EP0410913B1 - Cap closure and plastics necked container assembly, and its use - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a unit made up of a cap and a receptacle with a neck made of plastics, the cap includes a base made of plastics, the base including a sealing member inside the neck which can be fixed on the neck simply by pushing and snapping it on. The base and neck, by longitudinal insertion, cooperate to prevent relative rotation. When the base is pushed onto the neck, insertion with a full cross-section is initiated, then forced insertion of the sealing member in the neck is initiated, and then the snapping on action is initiated. The cap of the invention is used to provide decorated tubes, with the cap oriented in a constant and definitive manner relative to the tubes.

Description

The invention relates to an assembly of an opening capsule and a neck of a container. In this assembly, the capsule is in two parts typically hinged together, the first part being a base or stump fixed in leaktight manner to the neck of a container, while the second part, closing in the closed position the orifice which passes through the first part, can be opened for example by rotation or by pivoting with respect to said first part.

Document GB-A-2 193 196 discloses a set of a capsule and a plastic neck container according to the preamble of claim 1, this capsule comprising a plastic base and an opening part which can be closed. said base, this base comprising a sealing means having a portion which is forced into the interior of the neck, the base and the neck comprising complementary means for snapping said base onto said neck, the base being able to be fixed on the neck by simply pushing in and snapping in. The position of such a capsule relative to the container on which it is fixed can vary voluntarily or accidentally, which is often undesirable when it is a container of non-cylindrical circular shape and / or with decorated skirt , mass produced.

The Applicant has sought to develop a set of an opening capsule and a neck container which does not have such drawbacks, this set being suitable for existing corking installations.

• a) ladite base et ledit goulot comportent des moyens complémentaires d'immobilisation relative en rotation comprenant, sur la base, des moyens d'insertion longitudinale de celle-ci dans l'extérieur du goulot, ces moyens d'insertion comportant, outre des portions s'insérant avec des sections croissantes, une portion s'insérant avec une section maximale dans ledit extérieur du goulot;
• b) ladite portion s'insérant avec une section maximale dans l'extérieur du goulot et ladite portion du moyen d'étanchéité s'enfonçant à force dans l'intérieur du goulot sont disposées sur la base respectivement par rapport à l'extérieur et à l'intérieur du goulot de façon que, lors de l'enfoncement de la base sur le goulot, le début de ladite insertion de la portion d'insertion avec une section maximale dans l'extérieur du goulot se produit avant le début de l'enfoncement à force dudit moyen d'étanchéité, et que l'encliquetage desdits moyens complémentaires d'encliquetage débute après ledit début de l'enfoncement à force du moyen d'étanchéité.

The subject of the invention is an assembly of a capsule and a container with a neck made of plastic material as described above, characterized according to claim 1 in that

• a) said base and said neck comprise complementary means of relative immobilization in rotation comprising, on the base, means of longitudinal insertion of the latter into the outside of the neck, these insertion means comprising, in addition to portions fitting with increasing sections, a portion fitting with a maximum section into said outside of the neck;
• b) said portion fitting with a maximum cross-section into the outside of the neck and said portion of the sealing means being forced into the inside of the neck are arranged on the base respectively with respect to the outside and to the inside of the neck so that, when the base is pressed onto the neck, the start of said insertion of the insertion portion with a maximum section in the outside of the neck occurs before the start of the forced insertion of said sealing means, and that the latching of said complementary latching means begins after said start of the forced insertion of the sealing means.

In general, the longitudinal insertion of insertion means such as blades carried by the capsule base in the outer layers of the neck, these blades penetrating there at the start gradually then with force, makes it possible to definitively fix the orientation of the base of capsule relative to container or tube. this insertion requires a particular effort during the insertion of the capsule on the neck, and refusals of insertion were encountered with a cylinder for insertion of the capsule on the neck used for capsules with opening or "service capsules" "not provided with such longitudinal insertion means.

The Applicant has noticed that the effort corresponding to this insertion was maximum at the time when this insertion became full section or maximum section. And that the simultaneity of this maximum insertion force with the forced insertion of the sealing ring into the neck led to an unacceptable insertion force for such an installation. Similarly, the insertion of this sealing ring therefore being located after the start of insertion at full section, care must be taken that it does not occur at the same time as the maximum effort of latching, at the start of this latching. These observations are important because the heights of the base of the capsule or strain and of the corresponding part of the neck are limited and the positioning latitudes of the fixing and sealing means are quite low.

Preferably, the longitudinal insertion means carried by the capsule base consist of radial notching fins with a tapered edge of thickness 0.1 to 0.3 mm, the neck of the container comprising an anti-locking locking portion. rotation of outer diameter greater than the inner diameter between tapered edges of said capsule base and this base being of a harder plastic than the plastic of the neck. Typically, these radial fins are carried by the interior of an axial crown inside said capsule base, the locking means of the capsule also being carried by this crown below said fins.

The use of longitudinal radial cutting fins, arranged inside a plastic crown, is known for the nesting and the rotational drive of a tearable lid, by patent EP-B-0192011. Such fins are used here as anti-rotation means of the capsule base relative to the neck.

In the case of the notching fins, the start of the notching is preferably made progressive by chamfering the top of the excess thickness portion of the neck, and also by progressive widening of the bottom of said fins. The beginning of full-section tapping requires maximum tapping effort by sinking the capsule base, while continued tapping is easier. The excellent relative immobilization obtained by these fins, the notched plastic material applying tightly against each portion of the inserted fin, is known from the above document. The respective choices of plastic material for the capsule base and the neck are those known from this document.

• la différence de niveau (D1) de la base de capsule entre la fin de l'élargissement du bas de ses ailettes d'entaillage et le début de la portion d'enfoncement à force de son moyen d'étanchéité doit être supérieure à la différence de niveau (d1) du goulot entre le haut de l'orifice dudit goulot et le début de sa portion de verrouillage anti-rotation ;
• la différence de niveau (D2) de ladite base de capsule entre le diamètre minimal de son moyen d'encliquetage et le début de la portion d'enfoncement à force de son moyen d'étanchéité doit être inférieure à la différence de niveau (d2) du goulot entre le haut de son orifice et le diamètre maximal de son moyen d'encliquetage correspondant audit moyen d'encliquetage de la base de capsule.

Particularly in this case of the notched radial fins, it has been determined that the following two practical rules must be observed so that the insertion of the capsule base on the neck is easily done, that is to say with the materials usual:

• the difference in level (D1) of the capsule base between the end of the widening of the bottom of its notching fins and the start of the penetration portion by force of its sealing means must be greater than the difference level (d1) of the neck between the top of the orifice of said neck and the start of its anti-rotation locking portion;
• the difference in level (D2) of said capsule base between the minimum diameter of its latching means and the start of the penetration portion by force of its sealing means must be less than the level difference (d2) the neck between the top of its orifice and the maximum diameter of its latching means corresponding to said latching means of the capsule base.

The differences in level (D1) and (D2) of the capsule base and (d1) and (d2) of the neck are identified in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The insertion of the capsule base on the neck of the container must be done axially and centrally, both for the sealing means of the inside of the neck and for the latching means, and the anti-rotation means. by longitudinal insertion, in particular the notching means, generally do not have a centering role. For manual insertion and even more for mechanized insertion in series production, it is desirable to provide at the top of the neck, for the start of insertion of the capsule base, a cylindrical guide portion with a lower outside diameter of less than 0.5 mm, typically 0.1 to 0.4 mm, at the internal diameter between insertion means, in particular between tapered edges of notching of said capsule base. There may be a first positioning of the capsule base on this guide portion, typically 2 to 4 mm high, then a push to complete the insertion, the passage of the reference events already mentioned, corresponding to driving force peaks, being facilitated by the alignment in the axis and the centering carried out thanks to the guide portion.

The latching means located below the anti-rotation means are typically a ring and an annular groove of profiles complementary chosen to facilitate the attachment and stopping of the capsule base: in axial section, these profiles preferably have an upper or inlet surface inclined at 15 to 35 ° relative to the axis and a lower surface or stop inclined at 40 to 60 ° relative to the axis.

It has been found preferable in this application to choose for the tapered radial fins notching the neck a total angle in section perpendicular to the axis of 10 to 15 °. For the neck, the preferred arrangement comprises a thickened anti-rotation portion with an upper end chamfered at 10 to 30 ° relative to a perpendicular plane or "horizontal plane", surmounted by a guide portion.

The invention also relates to the use of its capsule with opening on a container, making it possible to obtain a fixed position of the strain or base of capsule on the neck with a chosen orientation relative to the container, because of the decoration or the particular shape of this container. This use will be described in the Examples.

EXAMPLES

FIG. 1 represents an assembly according to the invention, in the notching phase, in axial section.

FIG. 2 shows a defective comparison unit in axial section.

FIG. 3 represents a second defective assembly, in axial section.

Figures 4 and 5 show the assembly of Figure 1, respectively at the start of the forced insertion of the sealing ring in the neck and at the start of the snap, in axial section.

FIG. 6 represents a device for placing capsules according to the invention on tubes, in perspective perspective.

In FIG. 1, we see a tube 1 with neck 2 made of LDPE (low density polyethylene) surmounted by a capsule 3 made of PP (polypropylene) comprising a base or strain 4 and a cover 5 articulated on this base 4 and shown here in open position, when in reality this cover 5 is closed for the insertion of the capsule 3 on the neck 2. The top of this neck 2 has a cylindrical orifice 6 with a diameter of 11 mm and a height of 1.5 mm. The outside of the neck 2 comprises from top to bottom: a free engagement portion 7 of height 2 mm, then a cylindrical guide portion 8 of diameter 16 mm and height 2.5 mm, then an anti-locking portion rotation 9 starting with a frustoconical chamfer 10 at 60 ° with the axis of symmetry 11 and continuing with a cylindrical portion 12 of diameter 17 mm and height 4 mm, and finally a circular latching relief 13 of maximum diameter 18, 5 mm, the line 14 corresponding to this diameter being located 11 mm (= d2) below the upper end of the neck 2, and the relief 13 being followed by a latching groove 15.

The capsule base 4 has inside, in addition to a central sealing ring 16 with an outside diameter of 11.3 mm and an inside diameter of 9.1 mm, which is forced into the orifice 6 neck 2, an intermediate ring 17 whose inside diameter 18.2 mm carries four tapered radial fins 18 spaced at 90 °, and below a snap rib 19 whose profile in axial section corresponds to that of the groove 15 of the neck 2, with an upper surface inclined at 30 ° relative to the axis and a lower surface inclined at 50 °.

The cutting fins 18 have an end 20 of increasing width by 2 mm in height, then an axial edge 21 of thickness 0.2 mm with a total angle in section perpendicular to the axis 11 of 13 °, the width of each wing 18 then being 1 mm and the internal diameter between fins being 16.2 mm. The difference in level between the bottom of the axial edges 21 and the bottom 22 of the diameter 11.3 mm of the central crown 16 is 6 mm (= D1), while the difference in level D2 between the minimum diameter of the rib 19 and this same bottom of the full section of the central crown 16 is 9 mm.

We see in Figure 1 that the bottom 4 of the capsule 3 has been pressed onto the neck 2 with good centering by sliding the edges 20 of the fins 18 with a play of 0.2 mm in diameter around the guide portion 8, then began to cut with the progressive widening of its fins 18 the top of the locking portion 9 of the neck 2. The engagement of the fins was facilitated by the chamfering 10 and one reaches or is about to achieve maximum notching effort. During this time the sealing ring 16 is not yet engaged in the orifice 6 of the neck, and at the time when it will be forced into it the notching by the fins will be sufficiently advanced so that the total effort d sinking is acceptable.

This favorable situation is identified by the condition "(D1) greater than (d1)": we have seen that D1 was equal to 6 mm, and d1, difference in level between the top of the neck 2 and the top of the frustoconical chamfer 10 overcoming its locking portion is 4.5 mm.

Figures 2 and 3 show two unfavorable situations outside the invention, for comparison.

In FIG. 2, the central crown 116 of the capsule base 104 is longer, so that it enters the neck 2 before the notching by the fins 118 begins. The effort at the start of the notching in addition to the effort to continue the insertion with forcing of the crown 116 in the orifice 6 gives an abnormally high total effort and gives rise to a refusal of the mechanized capping. D1 = 3 mm while d1 is always 4.5 mm.

In FIG. 3, the capsule base 204 has a difference in level D2 between the bottom of the full section of its central sealing ring 216 and the minimum diameter of its latching rib 219 of 9.3 mm. The neck 202 has a difference in level d2 between its upper end and the line 214 of maximum diameter of its snap relief 213 of 9 mm. In this situation, the snapping of the rib 219 into the groove 215 of the neck 202 is done without difficulty, but the sealing ring 216 is barely engaged, which is unacceptable. If D2 was equal to d2, the friction of the minimum diameter of the rib 219 against the maximum relief 214 surmounting the latching groove 215 of the neck 202 would coincide with the start of the forced engagement of the crown 216 in the orifice 206 of the neck, which leads in the usual conditions to a refusal to sink further.

The often progressively increasing diameter of the relief 214 and the analysis made above lead to prefer in practice that (D2) is less than (d2) by at least 1 mm.

Figures 4 and 5 show the assembly according to the invention of Figure 1 at the following stages of the depression of the capsule base 4 considered critical as soon as the structures no longer meet the conditions of the invention.

In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the notching of the locking portion 9 of the neck 2 by the notching fins 18 is well advanced when the forced insertion of the sealing ring 16 into the orifice 6 of the neck 2 begins, and there is not yet a push-in effort preparing for the latching. D2 is equal to 9 mm, and d2 to 11 mm. The order of precedence of significant force and friction is respected.

In FIG. 5, the alignment of the rib 19 with an internal diameter at rest 17.2 mm with the bulge 14 with a diameter of 18.5 mm of the latching relief of the neck 2 corresponds to a driving force, the importance is usually predominant. The sealing ring 16 is well engaged in the orifice 6, and there is only a sliding of the notching fins 18 in the notches or incisions already produced in the neck 2. We have checked on series parts that the insertion of the capsule base 4 on the neck 2 was, in such a situation, completed without difficulty.

EXAMPLE OF USE

Figure 6 shows the use of sets such as that of the Figure 1 in a corking installation 30. The tubes 1 are each placed on a horizontal mandrel such as 31, mounted on a rotating turret 32 and can be rotated on itself. The tubes 1 thus mounted, neck in front, are placed in successive positions designated by the corresponding hours on the dial of a clock. The block 33 groups together various means, in particular a loading cylinder (axis 34) and two cylinders for driving the capsules 3 with axes 35 and 41.
Above the turret 32 and behind is placed a vibrating bowl 36 through which the capsules are brought. Each capsule 3 is extracted therefrom then conveyed by a guide path 37 initially horizontal or slightly inclined then plunging to bring the capsule, above towards the front, opposite the neck of a tube on which it is pressed with centering by the axis cylinder 35. The orientation of the capsule is fixed at the start of the guide path using an inner rib 38 carried by the outside of the intermediate crown 17 (FIG. 1) and then kept. This first depression typically corresponds to the depression of the notching fins around the guide portion of the neck of the tube, without actual notching.

The tubes 1 carry a mark 39 detectable by optical means, always in the same position relative to the decoration of their skirt. Each tube 1 is loaded in the "6 o'clock" position, then rotated on itself and stopped using a photoelectric detector 40 in the "4 o'clock" position, then capped with a capsule 3 in the "12 o'clock" position, then the capsule is pushed in on the neck of the tube until it clicks into place (axis cylinder 41) in position "9h", and the tube is then discharged.

The capsule of the invention makes it possible to obtain series of decorated tubes with capsules oriented in a constant and definitive manner with respect to these tubes to within ± 1 to 3 °, by using for example an installation of the type described above.

Claims (9)

1. A unit made up of a cap (3) and a receptacle (1) with a neck (2) made of plastics, the cap (3) comprising a base (4) made of plastics and an opening part (5) which can seal the base (4), wherein the base (4) includes a sealing means (1) with a portion which can be forced down inside the neck (2), wherein the base (4) and neck (2) have mating means (19, 13 and 15) for snapping said base (4) onto said neck (2), and wherein the base (4) can be fixed onto the neck (2) simply by pushing and snapping it on, characterised in that:

   a) the base (4) and neck (2) have mating means (18 and 9) for relative immobilisation in rotation, comprising means (18) on the base (4) for longitudinal insertion of the base in the exterior (9) of the neck (2), these insertion means (18) comprising a portion with a maximum cross-section inserted in said exterior (9) of the neck (2) in addition to the portions with an increasing cross-section inserted therein;

   b) the portion with a maximum cross-section inserted in the exterior (9) of the neck (2) and the portion of the sealing means (1) forced down inside the neck (2) are arranged on the base (4) respectively relative to the exterior and the interior of the neck (2) so that, when the base (4) is pushed onto the neck (2), insertion of the insertion portion of maximum cross-section in the exterior (9) of the neck (2) begins before the forcing in of the sealing means (1), and so that the snapping on of the mating snap-on means (19, 13 and 15) begins before the forcing in of the sealing means (1).
2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal insertion means (18) carried by the cap base (4) comprise radial cutting fins (18) with a tapering edge (21) which are 0.1 to 0.3 mm thick, wherein the neck (2) has a portion (9) for relative immobilisation in rotation with an external diameter larger than the internal diameter between tapering edges (21) of the cap base (4), and wherein the base (4) is made of a plastics material harder than the plastics material of the neck (2).
3. The unit of claim 2, wherein the radial fins (18) are carried by the inside of an axial ring (17) inside the cap base (4), and wherein the snap-on means (19) of the cap (4) is also carried by the ring (17) below the fins (18).
4. The unit of claim 2 or 3, wherein the cap base (4) and the neck (2) comply with the following two conditions:

   - the difference in level (D1) of the base (4) of the cap (3), between the beginning of its said portion which has a maximum cross-section inserted in the neck (2) - that beginning coinciding with the end of the widened part of the bottom of its cutting fins (18) - and the beginning (22) of the forced insertion portion of its sealing means (16) is greater than the difference in level (d1) of the neck, between the top of its orifice (6) and the beginning of its portion (9) for relative immobilisation in rotation;

   - the difference in level (D2) of said cap base (4), between the minimum diameter of its snap-on means (19) and the beginning (22) of the forced insertion portion of its sealing means (16), is less than the difference in level (d2) of the neck (2), between the top of its orifice (6) and the maximum diameter (14) of its snap-on means (13 and 15), mating with the snap-on means (18) of the cap base (4).
5. The unit of claim 2 or 3, wherein the portion (9) of the neck (2) for relative immobilisation in rotation is preceded by a cylindrical guiding portion (8), with an external diameter less than 0.5 mm smaller than said internal diameter between tapering edges (21) of the cap base (4).
6. The unit of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the snap-on means (19) of the cap base (4) and neck (2) are a spring ring (19) and an annular throat (15) with mating profiles, the profiles comprising in axial section an upper or entry surface inclined at 15 to 35° to the axis, and a lower or abutment surface inclined at 40 to 60° to the axis (11).
7. The unit of claim 2 or 3, wherein the radial cutting fins (18) have an edge (21) which tapers at a total angle of 10 to 15° in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis (11).
8. The unit of claim 5, wherein the portion (9) of the neck (2) for relative immobilisation in rotation comprises a chamfered upper end (10), which facilitates the initiation of cutting by the radial fins (18) of the cap base (4).
9. Use of the unit of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein, with the receptacle (1) carrying a positioning means (39), firstly the receptacle (1) is oriented using an external positioning device (40) cooperating with said positioning means (39), and secondly the cap (3) is oriented relative to the receptacle (1), then fixed onto the neck (2) of the receptacle (1) by its base or stub (4) simply by pushing and snapping it on, thereby obtaining a cap (3) in a fixed position with a selected orientation.

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