Patents Assigned to Tetra Pak International AB
  • Patent number: 4372797
    Abstract: A method for the application of suction tubes to packing containers is disclosed. Portion-sized packages for juice and the like are often equipped with suction tubes to facilitate the emptying thereof. The suction tubes, which for reasons of hygiene are individually wrapped in paper, are very light and therefore difficult to handle and to attach to the outside surface of the packing container by mechanical means.The wrapped tubes are separated from a continuous band while an adhesive is applied to the containers. The containers and tubes ae oriented in relation to each other and then the tubes are attached to the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventors: Rolf M. Dilot, Jan T. Hakansson
  • Patent number: 4371364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a printed, pre-creased, plastic-coated packing material web provided with opening arrangements. The method includes providing a first wider web of paper or cardboard, whose width is a multiple of the desired packing material webs, with impressed crease line patterns and opening arrangements, whereupon the paper or cardboard web is covered with plastics. The wider web so treated is then cut into a number of partial webs, each partial web is of a width corresponding to the width of a complete crease line pattern. The partial webs are rolled up into large rolls intended for transport which in a separate printing operation are provided with text and decoration and are rolled up into magazine rolls of packing material of the desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Hans A. Rausing
  • Patent number: 4371768
    Abstract: The windings of an electromagnetic device for heat-sealing thermoplastic material having an electrically conductive layer are included as an inductive component in an oscillatory circuit, rather than merely being an external load. Two inductively coupled windings operate as a feedback element to control the alternate conduction of two transistors, to produce an oscillating signal. The core of the electromagnetic heating element has a E-shaped cross section, and the windings are wound around the middle limb of the core and are substantially surrounded by the two outer limbs to thereby substantially reduce thermal losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Laszlo Pozna
  • Patent number: 4367842
    Abstract: Cushion-shaped packing containers made of a liquid-tight tube which is sealed together at both ends by transverse sealing fins, cannot be used for pressurized contents, because the flexible plastic material of which the containers are made cannot be joined with sufficient strength in the sealing fins.A strengthening element for the packing containers, and in particular for their sealing fins, is disclosed. The sealing fins are strengthened by an external strengthening band which joins the sealing fins. At the same time the fins are held folded down against the outside of the container so that the internal pressure in the container no longer acts upon the material layers sealed together in the sealing fin in a direction away from each other, but is transmitted instead to the seal between the respective fin and the strengthening band which seal can readily be given the required strength.The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of the packing containers described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Hans Rausing
  • Patent number: 4364220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet metal container adapted so that it can withstand an internal pressure. The container comprises two combined shell-shaped cavities, compression-moulded from the same web which cavities are brought together as the web is doubled along pre-impressed folding lines in two steps, namely a first step wherein the longitudinal edges of the web are joined together to form a tube of an elongated, substantially triangular cross-section, and a second step when the tube formed, after the contents have been introduced, is pressed flat and is sealed around the shell-shaped cavities. Finally the web is cut or punched around the hollow bodies formed by the shell-shaped portions to form a flange, closed in itself, which flange is folded down or beaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Hans A. Rausing
  • Patent number: 4351461
    Abstract: A rotary driver feeds a web containing transverse crease lines. The driver contains circumferentially spaced edges which drivingly engage the crease lines. When the crease lines are spaced farther apart than the edges, that part of the web disposed between those edges is deflected inwardly, as by a vacuum, to bring the crease lines into engagement with the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Lars Carlsson
  • Patent number: 4345415
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention protective envelopes for suction tubes or drinking straws as well as the tapes joining them are manufactured at the same time and of the same material. The suction tubes are placed with equal intervals transversely between two thermoplastic webs, whereupon these webs are sealed to each other around the suction tubes. At the same time the webs are punched or cut so that individual suction tube envelopes are obtained which are mutually connected by means of straps extending between the envelopes. In this manner all handling of separate wrapped suction tubes is avoided, so that the suction tube band can be manufactured with appreciably greater precision. The invention relates to the method of manufacture as well as to a machine for its realization and the finished suction tube band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Erik Jarund
  • Patent number: 4343402
    Abstract: A parallelepipedic packing container of the type which is provided with a sealing fin which extends over the upper end wall of the packing container as well as over triangular, double-walled lugs adjoining this end wall. The sealing fin comprises a narrow sealing zone on the outer edge of the fin and a tearing perforation on the base line of the fin, the tearing perforation extending from the tip of one triangular lug to a point on the end wall of the packing container. The sealing fin is unsealed in the area between the narrow sealing zone and the tearing perforation, and moreover a corresponding sealing fin arranged at the base of the packing container is appreciably narrower than the sealing fin wherein the tearing perforation is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Sven N. H. Holmstrom
  • Patent number: 4334437
    Abstract: When a machine element having a large mass is given a reciprocating movement, the recurring changes in speed as well as direction of movement require that very great driving forces must be applied, which cause varying stresses on the driving unit. In case the movement path of the machine element is more or less vertical the force of gravity causes extra stresses on the machine element. These difficulties are overcome in accordance with the invention by providing a spring system which on the one hand equalizes the effect of the force of gravity on the machine element and, on the other hand compensates the arising mass forces by absorbing, storing and emitting energy following the movement of the machine element. Hereby the amount of applied driving force is reduced, so that shocks and vibrations occurring during the driving are effectively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1982
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Par M. Andersson
  • Patent number: 4331288
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a packing container particularly for liquid substances. The packing container includes a sealing fin along which material layers forming the packing container are adjoined to one another. The sealing fin extends both over a wall of the packing container and over a corner lug adjoining the wall which corner lug is adapted to be folded against the wall. A portion of the sealing fin extending over the packing container wall is folded down against the wall in one direction and a portion of the sealing fin extending over the corner lug is folded down in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Stig A. Lothman
  • Patent number: 4301927
    Abstract: Packing containers of the non-returnable type for the packaging of milk, etc, frequently have a fold-out pouring spout which is intended to facilitate the pouring out of the milk in a concentrated jet.However, the air which must enter the package via the pouring spout at the same time as the pouring out takes place causes the flow to stop periodically so that the pouring out occurs jerkily.This disadvantage is overcome in accordance with the invention in that the spout is designed to have an emptying duct as well as an air duct. The air duct extends into the packing container over such a length that air can pass unhindered into the packing container without disturbing the flow of the contents through the pouring spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventors: Lars C. Carlsson, Johan H. H. Selberg
  • Patent number: 4301696
    Abstract: When machine elements having a large mass are indexed, i.e. subjected to short, quick rotating movements, very great acceleration and deceleration forces must be transmitted via the driving means of the machine. Due to vibrations occurring, increasing the stresses on the driving means, the driving means must be dimensioned accordingly. The present invention provides a method and an arrangement for the compensation of the forces applied and thus for reducing the stresses which occur. This is performed by combining the indexing machine element with a cam disc which is contacted by a number of spring-loaded cam followers, whereby the cam disc has such a shape that the cam follower decelerates and accelerates the cam disc following the desired movement pattern of the machine element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Par M. Andersson
  • Patent number: 4301939
    Abstract: Cup-shaped packing containers are used for the packaging of e.g. yoghurt. The packing containers are provided with lids which can be removed from the packing container in that e.g. the seal between lid and cup portion is broken. After opening the lid cannot be used for the reclosure of the packing container.This is a disadvantage, which is overcome in accordance with the invention, in that the lid is adapted so that it fits closely against the inside of the cup portion in an area situated below the line along which on opening of the packing container the lid is intended to be separated from the cup portion. By an appropriate dimensioning of the lid and the cup portion the lid can be retained by and seal the cup portion after the opening, which is an advantage if a part of the contents is to be saved for later consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Herwig Pupp
  • Patent number: 4294362
    Abstract: Parallelepipedic packing containers of the type used as non-returnable packages for milk, etc., are manufactured by the transverse sealing of a packing material tube filled with contents. On sealing and subsequent forming of the packages, on the one hand, sealing fins extending over the end walls of the packing container, on the other hand, triangular corner lugs located on the short sides of the end walls are obtained. The sealing fins as well as the corner lugs are folded down during the forming so as to lie against adjoining container walls.When the packing container is to be opened, one end of the one of the sealing fins is folded up from its folded-down position, whereupon the packing container can be opened in that the packing container material is torn up along a tearing indication running along the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Kjell H. Martensson
  • Patent number: 4293369
    Abstract: A machine for the application of suction tubes to packing containers is disclosed. Portion-sized packages for juice and the like are often equipped with suction tubes to facilitate the emptying thereof. The suction tubes, which for reasons of hygiene are individually wrapped in paper, are very light and therefore difficult to handle and to attach to the outside surface of the packing container by mechanical means.The disclosed machine separates the wrapped tubes from a continuous band, applies an adhesive, orientates each packing container and tube in relation to each other and attaches the tube to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventors: Rolf M. Dilot, Jan T. Hakansson
  • Patent number: 4287247
    Abstract: A packing laminate of the type comprising at least two layers of material and at least two converging or intersecting crease lines which assist the conversion of the laminate to a packing container is disclosed. The laminate is provided with at least one auxiliary crease line where the crease lines converge or intersect in order to prevent crack formation in the layers of the laminate and consequent leakage in the container formed therefrom. A method is also disclosed for manufacturing a laminate in which the laminate is provided with auxiliary crease lines after the converging or intersecting crease lines have been provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventors: Wilhelm Reil, Jorg Trabitzsch
  • Patent number: 4284448
    Abstract: In the packaging field certain types of packages are manufactured from pre-shaped, cylindrical casings made from a heat-shrinkable laminate. The casings are formed by winding a material sheet around a mandrel and subsequent sealing together of the overlapping ends of the sheet. However, because of the stiffness of the material the leading end of the sheet protrudes tangentially from the mandrel during the winding and prevents an accurate adaptation of the material sheet to the surface of the mandrel.According to the method and arrangement of this invention this disadvantage is avoided in that the leading end of the sheet is pre-heated on the side facing the mandrel to such a degree, that the shrinking is initialled. The shrinking of one side only results in that the leading end of the material sheet is given a curved shape with a radius that coincides with the radius of the mandrel, and consequently the leading end is no longer an obstacle to the winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventors: Herwig Pupp, Otto B. Andersson, Jan-Erik Nilsson
  • Patent number: 4284228
    Abstract: A packing container e.g. for sterile milk is manufactured from laminated material which is folded and sealed to the desired container shape. In the seal, cut surfaces facing towards the inside will occur which have to be sealed so as to prevent the central paper layer of the material from absorbing some of the contents. Usually this is done by means of a strip of a plastic material which is impermeable to liquid. When the packing material is sterilized and exposed to high temperatures these strips are often damaged, because the moisture present in the paper layer of the laminate is converted into vapor and penetrates the strip softened by the heat. In accordance with the invention the seal is now ventilated with the help of ducts extending through the seal in such a manner that the vapor can escape to the surrounding air without affecting the sealing strip which thus remains intact and can fulfil its intended sealing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Renato Cetrelli
  • Patent number: 4267957
    Abstract: A laminated packing container with a substantially flat bottom surface is disclosed. The packing container has a plurality of side walls and both a top end wall and a bottom end wall. A plurality of upper and lower corner lugs are located at the intersection of the side walls and the end walls. A crease line which angles in toward the center of the bottom end wall is located between each lower corner lug and the bottom end wall such that upon formation of the packing container the crease line results in a portion of the laminate being displaced into the packing container to permit the bottom surface of the packing container to have an improved flatness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Sven N. H. Holmstrom
  • Patent number: 4266993
    Abstract: A method for the sealing of a cover strip onto packing containers, in particular non-returnable containers for liquid foodstuffs, which containers are of the type which are manufactured from laminated material comprising layers of, among others, thermoplastics, is disclosed. Packing containers of this type are generally provided with an opening arrangement in the form of a pouring opening punched out in the top side of the container, which is covered by a tear-off cover strip. The cut edge extending around the pouring opening is in this case situated inside the container which makes necessary special measures in order to prevent the occurrence of bacteria-collecting corners and pockets. This is a problem in particular in the relatively thick type of packing laminate which comprises layers of foamed thermoplastic material. It is often also necessary to seal off the free cut edge, since the laminate occasionally comprises layers which for various reasons must not come into contact with the contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Jan-Erik Olsen