FR2777863A1 - Method of thermoforming sheet container neck - Google Patents

Abstract

The liquid container neck (3) is made from plastics sheet by thermoforming to produce a boss (6) with a hole (18) of smaller diameter than the final size. This is followed by cold punching of the neck to form the required size hole without thinning the wall of the neck.

Description

Container with an orifice surrounded by a neck
successive blockages and uncoupling always tight,
and method of making this container
The present invention relates to the field of packaging and, more particularly, to the packaging of products that can be taken out of a container by successive withdrawals, which involves several closures and uncoupling, it being specified that successive closures must always guarantee watertightness. container.

Such containers are particularly applicable to flowing products, whether liquid, creamy or powdery.

This problem is well known but has not yet found a satisfactory solution, mainly for economic reasons because, besides the technical constraints, the containers and their closure device should be manufactured by simple industrial means, and be cheap, which has not been obtained to date.

Patent EP 0 593 728 in the name of the Applicant describes a method for obtaining plastic containers carrying a shutter adapted exactly to a neck surrounding the orifice of the container.

The neck is obtained by means of a heating punch forcibly engaged in a pre-hole formed in a thermoplastic sheet.

A container of this type is satisfactory but the technical solution does not apply to all types of closure because the presence of a single shutter and inseparable container opposes the realization of particular packaging.

There may be mentioned, in particular, the bottles containing a product to be diffused by means of a vaporizer, the latter obviously having to fit on the orifice.

It is the same for containers to be associated with a standard type of shutter such as a cork or synthetic material.

The present invention provides a novel solution for generalizing the use of a smooth collar calibrated around an orifice to all kinds of containers of different materials including, but not limited to, synthetic materials.
A particularly interesting material for constituting a container is the cardboard that can receive prints of very high quality.

Thus, the invention relates to a container comprising an orifice surrounded by a neck which is continuously cylindrical and which is produced by thermoforming a sheet of synthetic material, characterized in that the sheet having a given nominal thickness, the wall forming the neck at the same thickness without perceptible thinning over its entire useful height, that is to say, the height of its inner face against which must be located any shutter engaged in the neck when the container is closed.

According to other characteristics of this container: # the neck protrudes towards the outside of the container; => the neck protrudes into the container; => the collar is single wall; => the neck has two walls, one surrounding the other, joined by an upper edge and separated by a space; # the container to be associated with a shutter intended to be engaged in the orifice, the free edge of the inner wall of the neck is at a distance coordinated with that of the shutter, so that a flange that it presents at its base can be placed beyond this free edge and abut against it, to determine a stable position of the shutter; The shutter is a functional type, that is to say having a function other than the only closure, including sprayer, pump, dispenser, or the like; the body is cylindrical with any section, in particular circular, or polygonal and then preferably with rounded angles; # the collar is located directly on the container; it is located on a separate component of the container, reported and secured to said container; # the body is made of synthetic material; # the body is made of cardboard or similar material, at least one side of which is advantageously coated with a material that is weldable or bondable to a plastic component on which the neck is located; the body made of cardboard or similar material is cylindrical and formed by curvature on itself of an originally planar sheet, the inner side of which at least the container is coated with a weldable or bondable material, and a margin of the sheet is folded flat on itself, external face against external face , so that the corresponding margin of the inner face is placed against a margin of the same internal face, the two margins placed one against the other being fixed to each other by welding or gluing to itself of the only internal face; => the body is cylindrical and the component on which the neck is located has a continuous peripheral edge substantially perpendicular to its plane; => the peripheral edge is engaged in the cylindrical body; the peripheral edge is placed outside the cylindrical body; > the peripheral edge has two parallel walls in one piece joined by a fold of their constituent material and separated by an open space forming a continuous groove whose width is substantially equal to the thickness of the walls of the cylindrical body, so that the end of said body can be placed entirely in the groove.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a container comprising an orifice surrounded by a neck which is continuously cylindrical and which is produced by thermoforming a sheet of synthetic material, characterized in that a sheet of synthetic material to a thermoforming operation to obtain a blank of a component of the container and that is cleaned in this blank, either during thermoforming or later, a hole smaller than the diameter desired for the orifice then, after cooling of the blank, a stamping operation is carried out on said blank, by means of a holding die and a cylindrical punch forced into the hole, this punch having an outside diameter equal to the desired diameter for the orifice, this stamping operation being done cold in order to deform the synthetic material mechanically, that is to say at a temperature below that of thermoforming, without any thinning of the original sheet, to create the neck out of the initial plane of the blank, then that the punch is removed and the piece obtained is released.

According to other characteristics of this process, I draw directly on the substantially plane blank to obtain a single-walled collar with a straight edge; during the thermoforming, a hollow housing projecting out of the plane of the blank and having a lateral wall and a transverse bottom is formed, and the hole is spared in the transverse bottom, and then proceeded to stamping said transverse bottom, from the outside to the inside of the housing, to obtain a double-walled neck, one of which is formed by a portion of the original side wall of the housing and the other by the transverse bottom that the stamping has deformed inside wall to the previous one; does not give to the wall of the housing an external dimension which, taking into account the thickness of the sheet of synthetic material, is greater than the diameter of the punch to a value such that after stamping the two walls are separated by a space; then the stamping of the transverse bottom, creates a fold of the synthetic material, to obtain an annular rim that joins the two walls and determines the width of the space between them; then thermoforming the blank, we create organs for fixing the component on which the neck is located, to a container body.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of indicative and nonlimiting example.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container component, made by thermoforming and then stamping a sheet of synthetic material, before attachment to a container body.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a thermoformed blank, before stamping.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a phase of the method known to the State of the
Technique according to which the neck is created by means of a heating punch, and showing the thinning of the neck by stretching of the synthetic material.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic views illustrating the stamping phase of the process according to the invention, leading to the production of a neck of constant thickness, equal to the nominal thickness of the sheet of synthetic material.

Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view showing the elements of a container according to the invention, namely a cylindrical body, a bottom, a component according to the invention and a standard cap.

Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of the container of Figure 7 after assembly, filling and capping.

Figure 9 is a schematic sectional view showing a container similar to that of Figure 8, the only difference resulting from the placement of the component relative to the body of the container, the neck protruding, here, inside the container, then that in Figures 7 and 8, the neck protrudes outside the container.

Figure 10 is a schematic sectional view showing the presence of a particular shutter since it is a sprayer connected to a dip tube.

Figure 1 1 is a partial schematic view illustrating an example of closure of the container of Figures 7, 8 and 9 either with a standard cap but with a plastic cap ensuring a double closure.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are schematic views illustrating the stamping phase of the process according to the invention, leading to the production of a neck with two walls which here are concentric.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the elements of a container according to the invention, namely a cylindrical body, a bottom, a component according to the invention having a neck with two concentric walls, and a standard cap. .

Figure 16 is a schematic sectional view of the container of Figure 15 after assembly, filling and capping.

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing that a container having a component having a two-walled neck may receive a shutter whose active part is engaged in the neck and which has a rim which is placed beyond the edge of the neck. the inner wall of the neck.

FIG. 18 is a partial diagrammatic sectional view showing a closure of the double-closure type, that is to say having two active parts, one inside the inner wall of the neck and the other on the inside. outside the outer wall of the neck.

Figure 19 is a partial schematic view showing that a neck with two concentric walls can receive a seal.

Figures 20, 21, 22 and 23 are partial schematic views showing different variants for fixing a component on which the neck is located, a container comprising a cylindrical body made of any material.

Figures 24, 25, 26 and 27 are partial schematic views showing different variants for the realization of containers comprising a cylindrical body made of any material and an attached bottom according to the invention.

FIG. 28 is a schematic sectional view of a container according to the invention having an end and a bottom attached, coordinated so that the bottom of a container can cooperate with the end of another identical container, when their stacking.

Figure 29 is a partial schematic sectional view showing two containers of the same type as that of Figure 28, in stacking position.

Figure 30 is a partial schematic view illustrating a variant according to the invention for producing a cylindrical container body from a sheet of cardboard coated with a layer of weldable material.

FIGS. 31 and 32 are diagrammatic views, respectively before and after finishing of a container according to the invention, produced by thermoforming a sheet of synthetic material and comprising, in one piece, a body, a component provided with a collar and a bottom.

Figure 33 is a schematic sectional view showing a container consisting of a body of synthetic material and a component according to the invention to be welded to a peripheral rim of the body.

Figure 34 is a schematic sectional view showing a container consisting of a body of synthetic material and a component according to the invention to be secured to the body by clipping under a peripheral rim of the body.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a part 1 obtained by thermoforming a sheet of synthetic material and having a flat annular portion 2, a central salient collar 3 surrounding an orifice 4, and a continuous peripheral edge 5 which, here , is of the same height as the central collar 3.

This piece 1 is intended to be attached to a container body to form a component.

The following description, up to and including Figure 30, relating to a cylindrical container, the component on which the neck is located constitutes an end of the container.

For this reason, the component corresponding to this example is named endpoint. In the case of Figures 31 and 32, the component is a planar face of the container, and in the case of Figure 33 the component is rather similar to a lid, while in the case of Figure 34, it is 'a lid.

To obtain the part of FIG. 1, it is first thermoformed the sheet of synthetic material to create a blank 6, shown in FIG. 2, comprising only a central portion 7 and the continuous peripheral edge 5.

At the center of the blank 6, there is a small diameter hole 8 which can be created during thermoforming or by subsequent drilling.

It was thought to be able to create the neck 3 during thermoforming but it was found that due to the tensions of the synthetic material at the time of thermoforming, because of its relatively high temperature and stretching, as well as during its cooling after thermoforming, the inner and outer faces of the neck 3 were irregular, which made it impossible to seal the orifice 4.

A first solution to this problem is provided by patent EP 0 593 728, this solution not consisting in creating the neck during thermoforming of the part, but to go through the step of an intermediate blank pierced with a central hole. , then using a heating punch A which is applied facing the hole and which is pushed along a certain length and at a certain speed so that the synthetic material constituting the blank B softens and deforms as shown in FIG. 3, to constitute the cervix C.

Thanks to this process, the inner face D of the neck C is regular and has a precise diameter over its entire height thanks to the heating punch A, but the softening has the effect of stretching the synthetic material and, consequently, thinning it.

It can thus be seen that, starting from the nominal thickness ~ of the original sheet, the synthetic material has a slightly lesser thickness and, near the neck C, a thickness ç2 still less at the base of the neck C and that at the top of this neck C, the internal face D and the outer face
E are separated by a thickness C3 much smaller than the nominal thickness e.

This geometry is acceptable when the container is associated with a shutter created when the same container is thermoformed simultaneously, the end to wear the collar and the shutter. Indeed, this ensures that the contact between the shutter and the inner face D of the neck C will be between two bodies of the same material.

This monomaterial contact added to the calibration of the inner face D, allows a closure of origin and successive quenching providing excellent sealing for the entire time necessary for the collection of the content fractions.

But the permanent presence of a single type of shutter is a constraint that disqualifies the container for many applications, so that the need exists for a simple, inexpensive container with a system of sealing and successive sealing tight, at the means of independent shutters and different types depending on the applications.

With the known solution that has just been described, the neck has smooth inner and outer faces but the thinning of the constituent material has the consequence that the neck is not rigid and can not withstand a shutter which would not be ngoureusement calibrated and / or that would not have exactly the desired height, coordinated with that of the neck. The upper edge of the neck is very thin and also quite easily deformable, which is a weak point.

Therefore, according to the invention, one proceeds in a manner quite different from that which has been described in the patent identified above.

According to the invention, we start well with the blank 6, but to obtain the neck 3, it is carried out by cold mechanical stamping, in order to avoid the thinning of the material, instead of using a heating punch A acting by stretching said material.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, it is seen that the blank 6 is disposed facing a device which essentially comprises a holding matrix 10 and a stamping punch 11.

The die 10 has a cylindrical chamber 12 whose diameter (inside) corresponds to that of the outer face 33 of the neck 3. The punch 11 has a diameter (outside) which corresponds to that of the inner face 3b of the neck 3. This amounts to to say that the difference between the diameters of the chamber 12 and the punch 1 1 is equal to the nominal thickness ç of the original plastic sheet.

After precise positioning of the blank 6 against the die 10, the punch 11 is moved along the arrow F1 until it meets the central portion 7 at the base of the hole 8, and then beyond, at the inside the chamber 12, at a distance at least equal to the height of the neck 3, which is formed exactly in the annular space resulting from the differences in the diameters of the chamber 12 and the punch 11 and which originates when the punch He is engaged in the chamber 12.

After stamping, the punch 11 is removed along the arrow F2, the part 1 formed is separated from the matrix 10 and discharged for its subsequent attachment to a container body.

We understand that the height of the neck 3 depends on the diameter of the hole 8, that is to say that the neck 3 is even higher than the diameter of the hole 8 is small and, conversely, that a hole 8 large diameter will generate a collar 3 very little prominent.

As mentioned above, the stamping is done cold but it should be noted that this adjective means that the temperature of the punch 1 1 and / or the matrix 10 is less than that which could cause the stretching and therefore a thinning of the synthetic material.

A temperature a little higher than the ambient temperature is indeed desirable, not to deform the synthetic material, but to facilitate the stamping without breaking.

The cold stamping requires the presence of the matrix 10 whose chamber must be precisely calibrated since it contributes to the formation of the neck 3.

Knowing that the thickness ç of the material at the top of the neck 3, after stamping, will remain unchanged, it becomes possible to give the neck 3 rigidity exactly adapted to the different possible applications since it is sufficient to choose the thickness of the sheet. 'origin.

Referring now to Figure 7, we see the various components of a container having a cylindrical tubular body which is of any material, as long as it is possible to seal therein a component according to the invention, that is to say, an end 1.

Here, the example of a cardboard body 20 has been chosen, but it is understood that it could be another material and especially synthetic material.

In order to weld between the end 1 and the body 20, it is provided here that the latter is formed of a cardboard outer portion 21 and an inner coating 22 of synthetic material adapted to that which forms the end 1.

The tubular body 20 must receive a bottom 23 to form a closed volume, which is here formed by an end obtained by thermoforming a sheet of synthetic material.

The bottom 23 is therefore similar to the end 1 and can be thermoformed at the same time. It comprises a solid central portion 24 and a peripheral edge 25 similar to the edge 5.

The respective diameters of the peripheral edges 5 and 25 on the one hand and the body 20 on the other hand are chosen so that the outside of these edges 5-25 fits as closely as possible to the inner lining 22 when the end end is engaged. 1 and the bottom 23 through the openings of the tubular body 20.

After placing in the body 20, two welds are made, one for the end 1 and the other for the bottom 23, after which a sealed container is obtained ready to be filled by the orifice 4 of a any product, more or less fluid, liquid in nature, powdery, granular, pasty, creamy, etc.

After filling, the orifice 4 is closed by means of a shutter which, here, is constituted by a standard plug 26, comprising an elastic active part 27, made of cork or of synthetic material, and a gripping ring 28.

By giving the neck 3 a high rigidity, it hardly deforms during the depression of the plug 26 and it is on the contrary, the active part 27 which retracts.

This is a characteristic feature of the invention that results from the manufacturing process.

But, in the case of synthetic material, the rigidity of the neck 3 is relative and the neck 3 can also be given a small thickness, giving it elasticity, since the invention makes it possible to control the thickness of the neck 3 because thin or thick, the wall of the neck 3 is regular, calibrated internally and externally, and uniform.

Due to its regularity, the radial elasticity of the neck 3 is homogeneous and ensures a uniform pressure on the entire periphery of the shutter. The inside diameter of the neck 3 being exactly equal to that which one wishes, it is possible to adapt the pressure exerted on the shutter and, thus, to obtain the desired level of sealing.

Thus, another positive consequence of the accuracy of the diameter of the neck is to allow to reduce the constraints of manufacturing tolerances of the shutter.

In Figure 8, we see the finished container, filled and closed.

It is observed that the end 1 is engaged in the body 20 having the neck 3 and the edge 5 facing outwards, so that this end 1 has a general bowl shape and the flat annular portion 2 is located in the outline of the body 20.

In FIG. 9, on the contrary, the end 1 is placed in a reverse orientation and the annular portion 2 is aligned with the edge of the body 20.

The two solutions are absolutely equivalent from the point of view of the tightness and the choice between them depends on the physiognomy that one wishes to give to the finished container.

In Figure 10, there is shown a particularly interesting embodiment of the invention, wherein the free edge of the neck is used to enhance the holding of the shutter.

For this, we must choose the variant of Figure 9 which provides for the introduction of the end 1 by the peripheral edge 5, the free edge of the neck 3 then protruding not outside but inside the container.

The shutter, meanwhile, must have a rim as we will explain it now.

The shutter is, here, a vaporizer 30 of a known type having a lower portion 31, a plunger tube 32, an internal device of known type (not visible in the drawing), an actuating button 33 and an orifice of projection 34.

The lower portion 31 has a diameter adapted to that inside the neck 3 and is engaged therein, where it behaves as a standard shutter.

At its base, the portion 31 has a flange 35 whose diameter is greater than that of said portion 31 and, therefore, to that inside the neck 3.

The flange 35 may be constituted by the periphery of a skirt 36 which is flexible enough to be able to deform elastically when the neck 3 is chosen very rigid, so that by engaging in the neck 3 the lower part 31 of the vaporizer 30, the skirt 36 tightens during its passage in the neck 3, then unfolds as the rim 35 has exceeded the free edge of said neck 3.

As is well known per se, the vaporizer must be held in place so as not to sink into the container, which is illustrated by a base 37 which bears on the flat portion 2 of the end 1.

The height of the neck 3 on the one hand and the distance 9 which separates the rim 35 from the base 37 on the other hand are coordinated in such a way that the vaporizer 30 is firmly fastened to the container.

Depending on the rigidity of the skirt 36, and more generally, depending on the firmness of the wedging of the flange 35 under the free edge of the neck 3, the removal of the shutter is more or less difficult, if not impossible, especially when one wants to prevent the removal of the shutter to prohibit the filling of the container after it has been emptied.

The vaporizer 30 was chosen here only to illustrate the invention because other shutters can be adopted to cooperate with the container according to the same blocking principle under the neck.

 They can be simple shutters or so-called functional shutters, that is to say having a function other than just plugging: stopper, doser, spout, etc.

In Figure 11, there is shown another embodiment said double plugging, which is adapted to the case where the neck 3 is projecting outwardly of the container.

The shutter is here a capsule of synthetic material 40 having a hollow central portion 41 and an outer skirt 42 provided with a flange 43.

The outside diameters of the portion 41 and inside of the skirt 42 are respectively equal to the inside and outside diameters of the neck 3.

In other words, the capsule 40 has a circular groove whose width is equal to the thickness of the neck 3, that is to say to the nominal thickness of the sheet of synthetic material.

The depth of the groove is at most equal to the height of the neck 3 because it is necessary to provide a gap between the underside of the flange 43 and the portion 2 of the end 1, to allow a user to engage a finger under the flange 43 when unclogging the container.

 It emerges from the above examples that shutters of different types can be used with a container according to the invention: a banal cork, a molded capsule or thermoformed to measure, with outer skirt for a double closure or without skirt for simple capping, etc.

The foregoing description relates to a container having one end having a single-walled collar and a straight edge.

We will now describe a more elaborate solution according to which the neck is double-walled.

As before, a blank is first obtained by thermoforming, then the neck itself is created by cold stamping.

FIG. 12 shows a blank 50 which has a planar annular portion 51 surrounding a hollow housing 52 which has a lateral wall 53 and a bottom 54 through which a hole 55 passes, this housing 52 being, here, cylindrical and placed at center of the blank, (a peripheral edge corresponding to the edge 5 is not shown).

The housing 52 and the hole 55 can be obtained during the thermoforming of the blank 50, or be created later, in particular by stamping.

Considered here as blank, a thermoformed piece and having a peripheral edge, a hollow central housing whose bottom is traversed by a hole, even if it results from a pre-draft having only one bor

This gives the piece 1 of Figure 14 which has the characteristic that the neck 60 is generally projecting towards the outside of the container, although its useful part is oriented towards the inside of the container.

The shape and dimensions of the flange 63 depend on the profile that is given to the projecting edge 58 of the matrix 56.

 It is advantageous for this flange 63 to have a greater width on the outside than a mere thickness of thermoformed sheet, in order to give the visual impression of a large thickness of material, which is more aesthetic by recalling the lip of a neck. of glass bottle. This flange 63 is therefore not offensive and allows a user to wear the neck 60 to his mouth to drink directly a drink placed in the container 20.

If, for example, it is desired to use a plug 26 whose active portion 27 has an outer diameter of 25.5 millimeters, it starts from a sheet of synthetic material of 1/10 mm and the hole 55 is 16 mm diameter, then the thermoforming of the blank 50 to obtain a housing 52 of 7 millimeters in depth and 26.5 millimeters in external diameter (the manufacturing tolerance is of little importance), then proceeds at the stamping with a punch 59 having an outer diameter of 25.5 millimeters which is the desired diameter for the selected plug.

The example described here is that of two walls 61 and 62 circular and concentric but the outer wall 61 from the side wall 53 of the housing 52, one can give it, by thermoforming, very varied forms and not necessarily circular.

The housing 52 may be frustoconical, tronpyramidal, hemispherical, cubic, etc.

It is therefore possible to give the rim 63 a sufficiently large area to receive a cover or label of guarantee, or to adopt a particular utilitarian or aesthetic form.

Similarly, the geometric center of the inner wall 62 may not coincide with that of the outer wall 61, that is to say that the walls 61 and 62 may not be concentric but offset, the outer wall may be asymmetrical for aesthetic or practical reasons (to form a spout for example).

Figures 15 and 16, equivalent to Figures 7 and 8 of the previous embodiment, show the various elements of a container before and after assembly, the same references to the same elements.

We see that the end 1 is engaged in the body 20 of the container so that the flat portion 2 is lower than the edge of the body 20, the top of the neck 60, formed by the flange 63, being here at the same level as the edge of the body 20.

The neck 60 with two walls can also receive a standard plug 26 since the inner wall 62 is identical, but returned, to the single wall of the neck 3.

As with the single-neck embodiment, the radial elasticity of the inner wall 62 is homogeneous and provides a uniform pressure over the entire periphery of the plug 26, but here an additional positive effect is obtained when the container receives a product under pressure. such as a soft drink, because this pressure is exerted (besides its effect on the side walls 21-22, the bottom 23 and the end 1) within the gap 64 and its action tends to remove the one of the other the walls 61 and 62, that is to say to increase the contact pressure on the plug 26. The greater the internal pressure, the better the seal.

FIG. 17 shows the example of a shutter no longer formed by a standard plug 26 but by a capsule 65 of known type, made of a relatively elastic plastic material molded or thermoformed, and composed of a hollow central end piece 66 surrounded by a collar 67.

The capsule 65 may be simple, that is to say have a central end with a smooth outer wall, similar to the elastic active part 27 of the cap 26.

It can also, as shown, have an outer flange 68 constituted by the periphery of a skirt 69 flexible enough to be elastically deformable when the inner wall 62 is chosen very rigid, as has already been described with respect to the figure 10.

Thus, the initial capping of the container and its successive quenching by means of this capsule 65 are energetic, which allows to use such a simple and cheap capsule, even when the packaged product creates a pressure inside the containing 20 because, here, we add the two distinct advantages: high contact pressure of the inner wall 62 on the tip 66 due to the pressure which
reign in the interval 64; holding the capsule 65 in place thanks to the retention of the rim 68 by the free edge of the
inner wall 62.

Referring to FIG. 18, it can be seen that a double-walled collar 60 also allows double plugging, as has been described with reference to FIG.

In this case, the capsule 70 of synthetic material comprises a hollow central endpiece 71 surrounded by a flange 72 which is extended by an outer skirt 73 provided with a flange 74.

The outside diameters of the endpiece 71 and inside of the skirt 73 are respectively equal to the inside diameter of the inner wall 62 and to the outer diameter of the outer wall 61.

In other words, the capsule 70 has a circular groove whose width is equal to the radial distance between the inner face of the inner wall 62, the outer face of the outer wall 61 of the neck 60, the sum of the two thicknesses of the walls 61-62 and the width of the gap 64.

With such a cap 70, a reinforced seal and a very strong hold of the cap 70 on the neck 60 are obtained, without using a flange 68 to abut against the free edge of the wall 62.

The tightness due to the double plugging essentially results from the elastic deformation of the shutter and not from the neck itself, whereas the tightness due to the simple plugging described above results either from the elastic deformation of the neck alone, or from the deformations. conjugated shutter and collar.

Of course, the effectiveness of the seal and the safety of the holding in place of the capsule 70, assumes that it is engaged fully on the neck 60, so that the inner face of the flange 72 is supported on the In other words, the depth of the circular groove of the capsule 70 must allow this contact while being sufficiently engaged in the inner wall 62, but the height of the skirt 73 must be at most equal to the height of the collar 60, because it is necessary to provide a gap between the underside of the flange 74 and the part 2, to allow a user to engage a finger under the flange 74 during unclogging of the container, to be able to lift the capsule 70 and separate container.

FIG. 19 illustrates a benefit of the double-walled collar, which is due to the fact that, thanks to the width of the rim 63, it is possible to attach a guarantee cap 75, possibly provided with a tongue of pulling 76.

For this purpose, it is possible to create a continuous annular flat surface on the rim 63, so that the cap 75 can be firmly attached thereto, for example by gluing or welding.

Access to the content can not be done without the removal of the cover, and it is designed so that any withdrawal, even partial, is final (reapplying impossible) and easy to perceive.

When a plastic shutter is chosen, in particular but not exclusively a capsule 40 or 65 or 70, it is possible to leave the shutter independent of the container, as has been described and shown, or to make it integral with the container, by a lug which has been molded during the manufacture of the container, or which has been thermoformed when obtaining the end which bears the neck, or else obtained during the simultaneous thermoforming of the container, the bottom, the end that wears the collar, and the shutter itself.

The container to which the tip and collar are to be attached may be of different types.

As described and shown above, the end 1 can be engaged inside the body of the container, according to two possible variants:
In FIG. 20, the end 1 is oriented to form a sort of bowl whose
edge 5 must be fixed inside the body 20, the flat part 2 being located inside the
body contour 20,. In FIG. 21, the plane portion 2 is located at the edge of the body 1, the edge 5
also to be fixed inside the body 20.

To perform a weld, it is necessary on the one hand a tool that can be of any known type such as an electrode, a heating wheel, etc., and secondly a counterpart ensuring the support of the part to be welded.

To weld the edge 5 and the body 20 according to the arrangement of Figure 20, it is easy to provide a tool and a counterpart to be placed externally to the container, such as a clamp having an outer leg against the body 20 and a inner branch against the edge 5.

To weld the edge 5 and the body 20 in accordance with the arrangement of FIG. 21, the welding device must comprise a part situated inside the body 20, which supposes that the body 20 is open, that is, to say without bottom.

A bottom must therefore be attached and welded after attachment of the end 1, although it opposes the introduction of a portion inside the body 20.

Consequently, with the arrangement of FIG. 21, the bottom 23 must be able to be fixed from the outside of the container, like the end 1 of FIG.

In Figure 22, we see that the end 1 may also have a greater extent than the section of the body 20, so that an edge 5a is placed outside the body 20, where it is fixed.

This situation is similar to that of FIG. 21, that is to say that part of the welding device must be introduced into the body 20. Therefore, here again, the bottom 23 must be designed to be attached to the body 20 from outside the container.

The positioning of the outline of the blank, and therefore its concentricity with respect to the body 20, depends on the action of the cutting tool of the blank and the location of this tool is not rigorously established with respect to the center of the draft.

As a result, the positioning of the end 1 may be somewhat imprecise.

According to the variant shown in Figure 23, this problem is easily solved because the end 1 has two parallel edges 5b and 5c joined at their upper part by a flange 5d and separated by an annular space, the edge of the body 20 being located in this space.

The positioning of the annular space is very precise, so that the end 1 is placed on the body 20 in a perfectly centered manner.

On the other hand, the outer edge 5c, the contour of which is imprecise, can without any disadvantage have a variable height all around the body 20 after fixing, but this is of no importance and can be practically invisible, the two edges 5b and 5c do not not necessarily the same height. The outer edge 5c can therefore be quite small, in the manner of an apparent crimping edge.

Here, the end 1 is fixed to the body 20 by the two edges 5b and 5c, that is to say internally and externally, which guarantees an excellent seal, in particular thanks to the covering of the edge of the body 20 by the rim 5d resting on it.

This structure, from the point of view of the welding of the end 1 on the body 20, is similar to that of Figure 20, namely that this weld can be made from the outside of the container.

The bottom 23 may have different forms independent of those of the end 1, except for its attachment to the body 20 which requires coordination with the end 1, the body fasteners 20 to be tuned.

For example, in FIG. 24, the bottom 23 has an edge 23a, similar to the edge 5 of the end 1, and is placed in the body 20 in a manner identical to the end 1 of FIG. 20.

 It is therefore possible to fix the bottom 23 from outside the body 20 and, consequently, to choose this variant with any of the positions of the end 1 shown in FIGS. 20 to 23.

In Figure 25, the bottom 23 has two parallel edges 23b and 23c joined at their upper part by a flange 236 and separated by an annular space, the edge of the body 20 being located in this space. Here, the bottom 23 is fixed to the body 20 by the two edges 23b and 23c, that is to say, internally and externally. All that has been explained with regard to Figure 23 is valid here since it is the same structure.

Again, the bottom weld 23 can be made from the outside of the container and this variant can be adopted regardless of the solution chosen for fixing the end 1.

Figures 26 and 27 show two variants of the bottom 23, similar to those of Figures 21 and 22 for the end 1.

It will be understood that the fixing of the edge c1 of FIG. 26 or the edge 23p of FIG. 27 requires the presence of a tool part inside the body 20, which makes it impossible to combine any of these variants. with any of those of Figures 21 and 22.

In summary, when the end 1 is arranged such that its attachment requires a tool portion within the body 20, the bottom 23 must be fixed from the outside of the container and vice versa.

It is noted in Figures 26 and 27 that the bottom 23 is concave, which allows the stacking of two containers, the periphery of the bottom 23 of the upper container resting on the flat portion 2 of the lower container, and the shutter of the lower container housing in the concavity of the bottom 23 of the upper container.

This same result can be obtained by engaging the bottom 23 in the body 20 so deeply that the depth P1 between the edge of the body 20 and the solid part 24 is at least equal to the projection formed by the neck and the shutter of the body. containing (Figures 26 and 27).

Thus, the upper container placed on an identical container, cap the collar and the shutter of the lower container, while resting on the latter.

Figures 26 and 27, there is shown a bottom 23 whose concavity has a size and a low volume so that this concavity can contain the neck and the shutter of the lower container.

FIGS. 28 and 29 show a different embodiment, according to which there is a real engagement between two superposed containers, which ensures a high stability in stacking and allows large stacks, either during transport and handling, either when making buyers available in a store.

In Figure 28, we see that the end 1 has a central portion 80 from a housing similar to the housing 52 but frustoconical and whose bottom 54 has been pressed to create a neck with two walls 81.

The shutter 82 is of the stopper type, independent of the container, formed of an elastic body 83 and a crenellated rigid top 84, whose diameter corresponds substantially to that of the outer wall of the neck 81.

The bottom 85 has a solid portion 86 which has a cylindrical housing 87 whose inside diameter D1 corresponds, with clearance, to the outside diameter D2 of the portion 84 and whose depth P2 is here equal to the height H of said portion 84, but which could be lower or higher than this height H, depending on the degree of depression that is desired for the neck 81 and the shutter 82 in the housing 87 and the desired firmness for the joining of the two superposed containers.

The cylindrical housing 87 is located exactly above the shutter 82, whether the neck 81 is central or not. Nevertheless, it is obviously easier to adopt the engagement between two superposed containers when the neck and its shutter are located in the center of the end 1, the housing 87 being in any case concentric with the shutter 82.

In FIG. 29, it can be seen that an upper container 201 is placed on a lower container 202 and, being both identical, they rest by the peripheral edges of the end 1 and the bottom 85, but that, moreover, the housing 87 of the container 201 tightly envelops the portion 84 of the shutter 82, which ensures a blocking sufficiently firm to hold together the two containers 201 and 202 in a stable manner, and sufficiently soft so that the separation of the two containers is done without excessive effort.

The thermoforming of the end bearing the neck makes it possible to give this end very varied shapes according to the applications of the invention: substantially flat (FIGS. 1 to 23), tronpyramidal, frustoconical (FIGS. 28 and 29), etc.

The container body, meanwhile, can have any desired section: circular, polygonal and in particular quadrangular, etc.

It is obvious that the end 1 and the bottom 23-85 must have a shape adapted to that of the body 20 and, in this respect, it must be emphasized that the seal between the body 20 of the container and the inserts, (end and background), being an essential part of the entire container, complicated contour and / or sharp-angled sections are discouraged.

Thus, in the case of containers with square or rectangular section, it is advantageous to give them rounded corners with which the corresponding insert can cooperate without leakage spaces of the liquid content.

The container 20 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 and 15 to 29 was chosen as an example and it was pointed out that this example was that of a cylindrical body having a cardboard portion 21 and a coating interior 22 of synthetic material chosen to allow the welding (or gluing) of the peripheral edge of the end 1 to the container body.

It is necessary, in fact, an absolutely sealed connection between the body, the bottom and the end provided with the neck if the container is intended for liquids.

But the body itself must be tightly sealed and it is well known that cardboard alone can not be waterproof.

This is the reason why all the containers of known type cardboard are coated with a thin layer of waterproof synthetic material but, as the container must be folded on itself and two opposite margins must be applied one of them. on the other side to ensure the continuity of the container wall when it is set in volume from a flat sheet, the two sides of the carton must be coated so that at the place where the margins are superimposed, they can be welded to each other to ensure the continuity of the seal.

It is understood that this two-sided coating involves a high cost that is worth decreasing but, apart from these economic considerations, the double coating has a technical disadvantage that comes from the fact that the outer face of the finished container must to be printed and that the quality of this impression depends on the permeability of the medium.

Quality printing can therefore only be obtained on bare cardboard, whereas it becomes poor on a synthetic coating. Therefore, currently, containers of this type (eg those known as bricks), have a simplified printing, only compatible with the coating of the outer face of the container.

According to the invention, it is possible to produce sealed containers whose body is made of cardboard, by applying a coating of synthetic material only on the single face of the carton to be located inside the container.

 It is then possible to achieve excellent impressions on the uncoated side of the cardboard sheet, which should be the outer face of the container, while the opposite side is coated with the desired synthetic material.

To achieve this result (see Figure 30), we start from a sheet of cardboard 21, one side is printed and the other covered with the coating 22, then it is cut and creates a fold 21a folded flat, uncoated side on uncoated side, after which it curves on itself to bring the two opposing margins against each other and, thanks to the fold 21a, the superposition is coated 22 on coating 22, whereby the solder both margins are achieved perfectly.

The coating 22 obviously covers the rounding of the fold 21a, where would be the slice 21b of the sheet of cardboard if the fold 21a was not formed and which, uncoated, would have created a leaky passage. Here, this slice 21k is turned outward and therefore completely out of all possible contact with the content.

The cylindrical cardboard body can be obtained not only by curvature on itself of a sheet, but also, as is known per se, by spiral winding of a large ribbon of cardboard or thick paper.

Naturally, the invention can be applied to a container of the type described above, having a body of any material but more particularly of synthetic material and whose bottom is in one piece with the body, or is distinct and reported.

The invention also applies to thermoformed containers in a sheet of synthetic material, and comprising a body, a bottom and an end formed in one piece.

In FIG. 31, there is shown such a container in an intermediate situation according to which the various components of the container are created (by thermoforming in particular) but which is not yet filled and closed.

It can be seen that such a container comprises a body 90 formed of two shells 91 and 92 provided with peripheral flanges 93 and 94 which are located facing one another and which must be applied against each other and then welded to form a sealed body.

The shells 91 and 92 comprise two half-bottoms 95 and 96 holding each other by a transverse fold line 97, and two upper half-ends 98 and 99 in an inclined plane.

The neck 100, single wall is the same type as the neck 3 and is formed in the inclined plane 99, which can be traversed by a central hole during thermoforming.

Obtaining the neck 100 is always by stamping by means of a matrix and a punch, as already described.

After welding the peripheral flanges 94 and 95, the finished container is presented (in section) as in FIG.

Unlike the embodiments of Figures 1 to 29, the neck 100 is created not on an independent blank but on a component of the container itself, whatever the form.

The shutter intended for this container may be of any known type, in particular a capsule with single or double closure, possibly secured to the container by a tongue.

FIG. 33 illustrates an embodiment of the invention according to which a container 110 is thermoformed, molded or otherwise formed, made of synthetic material to present in one piece an inverted truncated cone body 111, the mouth of which 112 is surrounded by a flange 113.

This container receives an end 114 constituted by a single piece, having the same contour as the flange 113, without edge, and provided with a single-walled neck 115, of the same type as the neck 3.

The neck 115 is formed, as the neck 3, by stamping a blank consisting of a sheet of desired shape and pierced with a hole.

The end 114 is placed on the collar 113, then these parts are sealed to each other.

As before, the shutter for this container may be of any known type, in particular a capsule with single or double closure, optionally secured to the container by a tab.

FIG. 34 illustrates an embodiment of the invention according to which the body and the component bearing the neck are secured to each other no longer by welding or definitive bonding but by means making it possible to dissociate the component from the body of the body. container.

The body of the container here is a tray 120 in one piece with a bottom 121 and a continuous peripheral rim 122.

The component here consists of a cover 123 integral with a continuous peripheral rim 124 comprising a lip 125 which is bent inwards and which is integral with a flap 126.

A neck 127 of the same type as the neck 3 is created by stamping the lid 123 at its center. In practice, this collar can be created at any location of the lid 123 and not only at its center.

After filling the tray 120, the cover 123 is put in place by lifting the flap 126 in order to elastically bend the cover 123 to allow the lip 125 to deform and to be placed under the flange 124.

Thanks to the elasticity of the synthetic material of which the lid 123 is made, the lip 125 is placed under the rim 124 and returns to its original shape, and strongly grips this rim 124 in order to obtain the desired seal by imprisoning the rim 124.

Again, the shutter for this container may be of any known type, in particular a capsule with single or double closure, optionally secured to the container by a tab.

The invention is also applicable to non-rigid containers, such as those formed by a bag of flexible synthetic material or aluminum complex, in which case a component provided with a neck can be attached directly to said pocket, the everything is possibly overpacked in a carton.

In summary, the invention applies:
to pre-existing containers having a holding bottom, that is, hollow bodies having
an opening,
pre-existing containers having a reported bottom,
rigid containers,
. flexible containers,
containers formed in one piece.

The container according to the invention can receive multiple applications because it can be in extremely varied forms: fresh drink type cylinder, fruit juice type bottle, drug store type, rectangular parallelepiped brick, rectangular parallelepiped can , wide opening jar, oval section bottle, tray, etc.

Its cost price makes it suitable to be chosen for the packaging of refills of an infinity of products (liquid soap, detergents, etc.), or for the presentation of free samples (perfumes and cosmetics, alcoholic drinks, etc.). ).

Despite its simplicity and its low cost, this container can be associated with many accessories, in addition to the seal 75 guarantee tamper-proof (cap sealed over the cap 26 for example), pump for the projection of products maintenance and cleaning, doser, spout, sprinkler, spray, etc.

This container is therefore likely to meet almost all requirements of the packaging market, especially for companies that deal with small and medium quantities that do not justify the heavy investments needed to create containers at the filling site, at the top of the list. packaging line.

Indeed, the implementation of a container according to the invention:
only requires low investments,
provides specific tools for each type of container which is very small and
reasonable price,
is performed with a low unit cost.

In conclusion, the invention makes it possible to produce sealed containers, with successive plugs and plugs without decreasing the seal, which can be associated with numerous accessories, and all at a reasonable cost price, by means of installations. accessible to small and medium enterprises.

Claims (4)

1. Container comprising an orifice surrounded by a neck which is continuously cylindrical and which is made by thermoforming a sheet of synthetic material, characterized in that the sheet having a given nominal thickness (e), the wall forming the neck (3  60-81-100-115-127) has the same thickness without noticeable thinning on any  its useful height, that is to say on the height of its inner face against which must be  locate a shutter (26-40-70-82) of any type engaged in the neck (3-60-81  100-115-127) when the container is closed. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the collar (3-60-81-100-115  127) protrudes outwardly of the container. 3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck (3-60-81) is salient  towards the inside of the container. 4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck (3-100-115-127) is  simple wall. 5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck (60-81) has two  walls (61 and 62), one surrounding the other, joined by an upper edge (63) and  separated by a space (64). 6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that to be associated with a  shutter (30-65) intended to be engaged in the orifice (4), the free edge of the wall  inside the neck is at a distance (9) coordinated with that of the shutter (30  60), so that a rim (35-68) that it has at its base can be placed beyond  of this free edge and come to a stop against him, in order to determine a stable position of  the shutter (30-65). 7. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the shutter is a type of  functional, that is to say having a function other than the only closure, in particular  sprayer (30), pump, dispenser, or the like. 8. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (20) is cylindrical  any section, especially circular, or polygonal and then preferably to  rounded corners. 9. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck (100) is located  directly on the container (90). 10.Contenant according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck (3-60-81-115-127) is  located on a component (1-114-123) separate from the container, reported and subject to the audit  container. 11.Contenant according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (20-50-90-110  120) is made of synthetic material. 12.Contenant according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (20) is cardboard  or similar material, at least one side of which is advantageously coated with a  material (22) weldable or bondable to a plastic component (1) on  which neck (3-60-81) is located. 13.Contenant according to claim 12, characterized in that the body (20) cardboard or  similar material is cylindrical and formed by curvature on itself of a sheet  originally flat, of which the inside of the container, at least, is coated with a  material (22) weldable or bondable, and a margin of the sheet is folded flat on  itself, outer face (21) against outer face (21), so that the margin  corresponding of the inner face (22) is placed against a margin of the same face  (22), the two margins placed one against the other being fixed to each other  by welding or gluing to itself the only inner face (22). 14.Contenant according to claim 10, characterized in that the body (20) is  cylindrical and the component (1) on which the collar (3-60-81) is located has an edge  continuous peripheral (5) substantially perpendicular to its plane. 15.Container according to claim 14, characterized in that the peripheral edge (5)  is engaged in the cylindrical body (20). 16.Container according to claim 14, characterized in that the peripheral edge (5  is placed outside the cylindrical body (20). 17.Container according to claim 14, characterized in that the peripheral edge (5) has  two parallel walls (5k and 5c) in one piece joined by a fold (5d) of their  constituent material and separated by an open space forming a continuous groove  whose width is substantially equal to the thickness of the walls of the cylindrical body  (20), so that the end of said body (20) can be placed entirely in the  groove. 18.Process of manufacturing a container comprising an orifice surrounded by a collar which is  continuously cylindrical and which is made by thermoforming a sheet of material  synthetic material, characterized in that a plastic sheet is subjected to  a thermoforming operation to obtain a blank (6-50-90-114-123) of a  component (1-99-114-123) of the container and that is cleaned in this sketch (6  50-90-114-123), either during the thermoforming or later, a hole (8-55) of  diameter less than that desired for the orifice, and then after cooling  the blank (6-50-90-114-123), one proceeds to a stamping operation on said  draft (6-50-90-114-123), by means of a holding matrix (10-56) and a  cylindrical punch (11-59) forcefully inserted into the hole (8-55), this punch (11-59)  having an outside diameter equal to the desired diameter for the orifice, this operation  cold pressing to deform the synthetic material  mechanically, that is to say at a temperature lower than that of thermoforming,  without any thinning of the original leaf, to create the neck (3-60-81-100  115-127) out of the initial plan of the sketch (6-50-90-114-123), then remove the  punch (11-57) and that the piece obtained is released.  9. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that one proceeds to  stamping directly on the blank (6) substantially flat, in order to obtain  a collar (3) with a single wall and with a straight edge. 20.Procédé according to claim 19, characterized in that during thermoforming, it is  creates a hollow housing (52) projecting out of the plane of the blank (50) and presenting  a side wall (53) and a transverse bottom (54), and that the hole (55) is cleaned  in the transverse bottom (54), then that one proceeds to stamping said bottom  transverse (54), from the outside to the inside of the housing (52), to obtain a collar  (60-81) with two walls (61 and 62), one outer (61) being formed by a portion of  the original side wall (53) of the housing (52) and the other (62) by the transverse bottom  (54) that the stamping has deformed wall (62) internal to the previous (61). 21.Procédé according to claim 20, characterized in that one gives to the side wall  (53) of the housing (52) an external dimension which, taking into account the thickness (ç)  of the plastic sheet, is greater than the diameter of the punch (59) according to  a value such that after stamping the two walls (61 and 62) are separated by  a space (64). 22.Procédé according to claim 21, characterized in that during the stamping of the  transverse bottom (54), a fold of the synthetic material is created in order to obtain a  annular flange (63) which joins the two walls (61 and 62) and determines the width of  the space (64) that separates them.  23.Procédé according to claim 18, characterized in that during the thermoforming of  the blank (6-50), bodies (5) are created for fixing the component (1) to  wherein the neck (3-60) is located at a container body (20).