Abstract: A molding apparatus for molding an opening device onto a packaging material web comprises at least one mold unit couplable to the packaging material web; and an injection device configured to inject molten polymer into the mold unit. The injection device comprises a cavity configured to receive the molten polymer, an inlet configured to allow for introduction of the molten polymer into the cavity, a first outlet configured to allow for an outflow of a first portion of the molten polymer from the cavity, a first valve element configured to selectively open and close the first outlet, a second outlet configured to allow for an outflow of a second portion of the molten polymer from the cavity, a second valve element configured to selectively open and close the second outlet and a pressurizing unit in fluidic connection with the cavity and configured to pressurize the molten polymer within the cavity.

Abstract: An opening device configured to be applied to packaging for pourable products comprises: a pouring spout defining a pouring opening through which to pour, in use, the pourable product; a cap configured to engage and disengage the pouring spout to respectively close and open the pouring opening; a closing element closing and/or sealing the pouring opening, formed in one piece with the pouring spout and connected to the pouring spout by a breakable connecting portion configured to break during first opening of the opening device; the closing element comprising a protruding portion extending through the pouring opening and connected to the cap; and tamper-evidence device fitted to the pouring spout and initially connected to the cap by at least one breakable connecting bridge configured to break during first opening of the opening device; wherein the cap is hinged to the tamper-evidence device thereby being permanently tethered to the pouring spout.

Abstract: There is described a spout for a package having a designated pour opening and being filled with a pourable product. The spout comprises at least a collar extending along a longitudinal axis, carrying a pouring outlet at a first axial end and an inlet opening for the pourable product at a second axial end and delimiting a flow channel for the pourable product extending between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening a closing element configured to interrupt a fluidic connection between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening. The closing element is interposed between the inlet opening and the pouring outlet and is rupturably fixed to an inner surface of the collar.

Abstract: A spout is for a package having a designated pour opening and being filled with a pourable product. The spout comprises a collar carrying a pouring outlet, an inlet opening and a closing element controllable between an active position in which the closing element interrupts a fluidic connection between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening and an inactive position in which the closing element is configured to allow a fluidic connection between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening. The closing element comprises a peripheral portion contacting prior to a first control of the closing element from the active position to the inactive position an inner surface of the collar along an initial contact portion. The inner surface comprises a main surface portion extending from the initial contact portion towards the pouring outlet and an auxiliary surface portion extending from the initial contact portion to the inlet opening.

Abstract: A molding apparatus that injection molds an opening device on a packaging material sheet includes first and second molding units to injection mold a wall portion of the opening device on the sheet; the first molding unit comprising first and second molding elements configured to cooperate in contact to delimit at least part of a mold cavity fillable with molten material for forming a pull-member of the opening device; the mold cavity being delimited at least by first and second surfaces defined by the first and second molding elements respectively; a third molding unit cooperable with the first and second molding elements to delimit the mold cavity, and defining a third surface, facing the first and second surfaces and delimiting, together with these latter, the mold cavity; the third surface is shaped to be equidistant from the first and second surfaces when the first and second molding elements cooperate.

Abstract: There is described a closure assembly for a container filled or fillable with a pourable product. The closure assembly comprises a lid, a first ring member, a second ring member, a coupling element connected to the lid and one of the first ring member and the second ring member, at least one rupturable first coupling bridge connecting the first ring member and the second ring member to one another; and at least one rupturable second coupling bridge connecting the second ring member and the lid to one another.

Abstract: An opening device configured to be applied to packaging for pourable products comprises: a pouring spout defining a pouring opening through which to pour, in use, the pourable product; a cap configured to engage and disengage the pouring spout to respectively close and open the pouring opening; a closing element closing and/or sealing the pouring opening, formed in one piece with the pouring spout and connected to the pouring spout by a breakable connecting portion configured to break during first opening of the opening device; the closing element comprising a protruding portion extending through the pouring opening and connected to the cap; and tamper-evidence device fitted to the pouring spout and initially connected to the cap by at least one breakable connecting bridge configured to break during first opening of the opening device; wherein the cap is hinged to the tamper-evidence device thereby being permanently tethered to the pouring spout.

Abstract: A spout includes a base frame fittable about a designated package pour opening surface area, an opening assembly moveably coupled to the base frame and adapted to at least partially cut/rupture/open/pierce the pour opening surface area, and a control device configured to control the opening assembly. The control device comprises at least one interaction element connected to the opening assembly, at least one control ring rotatably coupled to the base frame and at least one interaction member connected/coupled to the control ring and configured to interact with the interaction element. In use, upon rotating the control ring, the interaction member interacts with the interaction element to induce translation of a cutter of the opening assembly for controlling the opening assembly from a rest configuration to an operative configuration and an axial end portion of the interaction member is arranged within a rotation plane fixed relative to the base frame.

Abstract: There is described a drinking straw (3, 3?) for a package (2) being filled with a pourable food product. The drinking straw (3, 3?) comprises at least an inlet opening (11) for allowing the introduction of the pourable food product into the drinking straw (3, 3?), a tubular main portion (16) configured to be inserted, in use, into the package (2), having the inlet opening (11) and a sleeve (22, 22?) superimposed on and/or surrounding at least a section of the tubular main portion (16). The sleeve (22, 22?) is configured to allow for the insertion and/or introduction of the drinking straw (3, 3?) into the package (2) and to impede and/or hinder and/or block a removal and/or separation of the drinking straw (3, 3?) from the package (2) after introduction and/or insertion of the drinking straw (3, 3?) into the package (2).

Abstract: A package assembly (300, 400, 500) comprising a package (100, 302) arranged to hold a food product, wherein the package (100,302) comprises a rear section (140) provided with a longitudinal seal (LS), and an exoskeleton (308, 402, 502, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300) attached to the rear section (140) of the package (100,302) such that an improved robustness is achieved and that the longitudinal seal (LS) is protected.

Abstract: A molding apparatus that injection molds an opening device on a packaging material sheet includes first and second molding units to injection mold a wall portion of the opening device on the sheet; the first molding unit comprising first and second molding elements configured to cooperate in contact to delimit at least part of a mold cavity fillable with molten material for forming a pull-member of the opening device; the mold cavity being delimited at least by first and second surfaces defined by the first and second molding elements respectively; a third molding unit cooperable with the first and second molding elements to delimit the mold cavity, and defining a third surface, facing the first and second surfaces and delimiting, together with these latter, the mold cavity; the third surface is shaped to be equidistant from the first and second surfaces when the first and second molding elements cooperate.

Abstract: An opening device for a package obtained from a sheet of packaging material that comprises at least first and second layers and having a through hole through the first layer and covered by a sheet cover portion of the second layer. The opening device comprises a wall portion applied onto a first side of the sheet cover portion and defining, together with the sheet cover portion, a user-tearable portion of the package; the wall portion comprises a linear weakening slot in a part of the thickness of the wall portion and open at a second surface thereof, opposite the first surface; the linear weakening slot delimits, together with the first side a linear weakening region of the user-tearable portion; the opening device further comprises at least one pull-member to cause tearing of the user-tearable portion along the linear weakening region, and; at least one projecting linear rib element.

Abstract: A method for producing a sealed package for a product may include: providing a sheet packaging material having a crease pattern with a first transverse crease line, a second transverse crease line, and a plurality of further crease lines interposed between the first and second transverse crease lines, the further crease lines extending transversely to the first and second transverse crease lines; obtaining a sealed preliminary packaging unit from the sheet packaging material, the sealed preliminary packaging unit having a preset inner volume and containing the product; exerting a forming action on the sealed preliminary packaging unit so as to fold the sheet packaging material defining the sealed preliminary packaging unit and obtain a package therefrom. During the step of obtaining the sealed preliminary packaging unit, the sheet packaging material may be processed without being folded along the further crease lines.

Abstract: An opening device for a container comprises a pouring spout defining a pouring opening to pour in use the content of the container, a closing element closing the pouring opening and connected to the pouring spout by a breakable connection, and a closure fitted to the pouring spout in a removable manner to close the pouring opening at a region thereof different from that closed by the closing element; the closing element is formed in one piece with a protruding portion extending through the pouring opening and welded to the closure far away from the closing element.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an opening device on a receiving portion of a sheet packaging material for packaging pourable food products comprises a molding unit having a first and a second mold selectively set in an open configuration, in which they are spaced from one another to allow feed of the packaging material therebetween, and in a closed configuration, in which they cooperate with faces of the packaging material and delimit a closed mold cavity housing the receiving portion of the packaging material and adapted to be filled with molten plastic material to define, when the plastic material sets, the opening device. The apparatus further comprises feeding device to feed molten plastic material to the molding zone in the open configuration of the first and second mold, and pressing device exerting pressure on the dose to force it to fill the mold cavity and to form the opening device.

Abstract: A lid for an opening device for a container includes a body having a longitudinal axis and provided with a top wall and with a side wall internally provided with a thread element suitable for cooperating with a further thread element of a spout of the opening device, the lid further including at least one driving element arranged to receive the fingers of a user during unscrewing of the lid from the spout and during screwing of the lid on the spout, the at least one driving element being delimited by an upper wall and by a lower wall extending from the side wall and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis, the lower wall diverging from the upper wall when moving away from the side wall.