ES2424896A2 - Foil capsule, bottle, machine and method for making score lines in a foil capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a foil capsule, bottle, machine for making score lines in a foil capsule, and method for making score lines in a foil capsule. The foil capsule is made of a metal alloy that includes at least 99.5 wt % of aluminium. The machine for making score lines in a foil capsule includes a rotary element (30) configured such as to be inserted in the capsule such that the capsule rotates on a longitudinal axis of the capsule when the rotary element (30) rotates, and at least two cutting elements (31, 32) arranged such as to make the corresponding cutting lines when the rotary element rotates. The cutting elements (31, 32) are arranged on a mounting (33) configured such as to be able to rock in a plane about a pivoting axis (35), said longitudinal axis being perpendicular to said plane.

Description

Overcapping capsule, bottle, machine for making weakening lines in an overcapping capsule, and method for making weakening lines in an overcapping capsule.

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention is encompassed in the technical field of capsules or overcapped bottles.

Background of the invention

It is known in the state of the art to use capsules or bottle caps, typically made of tin or aluminum. Also, different types of devices are known that facilitate the tearing of said overcaps, so that the part of the capsule is attached to the neck of the bottle, while the part

15 upper can be separated, allowing access to the cork or plug.

Specifically, the Spanish utility model publ. No. ES-1021394-U (corresponding to application number U9201647) presents a pre-ragged arrangement formed by a tear line perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, a plurality of small oblique sections spaced therethrough from said line. The orientation of said sections determines the direction of opening of the system. However, this design presents the problem that as a result of the tearing of the line, the oblique sections generate burrs that can produce cuts to the user.

The Spanish utility model publ. number ES-1075642-U (corresponding to the request number U201131081)

25 proposes a solution to this problem. More specifically, ES-1075642-U solves the problem by means of a tearing device formed by two lines of weakening parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, which, when torn, tend not to generate burrs that could harm the user. The device may also comprise a tongue to initiate the tearing of the strip determined by the weakening lines; This tab is defined by a recess in the area marked by the weakening lines, and whose shape may vary according to the specific design of the device.

Initially, overcapping capsules for wine and liquor bottles were made of lead with an outer and inner tin coating. With the ban on lead and some other heavy metals in this type of packaging, new types of capsules had to be developed. In general, they were made of pure tin, since this

35 metal offered good characteristics for being ductile and malleable.

However, in recent years and due to the sharp increase in the price of tin, other alternatives have been sought and overlay capsules made of embedded aluminum have been made. In fact, aluminum had already been considered an interesting alternative to tin, but it never had the desired success for presenting a serious problem in the opening of the capsule. As aluminum is harder than tin, when cutting the capsule to remove it from the bottle, aluminum tends to leave a series of burrs that can cause cuts to the consumer. In addition, the solution proposed in ES-1075642-U might seem unsuitable for aluminum capsules, since, due to the hardness of aluminum, it may be difficult to establish the proposed weakening lines in capsules of that material, especially if it is large purity.

45 That is, and although the solution proposed in ES-1075642-U can be used to reduce burrs, it has been considered that it may be necessary to improve this type of capsules and the methods and machines for their production, to improve product quality, reduce the risk of burr cuts, improve the homogeneity of the weakening lines, and increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process.

Description of the invention

A first aspect of the invention relates to an overcap capsule, configured to be placed on a neck

55 of a bottle to cover a cork or cap that closes the bottle. The capsule comprises at least one weakening line and is of a metal alloy comprising aluminum.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the metal alloy comprises at least 99.5% by weight of aluminum.

In some embodiments of the invention, the capsule may comprise at least two weakening lines, said weakening lines being continuous, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the axis of the bottle. It has been proven that these continuous weakening lines serve to reduce the tendency to form burrs during tearing of the capsule, as explained in ES-1075642-U, as well as to facilitate the opening of the

65 capsule A machine like the one described below can be used to produce these weakening lines, also in a hard material such as an alloy with 99.5% by weight, or more, of aluminum.

In addition, the capsule can comprise a recess that defines an adapted tongue so that when pulled from it, a band defined by the weakening lines is torn. This serves to facilitate tearing of the capsule, as explained in ES-1075642-U.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a bottle comprising a bottle body and a neck, the bottle being closed by a stopper or by a natural or synthetic cork. The bottle comprises an overcapped capsule according to what has been described above, which covers the cap or the cork.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a machine for making weakening lines in an overcapped capsule, for example, of the type described above. The machine comprises: -a rotating element configured to be inserted into the capsule so that the capsule rotates on a longitudinal axis of the capsule when the rotating element rotates, and -at least two cutting elements, arranged to make the corresponding cutting lines when rotating the rotating element.

The cutting elements are arranged in a support configured so that it can swing in a plane around a pivot axis, said longitudinal axis of the capsule being perpendicular to said plane. It has been found that this configuration allows to establish an adequate, balanced and precise pressure on the capsule, through said cutting elements, so that both cutting lines have a substantially identical and controlled depth.

The two cutting elements may be arranged horizontally separated by a distance so that upon contact with the capsule mounted on the rotating element, said cutting elements come into contact with said capsule each side of a plane of symmetry which crosses the longitudinal axis of the

25 capsule and the pivot axis of the support. In this way, by supporting the cutting elements on two sides of the capsule, the contact between the cutting element and the capsule is maintained when the rotating element rotates, since the capsule and the rotating element serve to substantially block the pivoting of the support. The rotary or rotating element can, for cutting a capsule, make a rotation of at least 360 degrees in one direction, or a rotation of at least 180 degrees in both directions, from the starting position.

The support can be associated with (for example, pivotally mounted on) a moving head whose position determines the pressure that the cutting elements exert on the capsule. In this way, through the tilting support, a precise pressure adapted to the specific characteristics of a capsule can be exerted.

35 The cutting elements may be rotating cutting elements. It has been found that the use of rotating cutting elements can be advantageous.

The two cutting elements can be located on opposite sides of the support. Therefore, these cutting elements can be located in two different planes parallel to the tilt plane and separated by a distance that corresponds to the distance between the two weakening lines.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making weakening lines in an overcap capsule using a machine according to what has been described above. The method comprises the steps of: - placing the capsule on the rotating element,

45-position the cutting elements so that they exert a certain force on the capsule; and - rotate the rotating element, so that the cutting elements produce weakening lines.

Brief description of the figures

To complement the description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to some preferred examples of practical implementation thereof, a set of figures is attached as an integral part of the description in which Illustrative and non-limiting, the following has been represented:

Figures 1 and 2 are partial elevational views of two bottles according to two alternative embodiments of the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of a capsule according to a possible embodiment of the invention, with an enlarged sectional section. . Figure 4 is a schematic elevational view of a capsule according to another possible embodiment of the invention, with an enlarged sectional section.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a machine for making weakening lines in an overcapped capsule, according to a possible embodiment of the invention.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In figure 1 the upper part of a bottle 10 type "bartop" is observed, closed by a cap 15, as usual. The bottle is closed by an overcapping capsule 1, which has two weakening lines 11 and

5 12, among which a recess 13 has been made, giving rise to a tongue 14 from which the user can pull to remove the tape established between the two lines of weakening, whereby the upper part of the capsule 1 is separated from the bottom.

Similarly, in figure 2 the upper part of a bottle 20 of Burgundy or Burgundy type, closed by

10 a cork (natural or synthetic) 25, as usual. The bottle is closed by an overcapping capsule 2, which has two weakening lines 21 and 22, between which a drain 23 has been made, giving rise to a tongue 24 from which the user can pull to remove the tape established between the two lines of weakening, whereby the upper part of the capsule 2 is separated from the lower part.

15 These weakening lines can be continuous to minimize the risk of burrs, even if the capsule is substantially aluminum

A series of dimensions corresponding to a capsule for a "bartop" bottle such as that of figure 1 have been indicated in Figure 3; These dimensions may preferably correspond to the following values (in mm):

Table 1

Dimension

Minimum value (mm) Maximum value

TO

1.5 fifteen

B

4 25

C

0.1 0.5

D

0.03 0.10

and

0.06 0.20

On the other hand, in figure 4 a series of dimensions corresponding to a capsule for a burgundy or burgundy-type bottle such as that of figure 2 have been indicated; These dimensions may preferably correspond to the following values (in mm):

Table 2

Dimension

Minimum value (mm) Maximum value

TO

1.5 6

B

4 25

C

0.1 0.5

D

0.03 0.10

and

0.06 0.20

Figure 5 illustrates a machine for making weakening lines 11, 12 in an overcap capsule 1. As can be seen, the machine comprises a rotating element 30 or mandrel on which the capsule 30 is placed so that the capsule rotates with this rotating element element 30, around its longitudinal axis. On the other hand, there is a rocker-shaped support 33, which is arranged in a head 34 so that it can pivot about a pivot axis 35, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the capsule and the rotating element.

30. On both sides of the support 33 two cutting elements 31 and 32 are arranged, in the form of rotating cutting discs and with their axes slightly separated and located in two cutting planes whose separation determines the separation between the weakening lines. . The head 34 is movable in three directions, and is positioned so that the cutting elements rest on the capsule 1, one on each side of the capsule (that is, one on each side of a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the capsule and by the pivot axis 35 of the support 33), and exert a predetermined pressure on the capsule. When rotating the rotating element, the weakening lines 11 and 12 are produced. It may be sufficient to perform a 360 degree turn, or a first turn of at least 180 degrees in one

40 direction, followed by a return to the original position and from there a 180 degree turn in the other direction.

In this text, the word “understand” and its variants (such as “understanding”, etc.) should not be interpreted in an exclusive way, that is, they do not exclude the possibility that what is described includes other elements, steps, etc.

On the other hand, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments that have been described but also covers, for example, the variants that can be made by the average person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within what follows from the claims.

Claims (9)

1. Overcapping capsule, configured to be placed on a neck of a bottle (10, 20) to cover a cork or cap that closes the bottle (10, 20), said capsule (1, 2) comprising at least one line of weakening (11, 12; 5 21, 22), the capsule being a metal alloy comprising aluminum, characterized because said metal alloy comprises at least 99.5% by weight of aluminum. 2. Capsule according to claim 1, comprising at least two lines of weakening (11, 12; 21, 22), said lines of weakening (11, 12; 21, 22) being continuous, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the axis of the bottle when the capsule is mounted in a bottle. 3. Capsule according to claim 2, further comprising a recess (13, 23), said recess (13, 23) defining a tongue (14, 24) adapted to, when pulled, cause separation of a defined band along the lines of weakening (11, 12; 21, 22). 4.-Bottle comprising a bottle body and a neck, the bottle (10, 20) being closed by a stopper or a cork, the bottle further comprising an overcapping capsule (1, 2), characterized because Said overcapping capsule is a capsule according to any of the preceding claims. 5.-Machine to make weakening lines in an overcap capsule configured to be placed on a neck of a bottle to cover a cork or cap that closes the bottle, characterized because The machine comprises - a rotating element (30) configured to be inserted into the capsule so that the capsule rotates on a longitudinal axis of the capsule when the rotating element (30) rotates, and - at least two cutting elements (31, 32), arranged to make the corresponding cutting lines when rotating the rotating element, 30 said cutting elements (31, 32) being arranged on a support (33) configured so that it can swing in a plane around a pivot axis (35), said longitudinal axis being perpendicular to said plane. 6. Machine according to claim 5, wherein said two cutting elements (31, 32) are arranged so 35 horizontally separated by a distance so that upon contact with the capsule mounted on the rotating element, said cutting elements contact said capsule on either side of a plane of symmetry that crosses the longitudinal axis of the capsule and the axis of pivoting (35) of the support (33). 7. Machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said support is associated with a moving head whose position determines the pressure that the cutting elements exert on the capsule. 8. Machine according to any of claims 5-7, wherein the cutting elements (31, 32) are rotating cutting elements. Machine according to any one of claims 5-8, in which the two cutting elements (31, 32) are located on opposite sides of the support (33). 10. Method for making weakening lines in an overcap capsule using a machine according to any of claims 5-9, comprising the steps of: 50-position the capsule on the rotating element (30), -position the cutting elements (31, 32) so that they exert a certain force on the capsule; and - rotate the rotating element, so that the cutting elements produce weakening lines.