RECYCLABLE PACKAGING TUBE

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging tube having a receiving container (09) for directly storing a substance to be packaged or to be stored and at least one shaped body (20, 30) for providing a mechanical, static and/or dynamic sturdiness of the packaging tube (02). According to the invention, the intention is that the shaped body (20, 30) consists of a recyclable material and the receiving container (09) of a material which is adjusted to the substance to be packaged, at least one separable, preferably form-fitting, connection (22) being realized between the shaped body (20, 30) and the receiving container (09) or a component of the packaging tube (02) connected to the receiving container (09), said connection (22) being designed in such a manner that, when the packaging tube (02) is used as intended, the connection lasts and an irreversible separation of the separable connection (22) by hand and/or without tools, in particular by forming a tear, is possible.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a recyclable tube, in particular a packaging tube of predominantly recyclable.

Packaging tubes in which a tube body or tube shell is made of a laminate formed into a tube and having several laminate layers of different plastics or several coextruded plastics are known and common from the state of the art. Due to the different materials which are permanently and inseparably connected to each other or with each other, these packaging tubes are often not or only to a limited extent suitable for recycling.

Furthermore packaging tubes having a tube shell or tube body which consists mainly of aluminum are known from the state of the art. Such tubes are typically coated with plastics and/or lacquers on the inside of the tube body. Thus the recyclability of such tubes is indeed only insignificantly limited, however, recycling involves a high energy expenditure. Furthermore, metal or aluminum tubes do not lend themselves to all application areas of packaging tubes, for example because they are only insufficiently printable or their inelasticity is undesirable.

Furthermore, approaches with which the sustainability of packaging tubes is to be improved are already known from the state of the art.

In this connection, on the one hand, approaches are known in which a focus is placed on renewable raw materials or recycling raw materials for the production of the tubes, in particular the tube shells. Such approaches are known from EP 2 630 052 B1 or BE 419299 A, for example.

Such approaches are indeed, as to the starting materials or the original materials of the tubes, more sustainable or have a lower resource consumption, however, at the same time, they entail that the manufactured tubes cannot be recycled or cannot be recycled in an economically and/or energetically useful manner after the intended use, in particular after emptying the stored or packaged tube content.

Another approach already related to the recycling of packages, in particular tubes, after their use or application is known from DE 10 2020 004 431 A1. There, a kind of reusable system is proposed for tubes or packaging tubes, said reusable system being based on a modularly constructed tube so that individual modules of the tube can be exchanged after use and other modules can be continued to be used or reused several times. The tube manufactured in such a manner is highly reusable. However, the handling is complicated and the risk still exists that, due to dirt, wear and other environmental effects, the individual parts or modules cannot be reused as often as would be necessary due to the complex fabrication of the modules in order to reduce the use of resources on the whole compared to disposable tubes. Moreover, the success of such a reusable system depends to a considerable extent on the acceptance in the market or by the user. If the user does not recognize the reusable character of the modular tube or does not make use of the reusability of the module, the energy, material and resource expenditure is even considerably larger in contrast to conventional disposable tubes.

Then, from WO 2022/053879 A1, a packaging tube is known in which functional parts made of materials predominantly containing plastic are permanently connected to so-called structural parts predominantly consisting of materials containing fibers, which also entails a poor separability and/or a reduced sort purity in the recycling process.

EP 3 730 420 B1 furthermore relates to a packaging tube having an outer tube and an inner tube. However, the reuse or the recycling of the tube is not discussed.

The subject matter of WO 92/22472 is a folding box package having a foldable shaped body made of cardboard and a receiving container made of film, the film being fixed on one side, in the neck area.

From FR 2 516 054 A1, a double tube package having a replaceable, metallic receiving container and a shaped body made of plastic is known, wherein, when the double tube is compressed, only the receiving container remains in a pressed shape while the shaped body returns elastically to its original shape.

In WO 93/10013 A1, a refillable tube having a front and rear screw cap is described, the corpus consisting of plastic.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,455 A relates to a tube squeezing device into which a conventional tube can be placed in order to achieve a better pressing out of the content.

The subject matter of CH 92 025 A is a tube consisting of a shaped body and a receiving container which are detachably connected to each other, the shaped body having engagement openings through which the receiving container can be squeezed.

From DE 297 21 463 U1, a reusable tube body is known which can be removed in order to accommodate a refill bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the above, the object of the invention is to propose a packaging tube which overcomes the disadvantages of the state of the art and can be fed, in particular to a high degree, to a recycling process or reuse process after the intended use.

This object is attained by a packaging tube having the features disclosed herein.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the subsequent description, the description of the figures and the figures.

In principle, features disclosed with respect to the device are also to be regarded as disclosed correspondingly with respect to the method, and vice versa.

The packaging tube according to the invention comprises a receiving container for directly storing a substance to be packaged or to be stored. Furthermore, the packaging tube according to the invention comprises at least one shaped body for providing a mechanical, static and/or dynamic sturdiness of the packaging tube. According to the invention, the shaped body consists of a recyclable material and the receiving container of a material which is adjusted to the substance to be packaged, at least one separable, form-fitting connection being realized between the shaped body and the receiving container or a component of the packaging tube connected to the receiving container, said connection being designed in such a manner that, when the tube is used as intended, the connection lasts and that, in particular after the use or before the disposal, an irreversible separation by hand and/or without tools between the shaped body and the receiving container is possible at the separable connection or by the separation of the separable connection, in particular by forming a tear.

The first separable connection consists of a form fit in order to enable a separation according to sort, adhesives being largely dispensed with. A form fit has the surprising effect that the tube is sufficiently sturdy during use and that the form fit connection lasts throughout the lifespan of the tube. Thus, no unintentional detachment of the separable connection occurs, even if the tube is squeezed, pressed, rolled up and/or deformed in another way during use. At the same time, an extremely sort-pure further processing can be carried out after the separation pf the connection.

Alternatively, the separable connection can be a kind of predetermined separating connection. This separable connection is designed exactly in such a way that normal actions during use of the tube have no influence on the continued existence of the produced connection, wherein an intentional and/or targeted application of a force to the separable connection, preferably by hand and/or without tools, can cause a separation of the connection.

Accordingly, the packaging tube according to the invention is based on the basic idea that the connection between fundamentally different materials or material groups, namely the shaped body made of a recyclable material on the one side and the receiving container and/or the further components of the packaging tube connected to the receiving container on the other side, is, irrespective of whether this connection is formed completely or over the entire surface or runs only along a connection line or comprises only individual connection points, designed exactly in such a manner that the intended use of the tube does not lead to a detachment of the separable connection and likewise a provoked and accordingly preferably not use-typical or use-specific handling of the tube leads to the fact that the separation of different material groups, namely the at least one shaped body on the one hand and the receiving container on the other hand, can be achieved by hand and/or without tools, so that at least one material group can be separated and introduced into known and common recycling cycles and reused and/or recycled accordingly.

In order to make the irreversible separation of the separable connection particularly effective, the first separable connection may be formed along a predetermined separating contour running essentially about a longitudinal central axis in the circumferential direction. Further advantageously, the separable connection is realized in a strip-shaped manner or linearly. Thereby, on the one hand, a fixation and connection which is uniform across the circumference is produced; at the same time, the irreversible separation is facilitated. This separable connection is not limited to a single line or a single strip. Depending on the shape and intended use of the packaging tube, several lines or strips, which preferably are not connected to each other or do not merge into each other, can also form the entire separable connection. On the whole, however, this advantageously results above all in the fact that, even if no one hundred percent sort-pure detachment or separation of the involved materials of the separable connection is achieved, nevertheless, only small or smallest residues of the respective other material or the respective other material group or class remain on the partner of the predetermined separating connection after the irreversible separation. Furthermore, the receiving container can be designed in a particularly thin-walled manner, which has a particularly resource-saving effect.

Consequently, with the tube according to the invention, it is possible, on the one hand, to maintain a familiar and known handling or use by the user and, at the same time, to integrate or return a large part of the packaging tubes after use into known and efficient recycling cycles without loss of function and functionality both with regard to use and with regard to the application areas and substances to be packaged or stored.

This is because receiving containers adapted for storing the substance to be packaged can be made of a thermoplastic, an elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer, for example. Polypropylene or polyethylene can be used as a material. Furthermore, advantageously, the materials themselves can already consist of recycled materials, in particular of reused plastics and/or of bio-degradable polymers and/or bio-based plastic. Multilayer structures, which can be produced, for example, by lamination or coextrusion, are also especially preferably suitable for the receiving container. Especially preferably, such multilayer structures can have a barrier coating or barrier layer. Such barriers and their implementation or formation in a multilayer composite are sufficiently known from the state of the art. They prevent the undesired diffusion of gases, for example the diffusing of oxygen into the packaging tube, the diffusion of liquids, for example the diffusing of essential oils out of the packaging tube, and/or the diffusion of solids, for example the migration of pigments into the substance to be stored and/or into the package, or vice versa, for example the migration of fragrances, caffeine and so forth out of the substance to be stored and/or out of the package.

Such a barrier coating or barrier layer can also be generated by coating and/or evaporating a single-layer or multi-layer material with metallic or ceramic coatings. The metallic coatings are based preferably on aluminum. The ceramic coatings are based, for example, on a silicon oxide compound.

The material of the receiving container is advantageously selected or influenced in such a manner that the receiving container itself or at least a surface is waterproof. If necessary, this can also be achieved by a coating on the surface(s) of the receiving container.

The wall thickness or material thickness of the receiving container can be advantageously less than 0.1 mm, particularly advantageously less than 0.05 mm, in particular less than 0,035 mm. The materials for forming the receiving container are particularly advantageously drawn in order to, on the one hand, enable particularly thin walls and, on the other hand, give the receiving container an increased sturdiness.

The at least one shaped body, which in the tube state, i.e., in particular before the irreversible separation of the separable connection, preferably at least partially encloses the receiving container, gives the package the mechanical, static and/or dynamic sturdiness, which is to be understood to mean that both during the actual handling of the tube, i.e., in particular when the packaged or stored substance is pressed out, but also apart from the active use, namely during the storage, the at least one shaped body essentially contributes to and/or provides the mechanical sturdiness of the tube.

With the separation or separability from the receiving container, it is advantageously achieved that the shape, the cross section and other design features of the shaped body can be selected and designed much more freely than in other, known tubes. Thus, not only advantages from an optically aesthetic view can be generated. Due to this design freedom, technical aspects can also be advantageously influenced. The free choice of the design of the shaped body enables, for example, a larger packing density of unfilled or filled tubes, which in turn leads to better utilization of the transport volume when they are shipped and transported. With respect to the utilization and many more other aspects, the design freedom regarding the shaped bodies can also be used advantageously.

Furthermore, the at least one shaped body can lead to a pleasant grip or surface feel. Advantageously, the recyclable material of the at least one shaped body can contain fibers or have components containing fibers; particularly advantageously, the at least one shaped body can have paper, paperboard, cardboard, wood fibers, cotton fibers, papier-mache and comparable materials, such as pulp compression-molded materials. Alternatively, the material of the at least one shaped body can also have metal or metal foils. Advantageously the at least one shaped part may be plastically and/or elastically deformable. The deformability can result both from the material itself and from the kind of processing, in particular the forming of the material for the production or formation of the shaped body. The deformability can also be created indirectly or directly by the manner in which the connection to the other tube components is realized, in particular the first separable connection.

Advantageously, the at least one shaped part can be waterproof or at least splash-proof. For this purpose, a part of the surface or the entire surface of the shaped part can have an impregnation or a thin coating. These impregnations or coatings are to be realized advantageously in such a manner that their presence does not impair the recyclability of the shaped part. Accordingly, for example impregnations or coatings with latex or waxes which can be removed or reused in a corresponding recycling process are possible. Generally, advantageously, the shaped part may consist of a multilayer material or have sections of multilayer material. As a result, the properties of the shaped part can be adapted even better to the use and the environmental influences. Multilayer shaped parts can preferably also be produced by winding individual layers which are not connected to each other or are connected only along one side or edge.

Furthermore, the at least one shaped body may be bio-degradable as a whole. In this case, in which then also any coating or impregnation is correspondingly bio-degradable, the entire shaped part together with the coating or impregnation can be degraded with high sustainability and returned into the raw material cycle, in particular if the starting materials come from renewable or regrowing resources.

Furthermore, advantageously, the at least one shaped part may be printed on a surface, preferably an outer surface, or a label may be attached to, in particular glued on, said surface. In particular when labels are used, said labels can be connected to the shaped part in such a manner that they can be detached as easily as possible and, if possible, completely or fully from the shaped part in order to enable a sort-pure recycling of the shaped part. On the whole, however, when printing or labeling the shaped part, it is achieved or at least promoted that the receiving container is not printed or otherwise provided or mixed with paint or pigments, so that the receiving container remains especially preferably free of dyes, lacquers or pigments. This is particularly advantageous since, in contrast to paper or similar materials, printed plastics, such as those for the advantageous configuration of the receiving container, can be recycled in a particularly difficult manner, which can be prevented, at the best completely, in the case of a printed or labeled shaped body. Preferably, in many cases of the tube according to the invention, not only the at least one shaped body, but, at the best, also the receiving container together with other components of the packaging tube which are possibly connected to said receiving container can be recycled.

According to the invention, the intention is that at least two separable, form-fitting connections are realized between the shaped body and the receiving container or a component of the packaging tube connected to the receiving container. In a particularly advantageous manner, this can lead to an even more sort-pure separation and an improved recyclability of the tube, in particular if the tube head or the receiving container alone or by itself is made of a recyclable plastic, in particular a mono-material. At the same time, this can improve the sturdiness of the tube during use. Furthermore, this can prevent an unintentional displacement or migration of the receiving container in the tube, which could lead to an impairment of the functionality or even a malfunction.

According to another, particularly preferred embodiment of the packaging tube, the first and/or second separable connection may be realized as a form-fit connection which is reinforced in sections, preferably at points, with a coupling agent. As a result, the existence of the separable connection during handling of the packaging tube can be guaranteed in a particularly advantageous manner. Furthermore, the separable connections are secured against slipping during the manufacture of the tube. In addition, this allows, for example, that before the final filling and closing, which preferably takes place at the rear side, a basic securing between the receiving container and the shaped body can be produced in a rear area of the packaging tube opposite the tube head, even without the final formation of the separable connection, so that a simple filling of the receiving container is made possible by the coupling agent keeping the receiving container open without, for example, having to be folded over the end of a shaped body.

According to another, advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, the coupling agent may be detachable from a surface of the shaped body and/or receiving container without residues. This advantageously ensures that only small or smallest residues of the other one of the materials or the other one of the material groups or classes remain on the partner of the separable connection after the irreversible separation. This further improves the sort purity of the respective components.

According to another, advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, the at least second separable connection may be realized in a rear area of the packaging tube opposite the tube head, preferably as a smooth or folded and/or corrugated closing seam, in particular by microscopic embossing. In this case, the second separable connection is formed preferably open at first, which allows the receiving container to be filled with the substance to be stored at the rear before the closing seam is closed by embossing. Due to the microscopic embossing, a particularly reliable connection can be guaranteed in this case, which nevertheless allows a separation of the packaging tube, which is in particular sort-pure. The microscopic embossing is usually caused by the roughness or unevenness of the inside of the shaped body, i.e., the cardboard or paper, for example. When the separable connection is realized in the form of a form-fit connection, the material of the receiving container is plastically deformed, preferably under pressure and/or heat exposure, so that it takes on the surface structure of the adjacent inside of the shaped body. This embossing of the receiving container can form a quite sturdy and permanently sturdy connection, even without a material bond being formed, for example by melting the receiving container. Therefore, it can be advantageous if a material is selected for the shaped body which has a certain roughness, preferably selectively on an inside.

According to another, advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, in the rear area of the packaging tube opposite the tube head, the receiving container may extend in a longitudinal direction of the tube at least up to the end of the shaped body there so that the second separable connection is capable of being realized in a single and/or common connection step. Thereby, the closing of the second separable connection during the production can be realized particularly easily and, if necessary, in an automated manner. Preferably, the single connection step can simultaneously also be a closure step in which the receiving container is closed, preferably on the rear side. Preferably, the shaped body can also be closed in the same production or processing step. In addition, this allows the receiving container to be formed with a minimum amount of material and as little waste as possible, while it simultaneously prevents the receiving container from detaching undesirably from the shaped body or being displaced or slipping within the tube during use of the tube and the associated mechanical stresses and deformations. According to another, advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, the shaped body may have perforations, preferably for realizing tear strips, in the area of the separable connection. This can particularly advantageously enable an irreversible separation between the at least one shaped body and the receiving container. Moreover, the embodiment is particularly desirable since the user is used to such perforations and/or tear strips from different areas or different kinds of packages. In addition, such perforations have the advantage that, without corresponding tearing movements and the corresponding acting forces and impulses, the connection is very sturdy and experiences no or barely any fatigue or wear, especially during normal use of the packaging tube, i.e., when removing the packaged or stored substance in portions or completely, so that the tube can be used almost in an unlimited manner and as intended.

According to another, particularly preferred configuration of the packaging tube, a first shaped body may realize an outer wrapping of a tube shell. This configuration is particularly advantageous since the tube shell constitutes a large part of the surface of the packaging tube and a considerable part of the weight or the volume of the packaging tube. If this corresponding part or proportion is largely realized by a recyclable shaped body, a correspondingly large part or proportion of the entire packaging tube can be separated after the intended use and transferred into a recycling cycle due to the design of the separable connection to the receiving container or to components of the packaging tube connected thereto according to the invention.

The shaped body as an outer wrapping of the tube shell can enclose and/or limit the receiving container or a part of the receiving container on the inside. Preferably, the outer wrapping of the tube shell can be realized by forming a flat or sheet-like material, for example in the form of a thin plate or a sheet of a recyclable material. The outer wrapping may advantageously be entirely closed or sealed. As a result, the receiving container is not visible or recognizable in the area of the tube shell before the separation of the separable connection. However, as will still be explained in detail below, advantageous embodiments, in which the outer wrapping or the tube shell is only closed in some areas or in sections and is not closed or open in other areas or sections, are also possible. This can enable a simple and effective production, in particular forming, of the shaped body in a particularly advantageous manner and, at the same time, achieve corresponding advantages in use, for example by enabling a view of the internally disposed receiving container in sections or areas which are not closed or opened, so that the areas which are not closed can serve, for example, as windows in order to recognize or detect the filling level of the receiving container and thus of the packaging tube. Also, if the shaped body in the form of an outer wrapping of a tube shell is not completely sealed, a simplified separation of the separable connections after emptying the tube can be achieved by open areas or sections serving as points of application or engagement in order to irreversibly detach the separable connections.

Furthermore, the first separable connection may be realized between a tube head and the shaped body realizing the tube shell, the receiving container being connected, in particular welded, to the tube head. This configuration enables, for example, the use of plastic tube heads which are common and known in the state of the art. A particular advantage, when using plastic tube heads, is to be seen in the fact that already known and existing fabrication machines are used both for the production and at least partially also for the further processing of the tube heads, so that the total proportion of the packaging tube which can be fed into a recycling process after its use, indeed, possibly slightly decreases, but already existing fabrication and processing techniques and plants can be used, so that, in particular for the tube manufacturer, the additional or further expenditure for the production of a largely recyclable packaging tube decreases accordingly.

In this case, for the connection between a tube head, in particular a tube head made of plastic, and the receiving container, in particular if said receiving container is also made of plastic, for example of coextruded plastic or of multilayer laminate, it is possible to draw on a broad wealth of experience and on known methods and machines, because in this case, apart from possibly completely degradable plastics or plastics of biological origin, the essential difference between the connection of a tube head to a tube shell or tube cylinder consists in the fact that the receiving container according to the invention is substantially thinner or has a substantially thinner wall thickness than classical tube cylinders or tube shells.

Nevertheless, by realizing the separable connections with a shaped body, which preferably realizes or provides the outer wrapping of the tube shell, a packaging tube can be realized in a particularly advantageous manner, which can be recycled to a significant proportion, if not even to a large extent, since the irreversible separation of the separable connections takes place after use and at least the one shaped body can be recycled.

In another, particularly advantageous configuration of the packaging tube, a third separable connection may be realized between the receiving container and the tube head. This can result in a particularly advantageous manner in an even more sort-pure separation and an improved recyclability of the tube, in particular if the tube head or the receiving container alone or by itself is made of a recyclable plastic, in particular a mono-material. It is also advantageously possible to realize a third separable connection between the first shaped part and the receiving container, in particular if the first and/or second separable connection is not realized over the entire surface.

Furthermore, advantageously, a shaped body, preferably a second shaped body, may realize at least one part of a tube head, preferably a shoulder of a tube head. Thereby, the recyclability or the proportion of recyclable material of the packaging tube can be increased on the whole. In this case, preferably a first shaped body, preferably for realizing an outer wrapping of a tube shell, and the second shaped body can be made of identical or of different materials. For example, the shaped body that forms part of the tube head can be made of a correspondingly hard material, such as hard paperboard, whereas the shaped body for realizing the outer wrapping of the tube shell can be made of relatively deformable or less hard materials, such as paper or paperboard. If both shaped parts are made of the same material or at least of materials compatible for recycling, both a possibly very effective production and relatively minor problems when connecting the shaped parts with each other or to each other result therefrom. Furthermore, in this case, a uniform, in particular joint, recycling can be carried out. If the shaped parts are made of different materials, the production and connection is indeed sometimes more demanding or complex, but, in this case, the packaging tube can be even better adjusted and improved with regard to the mechanical properties and requirements.

According to another, advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, the first separable connection may be realized between a tube head and the receiving container, the receiving container being connected, in particular welded, to the tube head. In this case, for example, a part of the tube head, preferably even the entire tube head, can consist of a recyclable shaped body so that, after the separation of the first separable connection, the tube head and the shaped body realizing the outer wrapping of the tube shell are recycled, whereas the receiving container is disposed of separately. The receiving container can, of course, also be recycled if it consists of correspondingly recyclable material.

If the tube head partially consists of a shaped body of recyclable material, a part of the shaped body may advantageously be realized in such a manner that a closure or a closure mechanism can be attached to it. For example, the shaped body can be provided with a male thread for a screw cap having a female thread or, alternatively, with a snap ring to which a push-on cap with a flip-top lid can be attached.

Alternatively or additionally, the receiving container itself may advantageously also realize a part of the tube head, in particular a part of a closure mechanism of the tube head. Thus, for example, a tube head can be realized which is composed partially of a shaped body and partially of a receiving container so that, after the corresponding separation of the first separable connection, the tube head is split in two and the two parts of the tube head can be disposed of separately and possibly recycled.

Most preferably, the receiving container may have an outlet section monolithically connected to the rest of the receiving container in the area of an outlet opening. This monolithically connected outlet section can especially advantageously be produced by compacting and/or heating the material of the receiving container, if necessary, supported by a shaping process. Thus, for example, a receiving container which is on the whole tubular may undergo compaction in an outlet section having a correspondingly reduced diameter, said compaction then being shaped or formed into an outlet section of the receiving container in a shaping method, said outlet section then being designed monolithically with the rest of the receiving container, but, at the same time, having a correspondingly greater wall thickness and sturdiness, so that said outlet section of the receiving container is well suited for realizing or at least co-realizing parts of a tube head and/or parts of a closure mechanism of a tube head.

Preferably, the outlet section of the receiving container can also be guided out of the inside of the outlet hole and be folded over a part of the tube head, especially preferably, the outlet section can be folded over the outside up to a shoulder of the tube head. Thus, it can be achieved that the tube content comes into contact only with the inside of the receiving container and, possibly, a lid until it leaves the tube.

In other words, the receiving container may particularly advantageously extend at one end all the way into an outlet hole of a tube head or beyond it.

According to another, advantageous embodiment of the packaging tube, a bead, in particular an annular bead, may be formed by the receiving container, said bead being disposed on the shaped body in such a manner that the first separable connection is supported by a form-fitting engagement between the receiving container and the shaped body, in particular against a slipping along the longitudinal direction of the packaging tube. The form-fitting connection can particularly advantageously be formed by compaction with forming and/or heat treatment. Due to the bead, in this case, it can be achieved particularly easily that the form-fitting, separable connection, which is fixed in particular by surface adhesion, is secured against a slipping during handling, particularly when squeezing out the tube. Alternatively, to a bead or an annular bead, a plurality of individual beads, which are realized, for example, in a point-shaped manner or as strips along or perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation of the tube, can be provided.

The receiving container can be filled with the substance to be stored both at the rear and through an outlet hole. Therefore, the receiving container may initially be open on the rear side and have a closure, in particular a closure seam, which closes the initially open end after having been filled. Conversely, in the case of the filling through a future outlet hole, the receiving container could also be realized as a bladder, which is preferably seamless.

A closure of the packaging tube can conventionally be fixed to a tube head or be connected to it, irrespective of whether the tube head is realized as a shaped body or a part of a shaped body. For, example, it is possible that a tube head having a shaped body or realized as a shaped body has a male thread for screwing on a screw cap. Alternatively, the tube head can also have a snap ring in the case of a partial or complete realization by a shaped body in order to be able to receive and/or attach a pressure cap (push-on cap).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below, advantageous embodiments of the packaging tube according to the invention are explained in more detail with reference to schematically illustrated figures showing advantageous exemplary embodiments. In the figures:

FIG. 1a: shows a first perspective view of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 1b: shows a second perspective view of the packaging tube according to the invention according to FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2: shows a preliminary stage of a shaped body for realizing a packaging tube according to the illustration of FIGS. 1a and 1b;

FIG. 3: shows a packaging tube according to the invention according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 4a: shows a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention in a third embodiment;

FIG. 4b: shows a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 4c: shows a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 4d: shows a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 5a: shows a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a seventh embodiment;

FIG. 5b: shows a section through a part of a packaging tube according to the invention according to an eighth embodiment;

FIG. 6: shows a cross section through a tube cylinder of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a ninth embodiment in the direction of a longitudinal central axis;

FIG. 7: shows a perspective illustration of a part of a packaging tube according to the invention in a tenth embodiment;

FIG. 8: shows a label for being applied to a shaped part of a packaging tube according to the invention;

FIG. 9a: shows a perspective view of the rear end and a lateral section of the closing seam of a packaging tube according to the invention according to an eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 9b: shows a perspective view of the rear end and a lateral section of the closing seam of a packaging tube according to the invention according to a twelfth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1a and 1b show two perspective views of a tube 02 according to the invention. A closure 15 is realized on tube body 01 in head area 06 of tube 02, said closure 15 closing an outlet hole (not shown for reasons of clarity). Tube body 01 comprises an outer wrapping 19 of a tube shell 05. Tube shell 05 is realized by a shaped body 20 and partially encloses a receiving container 09. In this case, outer wrapping 19 of tube shell 05 has sections 21 which are not closed and generate edges 13 of tube shell 05 which are spaced apart from each other accordingly and between which receiving container 09 is freely accessible or visible. Tube shell 05 is closed in the area of tube end 07 and has a kink 08 there so that both sides 05.1 and 05.2 of tube shell 05 can be made of a common, preferably of a flat or sheet-shaped, material, as will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. Alternatively, the shaped body can also have several parts, preferably of the same material, which can be connected with each other or to each other, at least in sections. Thus, instead of kink 08, a connection, for example an adhesive bond, which, in this case, connects two individual parts in the form of two sides 05.1 and 05.2 with each other in sections in order to realize shaped part 20 and/or tube shell 05 can also be provided. Moreover, instead of kink 08, a second separable connection 22.1 realized as an embossed closing seam can also be provided, as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b.

Receiving container 09 (not shown completely) can be dimensioned in such a manner that, when it is filled, it has a smaller volume than the volume partially enclosed by tube shell 05. Alternatively, receiving container 09 can also be dimensioned in such a manner that it is limited in its volume capacity by the at least one shaped part 20. In this case folds form in the wall of receiving container 09 when it is filled, said folds resting on the inside of shaped part 20. Thus, receiving container 09 can, at least sectionally, be greater than the volume defined by shaped part 20.

As can be understood with the aid of FIGS. 1a and 1b, a shaping of the entire tube or tube shell 05, which substantially deviates from a cylindrical shape, is made possible by means of shaped part 20 and receiving container 09.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b, receiving container 09 may, for example, be connected to a tube head 06.1 (not illustrated in detail), which essentially corresponds to a classical tube head 06.1 made of plastic, at one end in area 06 of tube head 06.1, wherein both a shoulder extending circumferentially in the circumferential direction and an outlet area 23, possibly having a male thread for attaching a lid or closure 15, can be arranged. Tube head 06.1 and receiving container 09 connected to tube head 06.1 could be realized in a classical tube production method in which, however, receiving container 09 is realized many times thinner or having a significantly smaller wall thickness than a classical plastic tube shell. In this case, according to the invention, first shaped body 20 providing the outer wrapping of tube shell 05 is connected to tube head 06.1 and indirectly to receiving container 09 via a first separable, preferably form-fitting, connection 22. Separable connection 22 can have perforations (not illustrated). Furthermore, separable connection 22 can be realized by using an adhesive or coupling agents, preferably no or only insignificant amounts of adhesive or coupling agent being used. First separable connection 22 may also be realized by means of a welded joint between shaped part 20 and tube head 06.1, wherein, in this case, shaped part 20 made of a recyclable material can possibly have a corresponding coating in the area for realizing separable connection 22 in order to enable or improve the connections of the aforementioned kind.

As indicated in FIGS. 1a and 1b, first separable connection 22 can be realized preferably as a line connection which extends across the entire circumference and especially preferably concerns only a small fraction of the length of tube 06. Alternatively, separable connection 22 may also be discontinuous across the circumference. It is also possible to provide an additional second separable connection 22.1 between receiving container 09 and shaped part 20 in the area of the tube at the rear, facing away from tube head 06.1. This can be realized, for example, at points and distributed across the circumference; in particular, second separable connection 22.1 is realized as a corrugated or smooth closing seam, as shown in FIG. 9a and FIG. 9b in an exemplary manner. This separable connection 22.1 can facilitate or improve, for example, the filling of the tube, in particular of receiving container 09, at the rear by enabling a defined position or a defined state of receiving container 09 in the area of the rear end of the tube for an unfilled tube and, thus, facilitating a machine filling. The closure of second separable connection 22.1 is preferably carried out by embossing, adhesive being used at least only in amounts which do not impair the detachment of the separable connection without tools.

After the tube production, separable connections 22.1 and 22.2 are preferably maintained until the disposal of tube 02 after its use and are accordingly similarly sturdy as first separable connection 22. Second and third separable connections 22.1 and 22.2 may also be separable by hand and/or without tools, preferably by forming a tear.

FIG. 2 shows a flat state of first shaped part 20, which can be produced, for example punched out, for example, from a sheet of a thin material, such as a paper material or a cardboard material. In the illustration of FIG. 2, shaped part 20 consists of a continuous piece of a recyclable material and/or a material containing renewable raw materials. As already described in relation to FIGS. 1a and 1b, shaped part 20 comprises a kink, wherein, alternatively, a separable connection 22.1 realized by embossing as a smooth or corrugated closing seam can be provided, as it is shown in an exemplary manner in FIG. 9a and FIG. 9b. Advantageously, two sides 05.1 and 05.2 of shaped part 20 may be connected to the rest of the tube components, in particular to tube head 06.1, only via first separable connection 22. In this case, shaped part 20 comprises a label 18. Label 18 can comprise instructions for use and/or disposal. Label 18 can preferably be detachable from shaped body 20.

It is possible to connect parts of edges 13 of shaped part 20 or all edges 13 of shaped part 20 to each other. If all edges 13 are connected to each other and/or to the other components of tube 02, for example within the framework of first separable connection 22, particularly advantageously, a window 14 can be realized by a recess 12 in shaped part 20, as shown in the illustration of FIG. 3.

Due to recess 12 and/or window 14 in tube shell 05 realized by shaped part 20, a viewing window on receiving container 09 is also possible. If receiving container 09 is transparent, this also provides a view of the substance to be stored and/or packaged inside the packaging tube. Also in the embodiment of FIG. 3, a separable connection 22 extending across the circumference may be realized at a transition (not illustrated in more detail) between shaped part 20 and tube head 06. In this case, after the intended use of tube 02 according to the invention, first shaped body 20 can be separated along separable connection 22 from the rest of packaging tube 02. In this case, the connection of separable connection 22 is irreversibly removed or separated. Subsequently, first shaped body 20, as it is illustrated for example in FIG. 2, can be disposed of separately from the other components of tube 02 and in particular recycled since shaped body 20 consists of a correspondingly recyclable material. If one part of tube 02, for example tube head 06.1 and/or receiving container 09, cannot be recycled, first separable connection 22 can be designed in such a manner that a rest of shaped body 20 remains after the separation of separable connection 22, but the separated part has no residues of a coating, a coupling agent or other impurities which impair recycling.

FIG. 4a shows a cross section through a tube head 06.1 or a tube head area 06 of tube 02 according to the invention in which shaped part 20 realizes, in addition to tube shell 05, also shoulder 03 of tube head 06 and an outlet section 29 of tube head 06.1 which limits outlet opening 04 at the end. Receiving container 09 is connected to shaped body 20 in the area of shoulder 03 of tube head 06.1. In this connection section 16, separable connection 22 extends circumferentially in the circumferential direction between receiving container 09 and shaped body 20 made of recyclable material. As illustrated in FIG. 4a, in this case, outer surface 25 of receiving container 09 is connected to inner surface 26 of shoulder 03 of tube head 06.1.

Shaped part 20 is preferably provided with a waterproof coating, for example a rubber coating, in outlet section 29, starting from separable connection 22 from the inside and optionally from the outside. In addition, outlet section 29 of tube head 06.1 comprises a snap ring 17, to which a push-on closure can be anchored.

FIG. 4c shows a variation with respect to FIG. 4a, in which an inner surface 27 of receiving container 09 is connected to inner surface 26 of shaped part 20, in particular shoulder 03 of tube head 06.1, for which purpose receiving container 09 has a bending section 28 on one end, in particular in the area of tube head 06. In this embodiment, it is ensured that the material to be stored or to be packaged or the substance to be stored or to be packaged can come into contact only with inner surface 27 of receiving container 09. Thereby, a contact with an end section or an outer surface 25 is prevented.

In FIGS. 4a and 4c, advantageously, a shaped body 20 can be provided which, in addition to tube shell 05, also realizes tube head 06.1. This shaped body can consist of one or several individual parts. In the case of a realization by several parts, advantageously, a stronger or stiffer material can be chosen for tube head 06.1 and a thinner and/or more deformable material can be chosen for the tube shell. Tube head 06.1 can, for example, be made of hard paperboard, whereas tube shell 05 can be made of a softer cardboard. Advantageously, separable connection 22 can be realized in the area of bending section 28.

The embodiment of FIG. 4b essentially corresponds to the embodiment already described in relation to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2, in which shaped body 20 essentially provides tube shell 05 and receiving container 09 is connected to a tube head 06.1 which is, for example, made of plastic. In this case, separable connection 22 extends at the transition between shaped part 20 providing tube shell 05 and tube head 06.1. In this area, an adhesive or a coupling agent can be disposed, for example in transition area 11. The connection between tube head 06.1 and receiving container 09 can also be realized as a third separable connection 22.2 if, for example—and, in this respect, in turning away from the description of FIGS. 1a and 1b—tube head 06.1 consists of a recyclable plastic which, however, does not belong to the material group or the same material as the recyclable material of shaped body 20. In this case, after an irreversible separation of the two separable connections 22 and 22.2, shaped part 20, tube head 06.1 and receiving container 09 can be disposed of separately, preferably tube head 06.1 and shaped body 20 being fed into a special or common recycling process.

Regarding the arrangement of the open end of receiving container 09 with respect to tube head 06.1, the embodiment of FIG. 4b essentially corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 4a. In FIG. 4d, an alternative embodiment is shown. There, shaped body 20 is also essentially realized in such a manner that it provides tube shell 05 or an outer wrapping of tube shell 05. Receiving container 09 is introduced into a transition area 11 between tube head 06 and shaped body 20 with its open end. In this case, separable connection 22 can extend between shaped body 20 and receiving container 09 and tube head 06, the connections between them being designed in such a manner that tube head 06 and receiving container 09 remain connected with each other when separable connection 22 is irreversibly separated by hand and/or without tools. Preferably, in total three separable connections 22, 22.1 and 22.2 may be realized, between shaped body 20 and tube head 06.1 and receiving container 09, between the shaped body and the receiving container at the rear end of the tube and between receiving container 09 and tube head 06.1. In this case, a separation of shaped body 20 from tube head 06.1 and receiving container 09 and another separation of tube head 06.1 from receiving container 09 can be achieved by means of a corresponding application of a force, in particular by means of a corresponding application of a force by hand and without tools, to separable connections 22, 22.1 and 22.2 so that tube head 06.1, receiving container 09 and shaped body 20 can each be disposed of separately and at the best recycled.

Another embodiment is sketched in the depiction of FIG. 5a. It serves merely as a schematic illustration of a principle. This is because the illustrated tube or tube head 06.1 shows very schematically a receiving container 09 compacted in the area of outlet hole 04 and in the area of outlet section 29, the compaction of receiving container 09 being caused, for example, by a reduction of a diameter of receiving container 09 in outlet section 29 and in the area of outlet hole 04.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5a, the receiving container may advantageously be guided up to outlet hole 04 and/or realize it. In contrast to other embodiments according to the invention, as for example in FIGS. 4a and 4b, thus, on the whole, a contact of the substance to be stored with the tube head is prevented.

In order to be able to use this compaction advantageously, receiving container 09 may be disposed not only loosely in the compacted state, as could be suggested on the basis of the schematic illustration of FIG. 5a, but the compaction is accompanied by forming and/or heat treatment so that a section of receiving container 09 is realized as a compacted and/or monolithic continuation, as shown in FIG. 5b in an exemplary manner, said continuation having a correspondingly greater wall thickness and, thus, co-realizing parts of a tube head 06.1 or merely reinforcing other parts of tube head 06.1, for example in a mechanical regard. The compaction of the material of the receiving container in the area of outlet section 29 can be carried out, for example, with a heated male mold. Advantageously, a bead, in particular an annular bead 32, can be provided on receiving container 09 in the area of tube head 06.1, for example at the level of a snap ring 17 which secures form-fitting, separable connection 22 in particular against a slipping along the longitudinal direction of the tube.

In this case, in the example of FIG. 5a, separable connection 22 can be realized at different places or in different areas, for example, separable connection 22 can be realized in the area of outlet hole 04. However, a realization of separable connection 22 in the lower section of outlet section 04 or even in the area of shoulder 03, if necessary, even in the area of tube shell 05, is also possible in principle.

As a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 5a, in addition, receiving container 09 may be guided out of outlet hole 04, folded or turned inside out over outlet section 29 and be guided to the rear in the outer area or on the outer surface of the head and/or the tube. In this case, a separable connection can be realized on the outer surface of head 06.1 or shaped body 20. Preferably, receiving container 09 can transition into itself or form a double-walled tubing connected to itself, in the interior of which shaped body 20 and/or tube head 06.1 are/is encased, in this case. In this case, the receiving container can serve as a coating in the outer area. Preferably, receiving container 09 can also be separated from the at least one shaped body in the outer area of the tube by means of a separable connection without substantial residues.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section through another embodiment of a tube according to the invention along a longitudinal axis. Said tube differs especially with regard to shaped body 20 from the embodiments of FIGS. 1a to 3. FIG. 6 shows that receiving container 09 is enclosed by a shaped body 20 formed by rolling up a strip of recyclable material and providing tube shell 05 or the outer wrapping of tube shell 05 of the tube. A wound embodiment of shaped body 20 for providing an outer wrapping of a tube shell can, for example, enable an advantageous attachment in which tube head 06.1 and the receiving container already attached thereto are rotated about a longitudinal axis. The winding can have one or several layers. In the case of several layers, said layers can advantageously be unconnected or connected to each other only on a longitudinal side.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the packaging tube according to the invention in which shoulder 03 is flat. Shoulder 03 and shell 05 can, for example, be composed of one or of two separate shaped parts 20. When two shaped parts 20 and 30 are provided, in this embodiment and also in other embodiments, the several shaped parts 20 and 30 may be connected to each other by crimping. Instead of a snap ring 17, the rest of tube head 06.1 comprises a thread 31 for the attachment of a closure. Outlet section 29 of the tube can, for example, be realized in total by a compacted and/or formed section of a receiving container 09 which is then guided through a corresponding opening in second shaped part 30 or in common shaped part 20 for realizing shoulder 03 and shell 05. In this case, a separable connection 22 can be realized in the area of shoulder 03, for example. Alternatively, separable connection 22 can also be realized in the area of tube shell 05. The opening or the edge of the opening could also serve for the realization of separable connection 22.

FIG. 8 shows, for example, a label having instructions for disposal and being able to be attached to the tube according to the invention. Of course, tube shell 05 can also be printed with such an instruction. However, receiving container 09 may particularly advantageously be dye-free or pigment-free in order to enable or improve also the reuse or the recycling of receiving container 09.

FIGS. 9a and 9b show examples of an embodiment of the rear end of a packaging tube according to the invention. In this case, second separable connection 22.1 is realized as a smooth closing seam, as in FIG. 9a, or as a folded closing seam, as in FIG. 9b, for example. Advantageously, separable connection 22.1 is realized by, in particular microscopic, embossing, the material of receiving container 09 being plastically deformed preferably under pressure and/or heat exposure so that it takes on the surface structure of the adjacent inside of shaped body 20. Advantageously, before the closure of separable connection 22.1, an insignificant amount of adhesive or coupling agent can provide a basic securing of the connection of receiving container 09 and shaped body 20, which results in separable connection 22.1 being secured, in particular, against a slipping before or during closing.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

• • 01 tube body
  • 02 tube/packaging tube
  • 03 shoulder
  • 04 outlet hole
  • 05 tube shell
  • 05.1 side of the tube shell
  • 05.2 side of the tube shell
  • 06 tube head area
  • 06.1 tube head
  • 07 tube end
  • 08 kink
  • 09 receiving container
  • 11 transition area
  • 12 recess
  • 13 edges
  • 14 window
  • 15 closure
  • 16 connection section
  • 17 snap ring
  • 18 label
  • 19 outer wrapping
  • 20 first shaped body
  • 21 sections of the tube shell, which are not closed
  • 22 separable connection
  • 22.1 separable connection (second)
  • 22.2 separable connection (third)
  • 23 outlet area
  • 25 outer surface
  • 26 inner surface
  • 27 inner surface
  • 28 bending section
  • 29 outlet section
  • 30 second shaped part
  • 31 thread
  • 32 bead

Claims

1. A packaging tube having a receiving container (09) for directly storing a substance to be packaged or to be stored and at least one shaped body (20, 30) for providing a mechanical, static and/or dynamic sturdiness of the packaging tube (02),

wherein

the shaped body (20, 30) consists of a recyclable material and the receiving container (09) of a material which is adjusted to the substance to be packaged, at least one separable, form-fitting connection (22) being realized between the shaped body (20, 30) and the receiving container (09) or a component of the packaging tube (02) connected to the receiving container (09), said connection (22) being designed in such a manner that, when the packaging tube (02) is used as intended, the connection lasts and an irreversible separation of the separable connection (22) by hand and/or without tools is possible, at least two separable, form-fitting connections (22, 22.1) being realized between the shaped body (20, 30) and the receiving container (09) or a component of the packaging tube (02) connected to the receiving container (09).

2. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

the first and/or second separable connection (22, 22.1) are/is realized as a form-fit connection which is reinforced in sections, preferably at points, with a coupling agent.

3. The packaging tube according to claim 2,

wherein

the coupling agent is detachable from a surface of the shaped body and/or receiving container without residues.

4. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

the at least second separable connection (22.1) is realized in a rear area of the packaging tube opposite the tube head as a smooth or folded closing seam.

5. The packaging tube according to claim 4,

wherein

in the rear area of the packaging tube opposite the tube head, the receiving container extends in a longitudinal direction of the tube at least up to the end of the shaped body there so that the second separable connection is capable of being realized in a single and/or common connection step.

6. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

the shaped body (20, 30) has perforations for realizing tear strips, in the area of the separable connection (22).

7. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

a first shaped body (20) realizes an outer wrapping (19) of a tube shell (05).

8. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

the first separable connection (22) is realized between a tube head (06.1) and the shaped body (20) realizing the tube shell (05), the receiving container (09) being connected to the tube head (06.1).

9. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

a third separable connection (22.2) is realized between the receiving container (09) and the tube head (06.1).

10. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

a shaped body (20) realizes at least one part of a tube head (06.1).

11. The packaging tube according to claim 10,

wherein

the first separable connection (22) is realized between a tube head (06) and the receiving container (09), the receiving container (09) being connected to the tube head (06).

12. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

the receiving container (09) realizes a part of a tube head (06. 1).

13. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

the receiving container (09) has an outlet section monolithically connected to the rest of the receiving container (09) in the area of an outlet area (29).

14. The packaging tube according to claim 13,

wherein

the outlet section is realized by compacted and/or formed plasticized material of the receiving container (09).

15. The packaging tube according to claim 1,

wherein

the receiving container (09) extends at one end all the way into an outlet hole (04) of a tube head (06) or beyond it.

16. The packaging tube according to claim 14,

wherein

a bead is formed by the receiving container (09), said bead being disposed on the shaped body (20, 30) in such a manner that the separable connection (22) is supported by a form-fitting engagement between the receiving container (09) and the shaped body (20, 30) against a slipping along the longitudinal direction of the packaging tube.

17. (canceled)

18. The packaging tube according to claim 1, wherein the irreversible separation is by forming a tear.

19. The packaging tube according to claim 10, wherein the shaped body is a second shaped body and the part of the tube head is a shoulder (30) of the tube head (06.1).

20. The packaging tube according to claim 12, wherein the receiving container defines a part of a closure mechanism of the tube head (06.1).

21. The packaging tube according to claim 16, wherein the bead is an annular bead.