WO2004052626A1 - Improvements in or relating to laminates, methods and packages - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to laminates, methods and packages Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2004052626A1
WO2004052626A1 PCT/IB2003/005792 IB0305792W WO2004052626A1 WO 2004052626 A1 WO2004052626 A1 WO 2004052626A1 IB 0305792 W IB0305792 W IB 0305792W WO 2004052626 A1 WO2004052626 A1 WO 2004052626A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
thermoplastics
container
outside surface
package according
unitary element
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2003/005792
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jacob Robert Blok
Original Assignee
Elopak Systems Ag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Elopak Systems Ag filed Critical Elopak Systems Ag
Priority to AU2003288578A priority Critical patent/AU2003288578A1/en
Publication of WO2004052626A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004052626A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/004—Preventing sticking together, e.g. of some areas of the parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/04—Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/13—Single flanged joints; Fin-type joints; Single hem joints; Edge joints; Interpenetrating fingered joints; Other specific particular designs of joint cross-sections not provided for in groups B29C66/11 - B29C66/12
    • B29C66/131—Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/47—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/474—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces said single elements being substantially non-flat
    • B29C66/4742—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces said single elements being substantially non-flat said single elements being spouts
    • B29C66/47421—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces said single elements being substantially non-flat said single elements being spouts said spouts comprising flanges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
    • B29C66/7234—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a barrier layer
    • B29C66/72341—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a barrier layer for gases
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
    • B29C66/7234—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a barrier layer
    • B29C66/72343—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a barrier layer for liquids
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/05—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids ; Infusion or perfusion containers
    • A61J1/10—Bag-type containers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/14—Details; Accessories therefor
    • A61J1/1475—Inlet or outlet ports
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
    • B29C66/7232—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer
    • B29C66/72324—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer consisting of inorganic materials not provided for in B29C66/72321 - B29C66/72322
    • B29C66/72325—Ceramics
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2031/00—Use of polyvinylesters or derivatives thereof as moulding material
    • B29K2031/04—Polymers of vinyl acetate, e.g. PVAc, i.e. polyvinyl acetate
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2009/00—Layered products
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
    • B29L2031/7148—Blood bags, medical bags

Abstract

In a packaging system, a unitary element (34) formed substantially completely of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat is pressed against a container 32 having first and second opposite walls at least one of which is readily flexible into contact with the other, of which the first wall has an outside surface 26 also of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat and of which the respective opposite inside surfaces 28 are of thermoplastics having, compared with the thermoplastics of the unitary element 34 and the outside surface 26, relatively low ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat, thereby to press the inside surfaces 28 together, and the unitary element 34 and the outside surfaces 26 are sealed together using high-frequency welding without consequently sealing the inside surfaces 28 together.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO LAMINATES , METHODS AND
PACKAGES
This invention relates to a laminate, a method of sealing by high-frequency welding and a product of the method. A medical pouch is known in which a pour spout fitment is sealed by gluing or heat-sealing to the external surface of a formed, but as yet unfilled, pouch, which is in the form of a laminate, in particular a multi-layer film. The fitment includes a flanged pour spout of which the flange is sealed to the external surface of the pouch and the fitment includes, at the outer end of the spout, a screw-in, hollow needle which, when the content of the pouch is to be consumed, is screwed-in so as to penetrate through the wall portion of the pouch encircled by the flange, so that the content can flow out through the hollow needle. When a pouch is formed on an aseptic, vertical, form-fill-seal machine and is then filled with a sterile content before final sealing of the mouth of the pouch, sealing of a pour spout fitment to the pouch material during forming, filling on sealing would have the disadvantage that, if the pour spout application and sealing system were to become faulty, the sterile chamber of the machine would have to be opened for access to that system and the chamber re-sterilized after rectification of the fault. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising providing a unitary element formed substantially completely of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high-frequency radiation into heat, providing a container having first and second opposite walls at least one of which is readily flexible into contact with the other, of which the first wall has an outside surface also of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high- frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat and of which the respective opposite inside surfaces are of thermoplastics having, compared with the thermoplastics of said unitary element and said outside surface, relatively low ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat, pressing together said unitary element and said outside surface, thereby to press said inside surfaces together, and sealing said unitary element and said outside surface together using high-frequency welding without consequently sealing said inside surfaces together.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising a fitment and a container, said fitment comprising a unitary element formed substantially completely of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat, said container having first and second opposite walls at least one of which is readily flexible into contact with the other, of which said first wall has an outside surface also of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high- frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat and of which the respective opposite inside surfaces are of thermoplastics having, compared with the thermoplastics of said unitary element and said outside surface, relative low ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat, and a location of said container over which said unitary element and said outside surface have been sealed together using high-frequency welding but over which said inside surfaces are not sealed together.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laminate consisting of an external layer which is susceptible to sealing by high-frequency welding, and one or more other layers which are not significantly susceptible to sealing by high-frequency welding.
Owing to the invention it is possible in a simple manner to seal a unitary element to the exterior of a container with at least one readily flexible wall without consequently sealing the two opposite walls of the container together at their inside surfaces.
The container, which may be a readily flexible pouch, is advantageously formed from a readily flexible laminate having an external layer susceptible to sealing to the unitary element by high-frequency welding, the other layer, or substantially all of the other layers, of the laminate not being as susceptible to sealing by high-frequency welding as are the unitary element and the external layer.
In a preferred embodiment, the other layer, or substantially all of the other layers, of the laminate are not at all susceptible to sealing by high-frequency welding. The laminate may be formed by a process of co-extrusion, or by a process involving lamination with adhesive. Advantageously, the thermoplastics of the outside surface of the first wall of the container, in the preferred embodiment the external layer of the laminate, may be at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) , polyvinyl chloride (PVC) , polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) , ethylene vinyl alcohol
(EVOH) , and polymers made by using carbon monoxide as at least one co-monomer, for example ethylene carbon monoxide vinyl acetate (ECOVA) , ethylene carbon monoxide acrylic acid
(ECOAA) and ethylene carbon monoxide methacrylic acid (ECOMAA) . EVA has the property of impact strength, which is highly desirable for an external layer. The surface portion of the fitment or member is advantageously of the same material as that external layer. If EVA is employed, then the proportion of vinyl acetate (VA) co-monomer is between 15% and 30%, preferably between 18% and 22%.
The other layer, or at least one of the other layers, of the laminate provide (s) mechanical strength and, for that reason, may consist at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of low density polyethylene (LDPE) , medium density polyethylene (MDPE) , polypropylene (PP) , polyolefin plastomer (POP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) , linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE) , polyethylene terephthalate (PET) , biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) , biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) , biaxially oriented ethylene vinyl alcohol (BOEVOH) , and ionomers.
If so required, one or more of the other layers of the laminate may constitute a moisture barrier, in which case such layer may consist at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of LDPE, MDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, PP, POP, LLDPE, LMDPE, PET, BOPP, BOPA, BOEVOH, and ionomers.
Again, if so required, at least one of the other layers may constitute a barrier for gases, particularly oxygen, in which case such layer may be of a material consisting at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) , polyglycolic acid (PGA) polyamide (PA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) .
It may be desirable for two of the other layers of the laminate to take the form of a layer providing mechanical stiffness coated with a layer providing a very high barrier to gas, particularly oxygen, and aromas. Such coating may consist at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of PGA, PVDC, PVOH, silicon oxide (SiOx) and s aluminium oxide (A1203) .
In order that the walls of the container should be readily flexible, they advantageously have a maximum thickness of less than 500 microns, preferably less than 300 microns.
The high frequency electromagnetic radiation is advantageously in the radio frequency range of 1 to 300 Megahertz, preferably in the microwave frequency range of 300 to 30,000 Megahertz.
The container is advantageously formed substantially completely of polymeric material or a combination of polymeric material and cellulosic material (for example paper) . In the preferred embodiment, the unitary element is applied to the outside surface of the first wall of the container after filling of the container with a fluid substance, for example a liquid, and sealingly closing the container; however, the unitary element could be applied to that outside surface before filling and sealingly closing the container.
In order that the invention may be clearly and completely disclosed, an example thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -
Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a section through the thickness of a laminate, and
Figure 2 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a pour spout fitment sealed to an outside surface of a container made from the laminate.
The laminate 30 shown in Figure 1 consists of seventeen layers 2 to 24 and 24' to 16' proceeding from that surface 26 of the laminate which is outermost in the wall of the pouch to be formed thereby to that surface 28 which is innermost. The layer 4 of MDPE constitutes a substrate to the outer surface of which is applied, by co-extrusion, the layer 2, which is of EVA with 19% VA co-monomer. To the inner surface of the layer 4 a layer 6 of flexographic printing is applied. The layer 12, which is of PET, forms another substrate, to which a coating layer 10 of PGA, PVDC or PVOH, or of an inorganic coating of SiOx or A1203, is applied. The layers 16 to 24 and 24' to 16' are formed by blown film co-extrusion, with the layers 24 and 24' of POP constituting substrates which bond directly one to the other when the blown film is collapsed. One web, constituted by the layers 2 to 6, a second web constituted by the layers 10 and 12, and a third web constituted by the layers 16 to 24 and 24' to 16', are laminated together by layers 8 and 14 of a solvent-free lamination adhesive, which may be of a polyurethane (PUR)- based material. The following table shows the thickness range, the preferred thickness, the main properties, and possible alternative materials, for the layers shown in the drawing. The blown film, at its own exterior, consists of a layer 16,16' of modified LLDPE (m-LLDPE) , which is an LDPE made by using a metallocene catalyst system. The layer 16, 16' is bonded to the layer 20,20' of modified EVOH ( -EVOH) , which has been made by blending EVOH and PA and/or thermoplastic polyester, 'to give improved flex-crack resistance. The tie layers 18,18' and 22,22' consist at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of maleic anhydride (MAH) , LDPE, LLDPE, PP, MDPE, HDPE and POP.
Figure imgf000011_0001
Following manufacture of the laminate 30 shown in Figure
1, it is employed in the production of filled plastics pouches, such as the pouch 32 in Figure 2, on an aseptic, vertical, form-fill-seal machine. In order to attach a flanged pour spout 34 to the filled and sealed pouch 32 downstream of the sterile chamber of the machine, the pour spout 34, made of the same material as the layer 2, is brought face-to-face into contact with the surface 26 and then high-frequency welding is employed to bond the flange 36 of the spout 34 directly to the layer 2. Since none of the layers 4 to 24 and 24' to 16' is susceptible to sealing by high-frequency welding, they are unaffected by the welding process. This is particularly important at the location where the surface 28 is brought face-to-face into contact with itself during welding of the fitment flange 36 to the layer
2, because welding does not occur at that location, which it could do if heat-sealing were to be used instead of high- frequency sealing. The pouch may be filled with a liquid product to be used in the medical field, such as functional foods and nutraceuticals, in which case the layer 2 is mainly or wholly of EVA, because EVA does not produce dioxins under high- frequency welding.

Claims

1. A method comprising providing a unitary element (34) formed substantially completely of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high-frequency radiation into heat, providing a container (32) having first and second opposite walls at least one of which is readily flexible into contact with the other, of which the first wall has an outside surface (26) also of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat and of which the respective opposite inside surfaces (28) are of thermoplastics having, compared with the thermoplastics of the said unitary element (34) and said outside surface (26), relatively low ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat, pressing together said unitary element (34) and said outside surface (26), thereby to press said inside surfaces (28) together, and sealing said unitary element. (34) and said outside surface (26) together using high-frequency welding without consequently sealing said inside surfaces (28) together.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the high frequency is at least 1 Megahertz.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the high frequency is at least 300 Megahertz.
4. A method according to any preceding claim and further comprising, prior to pressing together said unitary element (34) and outside surface (26), filling said container (32) with a fluid substance and sealingly closing said container (32).
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said fluid substance is a liquid.
6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the readily flexible wall(s) is/are of a thickness less than 500 microns.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said thickness is less than 300 microns.
8. A method according to any preceding claim, the thermoplastics of said unitary element (34) and said outside surface (26) being one or more of the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and polymers made by using carbon monoxide as at least one co-monomer.
9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said container (32) is formed substantially completely of polymeric material.
10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said container (34) is formed substantially completely of a combination of polymeric material and a cellulosic material
11. A package comprising a fitment (34) and a container (32), said fitment (34) comprising a unitary element (34) formed substantially completely of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat, said container (32) having first and second opposite walls at least one of which is readily flexible into contact with the other, of which said first wall has an outside surface (26) also of thermoplastics with the ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat and of which the respective opposite inside surfaces (28) are of thermoplastics having, compared with the thermoplastics of said unitary element (34) and said outside surface (26), relatively low ability to convert high-frequency electromagnetic radiation into heat, and a location of said container (32) over which said unitary element (34) and said outside surface (26) have been sealed together using high- frequency welding but over which said inside surfaces (28) are not sealed together.
12. A package according to claim 11, wherein said container (32) contains a fluid substance in a sealingly closed manner.
13. A package according to claim 12, wherein said fluid substance is a liquid.
14. A package according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein at least one of said opposite walls is of a thickness of less than 500 microns.
15. A package according to claim 14, wherein said thickness is less than 300 microns.
16. A package according to any one of claims 11 to 15, the thermoplastics of said unitary element (34) and said outside surface (26) being one or more of the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and polymers made by using carbon monoxide as at least one co-monomer.
17. A package according to claim 16, the thermoplastics of said unitary element (34) and said outside surface (26) being ethylene vinyl acetate and the proportion of vinyl acetate co-monomer therein being between 15% and 30%.
18. A package according to claim 17, wherein said proportion is between 18% and 22%.
19. A package according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein said container (32) is formed substantially completely of polymeric material.
20. A package according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein said container is formed substantially completely of a combination of polymeric material and cellulosic material.
21. A package according to any one of claims 11 to 20, wherein said opposite walls are in the form of a laminate (30) which includes a layer providing mechanical strength and consisting at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin plastomer, high density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, linear medium density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, biaxially oriented polypropylene, biaxially oriented polyamide, biaxially oriented ethylene vinyl alcohol, and ionomers.
22. A package according to any one of claims 11 to 20, wherein said opposite walls are in the form of a laminate (30) which includes a layer providing a moisture barrier and consisting at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin plastomer, linear medium density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, biaxially oriented polypropylene, biaxially oriented polyamide, biaxially oriented ethylene vinyl alcohol, and ionomers .
23. A package according to any one of the claims 11 to 20, wherein said opposite walls are in the form of a laminate
(30) which includes a layer constituting a barrier to oxygen and consisting at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyglycolic acid, polyamide and polyvinyl alcohol.
24. A package according to any one of claims 11 to 20, wherein said opposite walls are in the form of a laminate
(30) which includes a layer providing mechanical stiffness and coated with a layer providing a very high barrier to oxygen and aromas .
25. A package according to claim 24, wherein the latter layer consists at least mainly of one or more of the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, silicon oxide and aluminium oxide.
26. A laminate consisting of an external layer (2) which is susceptible to sealing by high-frequency welding, and one or more other layers (4-24, 16' -24') which are not significantly susceptible to sealing by high-frequency welding.
PCT/IB2003/005792 2002-12-09 2003-12-09 Improvements in or relating to laminates, methods and packages WO2004052626A1 (en)

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GBGB0228651.6A GB0228651D0 (en) 2002-12-09 2002-12-09 Improvements in or relating to laminates, methods and products

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EP2052804A3 (en) * 2004-04-13 2009-08-05 Coloplast A/S A polyethylene product and a method of providing a product, such as a laser welded polyethylene product
GB2529904A (en) * 2014-09-08 2016-03-09 Innovia Films Ltd Laminated structure

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EP2052804A3 (en) * 2004-04-13 2009-08-05 Coloplast A/S A polyethylene product and a method of providing a product, such as a laser welded polyethylene product
US8084138B2 (en) 2004-04-13 2011-12-27 Coloplast A/S Polyethylene product and a method of providing a product, such as a laser welded polyethylene product
GB2529904A (en) * 2014-09-08 2016-03-09 Innovia Films Ltd Laminated structure

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GB0228651D0 (en) 2003-01-15

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