US-12623826-B2 - Packaging, support for such a packaging and dosing system comprising such a packaging

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a packaging ( 1 ) comprising: —a body ( 2 ) defining an interior volume ( 6 ) for carrying a flowable product, and—an opening element ( 4 ) comprising an opening part ( 4.0 ) which is arranged inside the interior volume ( 6 ). The body ( 2 ) is configured such that, when a predetermined external force (F) is exerted on an activation section ( 8 ) of the body ( 2 ), the activation section ( 8 ) is displaced relative to the interior volume ( 6 ) so as to activate the opening element ( 4 ) until the opening part ( 4.0 ) creates an opening extending in an openable section ( 12 ) of the body ( 2 ) and allowing the flowable product to flow out of the interior volume ( 6 ).

Inventors

• Christian Jarisch
• LAURA PRIESTER
• Lucio Scorrano
• Jonathan Gebs
• FABRICE YERLY

Assignees

• SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20220510

Priority Date

20210512

Claims (20)

1. 1 . Packaging comprising: a body defining an interior volume for carrying a flowable product, and an opening element comprising an opening part which is arranged inside the interior volume, wherein the body is configured such that, when a predetermined external force is exerted on an activation section of the body, the activation section is displaced relative to the interior volume so as to activate the opening element until the opening part creates an opening extending in an openable section of the body and allowing the flowable product to flow out of the interior volume, and wherein the body is a sealed bag or sealed pouch, the body having at least one sealing line, wherein the opening element further comprises a fastening part, the fastening part being sealed in the at least one sealing line.
2. 2 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the activation section is displaced towards the interior volume so as to activate the opening element until the opening part creates the opening.
3. 3 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the opening part extends between the activation section and the openable section, or from the activation section almost to the openable section.
4. 4 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the openable section is positioned at a side of the body opposite the activation section relative to the interior volume.
5. 5 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the opening part comprises an activation part facing the openable section, and wherein the activation part is configured to interact with the openable section when the opening element is activated until the activation part creates the opening.
6. 6 . Packaging according to claim 5 , wherein the activation part is formed by an edge of the opening element and/or wherein the activation part is comprised of a cutting edge, and/or wherein, when seen across the openable section, the opening part substantially the interior volume.
7. 7 . Packaging according to claim 6 , wherein an activation part of the opening part spans the interior volume.
8. 8 . Packaging according to claim 5 , wherein the opening is created by tearing the openable section.
9. 9 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the openable section comprises a weakened portion.
10. 10 . Packaging according to claim 9 , wherein the weakened portion is in the form of a tear line or incisions extending along the activation part, if present.
11. 11 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the body has at least one flat side, the openable section extending in the at least one flat side.
12. 12 . Packaging according to claim 11 , wherein the body is a flat bottom bag.
13. 13 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the body or at least its activation section is made of a flexible material, and wherein the body and/or the opening element is made out of recyclable material.
14. 14 . Packaging according to claim 13 , wherein the opening element is stiffer than the body, and wherein the recyclable material is a paper-based material.
15. 15 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a rim extending laterally away from the interior volume.
16. 16 . Support for supporting a packaging according to claim 15 , comprising a frame for accommodating the packaging, and a clamping element which comprises holder elements protruding towards the frame, wherein the clamping element is slidably linked to the frame so as to be moveable between: a disengaged position where the holder elements are distanced from the frame so as to allow insertion of the packaging, and a locking position where the holder elements are received in the through holes so as to clamp the rim between the frame and the clamping element with the holder elements protruding through the through holes.
17. 17 . Packaging according to claim 15 , wherein the rim comprises through holes for receiving holder elements configured to support the openable section while the opening is created.
18. 18 . Packaging according to claim 15 , wherein the rim extending laterally away from the interior volume is substantially orthogonal to an activation direction along which the predetermined external force is exerted, and wherein the rim surrounds the openable section.
19. 19 . Dosing system comprising: a packaging according to 1, a receiving section configured to receive at least the openable section of the packaging and the flowable product dispensed through the opening, a dosing unit configured to selectively dose the flowable product and having a dosing outlet, and a delivery unit fluidly connecting the receiving section to the dosing unit, the delivery unit being configured to deliver the flowable product to the dosing unit.
20. 20 . Dosing system according to claim 19 , wherein the delivery unit comprises a conveyor to deliver the flowable product to the dosing outlet, and/or wherein the dosing unit comprises a valve being selectively openable to selectively dose the flowable product.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/IB2022/054344, filed on May 10, 2022, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 21173655.8, filed on May 12, 2021, the entire contents of which are being incorporated herein by reference. 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a packaging for containing a flowable product, in particular an edible flowable product. The invention is further directed to a support configured for carrying such a packaging. The present invention is also directed to a dosing system comprising such a packaging and configured for delivering multiple doses of the flowable product contained in the packaging to allow the preparation of a food or beverage product like coffee, tea, soup etc. 2. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND From U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,506B1 is known a dosing system configured to receive a bulk packaging of powder and to dispense the powder flowing out of the packaging. A bottom side of the packaging is initially closed by a slidable band. Once the packaging is positioned in the dosing system, the slidable band can be removed by sliding it in a slot located below the packaging. Removing the sliding band frees a passage through which the powder may flow out of the packaging by gravity and into a dosing unit. The bulk packaging and the dosing system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,506B1 avoids a contact between the powder and a user recharging and discharging the powder into and out of the dosing system. However, in the dosing system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,506B1, the powder soils the surfaces exposed to it, in particular the slot where the band slides. So, when replacing the bulk packaging, the user must carry out a thorough cleaning of these soiled surfaces, which might be difficult due to the geometry of the slot. 3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a packaging, a support for such a packaging and a dosing system comprising such a packaging, which enable a user to conveniently and quickly recharge a flowable product into the dosing system while keeping the flowable product clean and sealed into the packaging. According to an aspect, the present invention is directed to a packaging comprising: a body defining an interior volume for carrying a flowable product, andan opening element comprising an opening part which is arranged inside the interior volume, wherein the body is configured such that, when a predetermined external force is exerted on an activation section of the body, the activation section is displaced relative to—e.g. towards or away from—the interior volume so as to activate the opening element until the opening part creates an opening extending in an openable section of the body and allowing the flowable product to flow out of the interior volume. In service, once the packaging is coupled to a dosing system, the packaging may be opened from inside by the opening part arranged partially or totally in the interior volume. Thus, the packaging enables a user to conveniently charge a new packaging in the dosing system and open the new packaging while keeping the flowable product clean and sealed into the packaging. The interior volume may be carrying the flowable product when the body is closed, and the interior volume may dispense the flowable product once the body is opened. In the present disclosure, the term “flowable product” may refer to any product that may flow or be poured under the action of gravity, in particular powdery products. In particular, the flowable product may be an edible substance, e.g. coffee (soluble coffee, green coffee beans, roast coffee beans, roast and ground coffee beans), tea, milk powder, soup powder, bouillon powder, beverage whitener, confectionery (e.g. panned confectionery) or dried pet food. According to an embodiment, the activation section may be displaced towards the interior volume so as to activate the opening element until the opening part creates the opening. Thus, the predetermined external force may push the activation section, which may deform the body and may in turn push the opening element towards the openable section. An advantage of displacing the activation section towards the interior volume—i.e. pushing it towards the bottom wall—may be that the body contracts when getting deformed, which minimizes its footprint during the creation of the opening. In an alternative embodiment, the activation section may be displaced away from the interior volume so as to activate the opening element until the opening part creates the opening. Thus, the predetermined external force may pull the activation section, which deforms the body and in turn pulls the opening element which then may tear the openable section. In this alternative embodiment, the opening element may preferably comprise a fastening part that may be fastened to the body, for example sealed in a body section opposite the ope