JP2005529033A - SEALING DEVICE, CONTAINER WITH SUCH DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (100) consists of a stopper (121) that can close the neck (101) of the container and an inner capsule (122) that is glued or sealed to the edge (113) of the neck. The device also forms a stopper or is kinematically connected to the stopper, to which the inner capsule (122) is fixed, and a sealing disk (121) protruding radially outward from the neck (101), and the neck (101) A ring (124) with an inner thread (341) that can cooperate with the outer thread of the ring, the ring extending in the direction of the disk (121) and the neck in a substantially axial direction (XX '). On the other hand, at least one protrusion (344) capable of applying a pressing force (F ₃ ) to the disk (121) in a direction in which the disk (121) is separated from the disk (121) is provided.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sealing device and a container fitted with such a device. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a device and a method for sealing a container using such a device.

  In the field of food packaging, it is well known to attach peelable inner capsules that are welded to the edge of the bottle neck by induction heating on bottles made of extruded or blown plastic material. When the contents of the bottle are first used, the inner capsule must be manually peeled off and discarded. This stripping process is relatively difficult and may not work, especially for older children who are disabled. In addition, this task requires the user to go to the trash to throw away the capsule, or leave the capsule on the table.

  It is known from Swiss Patent Publication No. 556274 (CH-A-556 274) to mount a stopper with an inner rib for holding a disk with aluminum foil in place. In order to attach the disk to the stopper, it is necessary to temporarily deform the disk. As a result, the disc may deform in the opposite direction, causing the disc to unexpectedly fall out of the stopper, especially when the bottle is first opened. Moreover, when the disc is placed on the stopper, there is a risk of damaging the periphery, which adversely affects the seal formed. Therefore, such a device cannot be considered reliable.

  Known apparatus from US Pat. No. 5,346,082 (US-A-5 346 082), US Pat. No. 4,473,163 (US-A-4 473 163) and US Pat. No. 5,984,124 (US-A-5 984 124). The same applies to.

Swiss Patent Gazette No. 556274 US Pat. No. 5,346,082 U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,163 US Pat. No. 5,984,124 US Pat. No. 5,695,083

  A more detailed object of the present invention includes an inner sealed capsule that is welded to the neck before the container is first used, so that it is not necessary to peel the inner capsule by hand to remove the contents of the container and is reliable in function. It is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a novel sealing device in which

  In essence, the present invention relates to a sealing device for sealing a container with a threaded neck, which device is glued or sealed to the neck edge and a stopper suitable for closing the neck. An inner capsule suitable for the inner capsule, a sealing disk to which the inner capsule is fixed, a disk having a disk projecting radially outward from the neck, and an inner thread suitable for cooperating with an outer thread of the neck, A ring having at least one protrusion extending in the direction of the disk and suitable for applying a pressing force to the disk in a direction in which the disk is spaced from the neck. This device is characterized in that the protrusions described above extend substantially axially from the edge of the ring.

  According to the present invention, with proper operation of the ring, it is possible to apply a local thrust force by the protrusions sufficient to move the disk away from the neck, so that the inner capsule remains fixed to the disk. Can be separated from the neck. In this way, the cumbersome task of manually peeling the inner capsule, which is necessary in the state of the art, can be eliminated. If desired, the separation of the inner capsule from the neck can be indicated, for example, by a “click” type audio signal. By having a specific orientation of the protrusion in the axial direction, the protrusion can effectively act on the disk.

  The invention also relates to a container, such as a plastic material bottle, fitted with a sealing device as described above. Such containers are easier to operate than known devices, especially when first used.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the above-described device, and more particularly,
a) producing a ring with an inner thread suitable for cooperating with the outer thread of the neck;
b) producing a sealing disc;
A stage consisting of
c) providing a protruding member on the radially outer surface of the ring;
d) providing the ring with at least one protrusion extending substantially axially from one edge of the ring;
e) producing a cap suitable for covering the neck and the ring fastened to the neck;
f) providing a protruding member on the radially inner surface of the cap;
g) inserting the sealing disk into the cap;
h) inserting the ring into the cap, moving the protrusion toward the disc, and enclosing the disc in the cap with the ring, thereby allowing the radially outer surface of the ring and the cap to Engaging the protrusions respectively provided on the radially inner surface;
It is characterized by including the step which consists of.

  Conveniently, steps c) and d) are carried out simultaneously with step a), the step of forming the ring.

  Similarly, it is expedient if step f) is carried out simultaneously with step e), which is the step of molding the cap.

  According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, in steps a) to f) the ring, the cap, the disc and the projection can be removed from the neck while the device is loosened relative to the neck. Have such dimensions and positions.

  Finally, the present invention relates to a method for sealing a container by a device manufactured by the method described above, for example heat sealing an inner capsule supported on a disc after the device has been placed on the neck. As a result, the disc is fixed to the neck.

  The invention will be more readily understood and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of two embodiments of a container and a sealing device according to the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: It will be more obvious.

The bottle B illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 includes a neck 101 with an external thread 111, a portion 112 of which the outer surface 114 is made of an aluminum-based composite material and belongs to the sealing device 102. 122 is accommodated in a contact state. The inner capsule is bonded to the disk 121 over almost the entire surface, the peripheral edge 321 of the disk protrudes radially outward of the radially outer surface 115 of the neck 101, and the diameter D _{121 of the} disk 121 is the diameter of the surface 115. greater than D _115.

  A ring 124 is provided for screwing into the neck 101 and is therefore provided with an internal thread 341 suitable for cooperating with the screw 111. The ring includes protrusions 344, 344 ', 344 "that extend from the edge 345 closest to the disk 121 in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis XX' of the neck 101. The protrusion 344 includes: As can be seen from the description, a surface 344a that is substantially parallel to the XX ′ axis and an inclined surface 344b that forms an inclination, and the other protrusions have substantially the same shape. The parts 345 are arranged at equal intervals.

A cap 125, which is integrally manufactured of a plastic material, is provided so as to be attached to the neck 101 and surround the ring 124. The bottom 351 of the cap is parallel to the disk 121 and extends to a skirt 352 that surrounds the ring 124. Actually, the disk 121 is arranged near the inner surface 353 of the bottom 351, and the local force F for the two circular ribs 351 a and 351 b to apply the inner capsule 122 to the edge 113 of the neck 101. ₂ can be added to the disc 321.

  In addition, the skirt 352 is provided with a series of teeth 354 formed on its radially inner surface 355 that are configured to engage with teeth 346 formed on the radially inner surface 347 of the ring 124. And are arranged. In this way, the members 124 and 135 are fixed for rotation about the axis XX ′.

  The skirt 125 also includes a turn 356 provided to engage an annular groove 348 formed in the surface 347 so that the members 124 and 125 are fixed for movement parallel to the axis XX ′. Has been.

  The tamper-evident ring is constituted by a part 349 of the ring 324 connected to the main part by a tearable zone 349a, which part 349 is held in position relative to the neck 101 by a circular flange 116.

  Inner capsule 122 is adhered to edge 112 until bottle B is first used.

When a force to open the cap is applied to the cap 125, the cap moves with the ring 124 by the cooperation of the teeth 346 and 354. The connection between the members 121 and 122 is then permanent and is sufficient to move the protrusions 344, 344 ′, 344 ″ toward the edge 321 of the disk 121 and separate the inner capsule 122 from the surface 114. since the a thrust F ₃ will be applied to the edge. surface 344b and the corresponding surface is inclined, the force F ₃ which gradually increases in correlation with the rotation of the ring 124 is applied.

The thrust, that is, the removal force F ₃ is concentrated in the vicinity of the edge 321 of the disk 121, which increases the efficiency.

  The disk 121 maintains the planar shape no matter what force is applied to tighten the ring 124 to the neck 101.

  In particular, the disc 121 attached to the inner capsule 122 can be arranged before the ring 124 itself is inserted into the cap 125, so that it can be arranged without deformation on the bottom 351 of the cap 125.

When the disk receives a local force F ₃ applied by the protrusions 344, 344 ′, 344 ″, the disk may be bent in a transitional stage in which the inner capsule 122 is removed from the neck 101. In addition, the space provided for receiving the edge 321 between the ring 124 and the cap 125 must be sufficiently large, and the assembly 124, 125 can be divided into two parts so that It is possible to form such a space without difficulty during the molding operation, and this will not always be the case if such an assembly is molded in a single operation. Otherwise, the user can quickly recognize the type of sealing device that must be operated.

When resealing the bottle B, it is sufficient to retighten the ring 124, which is a new transmission of the force F ₂ between the ribs 351a, 351b and the disk 121, so that the disk 121 is applied to the part 112 of the neck 101. Has the effect of contacting.

  In other words, the device 2 can be easily used as a conventional stopper without an inner capsule, but reliably closes the container in which it is mounted in a completely sealed condition, unless it is removed at least once.

  The sealing device 102 is manufactured by molding a ring 124 on one hand and a cap 125 on the other hand, as seen in FIG. In these molding operations, the protrusions 344, 344 ′, 344 ″ of the ring 124 and the teeth 346 are formed together with the teeth 354 of the cap 125.

  Furthermore, the sealing disk 121 is manufactured by molding, and the inner capsule 122 is glued to this disk.

  Next, the disc is inserted into the cap so that the sealing disc 121 is in the immediate vicinity of the inner surface 353 of the bottom portion 351 and is in contact with the ribs 351a and 351b. This disk is arranged so that the inner capsule 122 is located on the surface of the disk 121 opposite to the bottom 351.

  The ring 124 is then placed on the cap 125 and the teeth 346, 354 are engaged and the protrusions 344, 344 ', 344 "are moved to the disk, thereby causing the bottom 351 and the protrusions 344, 344', The disc and the inner capsule are enclosed between 344 ".

  Unlike the method of manufacturing a known device, for example from Swiss Patent Publication No. 556274 (CH-A-556 274), this form of the device 102 does not cause its deformation when the disk 121 is placed.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the same members as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals.

  The bottle B of this embodiment includes a neck portion 101 having an external screw 111 to which a ring 124 having a screw 341 is fitted.

  This ring comprises a plurality of protrusions, only one of which is indicated by reference numeral 344 in FIGS. 4 and 5 and in a direction parallel to the central axis XX ′ of the neck, ring and associated cap 125. Extending approximately from the edge 345 of the ring 124.

  The ring 124 is slightly different in geometric shape from that of the first embodiment, but its function is the same.

  Specifically, the ring is provided with teeth 346 suitable for cooperating with the internal teeth 354 of the skirt 352 of the cap 125 and is rotated about the axis XX ′ of the cap 125 so that the bottom of the bottle B On the contrary, the ring 124 is moved, and this causes the protrusion 344 and the equivalent to contact the peripheral edge 321 of the disk 121 and to separate the disk from the inclined portion 112 of the neck 101.

  As described above, the disk 121 is placed on the bottom 351 of the cap 125 before the ring 124 is inserted into the cap.

  The ring 124 includes a radially outer flange 348 suitable for being received in the inner shoulder 358 of the skirt 352, thereby ensuring effective positioning of the members 124, 125 relative to each other. When the bottle B is closed, the protrusion 344 is separated from the disk 121 by a non-zero distance d, thereby avoiding local deformation of the edge 321 by the protrusion 344 and the like.

  The assembly of the device 102 in this embodiment is performed in the same manner as described in connection with the first embodiment.

  In any contemplated embodiment, the manner in which the disc 121 is assembled to the cap 125 avoids the risk of disc damage that adversely affects the sealability of the resulting seal. This is important as long as a sterile seal is often desired.

  The invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be modified. That is, the technical features of the two exemplified embodiments may be combined.

It is the perspective view partly fractured | ruptured which shows the neck part of the bottle with which the sealing device by this invention was mounted | worn. It is a disassembled perspective view of the sealing device of FIG. FIG. 3 is an axial half sectional view showing a neck portion of a bottle equipped with the sealing device of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view of a sealing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention attached to the neck of a bottle. FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the device of FIG. 4 with the bottle neck also disassembled. IV-IV shows the cross section of FIG.

Claims (10)

An apparatus for sealing a container with a threaded neck,
A stopper (125) suitable for closing the neck (101);
An inner capsule (122) suitable for being glued or sealed to the neck edge;
Wherein with the inner capsule (122) is fixed, projecting the neck from (101) radially outward and (D ₁₂₁ / D ₁₁₅₎ sealing disk (121),
At least one protrusion (344, 344 ', extending in the direction of the disk (121) in a ring with an internal thread (341) suitable for cooperating with the external thread (111) of the neck 344 ") is provided, and a ring suitable for applying a pressing force (F ₃₎ on said disc in a direction in which the disc is away from the said neck,
Including
Apparatus wherein the protrusions (344, 344 ', 344 ") extend substantially axially (XX') from an edge (345) of the ring (124).   The stopper is a cap (125) suitable for covering the neck (101), and the disc (121) is arranged in the vicinity of the inner surface (353) of the bottom (351) of the cap itself. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that is held in place by the ring (124) fixed against rotation on the annular skirt (352) of the cap.   The projecting member (346) suitable for fitting with the projecting member (354) having a corresponding shape formed on the radially inner surface (355) of the skirt (352) is used as the ring (124). The apparatus according to claim 2, comprising: (347). The protrusions (344, 344 ′, 344 ″) form an inclined portion (344b) to which the force (F ₃ ) can be gradually applied in correlation with the rotation of the ring, Apparatus according to one of claims 1-3.   A liquid container, in particular a bottle (B) made of plastic material, fitted with a sealing device (102) according to one of claims 1-4. A method of manufacturing a container sealing device comprising a threaded neck, comprising:
a) producing a ring (124) with an internal thread (341) suitable for cooperating with an external thread (111) of the neck (101);
b) producing a sealing disc (121);
A stage consisting of
c) providing a protruding member (346) on the radially outer surface (347) of the ring;
d) providing the ring with at least one protrusion (344, 344 ', 344 ") extending substantially axially (XX') from one edge (345) of the ring;
e) producing a cap (125) suitable for covering the neck (101) and the ring (124) clamped to the neck;
f) providing a protruding member (354) on the radially inner surface (355) of the cap;
g) inserting the sealing disc (121) into the cap;
h) by inserting the ring (124) into the cap, moving the protrusions (344, 344 ′, 344 ″) toward the disc and enclosing the disc in the cap by the ring; Engaging projecting members (346, 354) respectively provided on the radially outer surface (347) of the ring and the radially inner surface (355) of the cap;
A method comprising the steps of:   Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the steps c) and d) are carried out simultaneously with step a), which is the step of forming the ring (24).   Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said step f) is carried out simultaneously with step e), which is the step of forming said cap (125). During the steps a) to f), the ring (124), the cap (125), the disc (121) and the protrusions are loosened while the device (102) is loosened with respect to the neck (101). the protrusion (344,344,344 ') is characterized by having a configuration sized to fit the separating said disc from said neck (F ₃₎ on to one of the claims 6 8 The method described. After the device (102) is placed on the neck, the disk (121) is fixed to the neck (101), in particular by heat sealing the inner capsule (122) supported on the neck by the disk. A method for sealing a container with an apparatus manufactured according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that it comprises the step of:

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