Dispensing assembly for a lined carton and process and apparatus thereof

• US 6,213,388 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: Kellogg Company
• Inventors: Robotham, James O., Ours, David C., Bradley, David L., Borgerson, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/213,100
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.3, 229/117.31, 229/117.35, 229/125.04, 229/125.09, 229/125.14, 229/125.15, 229/215, 229/217, 222/541.5, 222/572, 222/573, 222/556, 222/563, 222/527, 222/528, 222/533, 531/332, 531/334, 532/81, 534/71, 534/78, 493/87
• US Class Current: 229/117.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/744 combined with swivelling devices having a bottom-wall and two side-walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/907 Lined

Abstract

Dispensing assembly for a carton with a sealed liner filled with product therein. A pour spout or flap is mounted to a dispensing opening to pivot between an open and closed positions. The liner is bonded to the pour spout or flap in a way that when the spout or flap is initially opened, that portion of the liner bonded thereto separates from the rest of the liner, providing access to the contents thereof.

Claims

1. Dispensing assembly comprising;

(a) a carton having a dispensing flap in a side wall thereof, said flap having top and side edges, and a liner therein filled with product and sealed;

(b) said filled liner being bonded to said side wall adjacent said dispensing up and to said flap along a weaken tear line corresponding to the top and side edges of said dispensing flap without breaking the seal of said liner whereby upon initial opening of said flap that portion of the liner bonded thereto separates along said weakened tear line providing access to the contents of said carton.

2. Dispensing assembly of claim 1 wherein said flap includes means to promote bonding with said liner.

3. Dispensing assembly of claim 2 wherein said means to promote bonding comprises a heat generator and a heat activatable adhesive.

4. Dispensing assembly of claim 3 wherein the heat generator is selected from the group consisting of a metal foil, a metallic salt and metal particles.

5. Dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) a carton having a dispensing opening in a side wall thereof and a liner therein;

(b) a pour spout mounted in said dispensing opening pivotable between open and closed positions and including a front panel;

(c) said liner being bonded to said front panel whereby upon initial opening of the pour spout that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from said liner providing access to the inter or thereof.

6. Dispensing assembly of claim 5 wherein said font panel includes means to promote bonding with said liner.

7. Dispensing assembly of claim 6 wherein said means to promote bonding comprises a heat generator and a heat activatable adhesive.

8. Dispensing assembly of claim 7 wherein the heat generator is selected from the our consisting a metal foil, a metallic salt and metal particles.

9. Dispensing assembly of claim 5 including means to lock said pour spout in its open and closed positions.

10. Dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) a carton having side and end walls and a sealed liner therein containing particulate product;

(b) an access panel severably connected to one wall of said carton and pivotable at an integral base thereof;

(c) a fitment having a dispensing opening and an upper margin portion attached to the interior of said one wall such that said access panel overlies said dispensing opening overlies said access panel; and

(d) a pour spout having side panels and a front panel, said front panel being bonded on one side to the interior of said access panel to pivot therewith between open and closed positions, and on the other side to said liner in an area corresponding to said dispensing opening such that upon initial opening of the pour spout, that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from said liner providing access to the contents thereof.

11. Dispensing assembly of claim 10 wherein said fitment includes side members adjacent said dispensing opening forming a narrow space with the side walls of said carton for receiving the side panels of said pour spout.

12. Dispensing assembly of claim 10 wherein the front panel of said spout has a tab adapted to interlock with releasable locking tab in the upper margin portion of said fitment.

13. Dispensing assembly of claim 10 wherein said wall having said access panel has a removable section overlying a segment of the upper margin portion of said fitment adjacent said dispensing opening.

14. Dispensing assembly of claim 10 wherein said side panels of said spout hive means to hold said spout in the open and closed positions.

15. Dispensing assembly of claim 11 wherein said fitment includes a cut-out member defining the dispensing opening which is bonded to the interior of the front panel of said pour spout.

16. Dispensing assembly of claim 15 wherein said cut-out member has center and vertical side sections, said center section being bonded to the interior of the front panel of said pour spout and said side sections extending into the side members of said fitment at right angles to said center section.

17. Dispensing assembly of claim 10 wherein the front panel of said spout includes means to promote bonding to said liner.

18. Dispensing assembly of claim 15 wherein said cut-out member includes means to promote bonding to said liner.

19. Dispensing assembly of claim 16 wherein said center and vertical side sections include means to promote bonding to said liner.

20. Dispensing assembly of claim 18 wherein said means to promote bonding comprises a heat generator and a heat activatable adhesive.

21. Dispensing assembly of claim 20 wherein said heat generator is a selected from the group consisting of metal foil, a metallic salt and metal particles.

22. Dispensing assembly of claim 10 wherein said side panels are stiffened to facilitate closing of said pour spout.

23. Pour spout comprising:

(a) a fitment having a dispensing opening and upper and lower margin portions adjacent said dispensing opening;

(b) a pour spout having side panels and a front panel pivoting between open and closed positions about the base of said front panel, said front panel being integral with said lower margin portion such that when the pour spout is folded over said fitment, said front panel overlies said dispensing opening.

24. Pour spout of claim 23 wherein said fitment includes side members adjacent said dispensing opening.

25. Pour spout of claim 24 wherein said fitment includes a cut-out member defining the dispensing opening which is bonded to the interior of the front panel of said pour spout.

26. Pour spout of claim 25 wherein said cut-out member has center and vertical side sections, said center section being bonded to the interior of the front panel of said pour spout and said side sections extending into the side members of said fitment at right angles to said center section.

27. Pour spout of claim 23 wherein the front panel of said spout has a tab adapted to interlock with a releasable locking tab in said upper margin portion.

28. Pour spout of claim 25 wherein means to promote bonding with a carton liner are adhered to the interior of said fitment.

29. Pour spout of claim 28 wherein the side panels of said pour spout have means to hold said pour spout in the open and closed positions.

30. Pour spout of claim 28 wherein said means to promote bonding comprises a heat generator and a heat activatable adhesive.

31. Pour spout of claim 30 wherein the heat generator concentrates heat at the edges of said dispensing opening to form a weakened tear line in the liner.

32. Process for making a dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) providing a carton having a dispensing flap in a side wall thereof, said flap having top and side edges and a liner therein filled with product and sealed;

(b) bonding said liner to said side wall adjacent said dispensing flap and to said flap along a weakened tear line corresponding to the top and side edges of said dispensing flap without breaking the seal of the liner whereby upon initial opening of said flap that portion of the liner bonded thereto separates from said liner along said weakened tear providing access to the contents of said carton.

33. Process for making a dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) providing a carton having a dispensing opening in a side wall thereof, a pour spout having a front panel mounted in said dispensing opening and a separate liner in said carton;

(b) bonding said liner to said front panel whereby upon initial opening of the pour spout means, that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from said liner providing access to the interior thereof, wherein said front panel is provided with means to promote bonding to said liner and bonding energy is delivered to the interface between said front panel and said liner.

34. Process of claim 33 wherein said liner is filled and sealed and said portion of said liner is brought into contact with said front panel for bonding thereto.

35. Process of claim 34 wherein said carton is exposed to an area of reduced pressure to bring a portion of said liner into contact with said front panel for bonding thereto.

36. Process of claim 35 wherein said carton is subject to pressure or shaking to bring said liner into contact with said front panel.

37. Process of claim 33 wherein an induction heating source delivers said bonding energy.

38. Process for making a dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) providing a carton having side and end walls, a separate liner therein adapted to contain particulate product, a fitment having a cut-out defining a dispensing opening and an upper margin portion and a pour spout having side panels and a front panel;

(b) providing an access panel severably connected to one wall of said carton means and pivotable at an integral base thereof;

(c) attaching said fitment to the interior of said one wall such that said access panel overlies said cut-out defining a dispensing opening;

(d) bonding the front panel of said pour spout to one side to the interior of said access panel to pivot therewith between open and closed positions, and on the other side to said cut-out; and

(e) bonding said liner to said cut-out such that upon initial opening of the pour spout, that portion of the liner bonded to said cut-out separates from said liner providing access to the contents of the carton.

39. Process of claim 38 wherein said liner is filled and sealed and said portion of said liner is brought into contact with said cut-out for bonding thereto.

40. Process of claim 39 wherein said carton is exposed to an area of reduced pressure to bring a portion of said liner into contact with said cut-out for bonding thereto.

41. Process of claim 38 wherein said fitment is provided with means to promote bonding to said liner and bonding energy is delivered to the interface between said fitment and said liner.

42. Process for making a pour spout assembly comprising:

(a) forming a fitment having a cut-out defining a dispensing opening and upper and lower margin portions adjacent said cut-out;

(b) forming a pour spout having side panels and a front panel pivoting between open and closed positions about the base of said front panel, said front panel being integral with the lower margin portion of said fitment; and

(c) folding said pour spout over said fitment such that said front panel overlies said cut-out.

43. Process of claim 42 wherein means to promote bonding with a liner are applied to said cut-out and to said fitment adjacent said cut-out.

44. Apparatus for providing a carton with a dispensing assembly which comprises:

(a) means for providing a carton having a dispensing flap in a side all thereof, said flap having top and side edges and liner therein filled with product and sealed;

(b) means to bring said liner into contact with said flap; and

(c) means to bond said liner to said side wall adjacent said dispensing flap and to said flap along a weakened tear line corresponding to the top and side edges of said dispensing flap without breaking the seal of said liner whereby upon initial opening of said flap that portion of the liner bonded thereto separates alone said weakened tear line providing access to the contents of said carton.

45. Apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means to bring said liner into contact with said means to promote bonding comprises pressure or shaking means.

46. Apparatus for providing a carton with a dispensing assembly which comprises

(a) means for providing a carton having a dispensing opening in a side wall thereof, a pour spout having a front panel mounted in said dispensing opening, a separate liner therein and means to promote bonding between said liner and said front panel;

(b) means to bring said liner into contact with said front panel; and

(c) means to deliver bonding energy to the interface between said liner and said front panel to bond same whereby upon initial opening of the pour spout that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from said liner providing access to the interior thereof.

47. Apparatus of claim 46 wherein said means to bring said liner into contact with said front panel comprises reduced pressure means.

48. Apparatus of claim 46 wherein said means to deliver bonding energy comprises an induction heating source.

49. Apparatus for providing a carton with a dispensing opening comprising:

(a) means for providing a carton blank having side and end walls and an access panel in one wall thereof;

(b) means for providing a pour spout having side panels and a front panel and a fitment having a cut-cut defining a dispensing opening, upper and lower margin portions and side members adjacent said opening, said fitment being folded over said pour spout such that said cut-out overlies said front panel;

(c) means for applying means to promote bonding to a carton liner to said cut-out and said fitment adjacent said cut-out;

(d) means for adhering one side of said front panel to said access panel and the other side to said cut-out;

(e) means to erect a carton from said carton blank and to insert therein a sealed liner containing particulate product;

(f) means to bring said liner into contact with said means to promote bonding; and

(g) means to deliver bonding energy to the interface between said liner and said means to promote bonding whereby upon initial opening of the pour spout, that portion of the liner bonded to said cut-out separates from said liner providing access to the contents thereof.

50. Dispensing assembly comprising

(a) a carton having a dispensing flap in a side wall thereof defining a dispensing opening and a liner therein;

(b) a pour spout having a front panel bonded to said dispensing flap and pivotable in said dispensing opening between open and closed positions;

(c) said liner being bonded to said front panel whereby upon initial opening of the pour spout that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from said liner providing access to the interior thereof, wherein said means to promote bonding comprises a heat generator and a heat activatable adhesive.

51. Dispensing assembly of claim 50 wherein said front panel includes means to promote bonding with said liner.

52. Dispensing assembly of claim 50 wherein the heat generator is selected from the group consisting of a metal foil, a metallic salt and metal particles.

53. Dispensing assembly of claim 50 including means to lock said pour spout in its open and closed positions.

54. Process for making a dispensing assembly comprising;

(a) providing a carton having a dispensing flap in a side wall thereof defining a dispensing opening, a pour spout having a front panel pivotable in said dispensing opening between open and closed positions, and a separate liner therein;

(b) bonding said liner to said front panel whereby upon initial opening of he pour spout, that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from said liner providing access to the interior thereof, wherein said front panel is provided with means to promote bonding to said liner and bonding energy is delivered to the interface between said front panel and said liner.

55. Apparatus for providing a carton with a dispensing assembly which comprises:

(a) means for providing a carton having a dispensing flap in a side wall thereof defining a dispensing opening, a pour spout having a front panel pivotable in said dispensing opening between open and closed positions, and a separate liner therein;

(b) means for bonding said liner to said front panel whereby upon initial opening of he pour spout, that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from said liner providing access to the interior thereof, wherein said front panel is provided with means to promote bonding to said liner and bonding energy is delivered to the interface between said front panel and said liner.

56. Dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) a carton having a dispensing opening in a side wall thereof and a separate liner therein;

(b) a pour spout mounted to said dispensing opening, said pour spout being pivotable between opened and closed positions and including a front panel;

(c) said front panel including a bonding member adapted to bond said liner thereto and to concentrate bonding energy to create a weakened tear line in said liner corresponding to said dispensing opening.

57. Dispensing assembly of claim 56 wherein said bonding member is a metal foil.

58. Process for preparing a dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) providing a carton having a dispensing opening in a side wall thereof, a separate filled and sealed liner therein and a pour spout mounted to said dispensing opening, said pour spout being pivotable between opened and closed positions and including a front panel having a bonding member, and

(b) providing bonding energy to said bonding member to bond said liner to said front panel and create and to form a weakened tear line in the liner corresponding to said dispensing opening.

59. Dispensing assembly comprising:

carton having a dispensing flap and a liner therein filled with product and sealed therein;

said filled liner being bonded to said flap along a weakened tear line without breaking its seal whereby upon initial opening of the flap that portion of the liner bonded thereto separates from said liner along said weakened tear line thereby providing access to the contents of said carton.