Apparatuses and methods for a carton opening arrangment

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for processing cartons that include steps such as embossing the top opening of cartons for packaging liquid food. Embossing the top opening of cartons may reduce the force required to open the carton in both vertical and horizontal direction and minimize the amount of fibers remaining in the pouring spout after the carton has been opened.

1 . A carton blank for a gable-top carton, the carton blank comprising:
 a pre-laminated paperboard sheet;   a plurality of crease lines;   a top portion configured to become a sealing fin on a folded packaging container, the top portion comprising a rectangular fin panel and a plurality of rectangular portions, the rectangular fin panel positioned between the plurality of rectangular portions; and   an embossed pattern printed along the rectangular fin panel and a portion of one of the rectangular portions of the top portion of the carton blank, the embossed pattern configured to reduce the force required to open the folded packaging container.   
     
     
         2 . The carton blank of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-laminated paperboard sheet further comprises a central layer comprising a paperboard material and an outer layer comprising a polyethylene material. 
     
     
         3 . The carton blank of  claim 1 , wherein the embossed pattern comprises a plurality of rows, each row comprising a plurality of x-shaped marks. 
     
     
         4 . The carton blank of  claim 3 , wherein the embossed pattern has two rows. 
     
     
         5 . The carton blank of  claim 3 , wherein each x-shaped mark in the plurality of x-shaped marks has a height of approximately 4 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The carton blank of  claim 1 , wherein the embossed pattern comprises a plurality of rows, each row comprising a plurality of ovals. 
     
     
         7 . The carton blank of  claim 6 , wherein each oval of the plurality of ovals has a height of approximately 2 mm and a width of approximately 45 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The carton blank of  claim 1 , further comprising a compressed spot positioned approximately in the center of the embossed pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The carton blank of  claim 8 , wherein the compressed spot comprises a triangular shape. 
     
     
         10 . The carton blank of  claim 9 , wherein the triangular shape has a height of approximately 7 mm, a first dimension of approximately 20 mm, and a second dimension of approximately 18 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging container for packaging liquid food, the packaging container comprising:
 a pre-laminated paperboard material, the pre-laminated paperboard material comprising an outer layer comprising a polyethylene material;   a container body, the container body comprising a closed bottom end;   a top portion, the top portion extending from the container body opposite the closed bottom end and forming a roof-like configuration; and   a sealing fin, wherein the sealing fin comprises a front sealing portion on a front side a back sealing portion on a back side of the sealing fin, a first side rectangular portion opposite a second side rectangular portion, and a front rectangular fin panel opposite a back rectangular fin panel, wherein the front sealing portion comprises an embossed pattern extending along the front rectangular fin panel and a portion of one of the rectangular portions, wherein the back sealing portion comprises the polyethylene material, and wherein the embossed pattern is configured to reduce the force required to open the packaging container.   
     
     
         12 . The packaging container of  claim 11 , further comprising a compressed spot positioned approximately in the center of the embossed pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging container of  claim 11 , further comprising a central layer comprising a paperboard material. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging container of  claim 11 , wherein the embossed pattern has two rows, each row comprising a plurality of x-shaped marks. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging container of  claim 11 , wherein the embossed pattern has three rows, each row comprising a plurality of ovals. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging container of  claim 11 , further comprising a pouring spout, the pouring spout formed by opening the front side of the sealing fin along the embossed pattern while the back side of the sealing fin remains sealed. 
     
     
         17 . A method for processing a gable-top carton, the method comprising:
 printing a plurality of carton blanks on a pre-laminated paperboard sheet;   creasing each of the plurality of carton blanks such that each of the plurality of carton blanks comprise a plurality of crease lines;   printing an embossed pattern along a top portion of the plurality of creased carton blanks; and   cutting a single carton blank from the plurality of creased carton blanks.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising compressing a compressed spot positioned approximately in the center of the embossed pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the compressed spot comprises a triangular shape.