EP1765719A1

EP1765719A1 - Method for tamper-proof crowning of closed containers with a closure means comprising a cap

Info

Publication number: EP1765719A1
Application number: EP05788668A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacques Granger; André LUCIANI
Original assignee: Alcan Packaging Capsules SAS
Current assignee: Amcor Flexibles Capsules France SAS
Priority date: 2004-07-12
Filing date: 2005-07-08
Publication date: 2007-03-28
Also published as: WO2006016046A1; AR050775A1; BRPI0513228A; US20070289935A1; FR2872808B1; MXPA06014284A; CA2568847A1; FR2872808A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for crowning a container neck (4), such as a bottle, by securing or crimping a cap (1, 1', 1') provided with a skirt (2) on said neck, said neck (4) comprising a glass ring (41) with a lower shoulder (42), which consists in: a) crimping said cap (1, 1', 1') to said neck (4), so as to form said swaged portion (20) of said skirt (2); b) marking said swaged portion (20) of said skirt (2) with an etching device (7, 8) forming an etching (5) on said swaged portion (20) based on an etching pattern (52). The visual mark reduces the mechanical properties of said swaged portion (20), so as to prevent any fraudulent attempt to uncrimp said cap from said neck or any recycling of the bottle.

Description

ANTI-FRAUD CAPSULATING PROCESS OF CLOSED CONTAINERS BY A CLOSURE MEANS COMPRISING A CAPSULE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of means of fight against fraud in the field of high-priced alcoholic beverages, for example in the field of packaging cognacs in bottles.

In particular, the invention relates to a method of capping bottles to prevent a copy or fraudulent reuse of these bottles.

STATE OF THE ART

French Patent No. 2,658,166, which discloses an inviolability device for a capsule surrounding a neck of a bottle, and in which a pellet of rigid and brittle material is secured to both the capsule and the neck, is already known. with the aid of an adhesive curable under UV radiation, so that the capsule can not be separated from the neck without destroying said pellet.

French Patent No. 2,703,660 is also known which describes a device for guaranteeing the origin of a product using a heat-shrinkable sheath covering a closure cap closing off a bottle neck, and in which an inscription by an etching, for example laser, is carried out straddling the sheath and the neck, so that the inscription comprising two complementary parts is destroyed during the tearing of the sheath on opening, without the possibility of subsequent re-coincidence in fraudulent reuse of the bottle. Finally, there is known the British Patent No. 2,254,845 which describes a method of closing a glass bottle neck by a closure cap, capsule covered with a transparent heat-shrinkable overcap capsule. In this process, the heat-shrinkable overcap is locally sealed to the neck by an adhesive layer. A laser beam is applied opposite the adhesive layer so as to focus the laser beam on the glass neck, so as to damage the glass surface so that the damage to the glass is only visible after removal of the overcap and the adhesive layer.

PROBLEMS POSED

The anti-fraud means known by the state of the art have drawbacks.

Indeed, some of these means are otherwise unusable industrially, being difficult to use on high speed packaging line. Thus, in French Patent No. 2,658,166, it is difficult to apply a pellet at high speed using an adhesive curable under UV radiation.

Similarly, in British Patent No. 2 254 845, it is difficult to apply at high speed an adhesive layer on the neck and a focus of the laser beam on the glass neck, so as to damage the glass surface so invisible.

Other anti-fraud means are not used or can be used in practice for the packaging of liquors or price alcohols. Thus, the price alcohol bottles do not use a heat-shrinkable sheath covering a closure cap as described in French Patent No. 2,703,660, in particular because the use of a conventional heat-shrinkable sheath is generally not necessary. associated with a high-end over-plugging.

Finally, the effectiveness of some of these known means is not guaranteed. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method according to the invention is a method of capping a neck of a container, for example a bottle, by joining or crimping a capsule having a head and a skirt on said neck, said neck comprising a glass ring with a lower shoulder adapted to ensure attachment of said skirt to said neck by crimping and formation of a narrowing portion of said skirt under said shoulder delimiting a lower portion of said skirt, said skirt comprising a non-integral integral upper portion; of said head. In this method: a) said capsule is crimped to said neck, so as to form said narrowed portion of said skirt and to obtain a capsulated neck, b) said necking part of said skirt is marked by an etching device forming an etching comprising a hollow engraving line or groove on said shrunken part on all or part of the thickness of said skirt according to an etching pattern, and a capsulated neck is obtained and marked according to said etching pattern, in particular to reduce the mechanical properties said narrowed portion, so that any attempt to fraudulently de-crimp said capsule causes visible alteration or at least partial destruction of said necking portion or said etching.

The Applicant has observed that this method makes it possible to solve the problems posed. Indeed, by marking the capsule so as to weaken once capsulated or crimped on the neck of the bottle, we obtain a double result, since on the one hand, any marking can already in itself, by its visual effect and for little that it has a somewhat complex structure, have a deterrent effect against potential fraudsters, but in addition, the marking according to the invention is an incision of the skirt of the capsule which weakens locally its mechanical properties, which makes it virtually impossible to remove the capsule and reuse it fraudulently. Furthermore, on the one hand, the invention does not require the addition of any material complementary to that constituting the capsule, and on the other hand, the method according to the

the invention can be realized during capping and typically at the standard capping rate, so as not to diminish the capping productivity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1a is a side view of a spigot neck (4), comprising a glass ring (41) having an upper threaded portion (43) and a lower shoulder (42). , and a closure cap (1,), placed opposite said neck, before capping, with a head (3) and a skirt (2) comprising an easy first opening means (23) provided with a weakening line.

Figure Ib is a side view of the capsulated neck (6) formed after capping the neck (4) by the capsule (1, T) of Figure la, with a crimped or capsulated capsule (10). FIG. 1c is an enlargement of a partial sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1b surrounded by a dashed circle, which illustrates the narrowing (20, 200) of the skirt (2) of the crimped capsule (10 ) under the lower shoulder (42) of the glass ring (41) of the neck (4).

Figures 2a to 2d illustrate the marking of a capsule of a capsulated neck (6) according to Figure Ib.

Figure 2a is a schematic view of an etching device (7) by a plurality of laser beams (70) and mirrors (71) for engraving a capsulated neck (6).

Figures 2b to 2d show capsulated and labeled necks (6 ') with a marked capsule (11) in an etching pattern (52) and obtained from the crimped capsule (10). FIG. 2b illustrates the case where the engraving (5) is formed, in the narrowing portion (20) of the skirt (2), by the word "Cognac", in printing letters, as an etching pattern (52).

FIG. 2c illustrates the case where the engraving (5) is formed in the necking part (20), including the part (200) with slope> 0 °, in cursive handwriting as the engraving pattern (52), FIG. 2d illustrates the case where the engraving (5) passes through the part (200) with slope> 0 °, and extends in the upper part (22) of the skirt (2). FIG. 3, similar to FIG. 2a, illustrates the case of a laser engraving device (7) which is a laser engraving device (7 ^r ) which makes it possible to carry out said etching (5) with the aid of FIG. a mask (73), of a single illumination of laser light, the device being surrounded by an outer wall (74) of protection.

FIG. 4a is similar to FIG. 1a, the capsule (1) being an overcap

(1 "), the neck (4) not comprising a threaded portion being plugged by a plug (9) shown in dashed lines .. Figure 4b, similar to Figure Ib, is a side view of the capsulated neck (6 ' ) having an engraved capsule (11) formed by marking the capsule (10) after capping the neck (4) by the capsule (1, T) of Figure 4a.

FIG. 4c illustrates the case where the engraving pattern (52) represents a cursive writing line with letters (53), the loops of the letters (53) comprising loops being provided with material bridges (530) or zones marked or engraved, so as to secure the inside of the loops on the outside of the loops.

Figures 5a to 5c illustrate a variant of overcap (1 ") capsule Figure 5a is similar to Figure 4a, the plug being a cap (9 ') Figure 5b, similar to Figure Ib , represents the encapsulated neck (6) Figure 5c is similar to Figure 4b.

Figures 6a to 6c illustrate a variant of closure cap (I ¹ ). Figure 6a is similar to Figure la. Figure 6b shows a capsulated neck (6) seen from the side with a crimped capsule (10 ') shown in axial section as seen from the side. In this crimped capsule (10 '), the necking part (20) forms an annular necking rib (201), the rest of the lower part of the skirt not being pressed against the neck and narrowed. Figure 6c is similar to Figure 5c. Figure 7a is a schematic representation of the etching (5) comprising two parts (54) and (54 ¹ ) symmetrical with respect to the axis (40) of the neck, in the form of two helical engraved lines. FIG. 7b is a partial view of an axial section of the capsulated neck (6 ') having an engraved capsule (11) with facing windows (540) and (540') arranged symmetrically about the axis (40), so as to allow attenuation measurement of a light beam (541).

FIG. 7c is a diagram which represents the case where there is a variation of depth H of the etching as a function of the angle θ between 0 ° and 180 ° of FIG. 7a, while FIG. 7d similar to FIG. 7c , corresponds to the case where the engraving depth H remains constant.

FIG. 7f, similar to FIGS. 7c and 7d, shows the case where the etching (5) comprises, for the skirt (2), the entire pattern (52) forming said first etching (50), and, for the neck ( 4), for said second etching (51), only a small portion of the pattern (52).

FIG. 8a is a side view, similar to FIG. 2d, in which the etching device is a mechanical etching device (8) comprising a wheel (80) rotatable about an axis (81), and bearing a "negative" relief engraving (82) able to reproduce by radial pressure said etching on the encapsulated neck (6). Figure 8b, similar to Figure 2b and 8a, illustrates the case where the etching pattern (52) is a geometric pattern (52 ') formed by a plurality of parallel incisions (520).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, said etching (5) may comprise a first etching (50) passing through said skirt over its whole thickness Ec, in the manner of an incision as illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 7b.

Said etching (5) may comprise a second etching (51) comprising a surface etching of said neck (4) typically made of glass, in the manner of a partial incision of the neck, as also illustrated in Figures 2a and 7b. As illustrated for example in FIGS. 2b to 2d and in FIG. 4c, said engraving pattern (52) can form a writing line representing a succession of letters (53), in print or in cursive script, all loop of a letter (53) comprising at least one material bridge (530) so that the inner portion of the loop remains secured to the outer portion of said loop.

The write line may be a continuous line (54) typically formed by cursive writing.

But, said etching pattern (52) can also represent geometric or decorative elements other than letters, insofar as these elements can weaken the crimped part of the skirt of the capsule, as shown in Figure 8b.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b, said etching (5) may comprise at least two symmetrical parts (54, 54 ', 540, 540') with respect to the axial direction (40) of said neck (4), so as to allow the passage of a light beam (541) passing through said neck from side to side, perpendicular to said axial direction (40), in order to measure in particular the absorption rate of the light beam passing through said neck.

Said etching (5) can also be used to record in said neck additional measurable characteristics for verifying whether a capsulated and marked neck (6 ') conforms to an authentic neck (6'), as illustrated in FIGS. 7c and 7f. .

According to the invention, said engraving (5) or said engraving line (5 ¹ ) may have a fineness or line width L ranging from 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 7b, said second etching or surface etching (51) of said neck (4) may have a depth Hg ranging from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, with Hg / Eg typically ranging from 0.01 to 0, 3, Eg being the radial thickness of said neck (5). Said engraving (5) or said engraving line (5 ') may have a line width L variable from one point to another of said line, according to a curvilinear ordinate of said point. As illustrated in FIG. 7c or 7f, said engraving (5) or said engraving line (5 ') may have a line depth H that varies from one point to another of said line, as a function of a curvilinear ordinate of said point. , or according to its angular coordinate θ. The etching, in particular with regard to said second etching (51) of the neck, can therefore be defined by a plurality of parameters, which will make it extremely difficult to fraudulently reproduce such an etching.

According to the invention, said narrowed portion (20) comprising a portion (200) of slope α> 0 ° having a maximum deformation, as illustrated in FIG. 1c, said etching (5) or said etching line (5 ¹ ) can extend over or across said portion (200) of slope α> 0 °, as illustrated in Figures 2c, 2d, 4b, 5c and 6c.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 3, said etching device may be an etching device (7) by a laser beam (70). Said etching device (7) may comprise an electronic mask or a perforated mask (73) for passing said laser beam (70) in order to form said etching

(5) or said engraving line (5 '), typically at a high rate, i.e. the capping rate, as illustrated in FIG.

As illustrated in FIG. 7e, said device may comprise means for controlling (72) the ordinate z of the laser beam (70) as a function of the angle of rotation θ of the neck (4) of the container or bottle to capsulate.

As illustrated in FIG. 8a, said etching device may be a mechanical etching device (8), typically comprising an etched rotary wheel (80) applied with a radial pressure against said narrowed part (20) of said skirt (2).

According to the invention, said capsule (1) can be a closure cap (V), as shown in Figures la and 6a.

Said capsule (1) may be an overcap (1 ") associated with a closure means, typically a plug (9, 9 '), as shown in Figures 4a and 5a. the the the the the

Said capsule (1, 1 ") may be a metal or metalloplastic capsule capable of being crimped.

Said capsule (1, 1 ") may be a heat-shrinkable plastic capsule.

Typically, the skirt (2) of said capsule (1, 1 ") may comprise a means of easy first opening (23) located on said upper portion (22) of said skirt (2), so as to be located elsewhere. above said recess (20, 200), as illustrated in Figures 1a, 5a, 6a, Generally, said etching (5) is entirely located below said first easy opening means, so that the part of the capsule located above said first opening means (23), and in particular the head (3) of the capsule, can be removed without altering or modifying said etching (5).

Another object of the invention is constituted by a container, typically a bottle, provided with a neck (4) encapsulated with a capsule (1, 1 ") by the method according to the invention. (4) can be encapsulated with a capsule (1, 1 ") by means of a necking part of said capsule (20), said necking part (20), and possibly said neck facing said necking part (20) , being marked in an etching pattern (52) incising said crimped capsule (10) in its thickness and possibly said neck (4) over a part of its thickness, so that any opening of said container leads to a destruction or visible alteration of said capsule, or so that any reuse of said container is made difficult for any fraudster or is identifiable by the original manufacturer.

EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION

All the figures, which relate to the invention, describe exemplary embodiments. the

As regards the capsules (1) of departure, the invention has been applied to the traditional closure capsules (I ₅ ) of the applicant, as shown in Figures la to Ib, 2a to 2d, and 6a to 6c. These capping capsules (I ¹ ) were made either of tin or aluminum. The invention has also been applied to overcap (1 ") capsules.

These overcaping capsules have been manufactured either in tin, aluminum or metalloplastic material.

Capsules (1) have also been used for capping (V) and overcap (I ¹ ) caps made of heat-shrinkable plastic material. The closure caps (V) comprise an inner insert with a threaded skirt.

These capsules were assembled at a neck (4) bottle to obtain capsulated necks (6).

The capping capsules (I ¹ ) and some overcaping capsules (1 ") were screwed onto necks (4) of Cognac bottles comprising a thread (43) and then were crimped, in the case of capsules (I). ¹ ) Metallic.

Overcaping capsules (I ¹ ) were placed bottlenecks (4) bottles of Bordeaux and were crimped, in the case of capsules (V) metal, or heat-shrunk in the case of capsules (I ¹ ) heat-shrinkable.

Various etching devices have been used to mark and etch these necks (6) and thus obtain capsulated and labeled necks (6 ') according to the invention:

a laser beam etching device (7) has been used, according to various practical modes of implementation, as illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 3 and 7e. A pulsed laser or a non-pulsed laser was used. A CO2 power laser at a wavelength of 10.6 μm, preferably associated with a helium-neon laser, was used to make the laser beam visible for security purposes.

- A mechanical etching device (7) was also used, as shown schematically in Figure 8. In this case, only the skirt of the capsule was etched with a "V" shaped incision. In the tests which have been carried out, etching lines (5 ') have been formed representing etching patterns (52) in letter form of the alphabet (53), as illustrated in FIGS. 2b to 2d, 4b, 4c. , 5c, 6c and 8a. As engraving pattern (52), the words "cognac" or "burgundy" are used, however, as illustrated in FIG. 8b, a geometric pattern (52 ') formed by a plurality of engravings (52) has been taken as an engraving pattern (52). parallel incisions (520) completely intersecting the steep portion (200) of the constricted part (20), so as to weaken the capsule in this part, without visually deteriorating it.

The etching had a constant width L of 1 mm in the case of a laser etching, and a depth H equal to the thickness of the skirt of the capsule Ec, plus the depth Hg of the etching of the glass of the neck, with Hg taken equal to 0.2 mm. The skirt thickness Ec was: 0.23 mm in the case of metal capping capsules (I ¹ ),

- 0,10 mm in the case of metal caps (1 ")

- 0.3 mm in the case of plastic heat-shrinkable closures (I ¹ )

- 0,2 mm in the case of plastic heat-shrinkable overcap caps.

A "composite" etching was also formed comprising said first etching (50) on the skirt (2) and a few etching points of the neck, as illustrated in FIG. 7f. In this case, the entire pattern (52) is formed on the narrowed portion (20) of the skirt (2), while only a small portion of the pattern (52) is formed on the neck (4).

In this case, it may be advantageous if the part of the pattern (52) formed on the neck forms windows arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis (40) of the neck, as illustrated in FIG. 7b, so as to constitute a complementary means of detecting fraud. This can also detect a tracer that has been hidden in the glass to determine if the container is an original container. the

Results obtained:

It has been observed that any attempt to separate the capsule from the neck and then reuse it was unsuccessful.

Indeed, despite efforts and special care, it was not possible to separate the capsules without visibly deteriorating.

On the other hand, when the neck of the bottle has been marked with a laser beam, reuse of the bottle would be made difficult, even if it is possible to reproduce an etched capsule according to the invention. Indeed, in this case, the fraudster could not crimp the capsule on the neck without visibly altering or destroying it, so that it would be necessary to capsulate the neck with an ungraved capsule, then it should realize said first etching (50) without touching the second etching (51), while ensuring that said first and second etchings are opposite. These are conditions that are, if not impossible to achieve, at least very difficult to achieve, even on a small scale.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The invention makes it possible on the one hand to make fraud by recycling authentic capsules, fraud by recycling authentic containers, fraud by copy of capsules, and fraud by copying authentic containers very difficult.

On the other hand, even assuming that fraudulent manufacture of capsulated bottles resembling the original capsulated bottles is possible, the invention makes it possible to provide identification means for the original products, in particular containers for origin. Finally, compared with traditional encapsulated bottles, the invention does not involve additional material cost or a reduction in capping rate.

LIST OF NOTES Capsule 1

Capsule closure Overcap Capsule 1 "

Capsule set or capsulated on 4 10, 10 '

Capsule crimped or capsulated and engraved 1 1

Skirt of 1 2 Part shrunken of 2 20

Part of 20 of slope α> 0 200

Annular margin of narrowing 201

Bottom of 2 21

Upper part of 2 22 Easy first opening way 23

Head of 1 3

Bottle neck 4

Axis of 4 40

Glass ring of 4 41 Lower shoulder of 40 42

Thread. ^'43

Engraving formed on 20 5

5 'engraving line

First engraving of 2 50 Second engraving of 4 51

Engraving pattern 52, 52 '

Incision 520

Letters of 52 53

Material bridges 530 Symmetrical parts of 5 with respect to 60 54, 54 '

Measuring windows 540, 540 '

Measuring light beam 541

Capsulated neck 6

Capsulated neck marked 6 'Axial direction - neck axis 60

Laser engraving device 7 Laser beam 70

Mirrors of 71 71

Servo means 72

Mask 73 Outside wall 74

Mechanical engraving device 8

Wheel 80

Rotation axis 80 81

Embossed 82 Medium of Closure 9

Claims

in the CLAIMS

1. Method of capping a neck (4) of a container having an axial direction (40), for example a bottle, by joining or crimping a capsule (1, 1 ") provided with a head ( 3) and a skirt (2) on said neck, said neck (4) comprising a hunting ring (41) with a lower shoulder (42) adapted to ensure attachment of said skirt (2) to said neck (4) by crimping and forming a narrowed portion (20) of said skirt (2) under said shoulder (42) delimiting a lower portion (21) of said skirt (2), said skirt (2) comprising an upper portion (22) non-shrinkage integral with said head (3), wherein: a) said capsule (1, 1 ") is crimped to said neck (4), so as to form said narrowed portion (20) of said skirt (2) and to obtain a capsulated neck (6), b) said narrowed part (20) of said skirt (2) is marked with an engraving device (7, 8) forming an engraving (5) comprising a line of g recess or groove (5 ') on said narrowed portion (20) on all or part of the thickness Ec of said skirt (20), in an etching pattern (52), and a capsulated and marked neck ( 6 ') according to said pattern (52) in order in particular to reduce the mechanical properties of said narrowed part (20), so that any attempt to fraudulently de-crimp said capsule (9) of said capsulated and marked neck (6' ) causes visible alteration or at least partial destruction of said narrowed portion (20) or said etching (5) of said capsule (9), c) said etching (5) comprises a second etching (51) comprising an etching of surface of said neck (4) typically made of glass.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said etching (5) comprises a first etching (50) through said skirt over its entire thickness Ec.

3. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein said etching pattern (52) forms a writing line (52) representing a succession of letters (53), in print or in cursive, any loop a letter (53) including at least one material bridge (530) so that the inner portion of the loop remains secured to the outer portion of said loop.

The method of claim 3 wherein said write line (52) is a solid line (54) typically formed by cursive writing.

5. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said etching (5) comprises at least two symmetrical parts (54, 54 ') relative to the axial direction (40) of said neck (4), so as to allow the passing a light beam passing right through said neck, perpendicularly to said axial direction (40), in order to measure in particular the rate of absorption of the light beam by said neck.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said etching (5) or said etching line (5 ¹ ) has a fineness or line width L ranging from 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said second etching or surface etching (51) of said neck (4) has a depth Hg ranging from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, with Hg / Eg typically ranging from 0 , 01 to 0.3, Eg being the radial thickness of said neck (5).

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said etching (5) or said etching line (5 ') has a line width L variable from one point to another of said line, according to an ordinate curvilinear of said point.

9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said etching (5) or said etching line (5 ') has a line depth H variable from one point to another of said line, according to an ordinate curvilinear from said point or according to its angular coordinate θ. the

10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein, said narrowed portion (20) comprising a portion (200) of slope α> 0 ° having a maximum deformation, said etching (5) or said etching stroke (5 ' ) extends over or crosses said portion (200) of slope α> 0 °.

11. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said etching device is an etching device (7) by a laser beam (70).

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said etching device (7) comprises an electronic mask or a perforated mask for passing said laser beam (70) to form said etching (5) or said etching line (5 ^1). ), typically at a high rate, ie the rate of capping.

13. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 12 wherein said device comprises a servocontrol means (72) of the ordinate z of the laser beam (70) according to the rotation angle θ of the neck (4) of the container or bottle to be capped.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said etching device is a mechanical etching device (8), typically comprising an etched rotary wheel (80) applied with radial pressure against said narrowed portion (20) of said skirt (2).

15. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said capsule (1) is a closure cap (I ¹ ).

16. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein said capsule (1) is an overcap (1 ") associated with a closure means, typically a plug.

17. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein said capsule (1, 1 ") is a crimpable metal or metalloplastic capsule. the the the the the

18. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein said capsule (1, 1 ") is a heat-shrinkable plastic capsule.

19. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the skirt (2) of said capsule (1, 1 ") comprises a means of easy first opening (23) located on said upper portion (22) of said skirt ( 2), so as to be located above said narrowing (20, 200).

20. Container, typically a bottle, having a neck (4) encapsulated with a capsule (1, 1 ") by means of a necking portion of said capsule (20), said necking portion (20), and optionally said neck facing said narrowed portion (20) being marked in an etching pattern (52) incising said capsule in its thickness and possibly said neck over part of its thickness, so that any opening of said container leads to a visible destruction or alteration of said capsule, or so that any reuse of said container is made difficult for any fraudster or locatable by the original manufacturer.

A container, typically a bottle, having a neck (4) encapsulated with a capsule (I ₃ , 1 ") by the method of any one of claims 1 to 19.

22. Container according to claim 21 wherein said neck (4) is capsulated with a capsule (1, 1 ") by means of a necking portion of said capsule (20), said narrowed portion (20), and optionally said neck facing said narrowed portion (20), being marked in an etching pattern (52) incising said capsule in its thickness and possibly said neck over a portion of its thickness, so that any opening of said container leads to a destruction or visible alteration of said capsule, or so that any reuse of said container is made difficult for any fraudster or locatable by the original manufacturer.