DE102009002074A1 - locking system - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure system (1) for a container (2), comprising a closure (3) and a cylindrical container opening (4), wherein the closure (3) and the container opening (4) are formed such that the closure (3) forms the container opening (3). 4) in the closed position releasably closes and the closure (3) has a cylindrical collar (5) with a plurality of elastically formed lamellae (6), wherein the free end (7) of the lamellae deflects in the radial direction like a spring and in a plurality of lamellae (6) at the free end (7) a latching element (8) is provided, wherein at least one radially of the lateral surface (10) extending retaining element (9) on the lateral surface (10) of the container (2) is integrally formed and the at least one retaining element (9) and the lamellae (6) cooperate in such a way that the latching elements (8) of the lamellae (6) with the at least one holding element (9) form a snap-in connection, through which the closure (3) the container opening (4) is detachably fixed, wherein a plurality of guide elements (12) are arranged on the casing section (11) which is delimited by the container opening (4) and holding element (9) and the guide elements (12) are arranged with the lamellas (12). 6), which have a latching element (8), cooperate in such a way that upon rotation of the shutter (3) from its closed position a spreading of the slats (6) is effected in the radial direction, so that the snap-in connection between the .. ,

Description

The The invention relates to a closure system for containers comprising a closure, which closes by bouncing the container opening and through the Rotation of the closure of the container opening is releasable.

State of the art

Out The prior art is a variety of different closure systems known.

Especially in the field of bulk or flowable washing and / or cleaning agents have established screw caps. These provide, while ensuring a sufficient torque when closing the corresponding container opening, a sufficient tightness. Furthermore, can be with such screw caps container openings Open as often as you like and close again.

adversely on screw caps The type described above is that they are the first closure a container, for example, in an automatic bottling, with a comparatively high torque must be tightened to the tightness of the Shutter during to ensure storage and transport. This can be done by the end user however, cause that the closure is difficult, sometimes not at all, to be detached from the container opening. This is regularly undesirable.

The Handling technology for screwing on such a closure z. B. in the aforementioned automatic bottling plants, is therefore comparatively expensive because z. B. a torque control is to be provided. Further needed unscrewing the closure for comparatively long times, which reduces throughput in automatic filling lines.

Further is the production of closures with Screw threads comparatively expensive, since the thread separately in the tool must be unwound. In addition, according to the Thread on a bottle, for example, by blowing a Preforms is formed, only with a "baking tool" to realize.

Also adequately From the prior art, so-called. Bounce closures are known. These have the Advantage to ensure a good seal of the closure, wherein the closure at the first filling of the container by a simple bouncing of the closure takes place on the container opening. Usually can such bounce closures after Erstbefüllung of Do not remove consumers from the container opening, but have other closure elements such as flaps, spouts, etc. on.

Of Further, a classic bounce closure with a continuous bump usually only on comparatively stable containers with a sufficient Aufruckdruckwiderstand be bounced.

Object of the invention

task The invention therefore is to provide a closure which the advantages of a screw cap combined with a bounce closure.

These The object is achieved by a locking system with the features of the claim 1, through a container for use in a closure system having the features of the claim 12, through a closure for use in a closure system with the features of claim 14 and a method for opening and Close the Closure system according to claim 15 solved.

The Locking system according to the invention for close the container opening a container includes a closure with feathery louvers at the end Verrastungselemente are arranged, at least one container side Holding element and container side Guide elements. The elements of the locking system as well as their function and mutual Interaction will be explained individually below.

The Locking system according to the invention is suitable especially for filling, Closure, storage, transport and dispensing of flowable or spreadable products, especially for Fill goods out the group of textile washing, cleaning and care products, dishwashing detergents, Personal care products, pharmaceuticals, Agrochemicals, building materials, dyes, adhesives or foodstuffs.

container

The Invention is particularly suitable for substantially dimensionally stable Container, especially made of plastic such as cups, cans, pails, barrels, Bottles, canisters, jugs, drums or tubes. She can, however in principle also for flexible containers such as bags or sacks used become.

Of the container can take any shape. Advantageously, round or rounded cross-sectional shapes.

The container can in one embodiment of Invention be designed as a cup, can or barrel. A cup in the context of this application is a substantially dimensionally stable container for receiving a flowable or pourable product, which has a filling volume formed by a bottom and a jacket, wherein the cross section of the bottom substantially corresponds to the cross section of the cup opening.

at Cans may in particular be a stretched can, Eindrückdeckeldose, retracted box, folded lid box, folded lid filling box, folded box, Pulled box, Piston box, Winding box, Zipper tape box, Sick box, Slip lid box or step edge can trade.

Barrels can be out the group of belly barrels, Stave barrels, Sealing barrels, Garage barrels, semi-tight casks, pack barrels, roll barrels, heavy barrels, bead drums or Rollsickenfässer be selected.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the container formed as a bottle. A bottle in the sense of this application is a lockable, in essential dimensionally stable container for receiving a flow or pourable product, which is a filling volume formed by a bottom and a jacket includes, wherein the filling volume by one through the mantle in the shape of a tapering towards the opening Bottleneck shaped opening fillable or can be emptied, wherein the cross section of the bottom is larger as the cross section of the opening.

A Bottle can be used, for example, as an aerosol bottle, see-through bottle, Beverage bottle, especially Ale bottle, Bocksbeutel, Kropfhalsflasche, Schlegelflasche, Steinie Bottle, Stubby Bottle, Vichy Bottle, Wide Neck Bottle, as well Megapat bottle, squeeze bottle, dropper bottle, packaging bottle like something a bottle, running be.

The Wall thickness the bottle is chosen so that the bottle is substantially dimensionally stable. In one embodiment the bottle can the walls or the lateral surface be elastically deformable to put pressure on the bottle exercise the products and thereby assist the dispensing of product from the container.

The Bottle can in a further advantageous embodiment The invention may also be designed as a two-chamber or multi-chamber container. Favorable The chambers then each contain different ones Products. So it is possible, for example, in a chamber liquid product and to stockpile a granular product in another chamber.

In a further embodiment invention, the closure of the container is of an equipment and marking means, in particular a shrinkage tube, at least partially or partially covered. This leaves For example, a simple seal of authenticity or realize closure.

One flexible container For the purposes of this application is a packaging that is already under under normal use its form substantially changed. In particular, the flexible container is designed as a bag or sack.

Of the Bag can be selected be from the group of the bottom bag, block bag, block bag, block bottom bag, Block bottom bag, floor bag, bottom fold bag, cross bottom bag, Round bottom bag, stand up bag, double bag, window bag, flat bag, Flap bag, flap bag, conical bag, tube bag, Gusseted pouches, pleated pouches, sealed edge pouches, tri-band pouches, Two-seam bag, Stülpklappenbeutel, carrying bag and / or valve bag.

Of the Sack can be selected from the group of single-use bags, sacks, pleated bags, flax sacks, cross-bottom sacks, multi-layer sacks, round bottom sacks and / or Valve bags.

Of the container for use in the closure system according to the invention is in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a preform. Most preferably, the container is one of a preform blow-molded bottle.

At the outer surface of the Container is at least one retaining element extending radially from the lateral surface formed.

The Retaining element extends in a preferred embodiment of Invention radially from the outer circumferential surface in the Environment of the container. In an alternative embodiment, the retaining element can also radially from the inner circumferential surface inside the container extend.

The at least one container side Retaining element and the shutter-side fins act in such a way together that the latching elements of the slats with the at least a holding element form a snap-in connection through which the closure on the container opening releasably fixed is.

In a particularly preferred further development of the invention formed the retaining element as a circumferential ring. To weight and to save material, in a further advantageous embodiment the invention, the holding element also interrupted by gaps be.

It It is preferred that the holding element and the container-side guide elements in one piece with the container are formed.

container opening

Of the container has a substantially cylindrical container opening.

shutter

Of the Closure and the container opening are in formed such that the closure the container opening in the closed position solvable in particular liquid-tight, closes, so that, for example, the shutter in an overhead position of the container prevents unintentional release of product from the container.

Further can the closure and the container opening in the shape may be configured such that the closure engages the container opening the lock position detachable, especially gas-tight, closes. As a result, the storage stability of the Example of oxygen-sensitive products can be increased.

Of the Closure has a cylindrical collar with a plurality of elastically formed slats, wherein the free end of the slats in the radial direction spring-like deflected is. By the length the slats, their width and thickness as well as the choice of material let yourself adjust the spring force of the slats. The spring force is preferred chosen so that a liquid-tight Closure of the container opening causes is.

Further the closure in a plurality of slats to the free End of a latching element. This latching element forms with the tank side Hold a snap-in connection.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the closure side Slats, arranged on the slats latching element and the container side Retaining elements are configured in such a way that when locking the Slats causes an audible acoustic signal with the holding element becomes. This may indicate to the consumer that when closing the container, this was properly closed by the closure. Furthermore, can the thus generated acoustic signal in a bottling plant to be used by an analysis of Verrastgeräusches the correct closure of the container automatically detect.

The shutter-side slats, the arranged on the slats latching element as well as the container side Retaining element are formed in the way that the closure by an axial tensile force of, for example, 10 N is not detachable from the container opening. This leaves u. a. also realize a suitable child safety of the closure system.

The Slats and the holding element, each with each other a snap-in connection can train preferably also be designed so that in the closed position the spread of each lamella, which is a snap-in connection with the Holding element forms, is effected. As a result - in particular by the periodic Sequence of splayed and unspread lamellae - is one simple optical control allows whether the closure was bounced correctly.

According to one another, preferred embodiment The invention relates to a plurality of with a Verrastungselementen provided lamellae closure-side guide elements arranged.

In the side view of the closure have the schlusseitigen guide elements preferably a first flank against the direction of rotation of the closure on, wherein the flank has a slope in the axial direction.

Prefers is the axial pitch angle γ of Flank of the closure-side guide elements between 2 ° -85 °, preferably between 4 ° -70 °, in particular preferably between 50 ° -60 °.

In An advantageous development of the invention is the axial pitch angle γ of the flank the closure-side guide elements equal to the axial pitch angle β of the edge of the container side Guide member.

It is preferred that the slats, the locking elements as well the closure-side guide elements one piece are formed with the closure.

According to one Another advantageous embodiment of the invention is in the closure an inner cylinder arranged so that the closure as Dosing can be used. The cylinder defines the maximum Dosing volume and preferably protrudes from the plane through the free Ends of the slats is clamped out. By the outstanding Cylinder is it possible to have one guide to realize when placing the closure on the container opening, wherein the cylinder is inserted into the container opening. It is particularly advantageous if the diameter of the container opening in about 2-5% greater than the diameter of the cylinder is.

latching elements

The closure-side locking elements effect in the closed position the lock on the container a detachable one Latching with the tank side Holding member.

The Locking is preferably designed such that a withdrawal of the Closure in the axial direction from the closed position a user is prevented.

guide elements

At the Sheath section leading from container opening and Retaining element is limited, is a plurality of guide elements arranged.

The guide elements act with the lamellae, which have a latching element, in such a way that upon rotation of the shutter from his Closure position a spread of the slats in the radial direction causes the snap-in connection between the at least a holding element and the Verrastungselementen the slats is released.

In the supervision point to the container opening the guide elements prefers a first flank in the direction of rotation of the closure, wherein the flank has a slope in the radial direction.

In a further preferred embodiment of Invention is the radial pitch angle α of Flank between 2 ° -85 °, preferred between 4 ° -70 °, in particular preferably between 5 ° -60 °.

According to one Further development of the invention are advantageously to the Slats, which have a latching element, a closure-side guide element arranged that with a container side guide element cooperates in such a way that when bouncing the closure the lamellae, which have a latching element, between two adjacent container side guide elements guided become.

In the side view point to the container opening the guide elements prefers a first flank in the direction of rotation of the closure, wherein the flank has a slope in the axial direction.

Prefers is the axial pitch angle β of Flank between 2 ° -85 °, preferred between 4 ° -70 °, in particular preferably between 5 ° -60 °.

The holding force of the closure on the container opening in the axial direction is preferably chosen to be at least equal to that of the equation
(Density product) / (Volume container) · (Container opening area) (Product pillar height above container opening) follows. The holding force of the closure on the container opening can in particular be configured by a corresponding design of the snap-in connection between container and closure.

Of Further, it is preferable to use the snap-in connection between the container and Form closure such that the holding force of the closure on the container opening in axial direction is greater, as the one to solve needed the lock Screwing.

All It is particularly advantageous, the snap-in connection between the container and To configure the closure so that the force needed to bounce of the closure on the container opening in axial direction is smaller than the holding force of the closure on the container opening in axial direction.

Especially It is preferable that the snap-in connection between container and Closure is formed in the way that the bounce of the Closure on the container opening in axial direction is smaller than the screwing force required for loosening.

packaged goods

at the use of the closure system according to the invention are fluent and pourable packaged goods especially prefers.

at the pourable packaged goods it may in particular be detergent powder, detergent granules, Detergent powder, detergent granules, salt or the like act.

at the flowable packaged goods it is preferably liquid or gelatinous Washing and / or Detergents, Personal Care Products, Adhesives, Building materials or the like.

in the The invention will now be described by way of example only illustrative drawings closer explained. Here are also particularly preferred embodiments and especially preferred combinations of features in detail further described.

It shows:

1 locking system

2a container

2 B shutter

3 Container in side and top view

4 Locking system in cross section

5 Closing and opening the closure system in a schematic flow chart

1

locking system

2

container

3

shutter

4

container opening

5

collar

6

lamella

7

lamella end

8th

latching

9

retaining element

10

lateral surface

11

shell section

12

container-sided guide element

13

flank

14

edge end

15

edge end

16

shutter-page guide element

17

slope

18

slope

19

collar

20

shutter opening

21

shoulder

Of the described shutter mechanism is exemplified for on the outer surface of the container arranged holding and guiding elements explained. However, it is just as possible the holding and guiding elements with suitable adaptation of the corresponding lamellae and latching elements to be arranged on the closure on the inner lateral surface of the container.

1 shows the closure system 1 consisting of the container 2 and the closure 3 in the unassembled state. The container 2 is formed as a preform, wherein the preform has not been formed into a bottle, for example in a blowing process.

The essentially cylindrical closure 3 has a circumferential collar 5 on, from which lamellas are rotating 6 extend. The slats 6 are elastic on the collar 5 hinged, leaving the free end 7 the slats 8th spring-like in the radial direction is deflected.

At the tank 2 is in the area of the container opening 4 a holding element 9 arranged in the form of a circumferential ring. Above the ring 9 are guide elements 12 formed as circumferential, spaced-apart teeth.

The interaction of closure 3 and containers 2 is determined by the 2a . 2 B and 3 explained in more detail below.

How out 2a can be seen, has a guide element 12 an outward flank 13 , a first flank end 14 on the jacket section 11 , a second, outward flank end 15 , as well as a slope 17 on.

3 shows the closure area of the container 2 in the side view (top) and in the top view (bottom). First, the side view (above) will be discussed. The slope 17 extends in the axial direction sloping from the first flank end 14 to the second flank end 15 , The flank end 14 ends below the container opening 4 and the flank end 15 above the annular retaining element 9 , The slope 17 closes with the rotation axis D an angle β, wherein the angle β is between 2 ° and 88 °.

Below is the supervision ( 3 below). It can be seen that the flank 13 with the symmetry axis S of the container opening 4 includes an angle α, wherein the angle α is between 2 ° and 88 °. The second flank end 15 of the guide element 12 does not protrude beyond the edge of the annular retaining element 9 out.

In 2 B is the closure 3 shown in a perspective sectional view. You realize that at the free end 7 the slats 6 latching elements 8th are formed. The locking elements 2 are in the illustrated embodiment on every second sipe 8th arranged. Each with a locking element 8th provided lamella 6 has a closure-side guide element 16 with a slope 18 on. The function of the slope 18 is to prevent the bounce of the closure 3 on the container 2 the slat 6 over the guide element 12 slipped over and thereby possibly spread apart, which would prevent a catch. The closure-side guide element 16 with the slope 18 and the container-side guide element 12 are now designed in such a way that the shutter-side slope 18 on the guide element 12 when bouncing - so with an axial movement of the closure 3 in the direction of the container bottom - on the guide element 12 slides and the shutter is rotated so that the latching elements 8th the slats 6 in the closed position between two adjacent guide elements 12 are positioned.

As based on 2 B and 3 can be seen, the slope indicates 18 the closure-side guide element 16 approximately at an angle to that of the axial pitch angle β of the container-side guide member 12 corresponds to, whereby a easy sliding of the guide elements 12 and 16 is achieved against each other from an axial to a rotational movement.

To the on the container 2 bounced closure 3 to release from the closed position, the shutter will 3 - In the example shown - rotated in a clockwise direction, which is also indicated by the arrow direction of the angle α. The rotary movement causes the slats 6 that the latching of the shutter 3 on the container 2 cause, against the flank 13 a guide element 12 pushed and slide during the rotation of the guide element 12 in the direction of rotation, with the lamella 6 through the radial angle α of the guide element 12 deflected in this radial movement in the radial direction and finally the latching between container 2 and closure 3 is solved. Thus, the shutter can be 3 in a simple way from the container 2 remove.

4 shows the container 2 and the closure 3 in the closed position. One recognizes one at the distal end 7 a lamella 6 arranged latching element 8th , below the ring-shaped holding element 9 by the spring action of the lamella 6 is snapped. The latching element is formed barb-like, so that it comparatively easily over the edge of the support member 9 can bounce, but can not solve by axial train from the closed position by a user.

When unscrewing the closure 3 from the closed position, the slats 6 which is a catch with the container 2 effect, in the radial direction by the formation of the container-side guide elements 12 from the retaining ring 9 lifted off, leaving the shutter 3 subsequently removed from the container.

It can also be seen by reference to 4 that the shutter 3 is formed in the example shown as Dosierkappe, which differs from the cap 3 a circumferential collar 5 on which the slats 6 are arranged, extending in the direction of the cap opening and the container opening 4 on the outer surface of the container 2 encloses.

Starting from the running in the closed position on the outside of the container collar 5 extends another circumferential collar 19 in the closed position on the inside of the container opening 4 is applied. The surrounding collar 19 in this case defines the maximum metering volume of the closure thus formed as a metering cap 3 ,

How out 4 is further seen, is between the container outer side collar 5 and the container inside collar 19 one shoulder 21 formed in the the edge of the container opening 4 intervenes. The shoulder 21 , as well as the locking between container 2 and closure 3 are configured to provide a fluid tight seal between containers 2 and closure 3 is trained.

5 illustrates the process of closing and releasing the closure 3 from the container 2 , which will be explained below starting from the left figure. In the left picture is the shutter 3 and the container 2 shown in a mutually detached position to each other. The closure of the container 2 is now - as indicated by the arrow in the middle figure - by a bouncing of the shutter 3 on the container 2 causes. By turning the shutter 3 opposite the container 2 can the shutter 3 from the container 2 be solved.

Claims (15)

Closure system ( 1 ) for a container ( 2 ) comprising a closure ( 3 ) b) a cylindrical container opening ( 4 ) • where the shutter ( 3 ) and the container opening ( 4 ) are formed in such a way that the closure ( 3 ) the container opening ( 4 ) releasably closes in the closed position, wherein the closure ( 3 ) a cylindrical collar ( 5 ) with a plurality of elastically formed lamellae ( 6 ), wherein the free end ( 7 ) of the lamellae is deflectable in the radial direction like a spring, • wherein in a plurality of lamellae ( 6 ) at the free end ( 7 ) a latching element ( 8th ) is provided, wherein at least one radially from the lateral surface ( 10 ) extending holding element ( 9 ) on the lateral surface ( 10 ) of the container ( 2 ), wherein the at least one retaining element ( 9 ) and the slats ( 6 ) interact in such a way that the latching elements ( 8th ) of the slats ( 6 ) with the at least one retaining element ( 9 ) form a snap-in connection through which the closure ( 3 ) on the container opening ( 4 ) is releasably fixed, • wherein at the shell portion ( 11 ) opening from container opening ( 4 ) and retaining element ( 9 ) is limited, a plurality of guide elements ( 12 ) are arranged, wherein the guide elements ( 12 ) with the lamellae ( 6 ), which is a latching element ( 8th ) cooperate in such a way that upon rotation of the closure ( 3 ) from its closed position a spread of the slats ( 6 ) is effected in the radial direction, so that the snap-in connection between the at least one holding element ( 9 ) and the latching elements ( 8th ) of the slats ( 6 ) is solved. Closure system according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial pitch angle α between the flank ( 13 ) and the axial axis of symmetry (S) is between 2 ° -85 °. Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the slats ( 6 ), which is a latching element ( 8th ), a closure-side guide element ( 16 ) is arranged such that with a container-side guide element ( 12 ) cooperates in such a way that upon bouncing of the closure ( 3 ) in the closed position the slats ( 6 ), which is a latching element ( 8th ) between two adjacent guide elements ( 12 ). Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container-side guide element ( 12 ) one of the container opening ( 4 ) to the retaining element ( 9 sloping slope ( 17 ) in the axial direction. Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial pitch angle β of the flank ( 13 ) of the container-side guide element ( 12 ) between 2 ° -85 °, preferably between 4 ° -70 °, particularly preferably between 5 ° -60 °. Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure-side guide element ( 16 ) one of the closure opening ( 20 ) to the free end ( 7 ) a lamb ( 6 sloping slope ( 18 ) in the axial direction. Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining element ( 9 ) is a circumferential ring Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of lamellae ( 6 ) is greater than 3 Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of lamellae ( 6 ) is straight Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a latching element ( 8th ) only on every second lamella ( 6 ) is arranged. Closure system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of container-side guide elements ( 12 ) equal to the number of slats ( 6 ) with latching elements ( 8th ) Container ( 2 ) for use in a closure system ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the container ( 2 ) is a preform. Container ( 2 ) for use in a closure system ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the container ( 2 ) is a blow-molded bottle. Closure for use in a closure system according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the closure ( 3 ) a cylindrical collar ( 5 ) with a plurality of elastically formed lamellae ( 6 ), wherein the free end ( 7 ) of the lamellae can be deflected spring-like in the radial direction and in the case of a majority of lamellae ( 6 ) at the free end ( 7 ) a latching element ( 8th ) is provided. Method for closing and opening a closure system according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that closing of the container ( 2 ) by bouncing the closure ( 3 ) and opening by rotation of the closure ( 3 ) opposite the container ( 2 ) is feasible.