DE10038386A1 - Stackable container with anti-rotation feature has a security system which must be removed before separation of container and lid - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (2), described in EP00102253, has a surrounding collar (15) with a circumferential recess (100) which holds the edge of a lid. A lid cannot be lifted off the container until a security protection feature has been removed because of a lack of gripping points between the lid and container. Independent claims are made for: (a) an injection molding process for manufacturing a plastic container with a handle in which a container and handle are injected in a single operation and the handle is assembled with the container during demolding; and (b) the process equipment.

Description

The present invention relates to a stackable plastic container with a lid and in particular Henkel according to European Patent Application No. 00 10 2253. In particular, the plastic container according to the invention is a bucket with a handle or a mug with or without a handle.

Usually plastic containers, such as buckets or cups, are in one Injection molding process made. There is often a handle on plastic containers provided that in a separate injection molding process or otherwise Manufacturing process provided and then mounted on the container. A variety of containers, such as. B. containers for food, such as ice cream, Jam or cucumber and for other products such as liquids, pastes or General cargo, after filling with any product with a lid locked.

A disadvantage of all known manufacturing processes and the necessary ones Tools, especially the injection mold, is the most complex and cumbersome manufacture of the individual parts and subsequent assembly, what to leads to an expensive manufacturing process. The known containers also have the after partly that their handles get caught when stacking with other containers, thereby easy and simple handling, e.g. B. for filling, printing or Closing the container is not possible.

It is an object of the present invention to compare one with the prior art Technology to provide improved stackable plastic containers. This task is solved with the features of the claims.  

The container according to the invention has an anti-twist protection against twisting stacked container relative to each other. This is done in a holding device for a lid is provided on the upper edge of the container, which in stacked condition with one on the bottom of the holder provided securing element of a stacked container in engagement is feasible. The securing element and the recess are on both sides beveled or rounded so that these two elements engage more easily come together. The recess and / or the securing element run preferably symmetrical between preferably 30 ° and 60 ° conical (i.e. oblique or trapezoidal) downwards. The container has one on the outside upturned upper edge area or collar. This collar stretches seen from the top of the container first in a first circumferential stepped section obliquely outwards, then goes into one essentially vertical (i.e. parallel to the container axis) section at which again an essentially horizontal step follows. To this Step again follows a downward-facing section of the collar. The in The essentially horizontal step has a recess, which in the closed state of the container the peripheral edge or the peripheral Edge of the edge of the lid. The recess becomes on the outside of the container formed by a circumferential web, which in the closed state of the Container overlaps the outer edge of the lid. This prevents prying or Lift off the lid because the surrounding edge of the lid is covered.

Furthermore, the container according to the invention is such at its upper edge trained that sealing and holding section for different lids from each other are separated. For better handling of the container according to the invention the handle preferably on at least one of its ends above the pivot point extended in the longitudinal direction of the handle. This allows one in one Handling system provided device in contact with this section brought to the handle substantially perpendicular to the container align it before it is taken off the stack.  

The present invention is more preferred hereinafter based on Embodiments described with reference to the drawings. It demonstrate:

Figure 1 is a partial section in the hinge area of the container according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a partial section in the circumferential top region of the container according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a partial section in the circumferential top region of the container according to the invention with a sealing cap according to a first embodiment.

4 shows a partial section in the circumferential top region of the container according to the invention with a snap-on lid according to a first embodiment.

Figure 5 is a partial section in the circumferential top region of the container according to the invention with a sealing cap according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 6 shows a partial section in the circumferential top region of the container according to the invention with a snap-on lid according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a partial section of two stacked lids sealing according to the first embodiment;

Fig. 8 shows a partial section in the bottom region of the container according to the invention;

Fig. 9 is a partial plan view and partial section of the handle of the container of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a layer representation of the container of the invention with a handle in an injection mold during the injection molding; and

Fig. 11 shows a situation view of the container according to the invention with a handle in an injection mold during the injection molding.

The container (bucket or cup) 2 according to the invention is, for example, a mustard bucket with a handle 4 and a lid 6 . The cover 6 can either be designed as a sealing cover 6-1 (FIGS . 3, 5) or as a slip cover 6-2 (FIGS . 4, 6). Depending on the type of lid, the container can have tamper-evident protection or an exposed recessed grip. The tamper-evident protection ensures the integrity of a product in container 2 . The tamper-evident protection is preferably a tamper-evident flap which the end user has to break open in order to reach into the recessed grip and open the lid 6-1 .

The lid 6-1 , 6-2 sits on the container 2 such that an outer peripheral portion 11 with its lower edge region 13 sits on or on a circumferential collar 15 formed on the container 2 , so that the lid 6-1 , 6- 2 cannot be removed without first removing the tamper protection, because there is no possibility of intervention between container 2 and cover 6-1 , 6-2 . For this purpose, the collar 15 is step-shaped, so that a circumferential step directed away from the interior of the container is present. This step has a circumferential recess 100 or groove / groove, which receives the circumferential edge of the cover when it is in place. The edge of the cover is thereby covered by the circumferential web 101 forming the edge of the depression, which makes it difficult or even impossible to lift off the cover.

The head region of the container 2 is universally the same for the sealing and slip covers 6-1 and 6-2 mentioned above. It should be noted that the holding device 16 on the cover 6 engages in the holding device 24 provided on the container 2 , as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 3 to 6. The holding device 24 formed on the container 2 is preferably a circumferential projection or a snap nose (cf. FIG. 11). In an alternative embodiment, the circumferential projection is interrupted once or several times, so that individual sections or segments 24 'are formed (cf. FIG. 10). In a preferred embodiment, 12 segments are provided. When the lid 6 is put on and removed, the holding device 16 formed thereon is moved radially outward and holds the lid by the engagement with the holding device 24 on the container or releases it. The holding device 24 can be provided all around, in sections or in places. This ensures that the cover 6 is held securely on the container 2 . The sealing region 20 is separated from the holding portion 16/24, so that the same container with various lids 6-1 or 6-2 is used. The arrangement of the holding portion 16/24 separated from the sealing region 20 and in the vicinity of the step with its recess (see Fig. 3 to 6.) Prevents a patch lid is pried off despite the overlap of the cover edge and limiting ridge of the depression, because in attempting by pressing the edge of the lid towards the center of the container (thus to the left in FIG. 3), the holding device 16 abuts below the holding device 24 on the collar 15 of the container.

In Figs. 2 to 6 is clearly visible, that can be arranged and an outwardly everted upper edge portion 15 of the container 2 around its circumference stiffening ribs 30 between an outer wall 26. This Ver stiffening ribs preferably also serve to support the stacked buckets or cups 2 . For this purpose, the ribs 30 preferably have a step 31 on their lower edge, the steps of which come into contact with the sealing edge 12 and the holding device 24 of the container 2 during stacking. This gradation 31 is also advantageous for the application of a label and in particular for the use of an inmold label, since as a result the label can be brought far enough below the inverted area at the upper edge of the bucket or cup.

According to a first embodiment, two hinge pins are preferably provided on both sides of the container 2 for articulating a handle on the container 2 . The hinge pins are preferably formed from two snap noses which yield resiliently when the handle is mounted. A free space is provided between the snap noses, into which the snap noses dodge when pressed together.

According to an alternative embodiment, an inverted hinge arrangement is provided in the container according to the invention. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 1, the circumferential collar 15 has an opening 80 at two opposite positions, in which or in which a hinge pin 81 of the handle 4 is held or latched when the handle is installed. As shown in FIG. 10, the handle 4 is preferably extended at one of its ends about the fulcrum in addition Henkel longitudinal direction. More preferably, the handle 4 has this extension only along one longitudinal edge, so that an essentially trapezoidal handle is formed. In the illustration according to FIG. 10, this one-sided handle extension is arranged in the horizontal state of the handle on the edge of the handle facing the container opening. This allows the handle to be easily aligned using a handling system before the container is removed from the stack.

In a stacked form, as described above, the ribs 30 sit on the container edge of an underlying container. The containers 2 are secured against rotation in the stack. For this purpose, a recess 38 (FIGS . 10, 11) is provided in the upper edge region of the container, ie in the holding device 24 , 24 'but not in the sealing edge 12 , into which a securing element 40 located between the outer wall 26 and the turned-over region 28 engages. The recess 38 and / or the securing element 40 has / has at least partially bevelled or rounded sections 41 , so that even if the containers 2 are not stacked exactly one above the other, the elements of the anti-rotation device 38 and 40 engage in one another by the oblique or rounded edges of the securing element 40 slide along the sections 41 of the recess 38 . The recess 38 and / or the securing element 40 preferably run symmetrically downwards, preferably between 30 ° and 60 °. Preferably, the bevel or rounding 41 on the recess 38 extends over its entire depth, while on the securing element 40 only the corners are generously beveled or rounded. The anti-rotation device has the advantage that the containers can be stacked in a certain position relative to one another, the assembled handles 4 being arranged one above the other in the predetermined position. This ensures exact handling for the other operations.

According to an alternative embodiment according to FIG. 1, the securing element has two walls 40 . These walls or webs extend essentially perpendicular to the container wall 26 between the container wall and the turned-over region 28 . Thus, the webs 40 are formed similarly to the ribs 30 , but extend further downward (see FIG. 1 with FIG. 2), so that they engage in the recess 38 of a container located underneath for securing against rotation. The opening 80 for the snap connection to the handle is preferably arranged between the webs 40 .

The container handles on the market each have a semicircular end that is centered around the hinge pin. In contrast to this, a carrier is provided in the container 2 according to the invention, by means of which the handle 4 can be brought into a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container in cooperation with a handling system. The driver is, for example, a section which projects beyond the pivot point of the handle 4 and on which the handling system can engage. The driver can for example be designed as a lever, recess, projection or the like. The container 2 according to the invention preferably has a handle 4 , which is extended in parallel in the longitudinal direction beyond the hinge pin 32 by a one-sided extension section 44 '. By aligning the handle with the aid of the handling system, it can be avoided that when the uppermost container 2 is removed from a stack, the handle 4 interlocks with one or more containers below it, which leads to malfunctions, e.g. B. when filling would lead.

Due to an extension section 44 ', which is provided at least at one of the ends of the handle 4 , it is possible to design a handling system such that an alignment element acts on the extension section 44 '. Such an alignment element is, for example, a spring-loaded alignment part that is integrated in the handling system. To handle a stacked container 2 according to the invention, the alignment element first encounters the obliquely upward-extending portion 44 ′ of the handle 4 during a vertical movement along the longitudinal axis of the container. If the alignment element is moved further downward, the handle 4 is forced to move into a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container 2 . This eliminates the risk that the henket 4 of the uppermost container gets caught with an underlying container, and problem-free handling of the containers 2 according to the invention is ensured.

Although the handling system was described above using a standing container, the same principle can also be used, for example, for printing or labeling the container 2 according to the invention with a horizontal longitudinal axis. This has the particular advantage that the freely movable handle can be safely kept away from the surface to be processed.

In cross section, the handle 4 of the container 2 according to the invention preferably has a diamond or dragon shape. This facilitates the manufacture of the injection mold and the demolding. Furthermore, the handle 4 in the region of the pins 81 preferably has a preferably annular projection 82 on the inner side (cf. FIG. 9). This serves as a spacer to the container.

The cover 6-1 has a peripheral edge which is formed by an outer peripheral wall 11 , an annular surface 17 ( FIG. 5) and an annular wall 19 . The ring wall 19 extends radially within the ring surface 17 . The peripheral portion 11 , the annular surface 17 and the annular wall 19 form a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile which extends around the circumference of the container. The cover has a central region 21 which is offset from the annular surface 17 .

According to FIG. 7, the individual sealing covers 6-1 can advantageously be stacked one above the other. For this purpose, a preferably circumferential holding device 20 _{1 is} provided on the individual covers 6-1 on the inside of the outer circumferential wall 11 , which is supported on the annular surface 17 of the respective underlying cover. The holding device 20 ₁ is, for example, a circumferential first web projecting downwards. The sealing cover 6-1 has on the underside of the annular surface 17 a second circumferential web 20 ₂ , which together with part of the first web 20 ₁ forms a preferably U-shaped sealing region 20 . The sealing area 20 can be brought into engagement with a sealing edge 12 formed on the upper edge of the container 2 in such a way that the container 2 can be sealed with the cover 6-1 . In this way, the sealing and holding area of the lid 6-1 on the container 2 are spatially and functionally separated from one another.

In addition, it is advantageous to provide support elements 22 ( FIG. 3) on the cover 6-1 , which extend, for example, radially inwards from the edge section of the cover. The support element 22 can be provided continuously, in sections or only at individual points along the circumference of the cover. The shape or cross-sectional shape of the support elements 22 is, for example, triangular, as shown in FIG. 3, but can also have any other suitable support shape.

Alternatively, the tamper protection can be omitted so that an end user can directly engage in the recessed grip and remove the slip lid 6-2 . In order to ensure the control of the integrity of the product contained in the bucket or cup 2 of the sealing edge 12 of the egg mers / cup 2 a sealing film provided on the upper edge.

The slip lid 6-2 , like the sealing lid 6-1 described above, has a U-shaped ring profile 11 , 17 and 19 , the sealing region 20 being omitted. In this variant of the cover, the support wall 22 is advantageously formed in the U-shaped section of the edge region of the cover 6-2 , as shown in FIG. 6. The support elements 22 on the lid 6-2 are also supported on the upper edge of the sealing edge 12 , so that the central region 21 of the lid cannot be deeper than a sealing film. Otherwise, the holding area of the slip lid 6-2 essentially corresponds to that of the sealing lid 6-1 . The circumferential section 11 is advantageously of such a length that the central region 21 of the cover 6-2 does not damage the sealing film on the bucket or cup. The underside of the central region 21 is arranged approximately at the height of the container edge when the lid is attached to the container.

The container 2 can optionally be printed, provided with an adhesive label or with an inmold label.

The container 2 of the present invention is preferably an injection molded plastic bucket or cup, which is manufactured in an injection molding machine with an injection mold, wherein the provided on the container 2 Henkel 4 is injection molded in one operation together with the container 2 and assembled. For this purpose, the device for manufacturing or the injection mold, as can be seen particularly in FIG. 10, is designed such that the container 2 and the handle 4 lie in the injection mold in such a way that the handle 4 can be automatically mounted on the container 2 when the mold is removed.

The container 2 itself can be produced either as a container with tamper-evident protection or with an open recessed grip through an exchange insert in the injection mold. Thus both types of container described above can be injected with the injection mold according to the invention.

It is also possible to jointly manufacture the handle 4 and the container 2 in different colors and / or from different materials on a two-color spraying machine.

Fig. 8 shows the floor design. The transition from the container bottom / foot 70 to the container outer wall 26 is not at the lowest edge of the container outer wall, but is set back somewhat inward so that a protrusion is formed. The container bottom initially runs in a plane perpendicular to the container axis, but then forms a foot which projects beyond the lower edge 72 of the container outer wall (ie in the direction of the container opening). This creates a concentric groove (not shown) between the foot and the projection.

The section of the container bottom shown in FIG. 8 shows a register 73 . When the bucket is printed, this register fixes the bucket in a specific position relative to the printed image. The register 73 is preferably designed in the form of a web which, viewed from the container opening, extends beyond the lowermost edge 72 of the outer container wall in the direction of the container base 70 , but does not reach it. The container base according to the invention preferably has a single register 73 . Alternatively, however, a plurality of registers can also be provided arranged in the circumferential direction.

The cups can be made with or without handles and in different sizes are provided, for example according to the following table:

Table 1

The same lid size can be used for all cups in a row of Table 1 because the base and the upper diameter are the same for all cup sizes. The same applies to buckets, which, however, have a larger capacity have (for example, 1.5 and 10 liters).

Claims (31)

1. Stackable container ( 2 ) according to patent application EP 00 10 2253 with anti-rotation device ( 38 , 40 ) against rotation of stacked containers relative to one another, the anti-rotation device in the form of a recess ( 38 ) at the upper edge of the container and a securing element which can be brought into engagement with it ( 40 ) is formed, which is formed on a side of the upper container edge opposite the recess, so that when stacked a first, upper container ( 2 ) with its securing element ( 40 ) into the recess ( 38 ) of a second, lower container ( 2 ) engages, the securing element ( 40 ) and / or the recess ( 38 ) being chamfered and / or rounded on both sides in order to enable easier engagement of the elements of the anti-rotation device, characterized in that the container has a circumferential collar ( 15 ), which has a circumferential recess ( 100 ) for receiving a lid edge, so that the lid ( 6 ) is not without Prior removal of a tamper protection can be removed because there is no possibility of intervention between the container ( 2 ) and the lid ( 6 ). 2. Stackable container ( 2 ) according to patent application EP 00 10 2253 with an anti-twist device ( 38 , 40 ) which is preferably tapered symmetrically downwards between 30 ° and 60 ° to prevent containers stacked from rotating relative to one another, the anti-rotation device being in the form of a recess ( 38 ) is formed on the upper edge of the container and a securing element ( 40 ) which can be brought into engagement and which is formed on a side of the upper container edge opposite the recess, so that when stacked a first, upper container ( 2 ) with its securing element ( 40 ) in the recess ( 38 ) of a second, lower container ( 2 ) engages, the securing element ( 40 ) and / or the recess ( 38 ) being chamfered and / or rounded on both sides in order to enable easier engagement of the elements of the anti-rotation device, thereby characterized in that the container has a circumferential collar ( 15 ) which has a circumferential recess ( 100 ) for receiving a lid edge, so that the lid ( 6 ) cannot be removed without first removing a tamper-evident device, because there is no possibility of intervention between the container ( 2 ) and lid ( 6 ). 3. The container (2) according to claim 1 and 2, wherein a fitted on the container (2) Henkel (4) is injection moldable and can be mounted together with the container (2) in a single operation. 4. Container ( 2 ) according to patent application EP 00 10 2253 in particular according to claim 1, 2 or 3 with a sealing lid ( 6-1 ) which has a holding device ( 16 ) with a holding device ( 24 ) on the container ( 2 ) in Can be brought into engagement, and a peripheral sealing area ( 12 ) which is independent of the holding device ( 24 ) is formed on the upper edge of the container ( 2 ) and can be brought into engagement with a sealing area ( 20 ) of the sealing cover ( 6-1 ). 5. container ( 2 ) according to patent application EP 00 10 2253 in particular according to claim 1, 2 or 3 with a slip lid ( 6-2 ) having a holding device ( 16 ) with a holding device ( 24 ) on the container ( 2 ) in Can be brought into engagement, and wherein a circumferential upper edge of the container ( 2 ) is formed at a distance from the holding device ( 24 ), which can be closed with a sealing film. 6. A container according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the lid ( 6-1 , 6-2 ) has a peripheral edge formed by an outer peripheral wall ( 11 ), an annular surface ( 17 ) and an annular wall ( 19 ), the annular wall ( 19 ) extends radially within the ring surface ( 17 ). 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the peripheral edge is a substantially U- has a shaped cross-sectional profile.   8. A container according to claim 6, wherein the annular wall is step-shaped and between two wall sections an annular and to the container axis vertical surface is present. 9. A container according to claim 6, wherein the step-shaped annular wall centering different floor designs of the container ( 2 ) and secures against slipping. 10. Container according to one of claims 4 to 9, wherein at least one support element ( 22 ) is provided within the U-shaped or step-shaped peripheral edge of the lid ( 6-1 , 6-2 ) or extending radially inward from the peripheral edge. 11. Container ( 2 ) according to one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the anti-rotation device is formed in the form of a recess ( 38 ) at the upper edge of the container and a locking element ( 40 ) which can be brought into engagement therewith and which is located on a side of the recess opposite the is formed so that when stacking a first, upper container ( 2 ) with its securing element ( 40 ) engages in the recess ( 38 ) of a second, lower container ( 2 ), the securing element ( 40 ) and / or the off savings ( 38 ) are chamfered on both sides and / or rounded to allow easier interlocking of the elements of the anti-rotation device. 12. A container ( 2 ) according to one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the anti-rotation device is formed in the form of a recess ( 38 ) at the upper edge of the container and a locking element ( 40 ) which can be brought into engagement with it and which is located on a side of the recess opposite the upper container edge is formed so as to engage when stacking a first, upper container (2) with its locking element (40) in the recess (38) of a second, lower container (2), wherein the securing member is formed (40) consists of two webs which extend between the container wall ( 26 ) and an outer wall ( 28 ) of the container ( 2 ). 13. Container ( 2 ) according to one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the anti-rotation device ( 38 , 40 ) is provided in a hinge area of the handle ( 4 ). 14. Container ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a holding device ( 24 ) for a lid ( 6 ) is provided on the upper container edge. 15. Container ( 2 ) according to claim 14, wherein the holding device ( 24 ) for holding the lid ( 6 ) is provided with at least one holding lug. 16. Container ( 2 ) according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein for stacking the container ( 2 ) between the container wall ( 26 ) and the outer edge ( 28 ) is provided a step ( 31 ) stiffening element ( 30 ), the steps correspond to the shape of the upper edge of the container ( 2 ). 17. Container ( 2 ) according to one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the holding device ( 24 ) is provided all around. 18. Container ( 2 ) according to one of claims 3 to 17, wherein the handle ( 4 ) has a driver which is designed such that, in interaction with a handling system, the handle ( 4 ) substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container ( 2 ) can be aligned. 19. The container ( 2 ) according to claim 18, wherein the driver has at least one portion projecting beyond the pivot point of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle ( 44 '), which can be brought into contact with a handling device for handling the container ( 2 ), around the handle ( 4 ) to be aligned essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. 20. Container according to one of claims 1 to 19, wherein openings ( 80 ) for hinge pins ( 81 ) of the handle ( 4 ) are provided. 21. Container according to one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the openings ( 80 ) between the webs of the securing element ( 40 ) are arranged. 22. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 21, further comprising a register ( 73 ) located at the bottom edge. 23. The container of claim 22, wherein the register ( 73 ) is a web that extends between the lower edge of the container edge ( 72 ) in the direction of the container bottom ( 70 ). 24. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the container is a bucket. 25. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the container is a cup is. 26. A process for the production of plastic containers ( 2 ) with a handle ( 4 ) according to one of claims 1 to 25, in an injection mold, the container ( 2 ) and the handle ( 4 ) being injection molded together in one operation and when the handles are removed from the mold automatically mounted on the container ( 2 ). 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the handle ( 4 ) and container ( 2 ) in different colors and / or of different materials are injected simultaneously in a casting mold. 28. The method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the container ( 2 ) is printed, provided with a label and / or an inmold label. 29. Device for the joint manufacture and assembly of a container ( 2 ) and a handle ( 4 ) attachable thereto, according to one of claims 1 to 25 and in particular for carrying out the manufacturing method according to one of claims 26 to 28. 30. The device according to claim 29, wherein an exchange insert can be introduced into the mold, with the container ( 2 ) with or without tamper protection can be formed. 31. The apparatus of claim 29 or 30, which is for use in a two- Paint injection molding machine is designed such that the container and Handle in different colors and / or from different materials is adjustable.