CN101005997A

CN101005997A - Composite closure with barrier end panel

Info

Publication number: CN101005997A
Application number: CNA200580025010XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·J·克拉斯; J·泰伯
Original assignee: Silgan White Cap Americas LLC
Current assignee: Silgan White Cap Americas LLC
Priority date: 2004-06-18
Filing date: 2005-06-17
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Also published as: WO2006009806A3; WO2006009806A2; AU2005265068A1; KR20070045190A; CA2571259A1; JP2008503400A; BRPI0512266A; EP1776288A2; US20050284837A1; MXPA06014860A

Abstract

Composite closures for plastic containers are disclosed. The composite closures include an end panel with oxygen barrier properties. The liner includes a sealing liner or gasket for sealing engagement with a container finish.

Description

Combination cover with barrier end panel

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application requires the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/580 of submission on June 18th, 2004,946 preceence.

Technical field

The present invention relates to be used for such as the composite closures of (but being not limited to) plastic bottle with containers such as jars.Closing cap comprises the bumped head with excellent oxygen barrier properties.The application of closing cap causes forming gas tight seal between container and lid.More particularly, the present invention relates to the composite closures in various sealings and the sterilized environment, described composite closures has the end plate that is made of plastics basically, has the oxygen barrier performance and provide gas tight seal between container and lid.

Background technology

Composite closures is known in the art.Composite closures generally includes two parts (therefore, word " combination "), has the separate end panel of circular casing or ring and this central opening of covering of central opening.Composite closures is used in hot filling usually or uses after can in the product of hot pasteurize or sterilization, the product that comprises the experience of entire package (filling containers) wherein " pressure sterilization (retorting) " (that is, packing is heated to greater than 220 temperature) with seal cover cap.

The most frequently used composite closures is included in metal end plate and annular gasket or the ring-type liner that gas tight seal is provided between closing cap and the container finish at present.The metal end plate of metal/plastic composite closures provides good oxygen barrier, if oxygen can freely infiltrate packing, can cause addling of food.Recently, introduced the composite closures that end plate is made by non-metallic material (such as plastics) basically.Described " overall plastic " composite closures has the following advantages, that is, end plate is not perishable and manufacturing cost is lower.

Although many known composite closures can work satisfactorily, also exist for the lasting demand of composite closures so that (1) limit effectively oxygen enter closing cap, the described packing of (2) sealing with further restriction oxygen enter at the interface place between container finish and the closing cap, (3) be damaged after use is provided vestige and (4) of (tamper) reduce manufacturing cost.

No matter composite closures comprises metal end plate or plastic end panel (but under situation that especially end plate is made of plastics basically), and it is especially debatable keeping the leak free integraty in the food in the plastic container that are packaged in the experience pressure sterilization.Plastic container, the plastic container bottleneck that especially experiences pressure sterilization can experience usually and expand and thing followed contraction.Seal interface between the expansion of container finish and effect of contraction container and the closing cap, thus cause product more likely to addle.Therefore, have the demand for the closing cap with aforementioned properties, described performance promptly also can experience pressure sterilization when keeping the leak free integraty.Closing cap of the present invention has satisfied aforementioned need.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is mounted in the transparent view of an embodiment of the composite closures on the container finish;

Fig. 2 is the transparent view of Fig. 1 composite closures, one of them cross section by amputation so that the end plate discs that is lined with seal ring (pad) to be shown;

Fig. 3 is the top view with the packing that embodies closing cap of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the partial side view in cross section of the composite closures of Fig. 3 of cutting of 4-4 along the line;

Fig. 5 is the partial side view in cross section of Fig. 1 closing cap of cutting by pore, and wherein closing cap is installed on the container finish;

Fig. 6 is the upward view with closing cap shell of end plate discs;

Fig. 7 is mounted in the planar view of Fig. 1 closing cap on the container finish, shows negative thread on the closing cap inside face and the screw thread (shown in broken lines) on chimb and the container bottle neck outside face;

Fig. 8 is the transparent view of the alternative embodiment of closing cap, and one of them cross section is by amputation, and closing cap is installed on the container finish;

Fig. 9 is the partial side view in cross section that 9-9 cut along Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is the partial side view in cross section that 10-10 cut along Fig. 8;

Figure 11 is the cross sectional drawing of Fig. 1 closing cap after end plate being inserted in the shell but before being positioned on the container finish;

Figure 12 is mounted in the amplification cross sectional drawing of Fig. 1 closing cap on the container finish;

Figure 13 is mounted in the transparent view of another embodiment of the closing cap on the container finish, and this closing cap comprises the end plate of the vacuum start button (in upper end position) with mechanical molding;

Figure 14 is the transparent view with Figure 13 closing cap of vacuum start button (in lower end position);

Figure 15 is the top view of Figure 13 closing cap;

Figure 16 is the side cross-sectional view along the closing cap of Figure 13 that 15-15 cut of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is the side cross-sectional view along the closing cap of Figure 14 that 16-16 cut of Figure 15;

Figure 18 is the fragmentary, perspective view of another alternative of composite closures;

Figure 19 is mounted in the partial side view in cross section of the closing cap of the Figure 18 that obtains along line 19-19 on the container finish;

Figure 20 is mounted in the partial side view in cross section of the closing cap of the Figure 18 that obtains along line 20-20 on the container finish;

Figure 21 is the transparent view of another alternative of the shell 9 of composite closures;

Figure 22 is mounted in the local side cross-sectional view of the closing cap of the Figure 21 that obtains along line 22-22 on the container;

Figure 23 is mounted in the local side cross-sectional view of the closing cap of the Figure 21 that obtains along line 23-23 on the container;

Figure 24 is the transparent view of another alternative of closing cap, and wherein a part is cut;

Figure 25 is the lateral plan of the closing cap of Figure 24, and wherein a part is cut;

Figure 26 is difference (bottom) transparent view of the closing cap of Figure 24;

Figure 27 A is the side cross-sectional view of the closing cap before end plate is inserted in the shell;

Figure 27 B is the side cross-sectional view that end plate inserts the closing cap of shell before closing cap is used on the container finish;

Figure 27 C is the side cross-sectional view of the closing cap when closing cap is used on the container finish;

Figure 27 D is used for process on the container finish in the side cross-sectional view of the closing cap in slower stage at closing cap;

Figure 27 E is the side cross-sectional view that is used for the closing cap of the step of process after on the container finish when bottleneck full engagement closing cap the time at closing cap;

Figure 27 F is that closing cap is in the final side cross-sectional view at sealing station place fully with respect to bottleneck;

Figure 28 is the transparent view that pad is used for the end plate on lower plate surface;

Figure 29 is the side cross-sectional view of filling up the pre-formation end plate of the circumferential section that is used for the lower plate surface;

Figure 30 is the side cross-sectional view of filling up the flush end plate of the circumferential section that is used for the lower plate surface;

Figure 31 is the side cross-sectional view of pre-formation dish (disk) of Figure 29 that is used for the shell of closing cap;

Figure 32 is the side cross-sectional view of closing cap that is used for Figure 31 of container finish.

The description of embodiment

Referring to accompanying drawing, closing cap 10 comprises and is essentially columniform housing 12, and housing 12 has the central opening that is covered by end plate 20, and end plate 20 is fixed in the housing 12.Housing 12 is preferably by forming such as (but being not limited to) polyacrylic plastic moulding.

As shown in FIG., special Fig. 2, housing 12 comprises the skirt section 14 of the downward extension that integrally is formed with the upper flange 18 that extends radially inwardly.Flange comprises top surface 19 and basal surface 21.As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the top surface 19 of flange 18 is downward-sloping slightly on the direction of closure center.

As shown in Fig. 2,8,11 and 12, the inner circumferential surface in skirt section 14 is provided with one or more preformed screw thread 22.Screw thread 22 be used for container finish 27 on respective threaded 23 cooperatively interact, usually as shown in Figure 7.In a preferred embodiment, screw thread 22 is guiding screw threads that extend on the inside face of ring 12 greater than 360 degree.Perhaps, the also a plurality of guiding screw threads of screw thread 22.

The inner circumferential surface in skirt section 14 preferably includes the lifting chimb 24 that is positioned at screw thread 22 tops, more particularly, promotes chimb 24 above end on the screw thread 22.Promote the sealing contact that chimb 24 promotes end plate 20 and make its disengaging and container in opening procedure.In a preferred embodiment, promoting chimb 24 is (that is, not being bevelled) of level basically.In one embodiment, chimb 24 can extend (that is 360 degree) around the whole circumference of shell 12.Preferably chimb 24 can extend less than 360 degree around shell 12.In one embodiment, promote chimb 24 and extend about 240 degree or littler and be continuous (that is, uninterrupted) around ring 12.But, as shown in Figure 26, describe as following, it is also discontinuous and be made of a series of annular bead segments 24a, 24b etc. to promote chimb.

Perhaps, shell 12 can not be provided with and promote chimb 24.Under the situation that does not have chimb 24, can by the castering action of one of them screw thread 22 realize coiling 20 with the disengaging of container.This provides bigger distance between dish 20 and bont (that is, screw thread 22), thereby makes the miles of relative movement maximization of dish 20 before the primary seal of packing is destroyed.This is favourable under the situation of a plurality of continuous openings of needs.

Easily broken belt 26 links to each other with the end in skirt section 14.In a preferred embodiment, the extendible portion and the position below container keeps chimb 60 in skirt section 14 link to each other with skirt section 14 by a plurality of bridges with 26.Be provided with between also can and being with 26 in skirt section 14 continuous or semicontinuous slit 28 or weak line with in opening procedure, make cap be with 26 to separate.Also comprise the holding element 29 that the upwards annular of the chimb 60 that is used to be bonded on the container finish 27 extends internally with 26.U.S. Patent No. 5,685 has disclosed an example of such easy broken belt in 443, and the content of this patent merges reference here.Perhaps, can comprise a series of annular ratchet or the ratchet section (not shown) that engages with corresponding ratchet 37 (seeing Figure 19-20,22-23) on container finish 27 with 26.Such ratchet joint is known and is understandable for those skilled in the art.

In the embodiment of Figure 11, end plate 20 is promoting chimb 24 and have external diameter less than the internal diameter at ring 12 14 the inside face place in the skirt section between the transition portion 43 between skirt section 14 and the flange 18.In the embodiment in figure 1, as best illustrating among Figure 11, the external diameter of end plate 20 is slightly larger than the diameter that promotes chimb 24 and is in assembled state with convenient closing cap 10 but makes end plate 20 lie in before the stack-mounted closing cap is placed on container finish and promote on the chimb 24.Like this, end plate 20 is free to float between the basal surface that promotes chimb 24 and flange 18.

A slice or layer or the multi-disc that is as describing below be made and can be set to end cap (end panel disc end plate discs) 20 can by any suitable plastic fraction.In one embodiment, end plate 20 can be made of one deck or multi-layer polypropylene.But, preferably coil by material and make with good oxygen barrier properties.An example is the material that comprises such as the metal component of metallic membrane.Perhaps, also can use non-metal, (for example plastics) basic oxygen barrier composition.In one embodiment, under the situation that needs the oxygen barrier performance, end cap 20 is made by one or more plastics of one deck, and wherein at least a material is an oxygen barrier.

In another embodiment, end cap 20 multilayer disc 20.Example multilayer disc as shown in FIG. 5 can be made by several different methods.In one embodiment, dish 20 can be made by the co-extrusion sheet of multi-disc layer.In another embodiment, dish 20 can be made by molded, such as utilizing injection-molded to make.

For example as shown in Figure 5, multilayer disc can comprise top layer 32, middle level 34 and the bottom 36 of plastics, and wherein one deck comprises the oxygen barrier performance at least.In one embodiment, top layer 32 can be by making such as the plastics of (but being not limited to) polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer.The cmpd that middle level 34 has good oxygen barrier properties.For example, middle level 34 is such as the vinyl compound of (but being not limited to) EVOH.Bottom 36 is polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer.In addition, be under the situation of multilayer disc 20 at dish 20, it can be included between top layer and the middle level and the lining cement between bottom and middle level.

Perhaps, the material (for example EVOH) with oxygen barrier performance can comprise top layer 32.Like this, in this alternative, top layer 32 is oxygen barrier layer, and middle level 34 is adhesive linkage, and bottom 36 is the polymeric material of polypropylene, its copolymer or other oxygen barrier poor-performings.The Besela that is provided by Kureha Chemicals is provided the example that can be used for the commercially available film in end plate 20 manufacturings ^Film.

Except foregoing or alternative as the another kind of foregoing, dish 20 can comprise oxygen scavenger.Best, scavenger with combined, mix or be included in the single-layered disk.Under dish 20 situations about being made by multilayer, bottom 36 can comprise that oxygen scavenger is to reduce the level of head space oxygen after seal of vessel.The example of the scavenger that is fit to comprises tiny sodium ascorbate particulate or powder.Other examples of oxygen scavenger comprise Fe-base compound, such as ferriferous oxide.Oxygen scavenger is used in combination with one or more oxygen barrier layer to be provided initiatively and passive baffle system.

Although the thickness of lid depends in part on the size of closing cap 10, among described here most of embodiment, about 0.020 inch thick plate is preferred.For cost-cutting and interchange of heat effectively, particularly in the pressure sterilization process, the end casing of little thickness is preferred.In this embodiment, be that the thickness in middle level preferably is about 1.2 mils under polypropylene or its copolymer and the situation that has the interlayer of EVOH for example between them at top layer and bottom.

Closing cap 10 also can comprise and engaging with end seal and preferably and the ring gasket of the inside face sealed engagement of container finish or serve as a contrast 38.Lining 38 is the full pad of the whole basal surface of covering disk 20 basically.Lining or fill up 38 bottoms that can be used for end cap 20.In a preferred embodiment, the excircle around dish 20 provides aquaseal as encircling or filling up 38, as best illustrating in Fig. 2,4 and 5.Be the U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 09/634 that on August 9th, 2000 proposed, 182 and pad is provided in the U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2003/0098287 A1 that proposed on January 9th, 2003 and has made an example of and methods for using them, the content of these two pieces of documents merges reference here.Pad 38 provides effective sealing between end cap 20 and container finish 27.Pad 38 preferably is injection molded on the end cap 20.Be used to fill up 38 or to serve as a contrast 38 suitable component be to can be any component that container finish 27 provides gas tight seal.In one embodiment, aquaseal can be made of polypropylene or its copolymer.Spendable other known sealant compositions comprise the SEBS periodic copolymer.Also can use thermoplastic elastomer or other to have the component of oxygen barrier performance in various degree.U.S. Patent No. 6,677,397 and in the U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 10/400,304 that proposed on March 27th, 2003, disclosed such thermoplastic elastomer, the content of these two pieces of documents merges reference here.Although any suitable TPE or can be used for filling up 38, the closing cap that the preferred plastic fraction that discloses in the sequence number 10/400,304 is specially adapted to disclose here based on the component of TPE.

Composite closures of the present invention provides further improvement at the oxygen barrier aspect of performance with respect to traditional metal/plastic composite closures (that is the plastics mounting ring that, has metal end plate).In a research, the oxygen barrier performance that will be lined with the composite closures (A) that comprises polypropylene/EVOH/ polypropylene end plate 20 of the pad of being made by the preferred sealant compositions of describing in the U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 10/400,304 compares with the metal/plastic composite closures (B) that is lined with the plastisol component.

Use is by Minneapolis, the MOCON of Minnesota ^The Ox-Tran2/61 type oxygen permeability measurement mechanism that provides, the oxygen admission velocity of the closing cap of the present invention (as mentioned above) that (and based on 40 millimeters closing cap) measured under 65% relative humidity is usually less than about 0.003cc/ bag/sky/barometric pressure, and is about 0.0025cc/ bag/sky/barometric pressure.The oxygen admission velocity that is lined with the metal/plastic composite closures of plastisol component is about 0.0041cc/ bag/sky/barometric pressure.In brief, the equipment of the above-mentioned type is measured the oxygen admission velocity by nitrogen being incorporated in the closing cap leak free container that utilizes belt material.Nitrogen drives the oxygen that may be present in the airtight container owing to entering by closing cap.The level that nitrogen leaves container and captive oxygen by outlet is registered as electric signal and is reported with the form of the cm3 (cc) that penetrated into the oxygen in the packing (closing cap with lining) in one day.Then adjust reading with the isolation performance of considering container to provide more accurate reading.

As shown in Fig. 1-2, closing cap 10 comprises along the discharge side 40 of a plurality of annular space of the basal surface 21 of flange 18.Discharge side 40 is provided for discharging the flow channel that is used to cool off or wash the liquid (water) of packing.Discharge side 40 is space and being separated by the part of the flange 18 of Reference numeral 42 expression regularly.Covered for 10 whens sealing when container is closed, part 42 with coil 20 and contact, example is as shown in FIG. 4.

Closing cap 10 of the present invention is specially adapted to hot filling or pressurization sterilized environment, as long as container is equally applicable to the disinfecting action that pressurizes.Other alternative environment of " sterilization of can the pressurizeing " closing cap that is used in combination with more traditional container material are also as described below.

Fig. 8-10 shows the another kind of alterative version of closing cap involved in the present invention.Identical as in above preferred embodiment, closing cap 10 comprises mounting ring 12 and the end cap 20 in ring 12.And among the embodiment in front (Fig. 1's-7), the flange 18 of shell 12 defines a central opening, and in the embodiment of Fig. 8-10, ring 12 comprises another central cover 50 that covers on the end cap 20.

Preferably central cover 50 become one with ring 12 and in molding process by with encircle 12 identical (plastics) materials and make.As shown in Figure 8, central cover 50 links to each other with flange 18 by the zone 52 from the connecting arm 52 of central cover 50 radiation.The end wall 54 of the side of connecting arm 52, central cover 50 and the end wall of flange 43 limits windows 56, and dish 20 is exposed in the external environment condition by window 56.Preferably the thickness of the connecting arm 52 of connecting panel is about 1/2nd of flange 18 thickness.In the embodiment that describes in front, ring 12 comprises a plurality of annular space discharge sides 40 that separated by the part 42 of flange 18 along the basal surface of flange 18.As shown in Figure 8, can utilize the connecting arm 52 of ring 12 to interrupt discharge side 40.

Aspect all, the closing cap 10 shown in Fig. 8-10 is identical with foregoing embodiment basically at other.Under the situation of the more crash-resistant ring 12 of needs, can use the above-mentioned ring 12 shown in Fig. 8-10, (as center end cap 50 ring stiffeners 12).End cap 50 also provides the surface that can be used for printing, impressing or apply product information thereon.

Figure 13-17 shows another alternative or the feature of closing cap 10 (particularly end cap 20).In the embodiment of Figure 13-17, end cap 20 comprises the vacuum start button.U.S. Patent No. 4,989 has disclosed the composite closures that has the button that machinery forms on end plate in 740, and the content of the document here merges as a reference.In the embodiment of Figure 13-17, basic at least plastic end panel 20 can mechanically be formed to comprise the vacuum start button in advance.Vacuum is present in represents in the leak free container that this container is sealed.Utilize optical measurement sensors two-forty in canning line, to detect the button that is in depressed state.

Figure 18-32 shows another embodiment of closing cap 10 of the present invention.In many aspects, closing cap 10 is similar or identical with above-mentioned closing cap 10 aspect structure and material.Under so similar or identical feature is included in situation among the embodiment of Figure 18-32, no longer they are held detailed description here, it should be understood that on the contrary the front to the description of similar or identical feature in conjunction with as a reference.Like this, for example,, it should be understood that the closing cap shown in Figure 18-32 will comprise that some distort (using) indicating device although the embodiment of Figure 18-32 does not illustrate the easy broken belt that for example links to each other at the end with skirt section 14 shown in Fig. 1-17.Distort index strip 26 and can comprise holding element 29 as shown in Fig. 1-17, and as previously described, perhaps can comprise the annular ratchet that engages with the neck of container 33.

The closing cap 10 of Figure 18-32 not only provides good oxygen barrier performance and the product that are provided by the foregoing description to distort indication, even and they also be specially adapted to pressurize and also can keep gas tight seal effectively after the operation of sterilization and temperature change that in the pressurization sterilization process, meets with and the bottle breathing.

Can pressurize such example of closing cap of sterilization as shown in Figure 18-21.As shown in Figure 18, composite closures 10 comprises aforesaid shell 12 with end plate 20.Shell 12 can be made by polypropylene or other plastics that are fit to usually.Shell 12 comprises the skirt section 14 of downward extension, and as in the above-described embodiments, skirt section 14 becomes one with flange 18.In addition, as mentioned above, the inside face 14 in skirt section 14 comprises one or more screw thread that the screw thread with container 23 cooperatively interacts, as shown in the cross sectional drawing of Figure 19.The inside face in the skirt section 14 of the embodiment shown in Figure 18-32 also comprises chimb 24, usually as mentioned above.Chimb 24 is located at the terminal top of going up of screw thread 22 on the inside face in skirt section 14, and promotes end plate 20 when opening.

In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 26, chimb 24 centers on inside face extension 360 degree in skirt section 14 and is discontinuous.For example, chimb 26 can be provided as that a series of inside faces around skirt section 14 extend 360 degree or less than the annular bead segments of 360 degree and be separated from each other.Perhaps, chimb 24 extends less than 360 degree and is preferably the continuous chimbs of 240 degree around the inside face in skirt section 14, as mentioned above.

As in the above-described embodiments, the shell 12 of the closing cap shown in Figure 18 comprises the top flange 18 that becomes one with skirt section 14.Flange 18 comprises top surface 19 and basal surface 21.But flange 18 and the foregoing description difference of the closing cap shown in Figure 18 are that it has the cross-sectional plane that is essentially C shape, as shown in Figure 19.Especially, as shown in Figure 19 and 20, flange top 19 and basal surface 21 have the cross-sectional plane that is essentially C shape, and wherein top surface 19 and basal surface 21 are parallel to each other.As shown in Figure 19, basal surface 21 comprises the inside 21a that radially extends, downward extendible portion 21c and central curvature portion 21b downwards.Similarly, flange top 19 can comprise the inside 19a that radially extends, the radially downward outside 19c of extension and central curvature portion 19b downwards, as illustrating with various forms among Figure 18-26.In one embodiment, only basal surface can have the cross-sectional plane that is essentially C shape, and flange top 19 can comprise different cross sections.For example, flange top 19 can comprise the cross-sectional plane that is essentially C shape and provide comparison and continuous smooth surface (for example shown in Figure 24-26).Perhaps, flange top 19 also has other feature except having the cross-sectional plane that is essentially C shape, for example is included in the top curved and the recess between the radially outer 29 of flange top 19.

Shell 12 in the composite closures 10 shown in Figure 18-32 also can comprise a plurality of discharge sides 70.Usually, discharge side 70 is along the mutual annular space of the whole circumference of shell 12.As shown in Figure 18,21 and 24, for example discharge side 70 leads in the center curvature part 19b of flange top 19 and the outside of extending the flange 18 between the radially outer 19c downwards.As shown in Figure 19, discharge side 70 provides flow channel 72 between the bottleneck 17 of skirt section 14 and container 23.

As shown in Figure 18-32, composite closures 10 also comprises end cap 20.Identical with above-mentioned end cap 20 basically at the end cap 20 of the embodiment shown in Figure 18-32, especially aspect its material composition.That is, in one embodiment, end cap 20 preferably has the oxygen barrier performance.In addition, as mentioned above, end cap 20 can be made of one deck or a slice of one or more materials, perhaps preferably is made of multi-disc, and wherein a slice or multi-disc comprise oxygen barrier layer and/or deoxygenation layer.As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment, end cap can constitute by three layers or three, and wherein the middle level comprises oxygen barrier layer, and such as EVOH, and top layer and bottom comprise polypropylene or other plastics that are fit to.If necessary, can use lining cement, as mentioned above.Certainly, under the situation that needs the multilayer end cap, as mentioned above, can utilize molded or be crushed to such end cap.

As shown in the figure, end cap 20 comprises top surface 20a and lower surface 20b.End cap 20 also comprises middle body 60 and excircle part 62.In a preferred embodiment, end cap 20 can be provided with the lining (for example filling up entirely) of aquaseal or fill up 38, as mentioned above also as illustrating especially among Figure 28-30.Best, pad 38 is applied on the lower surface 20b, as shown in Figure 28 with the form of encircling at the circumferential section of end cap 20 at least.Make pad 38 and will fill up the scope that 38 the methods on the end cap 20 of being applied in exceed the application.But, be U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2003/0098287 A1 that on January 9th, 2003 proposed and the U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 09/634 that proposes on August 9th, 2000, described the manufacturing and methods for using them of pad in 182, the content of these two pieces of documents here merges as a reference.

As shown in Figure 30, end plate 20 can be provided as the square position.In closing cap 10 was used in process on the container finish 27, dish 20 conformed to flange bottom surface 21 basically.Perhaps, end plate 20 can be provided as the shaping dish, as shown in Figure 29, it by preform to conform to the cross section of flange bottom surface 21 basically.When being provided as the square position, the mean diameter of dish 20 can be greater than the diameter of inner skirt surface.

Figure 27 A-27F shows the assembling of composite closures 10 and stack-mounted closing cap 10 is used in step on the container finish 27.In assembling process, introduce end plate 20 by the mouth of shell 12.End plate 20 is pulled to the point that surpasses chimb 24 of close flange 18 by shell 12.Because its bigger diameter, end plate 20 be the slight curving and common shape as shown in Figure 27 b of employing in circumferential section 62 places outside.

Figure 27 c shows closing cap 10 is used in first step in the container finish 27.As shown in Figure 27 c, the end of container finish is at first at the excircle part 62 and the pad 38 of its radially innermost some place contact disc 20.Differently described, container finish 17 and pad 38 contact from fill up 38 radially inwardly part as shown in Figure 27, make progress to the radially outer of pad 38 from the bottom.

When the contact between container finish 27 and the end cap 20 continued, excircle part 62 conformed to the shape of flange bottom surface 21, as shown in Figure 27 d in application process.Aspect this, preferably coil 20 and between core 60 and excircle part 62, be provided with and weaken a little.Weaken a little making the some place bending of vinyl disc between core 60 and excircle part 62, thus with shown in Figure 27 a-27d with above-mentioned mode crooked with conform to.Weaken and a little can be set to wherein for example in the zone that casts or cold forming process end cap 20 reduces with the thickness that is coiling end cap in the process that recess 64 is provided in 20.

Figure 27 e shows the excircle part of the dish 20 that conforms to core 21b with the inner radial 21a of flange bottom surface 21.When closing cap 10 further advanced on the bottleneck 27 at container 23, pad 38 was crushed on the inside face and the top surface of bottleneck 27, thereby tight seal is provided, shown in Figure 27 f.Usually the container finish 17 that occurs when pressurizeing sterilization expands and the more important thing is that sealing can become tightr after contraction.

Figure 29 shows another alternative of end cap 20.In Figure 29, end cap 20 is not that the form with the square position is illustrated.On the contrary, end cap 20 initially is flat, but then its introducing and be shaped before shell 12 is associated.In the shape of the interior radially part 21a of flange bottom surface 21 and middle body 21b place end cap 20 more near the shape of flange bottom surface 21.Like this, for example can make end cap bending and moulding make end cap 20 be shaped by heating (that is Heat forming).Perhaps, utilize injection or compression moulding that the end cap of shaping is provided.As shown in Figure 29, the preforming end cap of shaping comprises flat basically core 60.Near the excircle part 62 of end cap 20, dish downward-sloping slightly (on radially outer direction) before flattening basically again.Outside in the circumferential section 62, dish 20 is inclined upwardly (on direction radially outward), as shown in Figure 29.

No matter end cap 20 is provided with the form of square position, and as shown in Figure 27 a to 27f, perhaps the form with the preforming end cap is provided, and as shown in Figure 31 and 32, composite closures 10 of the present invention provides suitable sealing for container finish 17.Be different from the composite closures that need the radially inside of container finish and other pressurization sterilizations of leak free radially outward usually, composite closures 10 of the present invention as shown in Figure 18-32, mainly provides inside and top seal.The container sealing of remaining valid is even after packing stands to pressurize the high temperature of sterilization.

As shown in Figure 21, composite closures also can be provided with additional central lid 50, as mentioned above.In molding process, central lid 50 can become one with shell 12.Central lid 50 comprises the connecting panel of the Connection Element 52 of mutual annular space, thereby at least a portion of end cap 20 is exposed to external environment condition.

Figure 22 and 23 is cross sectional drawings that the discharge side partial sum solid section by shell 12 respectively of the embodiment of Figure 21 obtains.As shown in Figure 22 and 23, central lid 50 can with end cap 20 at interval.Perhaps, central lid 50 can contact the top surface 20a of end cap 20.As mentioned above, central lid 50 provides added strength for shell 12.It also provides the name of product of the mint-mark on the core that can impress the surperficial of name of product or be included in central lid 50, thereby makes end cap 20 further be exposed under the external environment condition.At other aspect all, the shape of flange top and basal surface is identical with the respective surfaces that embodiment about Figure 18 and 24 describes.

Although invention has been described in conjunction with each embodiment, for those skilled in the art, obviously under the situation of the protection domain that does not break away from spirit of the present invention, can carry out modification and change to it.Therefore, protection scope of the present invention only is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. a composite closures that is used for container comprises:

Basically that made by one or more plastic material and have oxygen barrier performance end cap, described end cap comprise upper surface and lower surface and core and end at outer peripheral excircle part;

The skirt section that shell, described shell comprise cylindrical downward extension and covering also contact the annular top flange of upper surface of the described excircle part of described end cap;

At least the sealing lining on the excircle part of the described lower surface of described end cap.

2. composite closures as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described end cap comprises multilayer, and wherein one deck is made by a kind of oxygen barrier material at least in part at least.

3. composite closures as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that described end cap comprises top layer, middle level and bottom, and the one deck at least in wherein said top layer and the middle level is made by a kind of oxygen barrier material at least in part.

4. composite closures as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, described end cap comprises the top layer made by polypropylene or its copolymer to small part, to middle level that small part is made by EVOH and the bottom of being made by polypropylene or its copolymer to small part.

5. composite closures as claimed in claim 3, it is characterized in that the bottom that described end cap comprises the top layer made by the oxygen barrier material to small part, made by polypropylene or its copolymer to small part and by the middle level of selecting to make with the material of described top layer and underlying bond.

6. composite closures as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, one deck at least of described layer comprises the oxygen remover.

7. composite closures as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described flange limits central opening in described shell.

8. composite closures as claimed in claim 1 also comprises the described inside of the described core that covers described end cap and plate with interval.

9. composite closures as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, described wrapper plate and described shell become one.

10. composite closures as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, described wrapper plate links to each other with described flange by the connecting arm of a plurality of annular space.

11. composite closures as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described skirt section is included at least one the preform screw thread on the inner circumferential surface in described skirt section.

12. composite closures as claimed in claim 1 is included at least one preform screw thread and the pre-chimb that forms on the inner circumferential surface in described skirt section, wherein said chimb is spaced above end on the described screw thread.

13. composite closures as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that, described chimb is continuous.

14. composite closures as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that, described chimb extends less than 360 degree.

15. composite closures as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that, described pre-formation chimb is discontinuous.

16. composite closures as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that, the described external diameter of described end cap is greater than the diameter of described preform chimb.

17. composite closures as claimed in claim 1 is included in the discharge side of a plurality of annular space in the described flange.

18. a composite closures that is used for container comprises:

Shell, described shell comprises the skirt section of cylindrical downward extension, described skirt section comprises the annular top flange, described flange comprises top surface, basal surface and the inner radial surface between described top surface and basal surface, and described flange covers the part of excircle at least of described end cap so that the described basal surface of described flange contacts the upper surface of the described excircle part of described end cap;

At least a portion of wherein said end cap upper surface is exposed to external environment condition; And

19. composite closures as claimed in claim 18 also comprises the described in-to-in plate of the described core that covers described end cap.

20. composite closures as claimed in claim 19 is characterized in that, described wrapper plate and described shell become one.

21. composite closures as claimed in claim 19 is characterized in that, described wrapper plate links to each other with described flange by the connecting arm of a plurality of annular space.

22. composite closures as claimed in claim 18 is included in the discharge side of a plurality of annular space in the described flange.

23. composite closures as claimed in claim 22 is characterized in that, described discharge side is positioned on the described radially innermost surface of described flange.

24. composite closures as claimed in claim 22 is characterized in that, described discharge side is arranged in the described top surface of described flange.

25. a composite closures that is used for container comprises:

Shell, described shell comprises the skirt section and the annular top flange of downward extension, described flange comprises top surface and basal surface, at least the described basal surface of wherein said flange has the cross-sectional plane that is essentially C shape, thus the curvature portion of partial sum between described radially inside and outside part that described flange bottom surface comprises radially inside downward inside of extending, radially outward extends downwards;

Basically that make by one or more plastic material and have oxygen barrier performance end cap, described end cap comprises upper surface and lower surface and core and ends at the excircle part of free edge that the described excircle part of wherein said end cap conforms to curved top portion with the described at least downward extension of described flange bottom surface basically and contacts; And

At least the sealing lining on the excircle part of the described lower surface of described end cap, wherein said end cap conforms to curved top portion with described radially the extension downwards of described flange bottom surface basically.

26. composite closures as claimed in claim 25 is characterized in that, described end cap comprises multilayer, and described one deck is at least at least partly made by the oxygen barrier material.

27. composite closures as claimed in claim 25 is characterized in that, described end cap comprises top layer, middle level and bottom, and the one deck at least in wherein said top layer and the middle level is made by a kind of oxygen barrier material at least in part.

28. composite closures as claimed in claim 27, it is characterized in that described end cap comprises the top layer made by polypropylene or its copolymer to small part, to middle level that small part is made by EVOH and the bottom of being made by polypropylene or its copolymer to small part.

29. composite closures as claimed in claim 25, it is characterized in that, described flange top has the cross-sectional plane that is essentially C shape, thus the curvature portion of partial sum between described radially inside and outside part that described flange top comprises radially inside downward inside of extending, radially outward extends downwards.

30. composite closures as claimed in claim 29 is included in the discharge side of a plurality of annular space in the described flange.

31. composite closures as claimed in claim 30 is characterized in that, described discharge side is included in the described basal surface of described flange and the opening between the top surface.

32. composite closures as claimed in claim 31 is characterized in that, described discharge side is between the described crooked radially outer of described flange top and basal surface.

33. composite closures as claimed in claim 25 is characterized in that, described pad is by selecting the material with the vessel port sealed engagement to make, and the material that described vessel port is easy to shrink during by after cooling under being exposed to greater than the temperature of 220  is made.

34. composite closures as claimed in claim 25 is characterized in that, described pad is made by the bonding material of selection and the vessel port of being made by polyethylene terephthalate.

35. a method of making composite closures comprises:

Molded plastic housing, described shell comprises cylindrical skirt and annular top flange, described skirt section limits the center mouth, described flange has top surface, basal surface and is essentially the cross-sectional profiles of C shape, thereby described basal surface comprises the inside of radially extending, the outside and curvature portion between described inner radial and outside that radially extends downwards downwards;

Circular discs is provided, and described circular discs has top surface and basal surface, and described circular discs comprises core and excircle part;

At least on the excircle part of described circular discs basal surface, apply sealant material;

By described center mouth described circular discs is guided in the described shell.

36. method as claimed in claim 35 comprises the flexible disk that provides flat basically.

37. method as claimed in claim 35 also is included in the described circular discs and provides the zone of weakening between described circular discs core and described outer circumference portion branch.

38. comprising by form recess between described circular discs core and described outer circumference portion branch in described circular discs, method as claimed in claim 37 in described circular discs, provides the zone of weakening.

39. method as claimed in claim 37 comprises that the described outer circumference portion branch with described circular discs is pressed on the described flange so that described excircle part conforms to the described inner radial of described flange bottom surface and the shape at top basically.

Provide the dish with core and excircle part, described excircle partly to have the cross-sectional plane of C shape roughly and comprise surface and the radially outer curved surface that radially inwardly extends downwards 40. method as claimed in claim 35 comprises.

Make described dish Heat forming so that the dish with the excircle part that is essentially C shape cross-sectional plane to be provided 41. method as claimed in claim 40 comprises, described dish comprises surface and the curved surface that radially inwardly extends downwards.

42. method as claimed in claim 41 is included in the step that described Heat forming applies described aquaseal before.

43. a composite closures that is used for container comprises:

Basically that make by one or more plastic material and have oxygen barrier performance end cap;

Plastic hoop, described plastic hoop comprise the skirt section of downward extension and the flange that upwards extends radially inwardly, and described flange covers the described excircle of described end cap;

Be applied to the aquaseal on the basal surface of described end cap.

44. the composite closures as claim 43 is characterized in that, described aquaseal is applied on the excircle part of described end cap basal surface with the form of pad.

45. the composite closures as claim 43 is characterized in that, described end cap comprises one deck of one or more plastic material.