Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/62—Secondary protective cap-like outer covers for closure members
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
  • B65D41/40—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts
  • B65D41/42—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts made of relatively-stiff metallic material, e.g. crown caps
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
  • Y10T29/49906—Metal deforming with nonmetallic bonding

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of capsules, and more particularly that of metal caps for capping and overcapping.
• Overcapping capsules applied to the necks of containers fitted with a stopper, are intended, in addition to their certain decorative effect, in particular to guarantee the inviolability of the containers.
• overcapping capsules are optionally provided with easy first opening means (weakening lines, detachable tabs, etc.), otherwise the capsule head is cut with a knife, so that the container can then be uncorked.
• the problem to be solved is on the one hand to obtain capsules which are both non-cutting after cutting with a knife, and a low cost price.
• these capsules resemble by their touch, by their malleability, by the sound when they come into contact with other objects, the lead-tin capsules, now generally prohibited by national laws, and whose image "High end" is always sought after by the consumer.
• the plaintiff has sought to develop a capsule which can, optionally, be provided with easy opening means, during the first opening by the consumer, so that the same production line can, as desired , lead to capsules that can be opened either by cutting with a knife, or by typically pulling on a tear strip or strip.
• the metal capsule for capping or overcapping a container having a head and a skirt comprising a metal wall, having an opening zone intended to be broken during a first opening, characterized in that said capsule comprises a plastic sleeve adhering to said metallic wall in the part of said capsule corresponding to said opening zone.
• said opening zone comprises the upper part of the skirt - that which is close to said head - generally located at the level of the glass ring in the case where the container is a bottle.
• said opening zone can also include the end of said skirt, up to the angle formed by the skirt and the head, insofar as certain consumers cut only the head of the capsule with a knife.
• said skirt is covered by said sleeve over a height corresponding at least to ceUe of said opening zone.
• FIGURES Figure 1 shows schematically the formation of a capsule blank (2) from a coil material (1), which can be an aluminum strip, of multilayer material comprising an aluminum layer.
• a coil material (1) which can be an aluminum strip, of multilayer material comprising an aluminum layer.
• Said blank (2) which can be formed by any known method, typically by stamping and drawing, by coUage, has a skirt (21) and a head (22).
• Said blank (2) is shown in axial half-section, the axis (9) being an axis of cylindrical symmetry. The same representation was used for Figures 2a to 4c.
• Figures 2a to 4c show in axial half-section capsules (10) according to the invention.
• the sleeve (31,32) is inside said blank (2).
• said sleeve (31) covers the skirt (21) over its entire height
• said sleeve (32) only covers the skirt (21) over the opening area.
• the sleeve (33,34) is outside of said blank (2).
• said sleeve (33) covers the skirt (21) over its entire height
• said sleeve (34) only covers the skirt (21) over the opening zone.
• FIG 4a similar to Figure 2b, there is shown a capsule (10) having a circular tear strip (4) with its opening tongue (40), formed between two weakening segments (41).
• FIG 4b similar to Figure 2a, there is shown a capsule (10) having a vertical tear strip (5) with its opening tongue (50), formed between two hgnes of afifaibhssement (51).
• the tear strip extends over the entire height of the skirt (21).
• FIG. 4c similar to Figure 2a, there is shown a capsule (10) having both a circular tear strip (4) and a vertical tear strip (5) extending from the bottom of the skirt (21 ) up to the height of said circular tear strip (4).
• FIG. 4d is shown, by way of example, a capsule similar to that of FIG. 4b, but the capsule head of which is open (220), which makes it possible to position the opening tab (50 ) from the level of the head (22).
• FIGS. 5 to 8 are axial half-sections of an example of a device intended to coat said blank (2) internally with said sleeve (31, 32), illustrating the steps of the corresponding method.
• FIG. 5 represents a punch (6) comprising a central flaring core with a substantially frustoconical end (62) on which can slide a metallic expanding ring with spring effect (61) with frustoconical inner wall and substantially cylindrical outer wall - in the high position, as shown in Figure 5, said expandable ring
• FIG. 5 corresponds to the first step of the method: a portion of tube (3) intended to form said sleeve (31, 32) is placed on said cylindrical elastomer ring
• Figure 6 is shaped on said punch (6), by supplying hot air (7), a sleeve (30) with folded upper edge (300).
• the capsule blank (2) is put in place.
• the heating matrix 8 is actuated with a back-and-forth movement which results in:
• FIG. 9 is a view in axial section of a capsule blank (2) used for the tests.
• EUe has a skirt (21) whose opening area (210), at its upper part, is thinned.
• FIG. 10 is a mixed view (in section on the right-hand side - front view on the left-hand side) of a capsule (10) consisting of a head (11) and a skirt (12), obtained from of the blank (2) of Figure 9, coated internally with a sleeve (32) on the upper half of its skirt.
• Figure 10a is an enlarged sectional view of the connection area between head (11) and skirt (12).
• Figure 11 is a schematic view of the device (13) for the industrial implementation of the method according to the invention in the case of an inner sleeve.
• This device comprises a bariUet (130) typically rotating with 4 punches (6) and 4 stations marked from 1 to 4.
• the tube portion (3) is supplied and placed on the punch (6), then the sleeve is formed by blowing hot air (7).
• the capsule blank is positioned on the sleeve (30).
• the heating matrix (8) is applied with a determined temperature, time and pressure.
• the formed capsule (10) is ejected.
• the device (13) can include other complementary positions.
• the capsule (10) according to the invention consists of a capsule blank (2) and a sleeve (30) - only this reference will be used when it is a sleeve considered generically, otherwise, other marks (31,32,33,34) will be used for specific sleeves.
• Said capsule blank (2) constitutes said metallic wall.
• Said metal wall includes both the case of a metal wall in the strict sense, and of a metal wall depending on whether the starting material (1) is a metal strip or sheet, typically aluminum, or a multilayer material comprising a metallic layer and at least one plastic layer.
• said sleeve (30) can be either inside or outside of said skirt - the words “inside” and “outside” being taken with respect to the metallic wall of the capsule blank ( 2). Indeed, the functions exerted by the sleeve and the results obtained are not linked to this positioning criterion.
• said sleeve (30) is inside said skirt.
• the thickness of said sleeve (30) is between 0.3 times and 3 times the thickness of said metal wall of said opening area.
• said sleeve in order for the problems according to the invention to be resolved, it is necessary for said sleeve to have a sufficient thickness, equal to at least 0.3 times the thickness of said metallic wall. Furthermore, an excess thickness of said excessively thick sleeve, beyond 3 times the thickness of said metallic wall, would no longer serve to solve the problems posed.
• the thickness of said sleeve is between 0.6 and 1.7 times the thickness of said metal wall.
• said metal wall comprises a layer of aluminum or aluminum strip, preferably of low alloy (typically of the 1000 series), in the annealed state, and of average thickness between 30 and 100 ⁇ m, and can possibly include a layer of plastic material of average thickness between 20 and 100 ⁇ m, when the starting material (1) is a metaUoplastic material.
• low alloy typically of the 1000 series
• plastic material typically of average thickness between 20 and 100 ⁇ m
• the average thickness of said metal wall is preferably between 50 and 80 ⁇ m, so that the capsule can be crimped without form folds.
• said plastic material of said sleeve (30) is chosen from films of thermoplastic material or varnishes comprising a thermoplastic material or cellular varnishes loaded or not with a blowing agent.
• Said film of thermoplastic material which may be monolayer or multilayer, may comprise a layer which can be cold squeezed or thermosceUable to said skirt (21).
• Said heat-sealable layer comprises a polyolefin polymer or copolymer having acid groups or functions, in hbre or salified form (for example the ionomer resins), ensuring adhesion to a metallic wall, in particular an aluminum or aluminum alloy wall.
• said plastic film of said sleeve can be made adherent to said skirt by means of a layer of adhesive, which is deposited at the time of assembly of said sleeve (30) and said blank (2).
• said sleeve can also be obtained by direct injection or stamping of plastic material inside or outside of said blank.
• said plastic material of said sleeve (30) can comprise at least one of the following elements: a) coloring in the mass of said plastic material, b) surface printing or, optionally, between the layers in the case of a multilayer film , c) incorporating into said plastic additive identifiers constituting a means of combating theft of fraud or counterfeiting, d) additional external layer allowing adhesion to the neck of said container, so as to prevent any fraudulent removal of said capsule without destroying it.
• the capsules according to the invention may include means intended to facilitate the first opening (4,40,41 , 5,50,51), as illustrated in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 10.
• the capsules corresponding to the blanks (2) for example as illustrated in FIG. 9, had to have a thinned wall in the area d opening (210) for opening with a knife by cutting. The Applicant has observed that this same capsule could therefore no longer be provided with a tear strip - except to take a very wide strip, which is, moreover, unattractive.
• the capsules according to the invention can therefore either be used as tUes for opening with a knife, but with a lower risk of injury, or be provided with means intended to facilitate the first opening, and this without U either need to modify the specifications of the capsules, in particular the thickness of the metal wall.
• Another object of the invention is constituted by the method of manufacturing a capsule according to the invention.
• step a) all the treatments which would be liable to damage said sleeve (30), in particular the heat treatments, including the operations which may require heat treatments such as the decoration of the capsules, which would be to be reheated at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of said sleeve.
• step b) where said blank (2) is coated with said sleeve (30), to ensure all or part of said shaping or said completion of step c), for example to form a relief on the head (11) of the capsule (10), or deposit a tax stamp.
• said sleeve (30) is disposed inside said capsule.
• said sleeve (30) preferably consists of a plastic film, which is applied inside said blank (2):
• the Applicant has found it particularly advantageous according to the invention to shape said sleeve (30) on said punch (6) by simple blowing of hot air, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, by choosing to form said sleeve (30).
• a tubular film obtained by extrusion blow molding so that, taking into account the memory effect of the film, the end of the tube portion (3) folds down automatically on the head of the punch (6) the action of heat.
• said punch (6) comprises means (61, 62) allowing its radial expansion, so as to press said sleeve (30) against said blank (2) with sufficient pressure to ensure adhesion of said sleeve to said draft.
• a concrete method of such a punch (6) is described in Figures 5 to 8.
• the heating matrix is at 200-300 ° C, preferably between 220 and 260 ° C, and it is applied for a time between 0.1 and 1.5 s, and preferably for 0.5 to 0, 9s.
• the pressure exerted on said sleeve against said blank (2) it should preferably be at least equal to 0.1 daN / mm 2 , and preferably at least equal to 0, 15 daN / mm 2 .
• said sleeve (30) is preferably a heat-shrinkable film which is pressed outside said blank
• FIGS. 5 to 8 Another object of the invention is constituted by the device for implementing the method according to the invention in the case where said sleeve (30) is pressed inside said blank.
• This device is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 and 11. It comprises a punch (6) and a heating matrix (8), said punch comprising a radially expandable ring following an axial compression between said punch (6) and said matrix (8), so as to press said sleeve (30) against said blank (2).
• the axial pressure between die (8) and punch (6) is transformed into radial pressure, taking into account the flaring core (62) of frustoconical shape.
• a roll of EAA / LDPE film 29 mm in diameter and 90 ⁇ m thick was supplied, comprising a layer of 30 ⁇ m of EAA and 60 ⁇ m of LDPE, formed by coextrusion blow molding.
• the blanks (2) having their final height were supplied.
• the heating matrix (8) is apphed at a temperature of 240 ° C. for
• Capsules according to the invention identical to those of Example 1, were manufactured, with in addition a tear strip (4) as shown in FIG. 10, since more specifically intended for the overcapping of bottles of alcohols.
• This strip had a width of 6 mm.
• the capsules of trial 1 were compared to the blank capsules (2).
• the capsules in Trial 2 were compared to Softgard ® tin capsules with the same tear strip.
• the comparison of the capsules was carried out with users according to a determined protocol comprising the opening of 15 bottles provided with capsules under code name and in the presence of a person responsible for observing in detail all the significant facts.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9506345

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (20)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 1997
  • 1997-04-21 FR FR9705182A patent/FR2762304B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-04-17 EP EP98921561A patent/EP0977692A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-04-17 BR BR9808610-3A patent/BR9808610A/pt unknown
  • 1998-04-17 IL IL13206498A patent/IL132064A0/xx unknown
  • 1998-04-17 WO PCT/FR1998/000783 patent/WO1998047785A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-04-17 AU AU74367/98A patent/AU736662B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-04-17 JP JP54515398A patent/JP2001521475A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-04-17 CN CN98804361A patent/CN1252770A/zh active Pending
  • 1998-04-17 US US09/402,490 patent/US6301767B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-04-17 KR KR1019997009691A patent/KR20010012077A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-04-17 CA CA002290133A patent/CA2290133A1/fr not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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