EP0803445B1 - Sealing disc for a container closure cap - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sealing washer for a closure cap for containers, especially for bottle caps for oxygen-reactive Substances, alcoholic beverages or wines.

Sealing disks are known in various embodiments. For the Use in bottle caps they are made in the appropriate size, for example with diameters from 16.6 to 45.0 mm or 12.0 to 115.0 mm. The small sealing washers are in, for example, aluminum caps, the larger ones in plastic caps, screw caps inserted for the bottles.

It is known from US Pat. No. 4,818,577 and US Pat. No. 4,930,646 to use a sealing washer from an upper layer of polyethylene foam and one underneath layer of "Saran", ie a polyvinylidene chloride provided. It has a blocking effect against the escape of gaseous Intended components from the inside of the bottle.

From DE-GM 72 40 238 it is known to have a sealing washer from a Layer of polyolefin foam, especially polyethylene foam, and one Layer of a gas-tight plastic, in particular a composite layer to manufacture from polyethylene terephthalate and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Latter Layer becomes a diffusion barrier with the PVC layer towards the container opening arranged to seal against outgassing of, for example, carbon dioxide to prevent or diffusion of oxygen into a container.

EP 0 332 725 A1 describes a polyolefin closure for Example polypropylene, cast sealing washer with a container content directed layer of an organosol, above a metal foil, one Layer of polyolefin carboxylic acid and a layer of a thermoplastic polyolefin, for example polypropylene, is known. This Sealing washer should be heat resistant and resistant to pasteurization and Allow liquid to pass through, especially for vacuum and pressure filling be suitable.

EP 0 328 336 A discloses a sealing washer, which contains an oxygen-removing substance.

For closing wine bottles or champagne bottles it is known to use corks to use. In the past, the corks were mostly made of lead or tin coated capsule. Nowadays, instead of lead mostly an aluminum layer or PVC shrink capsule used. often proves the use of corks for closing wine or Champagne bottles as disadvantageous, because on the lower edge of the cork on the Wine or sparkling wine side mold-like bacteria. This Appearance is very detrimental to the quality of the wine or sparkling wine. About that In addition, the use of corks to close wine or champagne bottles at current 1000 piece prices of DM 200 with good qualities a not negligible cost factor. Because of this and out For easier opening and the possibility of reclosing with increasing tendency in recent years, aluminum screw closures also used for wine bottles. The sealing washers exist for example made of polyethylene foam.

The invention is based, a relatively inexpensive task Sealing disc for a closure cap for containers, in particular for Bottle closures for substances reacting with oxygen, alcoholic To create drinks or wines that have the disadvantages of the known Avoiding corks and keeping the container contents safe from loss of quality, especially by oxygen in the container, protects.

This task is done with a sealing washer for a cap Containers released, which is a layer of an oxygen impermeable substance and a layer of an oxygen-removing substance on top of the Containers side facing the container.

Developments of the invention are defined in the subclaims.

This makes a sealing washer, especially for bottle caps created substances that react with oxygen, alcoholic beverages or wines, the one hand, for example, that in the alcoholic beverage or Wine contained gaseous component of alcohol at the passage through the wine Sealing disc prevents the outside and on the other hand the entry of oxygen or other undesirable gases inside the bottle prevented.

One when closing the bottles between the contents of the bottle and the closure inevitably with trapped amount of oxygen is due to the deprivation of oxygen Substance, for example Daraform, added. Thereby becomes the component that an open wine after a short time withdrawn from the still unopened wine bottle. The Wine is therefore more durable and is not exposed to any loss in quality. The The effect of oxygen on the wine can be combined with the storage time and temperature lead to undesirable changes in the taste of the wine. The usual common health concern Sulfurization of the wine can then be restricted or whole omitted. The sealing washer also makes a contribution to hygiene efforts for example the European Community. At her can no bacteria can be found on the European, like that of conventional corks Prohibited list.

Seen in relation to corks, it should also be noted that there is a clear cost advantage with improved functionality.

In principle, a sealing washer for a closure cap for containers, especially for bottle caps for substances reacting with oxygen, alcoholic beverages or wines, created using the sealing washer a layer of an oxygen impermeable substance and one Layer of an oxygen-extracting substance on the contents of the container Has facing side of the sealing washer.

It preferably has a further layer of polyethylene foam above the layer of the oxygen impermeable substance. The sealing washer is on the side of their first layer of polyethylene foam advantageously covered by an aluminum screw cap. The The entire surface of the polyethylene layer is covered by the layer on the underside oxygen-impermeable substance, preferably polyvinylidene chloride, covered. The layer of the oxygen impermeable substance is of the Layer of an oxygen-removing substance covered on its underside. With its underside, the layer is made of the oxygen-removing substance facing the contents of the container.

The oxygen-removing substance is preferably of the type that it only works in this capacity under certain external conditions, for example under pressure or at a certain moisture content in the environment. This enables the handling, manufacture of the sealing washer, its storage and can also be attached under normal external conditions, i.e. when you are present of the usual oxygen in the ambient air. First in the filled container is then due to the resulting excess pressure and / or moisture content oxygen-depleting effect.

The oxygen-removing layer advantageously has the oxygen-removing layer Substance polyolefin carboxylic acid, especially as a copolymer in combination with other polyolefins. A product traded under the Daraform brand is particularly suitable. Alternatively, ethylene vinyl alcohol can also be used copolymer or other such material can be used. To the The Daraform layer is applied to the layer of polyvinylidene chloride made extrudable. This gives it a clean, firm consistency.

Daraform is sensorially perfect, i.e. there is no influence on taste of the bottle content, in particular the wine, which also in the rest - about optical - remains unaffected.

The layer of polyethylene foam preferably has a density of 250 g / m ² and a thickness of 2 mm, the layer of polyvinylidene chloride preferably a thickness of 19 μm and the layer of Daraform a thickness of 0.25 to 0.5 mm.

The sealing washer is manufactured in a process in which the first layer of polyethylene foam with the second layer of an oxygen impermeable Substance completely covered on its underside and with this is adhesively connected. The third layer of an oxygen-depriving Substance is then applied to the underside of the second layer or foamed and connected to it.

The sealing washer can either be closed before the aluminum screw cap is closed inserted into the cap or in any other way are attached to the bottom of the third layer on the container edge. For example, it can first be placed on a bottle neck opening, in particular with the third layer inserted into the container mouth, and the Aluminum screw cap can then be put over it. By the Tighten, roll on or otherwise fasten the aluminum screw cap on the bottle neck is also a burden as Pressure load applied. This will put the sealing washer on a smaller thickness compressed than the manufacturing thickness corresponds.

It is particularly preferred if the layer consists of an oxygen-withdrawing Substance has a smaller surface diameter than the other layers of the Has sealing washer, in particular a surface diameter that is smaller is the inside diameter of the assigned container mouth to be sealed.

This has the additional advantage that after the container closure has been applied with the sealing washer the layer with the oxygen-removing Substance only and exclusively with the container content or the gaseous one Share comes under the closure, but not with the Ambient atmosphere, which is otherwise still within the lock could reach the edge of this layer to some extent.

The polyvinylidene chloride layer fulfills a double function. For one, hinders they pass through gaseous components, such as alcohol from the inside of the bottle to the outside through the sealing washer. To the it prevents the entry of oxygen or other gases into others the area of the Daraformschicht. Which is preferably over the polyvinylidene chloride layer The provided polyethylene foam layer ensures compression force (with elastic recovery) for the corresponding clamping pressure and thereby for a seal. By the thickness of the layer and its Elastic design tolerances of the closures and bottle necks balanced. For example, any liquid (also in Vapor form), which could penetrate into the bottle from the outside prevented. In addition, the polyethylene foam layer gives the sealing washer due to their significantly larger thickness compared to the other two Layers of stability and a particularly good handling.

In order to explain the invention in more detail, several exemplary embodiments are described below of sealing washers described with reference to the drawings.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Flasche mit einer Verschlußkappe mit erfindungsgemäßer Dichtungsscheibe,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Dichtungsscheibe gemäß Fig. 1,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Dichtungsscheibe und

Figur 4

eine Ansicht im Schnitt einer dritten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Dichtungsscheibe.

These show in:

Figure 1

2 shows a perspective view of a bottle with a closure cap with a sealing washer according to the invention,

Figure 2

2 shows a perspective view of the sealing washer according to the invention according to FIG. 1,

Figure 3

a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sealing washer according to the invention and

Figure 4

a sectional view of a third embodiment of a sealing washer according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a bottle 1 with a cap 2 with a sealing washer 3. The cap 2 is a screw cap. It is shown partially broken to clarify the inner sealing washer 3. The cap 2 is made of aluminum, for example.

The sealing washer 3 consists of three layers. The top one, with the cap 2 connected layer 4 is made of polyethylene foam. A layer 5 of polyvinylidene chloride is provided below layer 4. Below layer 5, and thus directly adjacent to the edge of the bottle neck and resting on its opening is a layer 6 made of an oxygen-removing Substance, for example Daraform, is provided.

The layer 6 made of Daraform extracts the closed bottle from the filling process of, for example, alcoholic beverages, especially wine, the oxygen in the bottle. The one with usual wine bottle closures, especially corks, but also with screw caps With conventional sealing washers with trapped oxygen, the so-called Lead "tilting" of the wine. In any case, there may be changes in taste of the wine come. The Daraformschicht 6 withdraws this Oxygen and thus enables the lasting quality of the bottle contents, especially wine.

By covering the layer 6 from Daraform through the layer 5 Polyvinylidene chloride ensures that only the oxygen from below, namely from the inside of the bottle, absorbed through the Daraformschicht 6 but not from the outside of the bottle. The amount of that withdrawn and absorbed oxygen is therefore manageable and is relatively low. The Daraformschicht 6 should therefore not be opened once and then closed the bottle again during the opening process and partially Empty the bottles of oxygen that has penetrated them remove and make the contents of the bottle durable, it should only the originally absorb with oxygen that has entered during bottle filling, as well as the oxygen that may still escape from the wine.

The layer 5 made of polyvinylidene chloride thus blocks any gas passage into the inside of the bottle and from the inside of the bottle to the outside. Out the inside of the bottle in particular cannot be alcohol as gaseous Step component outwards. Oxygen from the area surrounding the bottle can not in the area of the Daraformschicht or through it reach.

The layer 4 made of polyethylene foam serves on the one hand as a connecting means two other layers with the cap 2. Instead of the polyethylene foam layer can also use a layer of another material corresponding properties can be selected.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the sealing disk 3 according to the invention according to FIG. 1. The top layer 4 made of polyethylene foam has a density of 250 g / m ² , for example. The thickness of the layer is, for example, 2 mm. The top 7 of the layer 4 made of polyethylene foam is attached directly to the inside of the closure cap 2 and is held in a retaining bead in the closure. However, it can also be fastened in the closure by an adhesive. In some cases, the layer's own adhesive effect or adhesive effect is sufficient for fastening in the closure cap 2.

From its underside 8, the layer 4 made of polyethylene foam becomes full-surface covered by the middle layer 5 of polyvinylidene chloride. polyvinylidene is a double chlorine compound, also called PVDC film becomes. The Dow Chemical company produces polyvinylidene chloride under the brand name "Saran" ago. The thickness of the layer 5 made of polyvinylidene chloride is, for example at 19 µm. This very small thickness of layer 5 is sufficient for unfolding the blocking effect especially for the gaseous alcohol and against the entry of the gaseous oxygen.

On the underside 9 of the layer 5, the bottom layer 6 is made of oxygen-withdrawing material Daraform substance provided. Under the product name Daraform from Grace Chemicals chemically conceals a mixture Polyolefin carboxylic acid with other polyolefins, also shown as copolymers. Daraform is completely PVC-free and binds oxygen. The third layer 6 Daraform is, for example, about 0.25 mm or 0.5 mm thick. For application on the bottom 9 of the middle layer 5 made of polyvinylidene chloride the bottom layer 6 is extruded from Daraform. This gives you a clean, firm consistency.

The total thickness of the sealing washer 3 is after assembly of the three layers 4, 5, 6 about 2.3 mm. The sealing washer 3 is either inserted in advance in a prefabricated aluminum closure cap 2 and fastened therein or pinched. The three layers 4, 5, 6 of the sealing washer 3 already adhere to each other. During the rolling process or other fastening the aluminum cap 2 on the bottle neck is additional loaded with a load of 120 to 180 kg. The one in the lock Sealing washer 3 is pressed together to a thickness of approximately 1 mm. The inside of the bottle is thereby airtight by means of the sealing washer 3 and the closure cap 2 closed.

Depending on the area of application for the sealing washer 3, it may be appropriate be, the layer 6 of Daraform in a different one than that mentioned To manufacture thickness. The sealing washer 3 is not only for closures for Wine bottles or other alcoholic beverages can be used everywhere wherever a container interior with trapped, unwanted oxygen should be withdrawn.

The underside 10 of the bottom layer 6 made of Daraform is in direct contact with the inside of the bottle, i.e. the oxygen enclosed there. Daraform is resistant to alcohol, tartaric acid and other substances used in the food sector are used, and is also perfect for the senses. When using an oxygen-removing substance other than Daraform care should be taken that this other substance is not from the bottle contents can be attacked. So the substance should be with wine bottles resistant to alcohol and tartaric acid, for example.

3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sealing disk 3 according to the invention. The sealing disk 3 has an upper layer 5 made of polyvinylidene chloride and a lower layer 6 made of an oxygen-removing substance, for example Daraform. It would be possible to produce the sealing disk 3 only from Daraform. However, this would be comparatively expensive because Daraform costs a multiple of polyethylene foam. Apart from that, this single layer of Daraform would not only soak up the oxygen from inside the bottle, but would also soak up and soak up the oxygen from around the bottle. It is therefore much cheaper to cover the top of the Daraform layer 6 with the blocking layer made of polyvinylidene chloride. A closure cap 2 can then also be provided directly over this layer 5 made of polyvinylidene chloride.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a third embodiment of a sealing washer 3 according to the invention. Here, a middle layer 5 made of polyvinylidene chloride and a lower layer 6 made of Daraform can be seen under the upper layer 4 made of polyethylene foam. While the layers 4 and 5 have the same area diameter, the layer 6 is smaller.

If you put the disc in a cap and put it on one Container mouth approximately as in Fig. 1, so the layer 6 protrudes from Daraform slightly below the mouth of the container into the interior of the container, while the Layer 5 lies exactly on the container mouth. This blocks together with the container from each oxygen admission, so that the layer 6 alone with the Oxygen is facing inside the container.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

bottle

2

cap

3

sealing washer

4

Layer of polyethylene foam

5

Polyvinylidene chloride layer

6

Layer of oxygen-removing substance / Daraform

7

top

8th

bottom

9

bottom

10

bottom

13

top

Claims (10)

1. Sealing washer for a closure cap for containers, in particular for bottle closures for substances, alcoholic drinks or wines which react with oxygen,
      characterised in    that the sealing washer (3) comprises a layer (5) of an oxygen-tight substance and a layer (6) of a deoxidizing substance on the side of the sealing washer (3) which is to face the container contents.
2. Sealing washer according to claim 1,
      characterised in    that the layer (5) of the oxygen-tight substance consists of polyvinylidene chloride.
3. Sealing washer according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in    that the layer (6) of the deoxidizing substance contains polyolefin carboxylic acid, especially as a copolymer together with other polyolefins.
4. Sealing washer according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in    that a layer (4) of polyethylene foam is provided above the layer (5) of the oxygen-tight substance.
5. Sealing washer according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in    that the layer (4) of polyethylene foam, as the top layer, is covered by the closure cap (2), that the layer (5) of the oxygen-tight substance covers the entire surface of the underside (8) of the layer (4) of polyethylene foam, and
   that the layer (6) of a deoxidizing substance covers the underside (9) of the layer (5) of the oxygen-tight substance and its underside (10) faces the contents of the container (1).
6. Sealing washer according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in    that the layer (6) of a deoxidizing substance has a smaller surface diameter than the other layers of the sealing washer, in particular a surface diameter which is smaller than the inside diameter of the associated container mouth which is to be sealed.
7. Sealing washer according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
      characterised in    that the layer (4) of polyethylene foam has a density of 250 g/m² and a thickness of 2 mm.
8. Sealing washer according to any one of claims 2 to 6,
      characterised in    that the layer (5) of polyvinylidene chloride has a thickness of 19 µm.
9. Sealing washer according to any one of claims 3 to 8,
      characterised in    that the layer (6) of the deoxidizing substance consists of Daraform and has a thickness of 0.25 to 0.5 mm.
10. Process for producing a sealing washer according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
       characterised in    that the underside (8) of a first layer (4) of polyethylene foam is covered over its entire surface with a second layer (5) of an oxygen-tight substance and bonded thereto, that a third layer (6) of a deoxidizing substance is applied to or foamed onto the underside (9) of the second layer (5) and bonded thereto,
       that the sealing washer (3) is inserted with the surface (7) of the first layer (4) in a closure cap (2) or fitted with the underside (10) of the third layer (6) on a container (1) or inserted in a container mouth, and
    that, as a result of loading the closure cap (2) when it is rolled onto or otherwise secured to the container (1), the sealing washer (3) is compressed to a thickness which is less than the production thickness of the sealing washer (3).

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