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EP-4741305-A1 - PACKAGING BLANK FOR FORMING A PACKAGE, PACKAGE FORMED FROM A PACKAGING BLANK AND PACKAGE

EP4741305A1EP 4741305 A1EP4741305 A1EP 4741305A1EP-4741305-A1

Abstract

There is described a packaging blank (2, 2', 2", 2‴) comprising an intermediate section having an intermediate crease pattern (47) interposed between a top crease pattern (44) and a bottom crease pattern (46) and being configured to define at least a side wall (5) of a package (1, 1', 1", 1‴). The intermediate crease pattern (47) comprises two pairs of front crease lines (52), each pair delimiting a respective front edge panel (53) and two pairs of back crease lines (54), each pair delimiting a respective back edge panel (55). Each pair of front crease lines (52) and/or their imaginary extensions intersect at a first front intersection point (58) and a second front intersection point (59) and each pair of back crease lines (54) and/or their imaginary extensions intersect at a first back intersection point (60) and a second back intersection point (61). The first front intersection points (58) define a first imaginary linear line (L1) and the first back intersection points (60) define a second imaginary linear line (L2). The first imaginary linear line (L1) is interposed between the second imaginary linear line (L2) and the top crease pattern (44).

Inventors

  • BARBIERI, MARCELLO
  • MASNOVI, Alessia
  • CONSONNI, Juan
  • PALLAORO, Giovanni
  • PICCININI, STEFANO
  • MARTINI, PIETRO
  • TEDIOSI, Erika
  • CAVICCHIOLI, IVAN
  • GIAMPIERI, Andrea
  • De Pietri Tonelli, Roberto
  • LOSAPPIO, Federico

Assignees

  • Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251024

Claims (20)

  1. Packaging blank (2, 2', 2", 2‴) for forming a package (1, 1', 1", 1‴) filled with a pourable product comprising: - a top section having a top crease pattern (44) and being configured to form at least part of a top wall (4) of the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴); - a bottom section having a bottom crease pattern (46), the bottom section being spaced apart from the top section along a direction (D2) parallel to a longitudinal axis (E) of the packaging blank (2, 2', 2'', 2‴) and being configured to form at least part of a bottom wall (3) of the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴); and - an intermediate section having an intermediate crease pattern (47) interposed between the top crease pattern (44) and the bottom crease pattern (46) and being configured to define at least part of a side wall (5) of the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴); wherein the top crease pattern (44) comprises at least a first transversal crease line (48) extending transversally to the longitudinal axis (E) and the bottom crease pattern (46) comprises at least a second transversal crease line (49) extending transversally to the longitudinal axis (E); wherein the intermediate crease pattern (47) comprises: - two pairs of front crease lines (52), each pair of front crease lines (52) delimiting a respective front edge panel (53); and - two pairs of back crease lines (54), each pair of back crease lines (54) delimiting a respective back edge panel (55); - two front edge crease lines (56), each front edge crease line (56) extending between the first transversal crease line (48) and one respective front edge panel (53); and - two back edge crease lines (57), each back edge crease line (57) extending between the second transversal crease line (49) and one respective back edge panel (55); wherein the front edge panels (53) are interposed between the back edge panels (55); wherein each pair of front crease lines (52) and/or their imaginary extensions intersect at a first front intersection point (58) and a second front intersection point (59); wherein each first front intersection point (58) is interposed between the respective second front intersection (59) point and the first transversal crease line (48); wherein each pair of back crease lines (54) and/or their imaginary extensions intersect at a first back intersection point (60) and a second back intersection point (61); wherein each first back intersection point (60) is interposed between the respective second back intersection point (61) and the second transversal crease line (49); wherein the first front intersection points (58) define a first imaginary linear line (L1) and the first back intersection points (60) define a second imaginary linear line (L2); wherein the first imaginary linear line (L1) is interposed between the second imaginary linear line (L2) and the first transversal crease line (48).
  2. Packaging blank according to claim 1, wherein a respective shape of each back edge panel (55) equals and/or is specular to a respective shape of the other back edge panel (55); and/or a respective shape of each front edge panel (53) equals and/or is specular to a respective shape of the other front edge panel (53).
  3. Packaging blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein respective shapes of the back edge panels (55) equal and/or are specular to respective shapes of the front edge panels (53).
  4. Packaging blank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each front crease line (52) is curved and/or each back crease line (54) is curved; and/or wherein each front edge crease line (56) has a rectilinear shape and/or each back edge crease line (57) has a rectilinear shape.
  5. Packaging blank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate section comprises: - an intermediate main panel (62) designed to form a front panel (8) of the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴); - two lateral panels (63) designed to form respective lateral panels (20) of the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴) and interposing the intermediate main panel (62) between one another; and - two auxiliary back panels (64) designed to form in combination with one another a respective back panel (9) of the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴) and interposing the lateral panels (63) between one another; wherein one front crease line (52) of each pair of front crease lines (52) defines, or delimits, the intermediate main panel (62) and the other front crease line (52) of the pair of front crease lines (52) defines, or delimits, one respective lateral panel (63); wherein one back crease line (54) of each pair of back crease lines (54) defines, or delimits, one respective lateral panel (63) and the other back crease line (54) of the pair of back crease lines (54) defines, or delimits, one respective auxiliary back panel (64).
  6. Packaging blank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each second front intersection point (59) corresponds to and/or coincides with a point of the second transversal crease line (49) and/or wherein each second back intersection point (61) corresponds to and/or coincides with a point of the first transversal crease line (48).
  7. Packaging blank according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a first half portion (72) and a second half portion (73), wherein the first half portion (72) and the second half portion (73) are defined with respect to an intersection line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (E), the intersection line being interposed between the first imaginary linear line (L1) and the second imaginary linear line (L2); wherein each front edge panel (53) and each back edge panel (54) have portions arranged within the first half portion (72) and portions arranged within the second half portion (73).
  8. Packaging blank according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a plurality of side crease lines (71); wherein each side crease line and/or its imaginary extension intersects with one respective first front intersection point (58) and with one respective first back intersection point (60).
  9. Packaging blank according to claim 8, wherein each side crease line (71) has a linear shape and extends from the respective first front intersection point (58) to the respective first back intersection point (60).
  10. Packaging blank according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a plurality of first additional crease lines (92), each first additional crease line (92) being interposed between one respective pair of front crease lines (52) and a plurality of second additional crease lines (93), each second additional crease line (93) being interposed between one respective pair of back crease lines (54).
  11. Packaging blank according to claim 10, wherein each first additional crease line (92) extends between one respective first front intersection point (58) and one respective second front intersection point (59); and wherein each second additional crease line (93) extends between one respective first back intersection point (60) and one respective second back intersection point (61).
  12. Package (1, 1', 1". 1‴) filled with a pourable product formed from a packaging blank (2, 2', 2", 2‴) according to any one of the preceding claims.
  13. Package (1, 1', 1", 1‴) filled with a pourable product and formed from a multilayer packaging material; the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴) comprises a bottom wall (3) and a top wall (4) spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis (A) of the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴), and a side wall (5) interposed between the top wall (3) and the bottom wall (4); wherein the side wall (5) comprises a front panel (8), a back panel (9) opposite the front panel (8) and two lateral panels (20), each lateral panel (20) being interposed between the front panel (8) and the back panel (9); wherein the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴) also comprises two front edge panels (21), each front edge panel (21) being delimited by a respective pair of front edge lines (22); and two back edge panels (23), each back edge panel (23) being delimited by a respective pair of back edge lines (24); wherein the package (1, 1', 1", 1‴) also comprises two front edges (25), each front edge (25) extending between the top wall (4) and one respective front edge panel (21); and two back edges (26), each back edge (26) extending between the bottom wall (3) and one respective back edge panel (23); wherein each pair of front edge lines (22) and/or their imaginary extensions intersect at a first front intersection point (27) and a second front intersection point (28); wherein each first front intersection point (27) is interposed between the respective second front intersection point (28) and the top wall (4); wherein each pair of back edge lines (24) and/or their imaginary extensions intersect at a first back intersection point (29) and a second back intersection point (30); wherein each first back intersection point (29) is interposed between the respective second back intersection point (30) and the bottom wall (3); wherein the first front intersection points (27) define a first imaginary plane (H1) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) and the first back intersection points (29) define a second imaginary plane (H2) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A); wherein the first imaginary plane (H1) is interposed between the second imaginary plane (H2) and the top wall (4).
  14. Package according to claim 13, wherein the top panel (4) comprises a pair of top front corners (16) and the bottom panel (3) comprises a pair of bottom front corners (18); wherein the top front corners (16) and the bottom front corners (18) define a first auxiliary imaginary plane (H3) and the top back corners (17) and the bottom back corners (19) define a second auxiliary imaginary plane (H4); wherein the front panel (8) comprises a front lower portion (31) laterally contacting the front edge panels (21) and bulging away from and out of the first auxiliary imaginary plane (H3) and/or wherein the back panel (9) comprises a back upper portion (33) laterally contacting the back edge panels (23) and bulging away from and out of the second auxiliary imaginary plane (H4).
  15. Package according to claim 14, wherein the front panel (8) further comprises a front upper portion (32) being void of any lateral contact with the front edge panels (21) and the back panel (9) comprises a back lower portion (34) being void of any lateral contact with the back edge panels (23); wherein a maximum distance of the front lower portion (31) from the first auxiliary imaginary plane (H3) is larger than a maximum distance of the front upper portion (32) from the first auxiliary imaginary plane (H3) and/or a maximum distance of the back upper portion (33) from the second auxiliary imaginary plane (H4) is larger than a maximum distance of the back lower portion (34) from the second auxiliary imaginary plane (H4).
  16. Package according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein a respective shape of each back edge panel (23) equals and/or is specular to a respective shape of the other back edge panel (23); and/or a respective shape of each front edge panel (21) equals and/or is specular to a respective shape of the other front edge panel (21); and/or respective shapes of the back edge panels (23) equal and/or are specular to respective shapes of the front edge panels (21).
  17. Package according to any one of claims 13 to 16, and further comprising a plurality of side lines (35); wherein each side line (35) and/or its imaginary extension intersects with one respective first front intersection point (27) and with one respective first back intersection point (28).
  18. Package according to claim 17, wherein each side line (35) has a linear shape and extends from the respective first front intersection point (27) to the respective first back intersection point (28).
  19. Package according to any one of claims 13 to 18, and further comprising a plurality of first additional edge lines (36), each first additional edge line (36) being interposed between one respective pair of front edge lines (22) and a plurality of second additional crease lines, each second additional crease line being interposed between one respective pair of back edge lines (24).
  20. Package according to claim 19, wherein each first additional crease line (36) extends between one respective first front intersection point (27) and one respective second front intersection point (28); and wherein each second additional crease line extends between one respective first back intersection point (29) and one respective second back intersection point (30).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a packaging blank, in particular having a multilayer structure, for forming a package filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product. Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a package filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, and being formed from a packaging blank. Moreover, the present invention also relates to a package filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product. BACKGROUND ART As is known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material. A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated packaging blank. The packaging blank has a multilayer structure comprising a fibrous base layer, e.g. of paper or cardboard, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging blank also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material (an oxygen-barrier layer), e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product. Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging apparatuses, which form the packages from respective packaging blanks. These packaging blanks can be provided in the form of single packaging blanks or in the form of a web, which is formed by a plurality of successively arranged packaging blanks. In the case of the packaging apparatus being designed to form the packages from a web, the packaging apparatus advances and sterilizes the web, which is then formed into a tube and filled with the pourable product before the tube is formed into individual sealed packages. In order to facilitate the formation and for defining the shape of the packages, the packaging blanks are provided with a plurality of crease lines. After formation of the packages, the packages travel on conveyors and need to undergo further manipulations, e.g. by means of robots, so as to e.g. pack the packages into carton boxes. Even though the known packages provide for excellent results, a desire is felt in the sector, to further improve the known packages so as to improve the packing into boxes and/or the handling of the packages after their formation. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging blank. It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved package formed from a packaging blank. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved package. According to the present invention, there is provided a packaging blank and a package according to the respective independent claims. Preferred non-limiting embodiments of the packaging blank and the package are claimed in the respective dependent claims. According to the present invention, there is also provided a package formed from a packaging blank according to claim 12. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Four non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package according to a first embodiment of the present invention;Figure 2 is a side view of the package of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a side view of two packages according to the present invention being placed adjacent to one another;Figure 4 is a front view of the package of Figure 1;Figure 5 is a back view of the package of Figure 1;Figure 6 is a plan view of a packaging blank according to a first embodiment of the present invention;Figure 7 is a plan view of a packaging blank according to a second embodiment of the present invention;Figure 8 is a perspective view of a package according to a second embodiment of the present invention;Figure 9 is a plan view of a packaging blank according to a third embodiment of the present invention;Figure 10 is a perspective view of a package according to a third embodiment of the present inventionFigure 11 is a plan view of a packaging blank according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; andFigure 12 is a perspective view of a package according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The elements and features illustrated in the preferred embodiment, including drawings, may be combined with each other without going beyond the scope of protection of this application as described below. Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a package filled with a pourable product, preferentially a pourable food p