WO2006005849A2

WO2006005849A2 - Opening and closing device for package, in particular of deep-frozen food products

Info

Publication number: WO2006005849A2
Application number: PCT/FR2005/001519
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christophe Traineau
Original assignee: Mc3
Priority date: 2004-06-17
Filing date: 2005-06-17
Publication date: 2006-01-19
Also published as: FR2871781A1; WO2006005849A3; FR2871781B1

Abstract

The invention concerns an opening and closing device (1) for a closed package (2) capable of being torn off, said device (1) being adapted to be positioned on the outer wall of the package (2), in correspondence with a wall zone (3) provided with at least one tear lead end (4). Said device is characterized in that it is configured as a single and common assembly: of two elements (5, 6) attachable to each other through a mechanical link capable of being activated by pressing said elements against each other, one of said elements preferably self-locking of self-gripping being an adhesive piece securable, when the device (1) is set, on the package outer wall, and an adhesive label (7) urged to overlap at least one of the linking elements (5, 6) of the opening zone of the package (2), said overlapping label (7) being provided with a gripping means (8).

Description

Opening and closing device for packaging, in particular frozen food products

The present invention relates to an opening and closing device for packaging, such as a bag, in particular frozen or deep-frozen, fatty, particulate, hermetically sealed and tearable foodstuffs, this device being positionable on the outer wall of the container. conditioning, in correspondence of an area of the wall provided with at least one rupture primer, and constituting, or intended to constitute, the opening of the packaging through which the contents of the latter can be poured and a packaging equipped with such an opening / closing device.

Packaging for frozen, frozen or for fat or particulate products poses a number of problems today. Indeed, once opened, it is usually very difficult to close before for example to put them back in the freezer. It is found, after opening the bag, the formation of condensation that covers the entire package within 15 seconds after leaving the freezer. It then becomes impossible to close such a package when the closure element used is an adhesive. Accordingly, the open / close devices disclosed in US-A-5,855,435, US-A-4,509,196 and US-A-4,785,940 based on adhesive closure reclosure are unsuitable. However, the non-closure of the bag before its placement in the freezer eventually generates the formation of ice in the bag, which affects the organoleptic qualities of packaged products. For this reason, adhesive opening / closing systems are unsatisfactory for such packages. At the same time, a so-called "zip" opening system has been developed. The user rips the envelope of the bag by a detachable tongue system which reveals a zip to slide or spread to open the bag, allow the flow of the container and then close by sliding or crushing. This opening device is satisfactory but it is now little used because of its intrinsic cost and the investments needed to put it into production. Moreover, it is relatively difficult to use for the consumer who, out of laziness or because of inexperience, makes little use of the reclosing system.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an opening and closing device for packaging, in particular frozen or frozen food products, or of fatty or particulate products, whose design makes it possible to obtain a reclosing of the bag in good conditions without condensation or particles present on the packaging adversely affect these closing operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening and closing device whose design allows the consumer to easily view an inadvertent opening of the bag before purchase.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening and closing device whose design allows a fully automated installation of this device on the packaging to be equipped.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an opening and closing device for packaging, such as sachet, in particular frozen, frozen, fatty or particulate food products, closed and capable of being torn, this device being positionable on the outer wall of the packaging, in correspondence of a wall zone capable of being provided with at least one rupture primer, and constituting or intended to constitute the opening of the packaging through which the contents of the latter can be dumped, characterized in that the device is in the form of a single adhesive assembly, this assembly being formed at least on the one hand of two elements connectable to each other by a mechanical connection, preferably of the self-gripping or self-locking type, activatable by pressing pressure of said elements against one another, at least one of said connecting elements, preferably self-locking or Velcro, being an adhesive piece solidarisable, in the set state of said device, on the outer wall of the packaging, and on the other hand an adhesive label overlapping at least one of the preferably self-locking or self-gripping connecting elements and of the packaging opening zone, this covering label being provided with a means, such as a tab, for gripping so as to allow a pull of the label to cause opening of the packaging and to allow a re-closing of the packaging by cooperation of the connecting elements preferably self-gripping or self-locking together.

The presence of an adhesive label makes it possible to maintain a seal until the first opening and a speed of opening, while the reclosing is also easily effected by simple pressure application of the preferably self-gripping connecting elements or self-locking against each other.

The use of self-locking or self-gripping connection elements, preferably inaccessible in the closed state of the bag, prevents the different packages from bonding each other by their self-locking or self-gripping connection elements.

Moreover, the reclosing obtained is particularly safe because of the cooperation of the self-locking or self-gripping connecting elements to each other. The presence of these self-locking or self-gripping connection elements allows to open and close the bag a large number of times without affecting the quality of the closure.

The subject of the invention is also a packaging, in particular of frozen, fatty or particulate food products, such as sachet, closed and capable of being torn, this packaging comprising on the one hand at least one outer wall zone provided with at least one rupture primer and constituting or intended to constitute the opening of the packaging through which the contents of the latter can be discharged, on the other hand at least one device opening and closing positionable on the outer wall of the packaging in correspondence with said opening zone, characterized in that the opening and closing device is of the aforementioned type.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a partial schematic view from above of an embodiment of the opening and closing device according to the invention, FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of the embodiment described in FIG. opening and closing device, the packaging 2 having been omitted,

FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of another embodiment of the opening and closing device according to the invention in the state placed on a packaging and

FIG. 4 represents a sectional view of the embodiment of the opening and closing device described in FIG.

FIG. 5 represents a view from above of the opening / closing device of FIG. 3.

As mentioned above, the device 1 for opening and closing, object of the invention, is more particularly intended to be positioned on the outer wall of a package 2, such as a bag, food storage frozen, frozen or fatty or particulate products. This device 1 is generally carried by a single face of the packaging in any location of the latter. This device 1 for opening and closing is positioned in correspondence of a zone 3 of the wall of the package adapted to be provided with at least one primer 4 breaking. This zone 3 is intended to constitute the opening of the packaging 2 through which the contents of the latter can be spilled. The breaking primer 4 formed in the opening zone 3 of the packaging may, for its part, be constituted by a notch, a prefent, a material thinning of the envelope of the packaging 2 or any other equivalent means.

Typically, this device 1 comprises at least two connecting elements 5, 6, said self-locking or self-gripping connected to each other by a mechanical connection, preferably of the self-gripping or self-latching type, activable by simply pressing said elements against each other. Thus, each connecting element has on one of its faces a self-gripping part, such as velcro (registered trademark), said parts of the elements remaining fixed to each other after having been applied one on the other by simple pressure. In this case, these connecting elements are said to be complementary. By complementary hook-and-loop fasteners, it is meant that one of the elements constitutes a male element while the other element constitutes a female element, said elements being, in the applied state against each other, maintained. assembled to each other. Generally, these complementary elements are called, in the case of velcro (registered trademark), one, loop-type element, the other, hook-type element and cooperate with each other so as to ensure a mechanical locking of the two elements. assembled position. The self-latching elements are of similar design but are no longer made of textile but in terms of synthesis. The mechanical connection could also be obtained by using magnetic connection elements. However, the self-gripping or self-latching solution is preferred. Thus, by mechanical connection is meant a non-adhesive connection between said elements.

The device 1 further comprises an adhesive label 7 coming from its adhesive side overlapping at least one of the elements 5, 6 preferably self-locking or self-gripping connection and the opening zone 3 of the packaging 2. This covering label 7 is provided with a means 8, such as a tab, for gripping, so as to allow a pull of the label 7. This tab 8 is constituted by a non-adhesive area of the label.

The connection elements 5,}, in cooperation with the covering label, form a single positionable assembly, preferably automatically, in a single passage on the outer wall of the package 2. The opening and recleture is thus in the form of an adhesive label whose installation can be fully automated. This pose can be done by licking or by any other technique practiced in particular in the pose of label. It suffices, firstly, to have provided a breakthrough in the conditioning at zone 3 intended to constitute the opening zone of said conditioning 2. It should be noted that this breaking initiation can also be performed simultaneously with the application of the label to maintain a tight closure of the packaging.

To facilitate this installation of the device 1 for opening and closing, the latter can be stored in the wound state on a peelable support strip. The automated installation of the device on the packaging is then performed on the fly via laying devices well known to those skilled in the art. Generally, the packaging runs under the laying head of the opening / closing device which, by licking, is automatically applied to the packaging at a specific location. This pose is therefore carried out in a single time or passage, the initiation of rupture taking place immediately after said laying in a single pass.

In a first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the two connecting elements 5, 6, preferably self-latching or self-gripping, are, in the fixed state of the device, integral with the outer wall of the packaging 2 and are placed on either side of the zone 3 provided with at least one opening primer 4 of said wall. Said connecting elements 5, 6 are further adhered by their self-latching or self-gripping face to the adhesive face of the cover label 7 before opening the bag. Thus, the connecting elements 5, 6 are sandwiched between the label 7 and the outer wall of the package. When drawing the label 7, it is simultaneously caused the opening of the packaging 2 and the release of the self-latching or self-gripping active part of the self-locking connection element (s) covered (s) by said label 7. This disengagement of the self-locking active parts of the connecting elements makes it possible to close the packaging by applying the self-locking coupling elements 5, 6 to one another by coming to cover the opening zone 3 of the packaging. 2. The label 7 recovery can be thrown away.

Figures 3 and 4 describe a second embodiment of a device 1 for opening and reclosing according to the invention wherein only the positioning of the self-latching or self-gripping elements differs from the embodiment described above. In this case, in the installed state of the device on the packaging, one of the self-locking or self-gripping elements 5, 6 is secured to the adhesive label, while the other self-locking or self-locking element 6 -grip is secured directly or by a connecting piece of the wall of said package 2, said elements cooperating with each other, by application to one another, in the closed state of the device.

Said elements 5, 6 are in contact even before the opening of the packaging 2, which ensures to everyone the inaccessibility and protection of the element 5, 6 complementary to the closed state of the packaging. The label 7 makes it possible, by pulling, to cause the packaging 2 to open. This label 7 remains attached to the wall of the packaging and must not be discarded after opening because one of the self-latching or self-gripping elements there is solidarity. After opening of said packaging, the user can close it by cooperation of the connecting elements 5 and 6 by superimposing them.

When the material constituting the packaging is a spinnable material, it may be necessary to delimit with precision the opening zone 3 of the packaging. For this purpose, the opening / closing device comprises, attached to the non-visible face of the label 7, an adhesive yoke 11 cut and / or provided with a breaking primer. This yoke serves, alone or in cooperation with the covering label 7, to delimit an area intended to constitute at least part of the contours of the opening zone 3 of the packaging 2. It also serves as a sealing barrier . In the examples shown in Figures 1 and 2, this yoke 11 has the shape of a frame whose interior substantially corresponds to the opening zone 3 of the packaging 2. This yoke thus marks the end of the progression of the assembly. formed of the label and the torn area of the packaging during the opening. In the examples of FIGS. 3 to 5, the yoke is a solid piece provided with a rupture primer and an end stop 12 formed for example by a cutout. The initiation of rupture facilitates the opening of the packaging. The limit stop 12 prevents the opening of the packaging beyond a predetermined zone. In this case, the yoke 11 may cover a large part of the adhesive face of the label 7, the connecting elements 5, 6 being inserted between the yoke 11 and the label 7. The yoke 11 is permanently adhered to the packaging once the device is placed.

The opening / closing device is further provided with means for displaying the inviolability of the bag to enable the consumer to verify that the bag has not been opened inadvertently. For this purpose, the cover label 7 comprises at least one detachable tamper evident indicator 9, this inviolability indicator 9 having the shape of a strip adjacent to the means 8, such as a gripping tab and releasing the access to the latter in the detached state. The inviolability indicator 9, made in the form of a pre-cut strip, detachable from the label 7, is positioned between the gripping means 8 and an adhesive part of the label 7 intended to adhere permanently to the packaging 2.

Furthermore, the covering label 7 is provided at each of its ends with a gripping means 8 followed by a detachable tamper evidence 9, itself extended by an adhesive part intended to adhere 2. Thanks to this configuration, it does not matter if the consumer detaches the strip at one end or the other of the label and then grasps the gripping tab.

The opening of a packaging equipped with an opening device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is extremely simple. The operations are as follows. The user tears off at least one of the detachable tamper evident strips, this operation being facilitated by the pre-cuts connecting the strip 9 to parts 8 and 10 of the label. The grip tab 8 is then accessible to the user and it is sufficient for him to pull, via this tab, on the cover label 7 to generate the opening of the spill window 3. This tag can then be discarded. The content of the sachet is then poured through the opening zone 3 obtained thanks to the label 7 causing part of the zone of the bag 2 located in the right of this label and equipped with primer 4 breaking to facilitate this. removal. To close the bag after use, it is sufficient to fold the top of the bag by ensuring that the male and female elements of auto snap or self-gripping elements are superimposed. The bag can be opened and closed again until the contents are used without fear of humidity, condensation, frost, grease or others. As illustrated in the figures, the self-locking coupling elements extend on the same face of the packaging.

In the case of FIGS. 3 to 5, the opening / closing operations are similar. The user grasps the tab 8 and off the label 7, the connecting element 5 secured to 7 and a part of the yoke 11, represented by hatching, in combination with the hatched portion of the packaging to open the latter (see Figure 4). The printing of the label takes place until tearing of the packaging up to the abutment 12. Once the packaging is open, it can be closed by cooperation of the connecting elements 5 and 6, the element 6, integral with the packaging through the yoke 11, having been made accessible by the opening of the package.

Claims

1. Device (1) for opening and reclosing for packaging (2), such as sachet, in particular frozen food products, frozen, fatty or particulate, closed and likely to be torn, this device (1) being positionable on the outer wall of the packaging (2), in correspondence of a wall zone (3) adapted to be provided with at least one rupture primer (4), and constituting, or intended to constitute, the opening of the packaging (2) through which the contents of the latter can be discharged, characterized in that the device (1) is in the form of a single adhesive assembly, this assembly being formed at least on the one hand from two elements (5, 6) connectable to one another by a mechanical connection, preferably of the self-gripping or self-locking type, activatable by pressing pressure of said elements against each other, the at least one of said connecting elements, preferably self-locking or self-gripping, being a solidarisable adhesive part, in the set state of said device (1), on the outer wall of the packaging, and on the other hand an adhesive label (7) overlapping at least l one of the connecting elements (5, 6), preferably self-locking or self-gripping, and of the opening zone (3) of the packaging (2), this covering label (7) being provided with a means (8) ), such as a tab, gripping so as to allow a pull of the label (7) to cause the opening of the packaging (2) and allow a reopened closure of the packaging by cooperation of the elements (5, 6) of connection preferably self-gripping or self-snap between them.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two connecting elements (5, 6), preferably self-latching or self-gripping, are, in the installed state of the device, integral with the outer wall. of the packaging (2) and placed on either side of the zone (3) provided with at least one opening primer (4) of said wall.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the installed state of the device on the packaging, one (5) of the elements (6), preferably self-latching or self-gripping, is secured to the adhesive label (7), while the other element (6), preferably self-latching or self-gripping, is secured directly or by a connecting piece of the wall of said packaging (2), said elements cooperating between them by applying one on the other in the closed state of the device.

4. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it is stored in the wound state on a peelable support strip to allow in particular an automated installation of the device on the package (2).

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises, attached to the non-visible face of the label (7), a yoke (11) adhesive cut and / or provided with a rupture primer, this yoke serving, alone or in cooperation with the covering label (7), to delimit an area intended to constitute at least part of the contours of the zone (3) for opening the packaging (2). ).

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the yoke (11) has the shape of a frame whose interior substantially corresponds to the zone (3) of opening of the package (2).

7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the label (7) cover comprises at least one witness (9) of tamperproof tamper, this witness (9) inviolability affecting the form of a strip adjacent the means (8), such as a gripping tab, and releasing access to the latter in the detached state.

Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the inviolability indicator (9), in the form of a pre-cut strip which can be detached from the label (7), is positioned between the gripping means (8) and an adhesive part (10) of the label (7) for permanently adhering to the package (2).

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the label (7) covering is provided at each of its ends, a means (8) for gripping followed by a witness (9) detachable inviolability, itself prolonged by an adhesive portion (10) intended to permanently adhere to the packaging (2).

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly formed by the device is positionable, preferably automatically, in a single passage on the outer wall of the package (2).

11. Packaging, in particular frozen, frozen, fatty or particulate food products, such as sachets, closed and capable of being torn, this packaging comprising on the one hand at least one zone (3) of outer wall provided with at least a rupture primer (4) constituting or intended to constitute the opening of the packaging (2) through which the contents of the latter can be poured, on the other hand at least one opening and closing device positionable on the outer wall of the packaging (2) in correspondence with said opening zone (3), characterized in that the opening and closing device (1) is in accordance with one of claims 1 to 10.