Device, in particular for closing a top portion of a food container, consisting of a laminate with a peeled and folded-back edge region

1. A device ( 100 ) comprising a first fixing element ( 103 ), a further fixing element ( 104 ) and a folded planar composite ( 101 );

wherein the first fixing element ( 103 ) comprises a first fixing surface ( 105 ) and the further fixing element ( 104 ) comprises a further fixing surface ( 106 );

wherein the folded planar composite ( 101 ) is at least partially fixed between the first fixing surface ( 105 ) and the further fixing surface ( 106 );

wherein the folded planar composite ( 101 ) is a container precursor ( 102 ) surrounding an interior ( 113 ), and comprises a first composite region ( 107 ) and a further composite region ( 108 ) both of which belong to a longitudinal seam ( 111 ) of the container precursor ( 102 );

wherein the first composite region ( 107 ) comprises a first layer sequence comprising, as layers superimposing one another in the direction from the further fixing surface ( 106 ) to the first fixing surface ( 105 ), a first composite layer ( 201 ), a second composite layer ( 202 ), a third composite layer ( 203 ) and a fourth composite layer ( 204 );

wherein, in the first composite region ( 107 ), the third composite layer ( 203 ) is joined to the fourth composite layer ( 204 );

wherein the further composite region ( 108 ) comprises a further layer sequence, comprising, as layers superimposing one another in the direction from the further fixing surface ( 106 ) to the first fixing surface ( 105 ), the first composite layer ( 201 ), the second composite layer ( 202 ) and the fourth composite layer ( 204 );

wherein, in the further composite region ( 108 ), the second composite layer ( 202 ) is joined to the fourth composite layer ( 204 );

wherein the further composite region ( 108 ) is adjacent to the first composite region ( 107 );

wherein the first composite layer ( 201 ) comprises a first carrier layer ( 205 );

wherein the second composite layer ( 202 ) comprises a second carrier layer ( 208 );

wherein the third composite layer ( 203 ) comprises a third carrier layer ( 209 );

wherein the fourth composite layer ( 204 ) comprises a fourth carrier layer ( 212 );

wherein, in the first composite region ( 107 ), the first carrier layer ( 205 ) or the fourth carrier layer ( 212 ) or each of both is characterised by a greater layer thickness than the second carrier layer ( 208 ) or the third carrier layer ( 209 ) or each of both;

wherein, in the further composite region ( 108 ), the second carrier layer ( 208 ) is characterised by a greater layer thickness than in the first composite region ( 107 );

wherein the further fixing surface ( 106 ) comprises a recess ( 213 );

wherein the first composite region ( 107 ) and the further composite region ( 108 ) are each at least partially located between the recess ( 213 ) and the first fixing surface ( 105 );

wherein each of the first carrier layer ( 205 ), the second carrier layer ( 208 ), the third carrier layer ( 209 ) and the fourth carrier layer ( 212 ) comprises a cardboard which has a residual moisture content in a range from 4 to 15 wt.-%;

wherein the first fixing element ( 103 ) is a sonotrode, the further fixing element ( 104 ) is an anvil formed to include the recess ( 213 ), the first fixing surface ( 105 ) does not include a groove or recess, and the further fixing surface ( 106 ) is formed without a plurality of ribs arranged in a region of the recess ( 213 ) and a direction of which is not parallel to the longitudinal seam ( 111 ).

2. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first composite layer ( 201 ) comprises, as first composite layer sequence in the direction from the further fixing surface ( 106 ) to the first fixing surface ( 105 ), the first carrier layer ( 205 ) and a first barrier layer ( 206 );

wherein the second composite layer ( 202 ) comprises, as second composite layer sequence in the direction from the further fixing surface ( 106 ) to the first fixing surface ( 105 ), a second barrier layer ( 207 ) and the second carrier layer ( 208 );

wherein the third composite layer ( 203 ) comprises, as third composite layer sequence in the direction from the further fixing surface ( 106 ) to the first fixing surface ( 105 ), the third carrier layer ( 209 ) and a third barrier layer ( 210 );

wherein the fourth composite layer ( 204 ) comprises, as fourth composite layer sequence in the direction from the further fixing surface ( 106 ) to the first fixing surface ( 105 ), a fourth barrier layer ( 211 ) and the fourth carrier layer ( 212 ).

3. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the sonotrode comprises one selected from the group consisting of an alloy, comprising at least 90 wt.-% titanium or aluminium or both, based on the weight of the alloy; a steel; and a piezo-ceramic or a combination of at least two thereof.

4. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first composite region ( 107 ) is characterised by a first width ( 109 );

wherein the first width ( 109 ) is in a range from 1 to 10 mm.

5. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the further composite region ( 108 ) is characterised by a further width ( 110 ); wherein the further width ( 110 ) is in a range from 1 to 10 mm.

6. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the recess ( 213 ) is bordered on opposite sides of the recess ( 213 ) by a first edge ( 304 ) and a further edge ( 303 );

wherein the first edge ( 304 ) comprises a straight first edge section ( 304 );

wherein the further edge ( 303 ) comprises a straight further edge section ( 303 );

wherein the straight first edge section ( 304 ) and the straight further edge section ( 303 ) confine an angle ( 305 ) in a range from 5 to 30°.

7. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, in the first composite region ( 107 ), the layer thickness of the first carrier layer ( 205 ) or of the fourth carrier layer ( 212 ) or of each of both is 1.1 to 20 times as great as the layer thickness of the second carrier layer ( 208 ) or of the third carrier layer ( 209 ) or of each of both.

8. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, in the further composite region ( 108 ), the layer thickness of the second carrier layer ( 208 ) is 1.1 to 20 times as great as the layer thickness of this second carrier layer ( 208 ) in the first composite region ( 107 ).

9. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, in the first composite region ( 107 ), the second composite layer ( 202 ) is not joined to the third composite layer ( 203 ).

10. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, in the first composite region ( 107 ),

a) a surface of the second carrier layer ( 208 ) which is facing the third carrier layer ( 209 ), and

b) a surface of the third carrier layer ( 209 ) which is facing the second carrier layer ( 208 )

each comprises no top layer and is joined to no top layer.

11. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the folded planar composite ( 101 ) is constructed in one piece.

12. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 213 ) has a depth ( 214 ) in a range from 0.1 to 5 mm.

13. The device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the further fixing surface ( 106 ) is a planar rectangular side surface and the recess ( 213 ) defines a rectangular void.

14. A method which comprises steps of providing the device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 and joining of the first composite layer ( 201 ) to the second composite layer ( 202 ).

15. A method ( 400 ) comprising as method steps ( 401 to 404 )

a) Provision of a folded planar composite ( 101 ) which is a container precursor ( 102 ) surrounding an interior ( 113 ),

wherein the folded planar composite ( 101 ) comprises a first composite layer ( 201 ), a second composite layer ( 202 ), a third composite layer ( 203 ), a fourth composite layer ( 204 ), a first composite region ( 107 ) and a further composite region ( 108 );

wherein the first composite region ( 107 ) and the further composite region ( 108 ) both belong to a longitudinal seam ( 111 ) of the container precursor ( 102 );

wherein an intermediate region ( 500 ) is located between the first composite layer ( 201 ) and the second composite layer ( 202 );

wherein the first composite layer ( 201 ) comprises a first carrier layer ( 205 );

wherein the second composite layer ( 202 ) comprises a second carrier layer ( 208 ); wherein the third composite layer ( 203 ) comprises a third carrier layer ( 209 );

wherein the fourth composite layer ( 204 ) comprises a fourth carrier layer ( 212 );

wherein the first composite region ( 107 ) comprises a first layer sequence, comprising as layers superimposing one another in the direction from the intermediate region ( 500 ) through the first layer sequence, the second composite layer ( 202 ), the third composite layer ( 203 ) and the fourth composite layer ( 204 );

wherein, in the first composite region ( 107 ), the third composite layer ( 203 ) is joined to the fourth composite layer ( 204 );

wherein, in the first composite region ( 107 ), the first carrier layer ( 205 ) or the fourth carrier layer ( 212 ) or each of both is characterised by a greater layer thickness than the second carrier layer ( 208 ) or the third carrier layer ( 209 ) or each of both;

wherein the further composite region ( 108 ) comprises a further layer sequence, comprising as layers superimposing one another in the direction from the intermediate region ( 500 ) through the further layer sequence, the second composite layer ( 202 ) and the fourth composite layer ( 204 );

wherein, in the further composite region ( 108 ), the second composite layer ( 202 ) is joined to the fourth composite layer ( 204 );

wherein, in the further composite region ( 108 ), the second carrier layer ( 208 ) is characterised by a greater layer thickness than in the first composite region ( 107 );

wherein each of the first carrier layer ( 205 ), the second carrier layer ( 208 ), the third carrier layer ( 209 ) and the fourth carrier layer ( 212 ) comprises a cardboard which has a residual moisture content in a range from 4 to 15 wt.-%;

b) Provision of a first fixing element ( 103 ), comprising a first fixing surface ( 105 ), and a further fixing element ( 104 ), comprising a further fixing surface ( 106 );

wherein the further fixing surface ( 106 ) comprises a recess ( 213 );

wherein the first fixing element ( 103 ) is a sonotrode, the further fixing element ( 104 ) is an anvil formed to include the recess ( 213 ), and the first fixing surface ( 105 ) does not include a groove or recess;

c) Contacting the fourth composite layer ( 204 ) with the first fixing surface ( 105 ), the first composite layer ( 201 ) with the further fixing surface ( 106 ), and the first composite layer ( 201 ) with the second composite layer ( 202 );

wherein the first composite region ( 107 ) and the further composite region ( 108 ) are each at least partially located between the recess ( 213 ) and the first fixing surface ( 105 ); and

d) Joining the first composite layer ( 201 ) to the second composite layer ( 202 );

wherein in step d), the further fixing surface ( 106 ) is formed without a plurality of ribs which are arranged in a region of the recess ( 213 ) and a direction of which is not parallel to the longitudinal seam ( 111 ).

16. The method ( 400 ) according to claim 15 , wherein, in method step d) ( 404 ), the first fixing surface ( 105 ) or the further fixing surface ( 106 ) or both vibrates against the planar composite ( 101 ) with

a) a frequency in a range from 10 to 50 kHz, or

b) an amplitude in a range from 3 to 20 μm, or

c) both.

17. The method ( 400 ) according to claim 15 , wherein, in method step d) ( 404 ), the joining is a sealing by transfer of an ultrasonic vibration from the first fixing element ( 103 ) or from the further fixing element ( 104 ) or from both to the folded planar composite ( 101 ).

18. The method ( 400 ) according to claim 17 , wherein the ultrasonic vibration is excited for a duration in a range of from 50 to 500 ms.

19. The method ( 400 ) according to claim 15 ,

wherein, in method step d) ( 404 ), the joining is a closing of the container precursor ( 102 ).

20. The method ( 400 ) according to claim 19 , wherein, before method step c) ( 403 ), a foodstuff is introduced into the container precursor ( 102 ).

21. The method ( 400 ) according to claim 19 , wherein, in method step d) ( 404 ), a closed container ( 700 ) is obtained,

wherein the closed container ( 700 ) is autoclaved or pasteurised or both.

22. The method ( 400 ) according to claim 21 , wherein, before method step c), ( 403 ) the container precursor ( 102 ) is sterilised.