EP2419348A1

EP2419348A1 - Sealing disk having a tab

Info

Publication number: EP2419348A1
Application number: EP10713166A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heinz Wiening
Original assignee: Alfelder Kunststoffwerke Herm Meyer GmbH
Current assignee: Alfelder Kunststoffwerke Herm Meyer GmbH
Priority date: 2009-04-06
Filing date: 2010-03-31
Publication date: 2012-02-22
Also published as: US20120103988A1; JP2012522694A; CA2758093A1; DE102009016312B3; WO2010115811A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing disk (20) for a closure of a container (10) having an opening (11) delimited by a circumferential edge (12), wherein the sealing disk comprises several layers having an edge. A group (30) of lower layers (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) closes the opening (11) of the container (10) before the first opening thereof. Said group (30) can be sealed onto the circumferential edge (12) of the opening (11) by means of a sealing layer (31). The group (30) is detachably connected to a group (40) of upper layers (41, 42, 43, 44). The opening (11) of the container (10) can be closed again temporarily using the second group (40). The sealing disk (20) comprises at least one grip tab (50), which is formed only by one or more of the layers from the first group (30) of the lower layers.

Description

Sealing washer with tab

The invention relates to a sealing disc for a container closure for use in a container having a peripheral edge bounded opening, wherein the sealing disc consists of several layers with an edge, of which a group of lower layers, the opening of the container before a first opening of the container tightly closes, in which the group of lower layers is sealable by means of a sealing layer on the peripheral edge of the opening, in which the group of lower layers is detachably connected to a group of upper layers of the sealing disc in which the group of upper layers Reopening of the container is again temporarily closed, wherein the sealing disc has at least one grip tab, in which the grip tab is formed only by one or more of the layers of the group of lower layers, and in which the grip tab forming layers the edge of the other layers flächenm SSIG project beyond the surface of the grip tab.

Containers are used to hold the contents, for example, for holding liquids or powdery foods or other substances. The containers have an opening or mouth. Often it is desired or even necessary to close this container mouth with a disc-shaped seal, which closes the contents tightly against external influences.

There are several reasons for the requirement of this tight degree. On the one hand, the contents should be protected against interfering influence from the outside, for example against the ingress of water vapor or oxygen, on the other hand, it should also remain aroma-tight. There is another reason for aggressive filling goods, for which the best possible protection against leaks must be given. Finally, by such a tight conclusion, a tamper-evident for the trade be given as a user can immediately see if someone has previously manipulated the container contents. In addition, the container opening is then closed with a screw cap or a similar element, which ensures the mechanical and stable closure of the container mouth outside the disc-shaped seal. The disc-shaped seal itself is a flexible thin film. Upon first use after purchase, the user unscrews the screw cap and destroys the film to access the contents of the container. Thereafter, he closes the container again, if he has not taken the entire contents. This reclosing is done by the screw cap is now screwed without the now destroyed and removed foil again to a corresponding mating thread on the container mouth. If necessary, the screw cap may close the opened contents, possibly for a period not as long as the original closure configuration, but also for a period of time satisfying the consumer, which he himself can control from now on.

The film, which closes off the container contents, is applied by means of induction sealing, as known, for example, from EP 0 717 710 B1. For this purpose, a complete sealing disc is applied, whose bottom layer forms the sealing layer. Above this there is a metallic second layer, which as a rule consists of aluminum, which serves for the heat coupling and transmission during the induction process and optionally forms an additional mechanical protection. The second layer is firmly connected to the first, and in particular to conduct heat well. These layers form a group of lower layers. Above the mentioned aluminum layer then further layered components of the sealing disc are provided, which remain in the cap when opening the screw or other rotary closure.

These further layers of the sealing disc remaining in the cap form a group of upper layers and at the same time are those elements which ensure a very good closure again when the screw cap is closed again after the destruction and removal of the group from the lower layers has taken place during the initial opening if after this reclosing the originality assurance and the original original tightness is missing.

A constant problem with such, in itself well-proven and reliable closures is the Erstöffnung by the user or

Consumer. Destroying this at the first opening on the mouth of the

Container located film or group from the bottom

Layers by a knife or by the user's fingers is not possible or hygienic for each container contents on the one hand and leaves on the other side on the edge of the opening of the container remains of the film, which may affect the subsequent pouring or pouring the container contents.

In order to make the opening more comfortable for the user and safer for further use, the user is provided with a handle for removing the film. This handle can, for example, as proposed in EP 1 181 21 1 B1 or WO 00/66453 A1, be an upwardly projecting fold, at which the user then grips and peels off the sealing disc.

Common and known for example from DE 39 20 324 A1 and EP 0 408 217 A1 it is to provide the sealing disc with an outwardly projecting grip tab, which are then so taken by the user outside the edge of the mouth of the container and pulled upwards can, so that the entire film from the container edge dissolves.

However, this rather simple and inherently convincing concept has the disadvantage that the grip bottles interfere when the screw cap is screwed on, since they have to be accommodated in the appropriate manner in the groove and the skirt. There is a little space available and on the other hand, these grip bottles can also impair the function of Sch raubvorganges. Conversely, when screwing, you may also damage the grip tabs or in the worst case scenario even the entire sealing disc are impaired in their sealing function.

In order to reduce the problems with the gripping tab projecting into the threads of the screw caps, DE 1 482 575 A1, for example, is disclosed in US Pat

US Pat. No. 4,722,447 and EP 0 697 345 B1 suggest equipping the sealing disks with not only one, but with a plurality of outwardly projecting gripping lugs. This will be a more symmetrical and thus reduced

Distribution achieved. The problem is not solved, but only redistributed.

Another approach is selected in proposals from EP 0 668 221 B1, GB 2 330 134 A, JP 2000-1 91 021 A and DE 1 0 2007 014 084 B3. There, the sealing discs are equipped with grip tabs, in which the thickness of the grip tab is less than the thickness of the other surface areas of the sealing disc. This is achieved in that only one or a few of the multiple layers of the sealing disk also form the gripping tab.

The fact that the tabs of the sealing disks are made very thin, they are far more flexible in the remaining spaces within the screw cap and the Schraubkappengewindes accommodate. The risk of mutual interference of the individual elements when closing the package or even during the opening process is thus considerably reduced.

To m the most with the DE 1 0 2007 01 4 084 B3 proposed manufacturing method for such sealing discs now a conversion of these ideas has been successfully carried out in practice.

From GB 2 330 134 A and JP 2000-1 91 021 A and the subsequently published EP 2 045 194 B1, the idea is already known that the thus reduced in its thickness and thus very thin grip tab only from the top or the top layers to form the group from the lower layers and not radially outward into the area of the internal thread of the Let projecting screw, but either, as in JP 2000-191021 A first by 90 ° upwards and then again 90 ° in the direction of the center of the sealing disc and thereby lead into a space in the interior of the screw cap lid and accommodate there, or a be r, as GB 2 330 134 A and in one embodiment of EP 2 045 194 B1 to fold 180 ° and to lay on itself, so that after the unscrewing of the screw cap, the handle for the consumer for use exposed ,

The concept of JP 2000-191021 A has the disadvantage that now, although the grip tab no longer engages in the thread of the screw cap or the container, but it is now in an area above the upper group of layers and thus in the area which in itself should remain in this when turning the screw in this to allow re-closure. So now there is a significant risk that the handle latch jammed in this area below the screw above this so-called Reseal part and thus breaks off when opening and thus leads exactly to the undesirable disadvantages that should be avoided.

GB 2 330 134 A gives rise to further practical disadvantages. For example, folding a grip band assembly including the metallic layer on itself would disturb the induction sealing properties of the entire sealing disk assembly, since a double aluminum layer is present in one section of the otherwise circularly symmetrical arrangement, which considerably changes the induction properties.

The same disadvantages arise in a second embodiment of the subsequently published EP 2 045 1 94 B 1. This embodiment initially places the gripping tab with all layers by 180 ° on top of the sealing disc and then folds it a second time by 180 ° on itself. This has the disadvantage that the sealing disc in the region of the grip tab three times the strength owns and therefore mechanically very uneven and sticking about with a Reseal part very much more difficult, but also in the area of the grip tab, the aluminum layer is threefold on each other and thus also leads to a strong asymmetry of the induction properties.

In one embodiment of GB 2 330 134 A, attempts are made to avoid this problem by laying the metallic layer used for induction into the reseal part, that is, the part that is used for reclosing. This is quite impractical, since it is precisely this aluminum layer which is not suitable for being used constantly for sealing on a container mouth during repeated closing and opening operations.

A further disadvantage is that when disposing of the containers and container closures, an aluminum in the form of a plastic screw-on lid is a foreign matter, which is generally undesirable. Plastic and aluminum should be disposed of separately if possible. The whereabouts of aluminum layers in the screw caps is therefore not ecologically desirable, as it makes recycling difficult, and therefore encounters with dedicated consumers also to rejection.

A further problem can occur both with sealing disks according to GB 2 330 134 A and JP 2000-19 1 02 1 A and the second embodiment of the invention from EP 2 045 194 B1 and also with other sealing disks, which with 90 ° or 180 °, this problem may arise from the fact that a significant notch effect occurs between a folded layer and the adjacent, unfolded layer, precisely in the edge region. This notch effect results in a force which tends to separate the various layers of the sealing disc from each other.

Touching the tab could thus cause the tabbed layer to dislodge from other layers and not or not to open the container as desired, or parts of the layered composite to disengage or tear in an unforeseen manner. This behavior when tearing the container by means of a tab is perceived by users as unpleasant and unreliable and rejected. It should be noted that a user is then not only annoyed in this particular case, but his rejection generally extends to the corresponding product range of the bottler of the container and may not be aware of the purchase of such goods in future cases, so the manufacturer of the contents of the container to be packaged also an image damage can arise.

Object of the present invention is therefore to propose a sealing disc, with which the mentioned problems can be avoided as far as possible.

This object is achieved with a sealing disc described above in that the sealing layer closest layer from the group of lower layers forms the handle, and that the

Edge of the other layers with superior surface portion of this layer around the outer edge of all other layers of the group of lower layers

With the exception of the sealing layer folded over and flattened on the top of the group of lower layers and covered by the group of upper layers, so that the grip tab after the solution of the group of upper

Layers for the Erstöffnung the container is tangible.

Alternatively, it is also possible not only to form the layer adjacent to the sealing layer in a corresponding manner, but also to treat a plurality of layers lying directly adjacent to the sealing layer in such a way.

With the invention, the problem is solved surprisingly in a very simple manner. Another arrangement of the order of the individual layers and a special design of these layers results in that on the one hand, a tab is formed, which has a significantly reduced thickness compared to the entire sealing disc and thus on the entire composite of the sealing disc even in a refolding in the circular Scope to a visual and technically not significant thickening in a partial area contributes, and on the other hand, no notch effect can occur more. The other, mentioned in connection with the prior art disadvantages no longer occur.

In accordance with the invention, the layer of the sealing disc that is the lowest on the sealing layer, apart from the sealing layer itself, is formed such that it projects beyond the other layers of the sealing disc outwardly beyond the edge. This very thin layer is then angled at first by 90 ° upwards and past all other layers, which still belong to the group of lower layers, which close the container mouth only until the first opening. Above the uppermost of these layers, the gripping bottle is then angled off again by 90 ° in the direction of the center of the container and placed flat on the uppermost of these layers. On this layer occupying only a partial area, there is firstly the separating layer, which separates the upper group and the lower group of layers from one another during the first opening and then above this, all the layers of the upper group.

This initially has the consequence that the sealing disc before use in the container-filling enterprise has the shape of a conventional, circular, flat sealing disc and can also be treated. A special orientation on the container is not required because the sealing disc is symmetrical from the outside.

Also, the disc is not substantially thicker than conventional discs, as it adds only the layer placed between the other layers and later forming the grip tab, optionally a further, also very thin layer, which is still discussed in the following preferred embodiments.

The container must not be treated otherwise than before for the first opening or later openings by the user. After screwing on the screw cap, the upper group of layers separated by and on the separating layer, which also as before as reseal parts of the Screw cap remains, and the lower group of layers, which remains on the opening of the container, so the container mouth, and this still seals at this moment and closes.

However, now unlike previous concepts on top of the top layer of the lower group for the user freely accessible to the user on a grip tab in the middle of the remaining part of the gasket. The user only has to take this grip tab and pull it to it, for which he needs no further instructions. By pulling force is exerted on the edge of the lower group of sealing disks, directly on the bottom layer of this lower group of layers, which is adjacent to the sealing layer, because from this very same layer, the handle has emerged before the folding.

The sealing layer immediately gives way to this pull and the pull on the grip tab simultaneously lifts off all the layers adjacent to this lower layer adjacent to the sealing layer, and thus the entire lower group of the sealing disc with a pull. The container is thus opened.

Further pre-closures are possible through the unchanged upper group of layers, ie through the reseal part in the screw cap.

Based on this description, it becomes clear that a similar process is possible even when not only the lowermost layer immediately adjacent to the sealing layer is folded in a corresponding shape and formed into a grip tab, but also two or more immediately successive layers of the sealing disc.

It is particularly preferred in this case if a thin layer of a tear-resistant, but at the same time lightweight material is additionally inserted between the metallic layer which provides for the induction and the sealing layer which fuses and seals. This additional layer further preferably forms the grip tab. It is particularly preferred if this additionally inserted thin layer of the tear-resistant, but at the same time lightweight material of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) consists. Layers of this material increase the tear strength. This is not only useful in connection with the grip tab, but considerably increases the tear strength of the layer composite with the metallic layer, in particular consisting of aluminum. The aluminum layer as such is usually not particularly tear-resistant, so that the connection with such a thin tear-resistant PET layer is also advantageous in another context.

It is precisely this additionally inserted layer of polyethylene terephthalate that would cause a notch effect in an arrangement above the metallic layer. If this additional plastic film with the gripping flask formed thereon is then folded upwards and inwards with the grip flap area, an inevitable separation movement is formed between this additional layer and the underlying metallic layer. However, this notch effect is avoided according to the invention.

Above the metallic layer, the further layer sequence can take place, as desired in the specific case in each case. In general, here an adhesive release layer will be arranged, which is strong enough to hold the sealing disc in the resting state, but only so strong that in a Aufschraubvorgang the bond is just canceled at this point.

Above this separating layer, a carrier layer or foam layer will be provided, which remains in the screw cap during the screwing-on process and ensures resealing for a certain period of time.

The grip tab from the additionally inserted layer is now folded in this embodiment around the metallic layer and then folded around only in the direction of the axis of the circular sealing disc. The adhesive layer is thus above this tab. The induction sealing operation in closing the container is not affected by the additional layer. Although the metallic layer, which consists for example and preferably of aluminum, is significantly heated by the induction and the eddy currents generated thereby and it also gives this heat from this additional layer, which is immediately adjacent to the side facing the container. Due to this heat, however, this layer is not impaired in its stability and it transfers the heat flow directly to the next sealing layer. This melts in turn, as intended, especially in the edge region and thus ensures the seal with the mouth edge of the container.

After cooling, the sealing layer now seals off the layer composite lying above it in relation to the container mouth, ie initially opposite the additional layer.

In the Erstöffnungsvorgang the consumer unscrews the screw cap and thus solves the connection through the release layer. In the screw cap, the upper parts of the sealing disc remain above this adhesive layer.

This means that the consumer now looks directly at the tab which is bent around the metallic layer on this metallic layer ready for access.

So that the consumer and user can recognize this grip bottle immediately, it can be designed in color or in another form so that it clearly stands out from the underlying layers visually or in another form. This can be done particularly simply by coloring the grip tab in a striking signal color, for example in the company color of the manufacturer of the container contents, and / or by printing the grip tab with the company logo or brand. The size of the grip tab is less critical than conventional concepts, since there is no longer any danger that it interferes with the function of the screw thread of the screw cap.

The grip tab can therefore protrude into the middle of the sealing disc or even have complicated or ergonomic and haptic pleasant shapes.

It would even be conceivable to let the grip bottle take on a form which either has a meaningful connection with the product itself, for example has the stylized form of a coffee cup or a biscuit piece or in turn takes on the form of a company logo itself.

If further layers are provided above the aluminum layer for a specific purpose, such as a layer or the like used for printing, the flap also lies above these layers and is also bent around these layers.

If the user now attacks this tab, which is not glued or otherwise attached to the layer adjacent to it and now uppermost, then the user can remove the remaining layers of the sealing disc from the container mouth by a corresponding manageable force exerted on the tab Break open the seal. Pulling on the tab pulls all the layers above this additional layer all at once without additional manipulation and without the risk that the pull on the tab will not lift all of these layers with one access and one pull.

The only layer that was below this additional layer adjacent to the container rim was the sealant layer; However, exactly this is broken up by this force anyway, so that no notch effects are to be considered here.

Further preferred features are specified in the subclaims. A production of this sealing disc according to the invention is preferably possible with the method proposed in DE 10 2007 014 084 B3.

In the following, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a container with a

Container mouth with a sealing washer;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a sealed container with a

Sealing disc according to an embodiment of the invention after unscrewing the screw cap;

Figure 3 is a section through a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a section through another embodiment of the invention omitting some elements;

Figure 5 is a section through a third embodiment of the invention with the omission of some elements;

Figure 6 is a section through a fourth embodiment of the invention with the omission of some elements;

7 shows a section through a film web for producing a

Embodiment of Figure 6; and

FIG. 3 shows a section through a film web for producing a further embodiment according to FIG. 6

The container mouth shown in FIG. 1 shows the region of an opening 11 of a container 10. It can be a bottle, a container for agrochemicals, a container to be sealed in an aroma-tight manner, for example for instant coffee, or the like. The opening 1 1 is surrounded by a peripheral edge 12. The rim 12 is generally circular. On this opening 1 1 is located after the filling of the container 10 and before the first opening a multi-layer sealing disc 20 which is closed by a lid 15, in particular a screw with a Schraubkappengrundkörper up and laterally.

The sealing disk 20 has approximately the same diameter as the opening 11 with the edge 12 of the container 10. The sealing disk 20 is sealed onto the peripheral edge 12 by means of a sealing layer 31, which will be discussed in more detail below, which is shown in the exploded illustration in FIG not yet done.

The sealing disc 20 consists of two groups 30 and 40 of layers. The first group 30 contains those layers of the sealing disc 20, which lie in a not yet open container directly on the edge 12 of the container 1 0 and at a first opening of the container 10, in particular at a first unscrewing or removing the lid 1 5 of the Container 1 0 on the container mouth, so the opening 1 1, remain. After the first screwing on of the cover 15, they thus still block access to the contents of the container 10 for the user.

This lower group 30 of layers of the sealing disc 20 is removed by the user after the first opening of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 and then receives access.

From the fact that this lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disc 20 are at the first opening still on the opening 1 1 of the container 10, the user can safely infer that before him no one uses this container 1 0 and I content taken or unauthorized substances added to the contents of the container 10. This lower group 30 thus forms a kind of guarantee closure.

In addition, in addition to the sealing, a long-lasting sealing of the contents of the container with respect to the outside world is achieved Ensures container interior and reliably prevents the access of oxygen, water vapor or microorganisms even for years. The lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disc 20 thus also has the task of preserving and protecting the container contents.

The upper group 40 of the layers of the sealing disc 20 receives those layers which remain in the lid 15 during the first opening of the container 10. These layers are therefore unscrewed the first time screwing together with the lid 15 and removed and therefore no longer need to be removed by the user separately from the opening 1 1 of the container. This upper group 40 forms the so-called reseal part. Namely, after the user first gains access to the contents of the container 10 by removing the lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disc 20 and, for example, has removed portions thereof, the user usually wishes to store the remaining contents of the container 10 for later access. For this purpose, he unscrews the lid 15 on the exposed opening 1 1 of the container 10.

Although missing now the lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disc 20, the upper group 40 of the layers, so as mentioned the Reseal part, but now lies down on the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 and closes it again.

Although no sealing is taking place now, these upper layers of group 40 are designed to provide a seal of the

Ingredients of the container 10 to the outside world can also ensure a long period of time, even if this is not guaranteed as it was the case before the first opening. Also, there is now no longer any protection against unauthorized manipulation of the container contents, but the container is now usually in the possession and in the household one

End user, so that this imprints the user the virginity

Function is no longer needed. In order to be able to separate the groups 30 and 40 from each other during the first opening, the lowermost layer of the upper group 40 is formed as a separating layer 41. This separating layer 41 is made of a material which holds together the layers of the lower group 30 and the upper group 40 of the sealing disk 20 during the manufacturing process and the closing of the container in the container 10 and usually also during the entire handling of the container Container further holds before the first opening of the lid 15, the adhesive effect, however, is dimensioned sufficiently small to lift the upper group 40 of the lower group 30 when an opening operation of the lid 15 takes place.

Typically, one will use a polymer release layer, such as polyethylene or polypropylene film, or a waxy material therefor.

Also indicated in FIG. 1 is a further layer 34 of the lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disk 20. This is a metallic layer 34 which serves to introduce induction heat in order to melt the sealing layer 31 and thus during the filling process of the Container 10 on the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 to cause a seal.

Further layers and details will be discussed below.

First of all, however, a container mouth of a container 10, from which the lid 15 has just been unscrewed or otherwise removed, is now looked at in FIG. As a result, the upper group 40 of the layers of the sealing disc 20 with the lid 15 in Figure 2 is no longer visible and looking at the lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disc 20, which still on the peripheral edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 are sealed. A removal of this lower group 30 from the edge 12 has therefore not yet taken place in the moment of the representation in FIG. The viewer thus looks obliquely on the uppermost layer 35 of the lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disc 20. On this uppermost layer 35 lies on top of still flat a grip tab 50. This grip tab 50 has a different color or other property by which they themselves clearly stands out from the uppermost layer 35 of the lower group 30 and immediately catches the eye of the user.

Grips 50 in conventional sealing discs towered over the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 to the outside and were taken there and then withdrawn.

However, the embodiment in this embodiment is flat on the uppermost layer 35 of the lower group 30 underneath. It is not flat with this layer just below it connected, but lies loose. Only at the edge of the sealing disc 20 there is a connection to be discussed in more detail below.

Thus, the user can easily lift and grip the grip tab 50 on its planar part and pull it against it.

When the user pulls on the pull tab 50, he exerts force on the edge of the lower group 30 of the sealing disc 20, overcomes the sealing force of the sealing layer 31 on the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 and pulls at this point lower group 30 upwards from the container mouth.

The adhesion properties of the various layers, for example, the sealing layer 31, are set so that a user without much effort with a pull on the grip tab 50, the entire lower group 30 of the sealing disc 20 from the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 deducted can. However, the sealing force is so high that an opening does not occur if only as described above, the lid 15 is unscrewed with the upper group 40 of the layers of the sealing disc 20. However, special attention must be paid to the connection of the tab or gripping tab 50 to the lower group 30 of the sealing disc 20. One should not tie this tab 50 to the top layer 35 of the lower group 30 or the top layer 35 itself form so that it extends beyond the periphery of the other layers of the sealing disc 20 and the peripheral edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 and Then simply fold over the surface section of the uppermost layer 35 projecting beyond this edge 12 and lay it on itself. This results in significant notch effects between this uppermost layer 35 and the lower layers of the lower group 30. The uppermost layer 35 will then tend to detach from the other layers, thereby jeopardizing the integrity of the entire sealing disk 20 , This notch effect occurs both during handling of the sealing disk itself prior to attachment to the container 10 and in particular later.

Some possibilities for a detailed structure are explained in more detail in the following figures.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a section through a first embodiment of a sealing disk according to the invention. Below you have to imagine the container 1 0 and above the lid 1 5; both are omitted here for clarity. The sealing washer 20 is also shown partially exploded to better identify the lower group 30 and the upper group 40.

The wafer 20 begins with a sealing layer 31 as seen from the container 10. This sealing layer 31 is followed by a layer 32 adjacent to the sealing layer 31. This layer 32 is simultaneously a metallic layer 34 in the illustrated embodiment. The layer 32 adjacent to the sealing layer 31 is not mandatory and even in most embodiments just not the metallic layer 34; the reference numerals relate only in the embodiment of Figure 3, the same layer. This metallic layer 34 is at the same time an induction layer, usually made of aluminum. This induction layer or metallic layer 34 ensures that heat generated by induction in the layer 34 is transferred to the sealing layer 31 and this is thus firmly sealed on the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 during the production or packaging process of the container 10.

The induction layer or metallic layer 34 is next followed in this embodiment by the uppermost layer 35 of the lower group 30 and of the layers of the sealing disk 20.

Above this uppermost layer 35, the upper group 40 starts from the upper layers of the sealing disc 20. First, a separating layer 41 can be seen. This separating layer separates the upper group 40 from the lower group 30 at the first opening. It is a polymer separating layer, for example a polypropylene or polyethylene film or a waxy substance. The layer 41 has, for example, adhesion promoters and / or release layers which connect the lower layers 31 to 35 with the further layers lying above the layer 35 or, in the case of an opening process, permit a separation.

For the layer 41, a polymer separating layer is preferably used as adhesion promoter. With a polymer separation layer a definite adhesion can be achieved, which can be calculated very well in advance. It should be noted that this layer must be temporarily adhesive, but in a rotary movement in the case of an opening operation, however, a separation of the underlying layers of the lower group 30 must allow the above and discussed below layers.

Above the layer 41 is a layer 42. The layer 42 is a polypropylene film or a layer of high density polyethylene (HDPE). It is made of polyethylene foam or polypropylene foam or in some cases also of cardboard. This, to a certain extent, resilient layer provides for Resealing after the first opening of the container 10 for the tight closure of the opening 1 1 of the container 10th

As the topmost layer, another plastic film 44, for example made of polypropylene or polyethylene (HDPE), is provided again. If the foam layer 43 is made of paperboard material, it is possible to dispense with the layers 42 and 44, ie the two plastic films made of, in particular, HDPE.

This upper group 40 of the upper layers of the sealing disc 20 is also referred to as a reseal part. The reseal part or this upper group 40 are in an originally sealed container 10 directly on the layer 35th

All layers of the two groups 30 and 40 of the sealing disc 20 are connected to each other, including the layers 32 to 35 very firmly together, since they should no longer be separated from each other and need.

The total thickness of all layers of the lower group 30 is very low in relation to the other container and also opening dimensions, usually in relation to the thickness of the Reseal part, ie the layers of the upper group 40th

It can also be seen that the layers 31, 32 and 34 and 35 not only form a flat layer, but that at the edge of the sealing disc 20, these layers are folded over and are placed back to the center of the sealing disc 20. It should be noted that the thickness of the layers and the dimensions as well as the relative relationships are not drawn to scale, but purely schematically.

The uppermost layer 35, which here would be a plastic film, preferably polyethylene terephthalate, is folded onto itself. The layers underneath her in the other layers lie above her in this small folded-over area. The uppermost layer of this folded-over region is therefore part of the sealing layer 31. This area of the uppermost layer 35 is not adhesively bonded to the total area of the upper side of the uppermost layer 35 of the lower group 30, but lies loosely.

Since there is thickening on this side of the sealing disk 20, the separating layer 41 is adapted and leaves rough space for receiving this additional substance. Since the separation layer 41 is a polymer separation layer or a waxy substance, this is easily possible.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative to this. Between the metallic layer 34, which preferably consists of aluminum and serves as an induction layer, and the sealing layer 31, a layer 33 made of a plastic film is inserted in addition. This plastic film is preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate.

Unlike in FIG. 3, this layer 33 is at the same time the layer 32 adjacent to the sealing layer 31, while the metallic layer 34 is at the same time the uppermost layer 35 of the lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disc 20.

The layer 33 of polyethylene terephthalate, which here forms the layer 32 following the sealing layer 31, has an additional, positive effect. While aluminum is generally not tear-resistant, this can be achieved very practically with a plastic film, in particular made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The composite of the lower layers with the aluminum layer 34 and the additional layer 32 thus becomes totally tear-resistant, which is very advantageous for this dressing of the lower group 30 of the layers.

The upper group 40 is omitted here, since it corresponds exactly to the embodiment of the embodiment of FIG.

It can be seen on the right side that in this case the order of the folded layers is different than in the representation of FIG. The The grip tab 50 here has the layers sealing layer 31, plastic film 33 and metallic layer 34 in this order from top to bottom, which rest on the top side of the topmost layer 35.

In the figure 5, the representation of Figure 4 is reproduced slightly modified. Since the sealing layer 31 is provided for sealing on the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10, it is relatively sticky, which may not be desirable in this area for the grip tab. This could interfere with both the handling by the user and the defined separation effect of the immediately adjacent separation layer 41 of the two groups 30 and 40.

In this case, in such an embodiment or in other embodiments, the upward-facing side of the sealing layer 31 may be provided with an additional protective lacquer 38 or a protective film 38.

The sealing layer 31 is not required or desired in the region of the grip tab 50 per se, since it does not or only slightly contributes to the tensile strength of the material. However, it will often be simpler in terms of manufacturing technology to fold the layer sequence of the lower group 30 as a whole and not to leave out certain areas. It should be noted that the sealing disks are punched out of large-area webs and that small-area work around the area of a sealing disk can be complicated under certain circumstances. It may therefore be easier to additionally apply a protective lacquer here during the production of the sealing disk, or to cover this area of the sealing layer 31 above the grip tab 50 in another form.

FIG. 6 shows a variant in which the sealing layer 31 on the folded-over upper side of the lower group 30 forming the grip tab 50 is actually omitted. Likewise, it is also provided in this embodiment, the metallic layer 34 to end at the edge of the sealing disc and thus not to fold over and not to let leak into the grip tab 50.

This embodiment has a great advantage that the registered in the sealing disc induction is more uniform. In the embodiments of Figures 3, 4 and 5 it can be seen that an overall thickened metallic region is formed, which could accordingly also absorb more heat, which should be compensated accordingly in the induction sealing. This is avoided in the embodiment of Figure 6 from the outset.

In this embodiment too, no notch effect can occur between the plastic film 33 provided with the grip tab 50 (at the same time the layer 32 adjacent the sealing layer 31) and the other layers, in this case the metallic layer 34. The tab 50 surrounds the outer edge of the metallic layer 34 and the notch effect can only occur between the plastic film 33 and the sealing layer 31 where it is desired.

The illustration in FIG. 6 shows a particularly preferred embodiment.

Also in the illustration of FIG. 6, it is ensured that the grip tab 50, which is formed particularly thin here, does not stick to the upper side of the uppermost layer 35 of the lower group 30 of the layers of the sealing disc 20.

FIG. 7 shows how a film web could look like in cross-section, from which sealing disks are folded and punched out for an embodiment according to FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a modified variant of the embodiment from FIG. 6, in which the sealing layer 31 terminates in the grip tab 50, but not the metallic layer 34. When opening the container 10 for the first time when unscrewing the lid 15 with the screw cap, the compound dissolves in the separating layer 41 between the layers 35 and 42. This can be done in various ways. It is expedient to keep the upper group 40 freely rotatable in the closure, ie the screw cap 15, but to hold it there approximately by projections or cams, so that upon rotation of the screw cap 15, the layers of the group 40 are pulled vertically upward and so on separated from the group 30 layers.

Another, less preferred but basically possible form is that previously a connection of the Reseal part, ie the group 40, was made with the underside of the screw cap 15, so that upon rotation of the screw cap 15 and a rotational movement of the layers of the group 40th relative to the layers of group 30, which leads to separation.

After the first opening of the screw cap 15 is in both cases, that is, both in the embodiment of Figure 8, in which the layers of the group 40 are pulled vertically upwards and in the principle possible form in which a rotational movement separates the layers, so that the top layer 35 of the lower group 30 in front of the user. This then acts on the grip tab 50 and thus pulls all layers of the group 30 in one go from the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10th

In all the embodiments of FIG. 8, the occurrence of notch effects between the layer with the grip tab 50 and others is thus likewise evident

Layers completely avoided; only a separation of the lower group

30 of the sealing layer 31 or a separation within the

Sealing layer 31 occurs. The group 30 of the lower layers thus remains unhurt and is withdrawn altogether, without residues remaining on a partial surface of the opening 1 1 of the container or even planar detachments due to the notch effect can occur. Re-screwing the cap 50 causes the layer 42 of the reseal part comes to rest on the edge 12 of the opening 1 1 of the container 10 and this seals again.

In those embodiments where between the metallic layer 34 and the sealing layer 31 an additional layer 33, which is not conventionally present, is inserted from a plastic film, which then forms the closest layer 32, there is now an additional layer between the induction heat-imparting layer and the sealing layer However, this is comparatively easy to take into account, since there is only a slight increase in the thickness of a thin plastic film between the metallic layer and the sealing layer 31 to be heated. So you will need slightly more I nduktionswärme. The difference is minimal, however, since there are only few loss paths for the generated heat.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 containers

1 1 opening of the container 12 circumferential edge of the opening

15 Lid, in particular screw cap

20 sealing washer

30 group of lower layers of the sealing disc

31 sealing layer

32 layer adjacent to the seal layer

33 layer of plastic film, in particular polyethylene terephthalate

34 metallic layer, in particular aluminum 35 uppermost layer of the lower group

38 Protective varnish or protective film

40 group from the upper layers

41 separating layer 42 plastic film, such as polypropylene or polyethylene

43 foam layer

44 plastic film, such as polypropylene or polyethylene

50 grip tab

Claims

claims

A sealing washer for a container closure for use with a container (10) having an opening (11) delimited by a peripheral edge (12), wherein the sealing disc (20) consists of a plurality of layers with a rim of which 30) from lower layers (31, 32, 33, 34, 35), the opening (1 1) of the container (10) before a first opening of the container (10) tightly closes, in which the group (30) of the lower layers by means of a sealing layer

(31) on the peripheral edge (12) of the opening (1 1) is sealable, wherein the group (30) of the lower layers releasably connected to a group (40) of upper layers (41, 42, 43, 44) of the sealing disc (20) is connected, in which with the group (40) from upper layers, the opening (1 1) of the container (10) is again temporarily closed, wherein the sealing disc (20) has at least one gripping tab (50), wherein the grip tab (50) is formed by only one or more of the layers of the group (30) of the lower layers, and wherein the layer (32) forming the grip tab (50) forms the edge of the other layers (33, 34, 35, 41, 42, 43, 44) of the two groups (30, 40) surmounted in terms of area around the surface of the grip tab (50), characterized in that the sealing layer (31) adjacent layer (32) from the group (30) of the lower Layers forms the grip tab (50), and that of the edge of the other layers superior surface part of this

Layer (32) folded around the outer edge of all the other layers (33, 34, 35) of the group (30) of the lower layers except for the sealing layer (31) and on the uppermost (35) of the group (30) of the lower layers is laid flat and covered by the group (40) of the upper layers, so that the grip tab (50) after the solution of the group (40) of the upper layers for the Erstöffnung of the container (10) is tangible.

A sealing cup for a container closure for use in a container (10) having an opening (11) delimited by a peripheral edge (12), in which the sealing disc (20) consists of several layers with a rim, one group of which ( 30) from lower layers (31, 32, 33, 34) the opening (1 1) of the container (10) before a first opening of the container (10) tightly closes, in which the group (30) of the lower layers by means of a sealing layer ( 31) on the peripheral edge (12) of the opening (1 1) can be sealed, in which the group (30) of the lower layers is detachably connected to a group (40) of upper layers (41, 42) of the sealing disc (20) in which, with the group (40) from upper layers, the opening (11) of the container (10) is again temporarily closed, in which the sealing disc (20) has at least one grip tab (50), in which the grip tab (50) only one or more of the layers of the group (30) of the bottom and in which the layers (32, 33) forming the grip tab (50) project beyond the edge of the other layers (34) in area around the surface of the grip tab (50), characterized in that a plurality of the sealing layer (31) nearest layers (32, 33) from the group (30) of the lower layers form the grip tab (50), and that the surface part of these layers (32, 33) projecting beyond the edge of the other layers around the outer edge of all other layers (34) of the

Folded group (30) of the lower layers except for the sealing layer (31) and flattened on the uppermost (34) of the group (30) of the lower layers and covered by the group (40) of the upper layers, so that the grip tab (50 ) after the solution of the group (40) of the upper layers for the first opening of the container (10) is tangible.

3. Sealing disc according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing layer (31) adjacent layer (32) is a layer of a plastic film, and that the layer following this layer, a metallic layer (34) as

Induction layer is.

4. Sealing disc according to claim 3, characterized in that the sealing layer (31) adjacent layer (32) consists of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

5. Sealing disc according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the sealing layer (31) adjacent layer (32) is wholly or partially dyed.

6. Sealing disc according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other layers superior surface parts which are folded and flattened on the uppermost (34) layer of the group (30) of the lower layers, up with a protective lacquer or a protective film ( 38) are covered.