EP2698323B1 - Steriliser cup in particular for baby food - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sterilization cup, in particular for baby food, with a glass cup having an upper opening, wherein the glass cup has a lid receptacle in the region of the upper opening, to which a metal lid is fastened, wherein a jacket area lies under the lid receptacle and a cup region extends below the casing area Bottom of the glass beaker leads.

For baby food usually barrel-shaped glass are used, which have on their top a lid with a screwed metal lid. Underneath lies a shoulder area which, in a rounded shape, transfers directly below the cover receptacle into a cylindrical jacket area to which a label is attached. The cylindrical shell region is adjoined by a shell region, which forms a cup-shaped lower end with a round base.

Such cups are optimized as disposable products in their form for maximum stability, minimal glass volume ratio and ease of manufacture and optimal handling during the production process. In addition, these glasses should be particularly easy and practical for the user. Therefore, high requirements are placed on the stackability of filled sterilized cups, the running behavior on assembly lines, in filling and sterilizing machines as well as the presentation possibilities of the glasses in a sales shelf.

These extreme requirements meant that baby food is usually bottled and offered as a jar in the known cups described.

The invention is in the knowledge of the high demands on the glass mold from the manufacturing process to the use of filled with baby food jar the task to further develop such a sterilized cup, which is also referred to simply as a glass.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1.

The WO 2010/136414 A1 shows a cup with a large opening and a slip lid. Below the slip lid, the diameter of the cup is increased and thereby creates a shoulder that has two opposite lines in section. The mantle area between these opposing lines is minimized to provide a large cylindrical cup area.

Although bottles are known with a conical jacket area and crown caps. However, the invention relates to sterilization cups. Sterilized cups have a much wider mouth area than bottles, and therefore have a much larger lid on which to exert larger forces during the sterilization process and when the jars are stacked.

In addition, mason jars with a conical jacket area are known. However, these mason jars have a glass lid which communicates with the glass cup via a disposable rubber. However, such mason jars are stacked for stacking several filled glasses and not suitable as disposable.

A sterilization cup is a cup with a lid optimized for the sterilization process. The cup must on the one hand be inexpensive to produce and on the other hand meet the high requirements during the sterilization process. The glass cup according to the invention has a cup shape, which makes it possible to spoon out the entire contents of the cup with a spoon in a simple manner. The conical mantle area facilitates spooning, as the mantle area is easier to reach with a standard spoon.

The lid receptacle may be a simple bead which cooperates with a pressed on lid, it may have a thread, a bayonet closure or other special cooperating with a lid shape. The lid receptacle refers to each of the upper edge of the glass cup, which cooperates with the lid.

The metal lid has at least one metal region which cooperates directly or with an intermediate sealing material with the lid receptacle.

Surprisingly, it has been found that a conical jacket area not only offers advantages when spooning out the cup, but also that the filling and labeling process is easy to master. The cups produced in the filled and in the unfilled state meet particularly high stability requirements. They are even easy to use on automatic filling lines with extreme transport and filling speeds.

As a result of the interaction of lid receiving, metal lid and tray and bottom shaping, the sterilized cups are easily stackable and able to cope with the stresses encountered on a fully stacked pallet. These jars can be stacked on pallets with 5 pallets on top of each other. With a capacity of 190 g, 10 layers per pallet and thus 50 filled jars can be stacked on top of each other.

The conical shell region guides the forces acting on the cover into the shell area. Due to the taper, the shoulder area can be reduced or even eliminated.

A further aspect of the invention therefore provides that the jacket region begins directly below the lid receptacle. It is thus dispensed with the usual shoulder area, so that acting on the lid forces are immediately transferred without a kink in the transition to the shoulder area in the mantle area.

In addition, the contents of the jar become more accessible. Since the mantle area begins just below the lid receptacle, the entire inner wall of the glass beaker can be scraped off with a spoon in a simple manner. It is advantageous that the jacket region is conical.

Another aspect of the invention provides that the lid receptacle has a height of less than 8 mm, preferably less than 7 mm and particularly preferably less than 6 mm. As a result, the height of the lid area is greatly reduced and there is plenty of room for the shape of the glass cup and for labeling surfaces. It is advantageous if the jacket region begins directly below the lid receptacle, since then in particular the surface for the labeling can be brought up to close to the lid. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the jacket region is conical.

The jacket area between the lid and the bowl area has a conical shape whose shell length is between 20 and 70 mm. This makes it easy to grab the glass in this area.

Furthermore, it is proposed that a label is attached to the jacket area, which also covers part of the lid receptacle. The planar shape of the conical shell area allows to apply a planar label that can not be applied to a spherical area. If desired, this label can not only rest against the conical jacket region, but it can extend into the lid region and also rest against the glass there. If a constriction is required between the conical shell region and the lid region, a shrink label may extend into this constriction and a paper label may bridge the constriction.

It is advantageous if the maximum outer diameter of the glass beaker is greater than the maximum outer diameter in the region of the lid receptacle. This gives the glass cup a particularly large volume and the cost of the metal lid is reduced.

A bulbous volume optimization is achieved in that the maximum diameter of the glass beaker is between the lower end of the conical shell region and the upper end of the shell region.

In particular for transport on conveyor belts it is provided that at least two rings with a height of at least 2 mm are provided between the lower end of the conical jacket region and the upper end of the shell region.

Especially for the sale of baby food, it is proposed that the maximum outer diameter of the glass beaker be greater than 50 mm and less than 80 mm and preferably less than 70 mm.

In order to be able to spoon the cup even more easily, it is proposed that the inside of the lid receptacle without paragraph merges into the inside of the jacket area.

Attempts at stability and user-friendliness have shown that it is particularly advantageous if the maximum outer diameter in the region of the lid receptacle is only 1 to 4 mm smaller than the maximum diameter of the glass beaker.

A particularly good accessibility to the glass cup is achieved in that the maximum outer diameter in the lid receiving area is between 50 and 75 and preferably between 55 and 65 mm. This easy accessibility is achieved in particular by the fact that the free inner diameter in the region of the lid receptacle is between 45 and 70 and preferably between 50 and 60 mm.

The metal lid is usually held in a sterilization cup by the negative pressure in the filled, sterilized cup on the cup. Reclosability of the sterilizing cup can be achieved by bending the cup lid, through which air can enter the cup, so that the lid can be easily lifted. However, reclosability can also be achieved by having the metal lid with a screw cap.

In order to achieve as much labeling area and little lid area as possible, it is proposed that the metal lid has a height of less than 6 mm.

The metal lid does not necessarily have to be completely made of metal. It may also have a closed with a plastic part opening or a plastic frame. This makes it possible to connect the lid in different ways with the glass cup.

Since the glass cup should be stable as a disposable product but should also require little material, it is proposed that the glass cup should have a glass weight per full volume of less than 0.65 g / ml, preferably less than 0.5 g / ml and more preferably less than 0, 45 g / ml. The low specific glass weight is made possible by the special shape of the glass beaker and reduces the manufacturing and transport costs.

A particularly preferred height of the glass beaker is between 40 mm and 125 mm.

The bowl portion in a preferred embodiment has a rounded shape with a height of 8 to 24 mm and the bottom has a bearing surface with a diameter between 40 and 50 mm.

In order to meet the manifold requirements for such a mass-produced product, it is proposed that the lid receptacle between the glass outside and the inside of the glass have a glass center line which extends towards the casing area as a truncated cone conically tapered. While in the region of the shell, the glass mold tapers conically upwards to the lid receptacle, for static reasons, such a taper would also be expected in the area of the lid. However, it has been found that the specified course of the center line is very advantageous both in terms of static and in terms of the technical requirements in the lid area.

In view of the internal stability of the sterilization cup and in view of the need for a large opening, it is proposed that the bottom of the glass cup has an annular bearing surface and the extension of the inside of the lid receptacle conically tapering towards the jacket region as a truncated cone intersects this bearing surface. The inside of the lid receptacle does not have to be completely flat and also the support surface does not have to be exactly flat. Therefore, it is important that at least about the extension of this line on the inside of the lid receptacle cuts the bottom in the area that serves as a support surface. Technically, this initiates the force introduced in the cover area in the direction of the support surface into the glass.

In particular, for the use of lids with a very narrow edge is proposed that the lid receptacle below a thread has a stop whose radius is greater than the maximum radius of the thread.

So that the sterilization cup retains an overall conical appearance, it is proposed that the lid receptacle has a horizontal upper bearing surface which lies radially within the upwardly extended truncated cone of the outside of the jacket region. This makes it possible to set up a lid which preferably does not project and at least only insignificantly beyond the conical envelope of the glass cup.

For static reasons, the aim should be that the upwardly extended truncated cone of the inside of the jacket area intersects this horizontal upper bearing surface of the lid receptacle.

The objects of claims 8 to 12 are also essential to the invention independently of the characterizing features of claim 1.

Figur 1

schematisch eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Sterilisierbechers 1,

Figur 2

eine Seitenansicht des in Figur gezeigten Bechers,

Figur 3

eine Ansicht des Bechers von unten,

Figur 4

eine Ansicht des Bechers von oben,

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht eines Bechers mit einem Randvollvolumen von ca. 105 ml,

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht eines Bechers mit einem Randvollvolumen von ca. 145 ml,

Figur 7

eine Seitenansicht eines Bechers mit einem Randvollvolumen von ca. 145 ml,

Figur 8

eine Seitenansicht eines Bechers mit einem Randvollvolumen von ca. 217 ml,

Figur 9

eine Seitenansicht eines Bechers mit einem Randvollvolumen von ca. 245 ml,

Figur 10

eine Seitenansicht eines Bechers mit einem Randvollvolumen von ca. 275 ml,

Figur 11

eine Seitenansicht eines Bechers mit Gewinde,

Figur 12

ein Detail des in Figur 11 gezeigten Bechers,

Figur 13

einen Schnitt durch den in Figur 11 gezeigten Becher und

Figur 14

ein Detail des in Figur 13 gezeigten Bechers.

Advantageous embodiments of sterilizing cups according to the invention are shown in the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1

schematically a perspective view of a sterilization cup 1,

FIG. 2

a side view of the cup shown in FIG.

FIG. 3

a view of the mug from below,

FIG. 4

a view of the mug from above,

FIG. 5

a side view of a cup with a full volume of about 105 ml,

FIG. 6

a side view of a cup with a full volume of about 145 ml,

FIG. 7

a side view of a cup with a full volume of about 145 ml,

FIG. 8

a side view of a cup with a full volume of about 217 ml,

FIG. 9

a side view of a cup with a full volume of about 245 ml,

FIG. 10

a side view of a cup with a full volume of about 275 ml,

FIG. 11

a side view of a cup with thread,

FIG. 12

a detail of in FIG. 11 shown mug,

FIG. 13

a section through the in FIG. 11 shown mug and

FIG. 14

a detail of in FIG. 13 shown mug.

The in FIG. 1 The cup shown consists essentially of a glass cup 2 and a metal lid (not shown). The glass cup 2 has an upper opening 3, which is bounded by a lid receptacle 4. This lid receptacle 4 is in the embodiment, a thickening of the upper glass beaker edge in the form of a bead which extends around the glass cup 2 on the outside of the glass beaker 2 around. As an alternative, the bead may also be formed as a thread.

Under the lid receptacle 4 extends a jacket region 5 with a slightly conical but planar surface which extends around the glass beaker. On this jacket portion 5, a label (not shown) can be attached.

Below the shell region 5 is a shell region 6, which extends from the shell region to the bottom 7.

The side view in FIG. 2 shows that in the upper region of the glass beaker 2, the lid receptacle 4 extends bead-like outward. Underneath there is a straight but slightly conical surface in the section as a jacket region 5. Underneath are two rings 8 and 9, which form a transition between the conical jacket region 5 and the shell region 6. The bottom 7 has a dash-dotted line indicated central elevation, which causes the glass cup 2 is only in the region of an annular support surface 10 on a surface.

The upper portion of the glass cup 2 is formed with an inner side without a step. This is achieved in that the inner side 11 of the lid receptacle 4 without paragraph merges into the inner side 12 of the jacket region 5. In this case, the inside of the lid receptacle is downwardly but slightly conically formed inwardly, while the inside of the jacket region 5 extends slightly conically outwards towards the bottom.

The cup can be made with different dimensions, without leaving the basic shape of the cup thereby. Various embodiments of such cups 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 show the FIGS. 5 to 10 , These cups have a diameter of about 66 mm. In FIG. 5 the height is about 43.5 mm, in FIG. 6 at about 59 mm, in FIG. 7 at about 60 mm, in FIG. 8 at about 84.5 mm, in FIG. 9 at about 95.5 mm and in FIG. 10 at about 108 mm.

In these embodiments, the glass weight is between about 65 g and about 130 g. This produces cups with a full rim volume of between about 105 ml and a full rim volume of about 275 ml. The specific glass weight is therefore between 0.62 g / ml and 0.44 g / ml.

The in FIG. 11 shown cup 17 has a large upper opening 18 which is formed in a lid receptacle 19. This cover receptacle 19 has a thread 20 with which a metal cover (not shown) is attached. The upper end of the cup is formed by an annular bearing surface 21. Underneath extends the lid receptacle 19, which has the thread 20 and a stop 22.

The outer radius of the stopper 22 is greater than the maximum outer radius of the thread 20th

Under the cover receptacle 19, a constriction 23 and below the jacket portion 24 extends, the outer side 25 is conical as a truncated cone.

The lid receptacle 19 has, between its outer glass side 26 and its inner glass side 27, a glass center line 28 which forms a truncated cone along the circumference of the glass, which tapers conically towards the casing region 24.

The jacket region 24 has an outer side 25, which is formed in the shape of a truncated cone, which tapers upwards towards the lid receptacle. The upwardly extended truncated cone of the outer side 25 forms an envelope 29, within the horizontal upper bearing surface 21 of the lid receptacle 19 is located. There are no Portions of the lid receptacle over the predetermined by the shell area truncated cone.

The horizontal upper bearing surface 21 is arranged so that a truncated cone 30 formed by the inner side 31 of the jacket region intersects this bearing surface 21 with its extension directed upward.

On the underside of the glass cup 17 is an annular bearing surface 32. This bearing surface 32 is so in relation to the lid receptacle 19, that the extension 33 of the mantle area 24 toward the conical tapered inner side 27 of the lid receptacle 19 this bearing surface 32 intersects.

Even with different height and filling volumes of the glass cup, the angle 34 between vertical and outer wall of the glass cup in the shell region is about 3 °. This special design satisfies both aesthetic and technical as well as static requirements with regard to the use of the cup and its manufacture.

Claims (11)

1. A sterilization cup (1) in particular for baby food with a glass cup (2) having a top opening (3),
   wherein the top opening (3) area of the glass cup (2) exhibits a cover seat (4) to which a metal cover is secured,
   wherein a jacket area (5) lies underneath the cover seat (4),
   wherein a shell portion (6) under the jacket area (5) leads to the floor (7) of the glass cup (2), wherein
   the interior side (27) of the cover seat (4) conically tapers toward the jacket area (5) as a truncated cone, characterized in that
   the exterior side (25) of the jacket area (5) conically tapers toward the cover seat (4) as a truncated cone, and the jacket area (5) has a jacket length of between 20 and 70 mm.
2. The sterilization cup according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover seat (4) exhibits a height of less than 6 mm.
3. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jacket area (5) has applied to it a label that also covers a portion of the cover seat (4).
4. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two rings (8, 9) with a height of at least 2 mm are provided between the lower end of the conical jacket area (5) and the upper end of the shell portion (6).
5. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal cover exhibits a threaded closure.
6. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glass cup (2) exhibits a glass weight per brim capacity of less than 0.65 g/ml, preferably of less than 0.5 g/ml, and especially preferably of less than 0.45 g/ml.
7. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover seat (19) exhibits a glass centerline (28) between the glass exterior side (26) and glass interior side (27) that conically tapers toward the jacket area (24) as a truncated cone.
8. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor of the glass cup (17) exhibits an annular support surface (32), and the elongation (33) of the interior side (27) of the cover seat (19) conically tapering toward the jacket area (24) as a truncated cone intersects this support surface (32).
9. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover seat (19) exhibits a stop (22) under the thread (20) whose radius is larger than the maximum radius of the thread (20).
10. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover seat (19) exhibits a horizontal upper support surface (21), which lies radially inside of the upwardly elongated truncated cone of the exterior side (25) of the jacket area (24).
11. The sterilization cup according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover seat (19) exhibits a horizontal upper support surface (21), and the upwardly elongated truncated cone (30) of the interior side (31) of the jacket area (24) intersects this upper support surface (21).

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