Pouring element and composite package with improved opening behaviour
Illustrated and described is a pouring element for a composite package, including a monolithic main body with a flange, a hollow cylindrical spout, which defines a central axis, and a closure part formed in the spout, which runs substantially orthogonal to the central axis, with a weakening zone, a hollow cylindrical cutting element movably guided in the spout with at least one cutting tooth for severing the weakening zone to open the spout and composite package, a reclosable screw cap, which serves to drive the cutting element when the composite package is opened for the first time. Two alternative composite packages for liquid foodstuffs are also described, which are provided such that a pouring element according to the invention is integrated into the gable region of the composite package. An overall more favourable alternative of a pouring element without additional barrier foil is designed such that the main body consists of at least 92% by weight of HDPE and according to ASTM D3985 has an oxygen transmission rate between 12 and 23 ml O 2 /(m 2 *day), measured through a measuring surface which is orthogonal to the central axis and runs through the flange of the main body.
1 . A pouring element for a composite package, comprising:
a monolithic main body with a flange, a hollow cylindrical spout, which defines a central axis, and a closure part formed in the spout, which runs substantially orthogonal to the central axis, with a weakening zone,
a hollow cylindrical cutting element movably guided in the spout with at least one cutting tooth for severing the weakening zone to open the spout and composite package,
a reclosable screw cap, which serves to drive the cutting element when the composite package is opened for the first time,
wherein the main body consists of at least 92% by weight of HDPE and according to ASTM D3985 has an oxygen transmission rate between 12 and 23 ml O 2 /(m 2 *day), measured through a measuring surface which is orthogonal to the central axis and runs through the flange of the main body,
wherein the weakening zone has less than 50% of the height of the remaining closure part measured parallel to the central axis,
wherein the cutting tooth extends at the end facing the weakening zone in a circumferential direction in a plane orthogonal to the central axis and that the cutting element is thickened radially inwards such that it protrudes over an intermediate region in an assembled state and comes into contact therewith during an opening process, and
wherein the main body is molded as a single component and excludes a separately applied barrier foil.
2 . The pouring element according to claim 1 ,
wherein the main body has an oxygen transmission rate of less than 20, preferably of less than 18, ml O 2 /(m 2 *day), measured through a measuring surface which is orthogonal to the central axis and runs through the flange of the main body.
3 . The pouring element according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the weakening zone is designed in a ring shape and connects directly to the spout.
4 . The pouring element according to claim 1 ,
wherein the entire pouring element allows a light transmission of less than 1% in a wavelength range of 350 to 550 nm before the first opening.
5 . The pouring element according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the cutting element and the screw cap also consist of polyolefins.
6 . The pouring element according to claim 5 ,
wherein
the entire pouring element consists of renewable raw materials.
7 . The pouring element according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the cutting element consists of polypropylene.
8 . The pouring element according to claim 7 ,
wherein
the polypropylene has a flexural modulus of at least 1900 MPa.
9 . The pouring element according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cutting element is designed to be radially thickened inwards in the region of the cutting tooth.
10 . The pouring element according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cutting element has two cutting teeth.
11 . A composite package for liquid foodstuffs wherein the pouring element according to claim 1 is integrated into a gable region of the composite package.
12 . The composite package for liquid foodstuffs according to claim 11 , wherein the gable region has polyhedral gable surfaces, which are correspondingly connected to a polyhedral flange of the pouring element.