Apparatus for molding a plastic part to a flexible container and a container having a molded plastic part

Abstract

A plastic part is molded onto a top of a container having folded flaps on the top of the container. The container is formed into a tube shape from a flexible web material with crease lines. Contents are filled into the tube of web material, the tube is transverse sealed and a primary shape container is obtained by cuffing the web material along crease lines. A final shape container is obtained with multi-folding of folded flaps onto the container top. A mold of an injection molding apparatus is applied against the top of the container, and fusion thermoplastic material is injected into the cavity formed between the mold and the top of the container. The thermoplastic material is then cooled, and the mold removed to leave the plastic part molded to the top of the container.

1 . A mold apparatus for molding a plastic part onto a top of a container formed from flexible web material having crease lines into a tube shape, filled with contents, transverse sealed and cuffed along the crease lines, and having folded flaps that are folded onto the container top, the mold apparatus comprising: 
 transporting means for transporting the container into a position against a portion of the mold apparatus so that the portion of the mold apparatus forms, together with the container top, a cavity;    the portion of the mold apparatus comprising a nozzle through which fusion thermoplastic material is injected and introduced into the cavity and into gaps between the folded flaps;    cooling means for cooling the thermoplastic material injected into the cavity; and    drive means for moving the portion of the mold and the nozzle into a position against the container top and the mold and for detaching the mold from the container top.    
   
   
       2 . The mold apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an inner wall face of the mold is downwardly arranged and the apparatus is adapted to transport the top of the container upwardly against the mold.  
   
   
       3 . The mold apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an inner wall face of the mold is upwardly arranged and the apparatus is adapted to transport the top of the container downwardly against the mold.  
   
   
       4 . A container having a molded plastic part, comprising: 
 a flexible web material with crease lines, the flexible web material formed into a tube shape and filled with contents, transverse sealed and cuffed along the crease lines, and formed into a final shape container with flaps folded onto a top of the container; and    a container cover of thermoplastic material formed by injection of fusion thermoplastic material from a nozzle of an injection molding apparatus into a cavity having the shape of the container cover and defined between an inner wall of the molding apparatus and the top of the container and into gaps between the folded flaps and the top of the container.