edge 23 on either side by two points 48 in each case.
Connection of part 25 to the circumferential edge 23 can be
realised in any other way such as by local decrease in thickness.
Part 25 can be broken away easily and after breaking away the lid
can be opened by lifting lip 18. In this way it is clear to the
user that he or she is the first person to open the pack.
[0046] If part 25 has been tampered with this will be immediately
evident because it is at the outer circumference of the container.
It must be understood that the evidence of first opener described
above (tamper-proof evidence) can also be used in combination with
packagings other than are described here and rights are explicitly
requested for this. The lid rim is clamped or bonded to the
container wall, or fixed in some other way known in the state of
the art. The outer periphery of the lid/lid rim is such that this
falls within the periphery of upright lower rim 29. The container
is of essentially rectangular construction, but it can clearly be
seen from the drawing that there is slight bulging in the middle of
the flat walls. This is indicated diagrammatically by b for the
front face. Such bulging can be limited and is preferably less than
approximately 7 mm on the short side and less than approximately 16
mm on the long side. That is to say, with respect to the straight
line that joins the points of greatest deflection/inflection, the
outward deviation is less than approximately 7 mm and approximately
16 mm, respectively, and preferably 3-6 and 7-15 mm, respectively.
Furthermore, the container can be provided with finger holds to
facilitate handling thereof.
[0047] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the lid rim 4 is provided with a
levelling-off strip 6. When the pack is held at an angle, the
overfilled scoop can then be moved under edge 6 and an accurate
volume is thus determined. Moreover, as a result of the
construction of the edge, no compression of the powder or product
takes place, so that there is always a reproducible amount of
material in the scoop.
[0048] Product 11, such as baby food, is contained in the container
2. A seal 13, consisting of a film material that has been applied
to the inside of the wall of the container 2 by heat sealing, has
been arranged immediately above this product. This film material is
provided with a weakening line 14 and a pull lip 15. When pull lip
15 is grasped, film 13 will tear along weakening line 14 and access
to the product thus becomes possible.
[0049] Lid 3 is provided with a convex portion 9 that falls within
the elevation produced by the upright rim 28 of a further pack
optionally stacked on top of the pack shown here. Moreover, there
is a further elevation 10 in which part of scoop 8 is accommodated.
This part is preferably the bowl of the scoop. Optionally there can
be yet a further elevation for the (end of) the handle.
[0050] The size of the scoop is dependent on the desired dosage.
The elevation 10 can extend above the elevation 9, as can be seen
from the cross-section according to FIG. 3. The maximum of the
elevation 10 with respect to the base is indicated by "a" and is
between 4 and 12 mm. Because the container is provided with a
peripheral rim 28 at the bottom, these elevations fall within the
space delimited by said rim 18 and base 17. For accurate centering,
rim 18 is flanged inwards to some extent from the base 17, so that
a clearly fixed position is obtained when stacking. The height of
the base with respect to the positioning surface of the container
is matched to the height of the elevation with respect to the
position where the side walls of the container bear on the
underlying pack. This is shown by "b" in FIG. 4. The handle of
scoop 8 can be clamped with a snap fit between lips 7 that are
integral with the lid and are preferably located close to or in the
middle of the lid. The container wall is provided with recesses 16
that correspond to the shape of the user's fingers. Clamping the
scoop to the lid avoids the scoop being dropped back into the
powder after first use. If the scoop is clicked into the lid,
bacterial contamination can be prevented as far as possible. Before
the first opening of the container, i.e. after shipment from the
filling facility the scoop 8 might be loosely arranged on seal 13.
This is shown in FIG. 4. It can be concluded from FIG. 4 that the
size of scoop 8 is such that the accommodation defined by the top
of the lid and the lower side thereof is not sufficient to receive
the scoop. Because of that seal 13 is provided at a distance r from
the lowest point of the accommodation in the lid for spoon of the
container. This distance r is preferably between 20 and 50 mm and
more in particular about 40 mm. In this way the height of the lid
can be kept relatively low which allows for easy stacking during
production thereof.
[0051] Preferably, the height of the lid is such that also after
first use, when the seal is removed and scoop 8 is clamped between
lips 7, the scoop extends partially in the space below the lid and
defined by the top of the container 2.
[0052] The edge 23 is made upright in order to make it possible
that powder that is spilt during movement of the filled scoop falls
back into the container.
[0053] It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the wall of the container is
made up of a laminate. From outside to inside this consists of a
layer of board/paper 20, a relatively thin aluminium foil 21 and,
arranged inside this, a layer of a plastic material 22 that can be
joined to seal 13 by heat sealing. As a result of the use of the
seal, the risk that foreign bodies could reach the product is
limited. After all, after the seal has been applied such undesired
bodies, such as plastic parts of the scoop, will remain on top of
the seal and not be able to reach the powder.
[0054] A few typical dimensions of the packaging will be given
below. However, it must be understood that these must be
interpreted as non-limiting if baby food is packed.
[0055] The distance between the bottom of the lid and the top of
the seal is preferably between 14 and 27 mm. More particularly this
distance is between 7 and 23 mm. Such a gap is precisely enough to
accommodate a scoop. However, this height will vary depending on
the desired volume of the scoop.
[0056] The gap below the seal and above the powder is preferably
less than 10 mm and more particularly less than 5 mm. That is to
say the seal is positioned as close as possible to the powder
during packing.
[0057] As can be seen from the drawing, the container is of
rectangular construction, as a result of which this can be emptied
to the optimum with the aid of scoop 8. In order to optimise
emptying, the length of the scoop is preferably 60-95% of the
diagonal of the container and more particularly 70-90% thereof.
[0058] As a result of the use of rectangular containers, optimum
use can be made of the available volume either in the packaging or
on the shelf of the retail organisation.
[0059] In FIG. 5 a further embodiment of the lid according to the
invention is shown. This is generally referred to by 53 and
basically correspond with lid 3 according to the previous figures.
The elevation for the scoop is referred to by 60, 61. Elevation 60
is adapted to receive part of the bowl 52 of scoop 58 whilst
elevation 61 is provided to receive stem 54 thereof. In between
both elevation 60, 61 reinforcement ribs of the lid extend.
Clamping means 57 are shown in dotted lines. This embodiment
arrangement is such that in clamped position the open side of bowl
52 is directed to accommodation 60. This means that it is possible
to receive bowls having different "height" between clamping lips 57
This allows for the use of several sized bowls of scoop 58 without
adaptation to the design of the lid. Also, in this embodiment only
part of the scoop is accommodated by the lid whilst the remaining
part is accommodated by the space above the seal in the
container.
[0060] An installation for the production of a pack is shown in
FIG. 6. This consists of a feed station 31, into which blanks 32
are introduced. With the aid of a folding/sealing station 33 the
containers 34 according to the present invention are produced
therefrom. These containers consist of a wall and a base without
lid. The product is then introduced at 35. At 30 the sealing film
is applied by heat sealing while introducing an inert gas into the
space in which the product is stored. In this way a volume that
remains gastight is obtained in which the product can be stored for
a very long period without damage. The introduction of gas can be
carried out either batchwise or continuously in station 30. Checks
on the packaging and the contents are carried out at 39. The lid,
together with the lid rim, is then pressed onto the container wall
and fixed thereto at 37. Collection and packing takes place at
38.
[0061] Although the invention has been described above with
reference to a preferred embodiment, it must be understood that
numerous modifications can be made thereto without going beyond the
scope of the present application as defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *