FR2571026A1 - PLASTIC SCREW CAPSULE FOR THE INVIOLABLE CLOSURE OF A TUBE AND USE OF SAID CAPSULE - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A screw-threaded cap composed of plastics materials for the inviolable closure of a tube also composed of plastics material, said tube (8) having a shoulder (17) connected to the body of the tube and surmounted by a nozzle (7) bearing at its base an external screw thread (6), and said cap (1) comprising a cover (2) bearing an internal screw thread (5) which can be screwed onto said external screw thread (6) of said nozzle (7) of said tube (8) and a sealing means (29) as well as, at its lower portion, a flange (4) which is inclined substantially as the shoulder (17) of the tube (8), characterized in that said flange (4) comprises at least one opening (9) extending to its periphery and at least one strip (10) situated in said opening (9) and connected to the cap (1) by at least one connecting bridge (11, 12), said strip (10) bearing beneath its lower face (26) and close to its rear edge (21) according to the unscrewing direction (22) of said cap (1) a relief (18) which bears by only one or more punctual contact surfaces (20) on said shoulder (17) of said tube (8) after screwing said cap (1) on said tube (8), and said flange (4) also comprising, on the edge (24) defining in the rear of the opening (9), an oblique face (23) which is inclined downwards according to said unscrewing direction (22) of cap (1).

Description

PLASTIC SCREW CAPSULE FOR THE INVIOLABLE CLOSURE OF A TUBE

AND USE OF SAID CAPSULE

  The invention relates to a screw closure cap, made of plastic,

  with improved tamper-proof system. It relates to the technical field

packaging elements.

  SUMMARY OF KNOWN ART AND PROBLEM

  Many plastic screw caps with a tamper evident system are known. The patent application EP 0049 876 thus describes a

  screw cap whose tamper-evident band is connected to the lower part

  the upper skirt by breakable bridges, the tamper-evident strip having tabs whose end abuts under the counter of the container during the tightening closure. The opening then produces the separation of the tamper-evident band, which makes the opening

  clear precedent for a user or consumer who is aware of the

initial presentation of the packaging.

  In the case of screw caps used for closing dose tubes

  vaccine, tamper-evident systems can also

  be used, but the only tear of a tamper-evident band

  is not a sufficient indication of prior openness to attract with

  the attention of all those who may have to use these doses of vaccine in different countries and countries. Thus, it has been sought to develop a capsule such that, after closing the tube, the first opening produces a modification such that no doubt is possible about the prior opening of the package. incidentally,

  we tried to improve the sealing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

  The tube to which the invention applies has a shoulder connected to the body of the tube and surmounted by an end cannula bearing at its base an external thread, while the capsule of the invention comprises, as is known, a cap carrying an internal screw thread on the outer thread of the cannula of the tube, and, at its lower part,

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  an inclined flange typically as the shoulder of the tube.

  The lower surface of the flange is then, for example, truncated

  than with an angle at the apex of the corresponding cone of the order of 120.

  The screwing of the capsule onto the tube produces a sealing made in the usual way by the application and the wedging of the conical surface of the inside of the cap of the capsule on the outer conical surface of the end cannula of the tube, or better achieved using a flexible peripheral lip carried by the inside

  of the cap of the capsule at the level of the cannula of the tube.

  The flange of the capsule of the invention comprises at least one opening

  ture extending up to the periphery of said flange, and at least one tamper-evident bar located at and, in general, housed in said opening, this bar being connected to the capsule by at least one connecting bridge. This bar is preferably connected to the capsule by two connecting bridges, a longitudinal bridge which connects the front end of the bar to the edge of the collar delimiting the front of its

  opening of the collar, and a transverse bridge connecting the long edge

  longitudinal slope of the bar at the longitudinal edge of the flange delimiting the same opening. This bar bears, in addition, under its

  underside and near its rear end in the direction of

  wise of the capsule, a relief bearing only punctually, by one or

  possibly by several very small contact surfaces, on the

  shoulder of the tube after screwing the capsule. Finally, the collar comprises, on the edge delimiting the rear of the opening described above, an oblique face inclined downwardly in the direction of unscrewing of the capsule. Assuming that the collar of the capsule of the invention has only one opening and an associated bar having both the features which have just been described, the tamperproof closure of the tube is obtained by screwing the capsule, the latter coming from the relief of the underside of its collar abut "punctually" on the shoulder of the tube, then by welding resulting in the formation of at least one weld spot, with crushing from this relief, from its point of contact or stop. This local welding is typically done by ultrasound, with

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  a setting such that, during the unscrewing of the capsule, the connecting bridges break before this welding point. The complete detachment of the bar is then obtained by the beginning of the free rotation of the capsule, the oblique face of the edge delimiting the rear of the opening of the collar coming to lift and push the rear end of the bar by breaking

its weld point.

  The punctual range of the relief of the lower face of the bar on the shoulder is prepared in various ways: for example, using a raised pin, or using a transverse rib whose lower edge is inclined, the height of the Rib increasing from the inside to the outside of the bar. From the point of view of the facility

  of the molding and the breaking mode of the bar, it is interesting to

  locate such a transverse rib located in the extension of the transverse link bridge. The breaks are then typically at the beginning

  of the unscrewing of the capsule: tensile failure of the long-

  tudinal, then shear failure of the transverse connection bridge, then slight rotation of the capsule and rupture of the weld point thanks to the action of the oblique face of the 1brd delimiting the back of the opening

of the collar.

  An opening of the collar of the capsule according to the invention usually

  0.1 times to 0.4 times the length around the rim. It is possible to use 2 or 3 openings spaced around the rim of the collar and 2 or 3 bars associated with each of its openings, these

  openings and bars that can be of different geometries. For li-

  miter the maximum breaking torque required, it is then preferable to offset the positions of inclined oblique faces located on the edges

  delimiting the back of the various openings so that, when

  opening of the capsule closing the tube, breaks in the weld spots

  bars are made in succession.

EXAMPLES

  Examination of the examples illustrated by the drawings will help to better understand

  dre the invention and to give some additional explanations.

  FIG. 1 represents a first capsule according to the invention, seen from above. Figure 2 shows the same capsule, in axial section along AA, screwed on a tube also shown in axial section. Figure 2a is a local enlargement of Figure 2 centered on the

  barrette of the collar of the capsule, showing the support of this neck.

lerette on the shoulder of the tube.

  FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c show a partial cylindrical section of the

  flange of the same capsule, at various stages: raw capsule of

  cation (Figure 3a, section according to BB), capsule screwed to the bottom of the tube

  (Figure 3b), and welded capsule (Figure 3c).

  FIG. 4 represents a second capsule according to the invention, seen from above. Identical landmarks are used for similar elements and

same function.

  The capsule (1) of the first example (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises as it is

  known in the prior art a cap t2) carrying three ribs pre-

  hension (3), a slightly inclined flange (4) and inside its cap (2) a thread (5) screwable on the outer thread (6) of the cannula (7) of the tube (8). The flange (4) has an opening (9) extending over its entire width and about 20% of the length of its periphery, and ux-bar (10) connected to the capsule (1) by two connecting bridges ( 11, 12): a longitudinal bridge (11) which connects the front end

  (13) of the bar (10) at the edge (14) of the flange (4) delimiting the

  from its opening (9), and a transverse bridge (12) which connects the longitudinal edge (16) of the flange (4) delimiting the same opening

  (9). These two bridges (11, 12) fix the position of the bar (10)

  transport and sufficiently for closing the tube (8) by the capsule (1) by screwing the capsule (1) and welding the bar (10). As seen in Figure 2, the flange (4) has substantially the same inclination as the shoulder (17) of the tube (8). The bar (10) carries under its lower face a rib (18), here in the extension of its transverse connecting bridge (12), and the lower edge (19) of this rib is inclined, the height of the rib ( 18) increasing towards the outside of the bar (10), so that after screwing the

  capsule (1) on the tube (8) (FIG. 2), the bar (10) bears on the

  the shoulder (17) of the tube (8) by a point of contact surface (20) or

  quasi-point (figure 2a) close to the rear edge (21) of the bar

rette (10) (Figure 2a).

  The words "before" and "backward" of the present description refer to

  convention in the direction of rotation of the capsule during its unscrewing, meaning

  represented by the arrow (22) in each of FIGS. 1, 3a, 3b, 3c and 4.

  The flange (4) of the capsule (1) also has, in addition to the opening

  ture (9) and the tamper-evident bar (10) thus connected to the cap-

  sule (1) by two connecting bridges (11, 12) and provided with a relief (18) as-

  surant its point on the shoulder (17) of the tube (8) when screwing the capsule (1) on the tube, an oblique face (23) located on the edge (24) delimiting the rear opening (9) and inclined downwardly in the direction (22) of the unscrewing of the capsule. This oblique face (23) is such that, nie times the connecting bridges 11, 12) broken by the unscrewing force and the capsule (1) then turning relative to the tube (8) while the bar (10) remains fixed because of the presence

  welding point (200) which connects it to the shoulder (17) of the tube (8)

  3c), it makes it possible to lift the rear edge (21) of the bar

  (10) and break the welding point (200) by tearing or shearing.

  the bar (10) is then completely detached from the container

  and unscrewing the capsule (1) becoming free. The transverse oblique face

  versale (23) thus plays the role of a beveled blade scraping the surface of the shoulder (17) of the tube (8) and inserted by its free edge (25) under the rear edge (21) of the bar ( 10), which is raised here from 0.3 to

  0.5 mm from the shoulder (17) of the tube (8) by the weld point (200). By way of

  to have for this bevel sufficient rigidity while limiting the torque necessary for the breaking of the weld point (200), the obli face (23) makes an optimum angle of 30 to 35 with the direction of the axis of the

2 5 7 1 0 2 6

  capsule, and it was determined that in general this angle had to

  preferably between 25 and 40.

  To complete the description of this first example, FIGS. 3a to 3c

  represent a partial section at the point of the bar, cutting sectioning the longitudinal connecting bridge (11) and the rib (18)

  of the bar (10) in the region of its point contact (20). The re-

  Presentations are limited to the BB cutting surface. Figure 3a cor-

  corresponds to the unscrewed capsule, it is seen from left to right in section the edge (24) delimiting the rear of the opening (9) of the flange (4) and forming the oblique face (23), then the bar (10) carrying under its lower face (26) the rib (18) whose lower edge (19) carries the "point" contact point (20) near the rear edge (21) of the bar (10), then the bridge (11) connecting the bar (10) with the edge (14) of the flange located at the front of its opening (9). The lateral faces (27, 28) of the rib (18) defining its lower back

  (21) make between them an angle here equal to about 60, and the maximum height

  male of the rib (18) corresponding to the level of the point (20) relative to the lower face (26) of the bar (10) is 0.7 mm. In the general case, the angle between the faces (27, 28) is preferably between 70 and 70, at least in the region of the maximum relief point or

  point of contact (20), and the maximum height of the rib (18) with respect to

  port to the lower face (26) is preferably between 0.5 and 1 mm, so as to obtain a weld point (200) satisfactory. This weld point (200) must be stronger than each of the connecting bridges (11, 12) for the biasing of the unscrewing, and not too strong so as to be broken without undue effort by the already described means of the oblique face ( 23), friend made according to this section an optimal angle of 30 to

    with the X direction of the axis of the capsule (1).

  FIG. 3b shows the same elements as FIG. 3a, for the position

  screwed on the tube. While the flange (4) is applied correctly

  on the shoulder (17) of the tube (8), or very close to this shoulder (17), on either side of its opening (9), the bar (10) is raised with a maximum of spacing relative to the shoulder (17) of the tube (8) in its outer rear zone, close to the point of contact (20). Thanks to its attachment to the capsule (1) by the two connecting bridges (11, 12) and at this point of contact (20), the bar (10) is firmly applied on

the shoulder (17) of the tube (8).

  Figure 3c is placed after welding of the bar (10), the tube being clogged by the cap inviolably. The weld spot (200) was formed by means of a conventional ultrasonic welding head applied to the bar (10). In this welding, the rib (18) has crushed,

  so that the height of the welded point (200) fixing at this point spreads it

  the bar (10) and shoulder (17) of the tube is 0.4 mm

  ron. In general, the height of the welded connection (200) corres-

  At a preferred maximum rib height between 0.5 and 1 mm is typically between 0.2 and 0.6 mm. Such heights correspond to a choice of ultrasonic welding conditions easily

  executed by the skilled person. The spacing thus achieved between the bar-

  rette (10) and the shoulder (17) of the tube (8) will allow the action of the face

  oblique (23), action that has already been described.

  FIG. 1 shows that the interior of the cap (2) of the capsule (1) bears, at the level of the cannula (7) of the tube (8), a peripheral sealing lip (29) directed towards the bottom forming a fold of the surface

  inside the cap (2). The flexibility of this lip (29) makes it possible

  Sorb deformations due to tube sterilization treatment

closed without loss of sealing.

  A practical embodiment of capsule corresponding to the first example is

  described below with regard to its characteristics according to the invention

  tion, with reference to the same figures. It is a capsule in poly-

  propylene for the closure of a small tube-dose of vaccine, poly-

  propylene.The capsule has a total height of 22 mm, an internal diameter of 5 mm at its thread (5), and at the bottom of its cap (2) bearing

  three gripping ribs (3), a flange (4) inclined by 30

  viron on the horizontal outer diameter 12 mm and thickness 1.2 mm.

  The width of the underside of the collar (4) is 3 mm, that

  its upper face is 2.5 mm, and the collar has an opening

  ture (9) extending over the whole width of 2.5 mm and over a length

  - curvilinear about 8 mm, corresponding to an angle of about 70, that is

  that is to say still about 22% of the length of the circumference of the collar (4)

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  The bar (10) is identical to a portion of the collar (4), it has

  for width 1.5 mm and is 2.5 mm shorter than the opening (9).

  It is connected to the capsule (1) by a longitudinal bridge (11) whose outside is in the extension of the periphery of the flange (4) and the outer longitudinal edge of the bar (10), length 1.5 mm and with a cross-sectional area of about 0.35 x 0.35 mm, and a transverse bridge (12) of length 1 mm and a cross-section of 1.5 mm located in the extension of a thin rib carried by the underside (26 ) of the bar (10) 1.5 mm from the rear edge (21) of the bar. The body of the bar (10) is thus 1 mm from the curved longitudinal edge of the flange (4) which delimits the opening (9), and 1.5 mm from the edge (14) of the flange (4), respectively. which delimits the opening (9), and respectively 1.5 mm from the edge (14) of the - collar (4) located at the front of the opening (9). The rib (18) has a maximum height of 0.7 mm with a lower edge (19) inclined to bear only "punctually" on the shoulder (17) of the tube (8). Finally, the edge (24) delimiting the rear of the opening (9) is chamfered over its entire thickness, this chamfer forming an oblique face (23) making an angle of 30 with the direction

  from the axis of the capsule and directed downwards.

  A tube sample closed by this capsule is easily opened,

  this opening producing the separation of the tamper-evident bar.

  The opening or hollow of the collar is very apparent, and its

  traste is increased by a coloring of the capsule .;

  A second example is shown in Figure 4, which shows the use of

  the tamper device in triplicate on the same capsule (100). The three bars (10, 10 '10 ") have geometries and

  connecting bridges and identical ribs. The corresponding openings

  dantes (9, 9 ', 9 ") are spaced apart along the periphery of the flange (4), the respective spacings between the rear ends (21, 21', 21") of the webs (10, 10 ', 10 ") and the edges (24,

  24 ', 24 ") delimiting the rear of the openings (9, 9', 9") increase

  from 1 to 1.5 mm going from one bar to the other. This measurement obtained by the successive elongation of the openings (9 ') and (9 ") will make it possible to operate the ruptures of the weld points of the bars (10, 10', 10") by means of the oblique faces (23, 23 ') , 23 ") successively.

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  design of the capsule (100) with several bars (10, 10 ', 10 ") may be of interest to make the first opening of the tube still

more obvious if it is needed.

  The capsule of the invention adapts most often to tubes of diameter between 10 and 50 mm, and its flange then has a thickness of between 1 and 1.5 mm and a diameter of between 10 and 50 mm. The

  flange usually has a minimum width of 2 mm and the bar

  rettes have a minimum width of 1 mm. The capsule is typically either

  made of polypropylene or polyethylene, it is usually made

  propylene in the case of a tube for pharmaceutical use. The associated tube

  The capsule is also typically one of two

cédentes.

  The applications of the capsule of the invention include the condition

  vaccines, eye drops and other pharmaceutical products.

  as well as various industrial products such as glues.

Claims (8)

  1 / screw cap made of plastic material for the tamperproof closing of a tube also made of plastic, said tube (8) having a shoulder (17) connected to the body of the tube and surmounted by a cannula (7) carrying at its base a external thread (6), and said cap (1) comprising a cap (2), which carries an internal screw thread (5) screwable on said external thread (6) of said cannula (7) of said tube (8) and a means of seal (29), as well as, at its lower part, a flange (4) inclined substantially like the shoulder (17) of the tube (8), characterized in that   what said flange (4) comprises at least one opening (9) extends   at least one bar (10) located at said opening (9) and connected to the capsule (1) by at least one connecting bridge (11, 12) said bar (10) bearing under its lower face (26) and near its rear edge (21) in the direction of unscrewing (22) of said capsule (1) a relief (18) bearing-only by one or more point contact surfaces (20) on said shoulder (17) of said tube (8) after screwing said capsule (1) onto said tube (8), and said collar   (4) further comprising on the edge (24) delimiting the rear of the   verture (9), an oblique face n23) - inclined downwards according to said direction   unscrewing (22) the capsule (1).   2 / capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that its bar (<0) is connected to the capsule (1) by two connecting bridges (11, 12), a longitudinal bridge (11) connecting the front end (13). ) of the bar (10)   at the edge (14) of the collar (4) delimiting the front of the opening cor-   corresponding (9), and a transverse bridge (12) which connects the longitudinal edge   internal dinal (15) of the bar (10) at the longitudinal edge (16) of the   flange (4) delimiting said opening (9).   3 / capsule according to claim 2, characterized in that the transverse connecting bridge (12) is located at the level of the relief (18) carried by the   lower face of the bar (10).   4 / capsule according to claim 3, characterized in that said relief is a rib (18) whose lower edge (19) is inclined so that it carries at its end (20) on the shoulder (17). ) of the tube (8) during screwing of said capsule (1) onto said tube (8), and in that 2 5 7 1 0 2 6   the transverse link bridge (12) is located in the extension of said rib (18).    / Capsule according to claim 4, characterized in that the lateral faces (27,28) defining the lower edge (19) of the rib (18)   between them an angle of between 50 and 70, and that the height   maximum thickness of the rib (18) with respect to the underside (26)   of the bar (10) is 0.5 to 1 mm.   6 / capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized   in that the oblique face (23) on the edge (24) delimiting the   the opening (9) of its flange (4) is inclined from 25 to 409   relative to the direction of the axis (X) of said capsule (1).   7 / capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized   in that it comprises two or three strips (10, 10 ', 10 ") spaced about the periphery of the flange (4), each strip (10) being associated   the elements defined by the preceding claims, and that the   respective spacings of the oblique faces (23, 23 ', 23 ") and rear edges (21, 21', 21") of the webs (10, 10 ', 10 ") are different, so that at the first opening of said capsule (100) closing the tube, the breaks of the weld points of the strips (10, 10 ', 10 ") are done successively.   8 / capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized   in that it comprises inside its cap (2), at the level of the   cannula (7) of the tube (8), a peripheral sealing lip (29).   9 / Use of the capsule (1, 100) of any one of the claims   cations 1 to 8, for the tamper-proof closing of a tube (8), in which said capsule (1, 100) is screwed all the way onto said tube (8), then in which said capsule (1, 100) is connected at the shoulder (17) of said tube (8) by welding at least one relief (18) located under the lower face (26) of the bar (10) or at least one bar (10, 10 ') , 10 ") of the flange (4) of said capsule (1, 100), said relief (18) not bearing   only occasionally on said shoulder (17) of said tube (8).    Use of the capsule (1, 100) according to claim 9, wherein   characterized in that the welding is effected ultrasonically.