DE102006030082B3 - Disc seal used inside screw cap of shaker-container for e.g. spices, includes perforated, plastic-reinforced aluminum foil layer used for induction heating - Google Patents

Abstract

The disc seal (10) includes aluminum foil (20) for induction heating and has perforations (30). The foil thickness exceeds 9 mu m, and it is reinforced by a further layer (40) of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A sealing layer (25) completes a seal with the mouth of the container. The perforations, fewer than 10 in number, penetrate the foil and the sealing layer. The reinforced foil is sufficiently strong and thick, that when the spices are shaken-out, there is no damage to it (20).

Description

The The invention relates to a sealing washer for closing mouths of containers.

sealing washers be for the closures of container mouths used in a variety of cases. You are needed facing permanent seals Ingress of air or foreign bodies from the outside in the To ensure container interior and also to the contents inside the container to prevent it from falling out.

sealing washers become common additionally to screw caps, cam latches or other types of covers used to plan a container mouth complete and the cap as an additional, provide mechanical closure.

The Sealing discs are used in addition to the mechanical protection by the outer cap In addition, a really gas- and air-tight seal immediately to provide the container mouth and ensure.

In containers Among other things, spices are also packaged. For spices an additional one Problem in that the contents from the container is not consumed at once or in a few spurts, but that an irregular, however occasionally very long-lasting use of the contents of the container for seasoning desired by food will, while the respective remaining amount of the spices in the container remains.

nevertheless also use the manufacturers of spices sealing washers to the User one before the first opening guaranteed to be able to offer dense packaging.

Of the Consumers expect about it In addition, assistance with the delivery of spices or similar products, for example by a kind of lens or the like.

This is also offered, such as in the form of retrospective or already glued plastic inserts with such stray perforations. However, this is costly and the plastic inserts work often also ugly, which satisfies neither the consumer nor the manufacturer.

It looks similar in the EP 0 061 929 A1 , There is proposed for improvement, instead of the glued plastic insert with such scattering perforations to stick a disc with such perforations on top of the container mouth. About this container mouth then an additional screw cap is screwed, which also has perforations of the same shape. By screwing the perforations of the disc and the cap can then be brought into line with each other to sprinkle the container contents can. To close the screw cap is then turned back and moved the perforations out of alignment. This is quite demanding and expensive to produce.

From the EP 1 462 381 B1 is therefore already known a proposal in which a gasket is equipped with a variety of holes. Over this perforated sealing disc, a full-surface foil is then laid to cover the perforations until the first opening.

This is impractical. The user finds after unscrewing the screw cap a full surface closed opening prevents access to the contents (for example, the spice). He is therefore now trying to either the film lying in front of him piercing through which he would destroy the lens, or he will dismantle others activities take. It would be little satisfactory, for the opening a spice tax to enclose or print a comprehensive user manual.

In the US 5,513,781 A a container closure with a perforated disc is proposed, which may remain on the container mouth. The perforated disc is covered with a foil from which a grip tab projects outwards. Before use, the film can be removed from the perforated disc by means of the grip tab.

From the EP 1 577 226 A1 is another proposal for container closures with scattering function known. Again, a container is provided with a provided with numerous perforations board or a corresponding cover-shaped punched-out element for closing the container mouth. This board is provided with a second layer, the cover devices having skip-over tabs or grip tabs allowing partial peeling.

Such grip bottles as in the US 5,513,781 A the the EP 1 577 226 A1 are relatively expensive, especially when it comes to the manufacture of mass-produced goods, and they are a latent problem when still around the handle bottles Schraubkappen should be provided. Furthermore, they tend to be kinked or torn off.

task the invention it is in contrast, a Propose sealing disc, which has a scattering possibility, however but inexpensive and easy to handle.

These Task is solved through a sealing washer for the closing of estuaries of containers, with perforations, with a film for inductive coupling of heat in the sealing disc, with a sealing layer for sealing sealing the Sealing washer on the mouth the container, wherein the perforations through the film for inductive coupling of heat and guided the sealing layer are, and where the slide for the inductive coupling of heat so thick and mechanically stable is that they fill the contents in the container without damage in scattering operations outside restrain the perforations can.

With these combined measures different thoughts are combined with each other so far were in conflict with each other. As a result, however, arises a sealing washer with an unexpectedly high functionality, the one excellent product just for the food industry offers.

So the sealing washer can be sealed. That was so far with container closures with Scattering function not possible because on the container mouth could only either a plastic element with scattering properties are attached or a sealing layer for sealing on the container mouth.

Thereby, that now perforations just introduced into the induction foil be needed for sealing This induction foil can with the sealing layer on the the Facing the container mouth Side applied directly to this container mouth and be sealed there. This is done by the electric conductive foil heated by inductive coupling becomes. The electrically conductive Foil is preferably a metal foil, in particular an aluminum foil. If an electric current is induced in it, for example by passing it a magnetic field (or vice versa), so the film heats up, melts the adjacent seal layer on and this is an intimate connection with the edge of the mouth of the container one.

On the side facing away from the container mouth the electrically conductive, for the inductive coupling of heat in the gasket suitable film is the carrier layer, with the electrically conductive Foil first connected is. This continuous and non-perforated carrier layer seals thereby after sealing the container upwards.

at the first opening of the container is, as with other sealing discs with a foil from an electric conductive Material, this carrier layer of the film separated, which can be done by the adhesive forces between adjusted to the different layers and foils of the sealing disc be that by providing cams or other forces the Sealing disk located exactly in this plane between the electric conductive Foil and the carrier layer separates when a screw cap is turned on.

The means that after this separation now the perforations in the electrically conductive Slide open. So they were covered by that time and sealed, but are now immediate to the user and without major complications accessible.

Of the The user now looks at a particular made of aluminum Film, as it is otherwise used as a protective film in powdery or liquid Food in containers also knows and in conventional Container closures then by peeling or destroying removed to the container contents to get.

at on the other hand, This foil now has perforations and at the same time can be dosed Remove the contents of the container be used. The electrically conductive film serves as it were Lens.

This can do it because it is sufficiently thick and mechanically stable, around the contents in the container without damage in scattering operations outside to restrain the perforations.

takes So you as a product in the container, for example A spice such as pepper or curry, so the corresponding spice particles or Granules Dosed by the user through the perforations are between the But perforations through the remaining parts of the film retained.

The Foil can be used at the same time to reiterate the content of the container It should be noted, for example, on this electrically conductive film be imprinted that the contents of the container is "pepper" or "curry", allowing the user in addition to the outside on the container located banderole still receives another information surface and before Warnings are made.

Of course you can this area also for Advertising imprints and notes on the brand of the contents are used. Around To be stable enough, it has proven to be useful when the film for the inductive

Coupling of heat, so the electrically conductive foil having a minimum thickness. In principle, it would be possible to use a metal foil with sufficient thickness. Significantly cheaper, however, it is when an electrically conductive Fo lie, in particular an aluminum foil, used with a thickness of 9 microns to about 42 microns. Such films are readily available commercially and optimally fulfill the task of coupling heat into the overall composite. This film can now be equipped with another layer for mechanical reinforcement. For this layer is in particular a plastic layer, preferably a polyethylene terephthalate (PET film) into consideration. With such a thickness, on the one hand, the sufficient stability for retaining the filling material can still be ensured; on the other hand, the sealing disc as a whole remains sufficiently thin to be able to be handled as desired even by the loading and sealing machines.

Further It is preferred if the number of perforations in the gasket is less than 10.

This is for the majority of potential contents, in particular in spices, sufficient, on the other hand, the perforations can still be so precise bring in and carry because of their small number to the stability of the film for the inductive coupling of heat in the sealing disc at.

Further it is preferred if the perforations in only one half of the surface Foil for the inductive coupling of heat are provided.

For the metered bulk operation by the user, it is usually sufficient if he has the perforations only on one side of the scattering element finds, as he out of the container practical reasons mostly tilted, to be able to make very good dosages.

Thereby, that in the other half of the area no Perforations are provided, the stability of the entire film will continue elevated, because the structure too over half is continuous.

in the Below is an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to a drawing explained in more detail. It shows:

1 a section through an embodiment of a sealing disc according to the invention.

In the in 1 illustrated sealing washer 10 several layers or films are arranged one above the other. The complete sealing disc 10 gets onto a container 5 applied, of which one finds only schematically indicated the upper mouth in section. The container 5 For example, with a screw cap 6 closed, which is also indicated schematically. Before the first opening is the screw cap 6 Continuously screwed tight, at the first opening is the screw cap 6 first removed and screwed on.

The sealing washer 10 has as a central element in the invention a film 20 for the inductive coupling of heat into the sealing washer 10 , This slide 20 consists of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal, usually aluminum.

This slide 20 is on the mouth of the container 5 facing side with a sealing layer 25 Mistake. After filling the container, the entire sealing disc 10 placed on the container mouth or placed there. Then inductively into the sealing washer 10 and thus in particular in the film 20 Heat coupled. This heat brings the sealing layer 25 for melting, especially where the sealing layer 25 directly on the edge of the mouth of the container 5 rests. The sealing layer 25 connects so firmly with the upper edge of the container 5 ,

On the from the seal layer 25 opposite side of the film 20 there is still a carrier layer 40 , The carrier layer 40 It is made of a plastic, is flexible to compensate for irregularities and is made by the closure or the screw cap 6 at the closed container 5 on the slide 20 with the sealing layer 25 and thus on the mouth of the container 5 pressed.

In the manufacture of the gasket 10 will also be perforations 30 through the foil 20 and the sealing layer 25 placed. The carrier layer 40 has no such perforations and only then with the film 20 connected, for example glued.

Will now the container closure, so in the example shown, the screw cap 6 , first time from the container 5 unscrewed, so it separates, for example, by engaging a cam 41 the carrier layer 40 from the slide 20 , The carrier layer 40 then remains in the screw cap 6 ,

The user then looks at the container from above 5 where the mouth of the container 5 through the foil 20 for the inductive coupling of heat into the sealing washer 10 is completed. The user is not known, relationship, regardless of what the slide 20 previously served. More interesting to him is that this slide 20 perforations 30 that passes through the film 20 and the seal layer not visible to the user 25 protrude through and inside the container 5 now connect with the outside space.

By tilting the container 5 Now let the elements of the contents in the container 5 through the perforations 30 dosed and so slowly distribute as desired.

5

container

6

screw cap

10

sealing washer

20

foil for the inductive coupling of heat

25

sealing layer

30

perforations

40

backing

41

cam

Claims (7)

Sealing disc ( 10 ) for the closure of mouths of containers, with perforations ( 30 ), with a foil ( 20 ) for the inductive coupling of heat into the sealing disc ( 10 ) with a sealing layer ( 25 ) for sealing sealing the sealing disc ( 10 ) on the mouth of the container, the perforations ( 30 ) through the film ( 20 ) and the sealing layer ( 25 ), the film ( 20 ) is so thick and mechanically stable that it does not damage the contents in the container during scattering operations outside the perforations ( 30 ) can hold back. Sealing disc according to claim 1, characterized in that the film ( 20 ) is an aluminum foil. Sealing disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the film ( 20 ) has a thickness of more than 9 microns and is equipped with a further layer for mechanical reinforcement. Sealing disc according to claim 3, characterized that the further layer for mechanical reinforcement is a plastic film is. Sealing disc according to claim 4, characterized that the layer for further mechanical reinforcement a film of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is. Sealing disc according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of perforations in the film ( 20 ) and the sealing layer ( 25 ) is less than 10. Sealing disc according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the perforations ( 30 ) only in one half of the surface of the film ( 20 ) and the sealing layer ( 25 ) are provided.