FR2786173A1 - PROCESS FOR SEALING A RING WITHOUT THREADED GLASS - Google Patents

Abstract

The method is characterized in that a) a container or bottle is supplied having a neck (1) with a standard non-threaded flat ring with counter ring (10), a threaded plastic ring (3) and a stopper cap (2). ), said ring (3) having an internal diameter suitable for its subsequent fixing to said neck (1), b) said threaded ring (3) is fixed to said neck (1) by placing it by force under the counter-ring or shoulder ( 10) of said glass ring, c) said sealing cap (2) is assembled on said threaded ring (3) by crimping it on the thread (31, 32) of said threaded ring (3) and also optionally under the rim lower (33) of said threaded ring (3).

Description

PROCESS FOR SEALING A RING WITHOUT THREADED GLASS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

  The invention relates to the field of capping, and more specifically to the field of

  closure with metal screw caps.

STATE OF THE ART

  The corking of containers or bottles, generally made of glass, can be carried out schematically in three ways: - on the one hand, in the case of table wines very commonly consumed, the corking is ensured by a plastic capsule, generally protected by a capsule low-rise metal easy to remove. In this case, the glass ring is unthreaded and the

  plastic cap allows to refill the bottle.

  This packaging of encapsulated table wines has more or less replaced the packaging of bulk wines that the consumer would seek himself with his own bottles from a wine merchant, - on the other hand, in the case of all other wines, wines for keeping in particular, wines of higher quality than the previous ones, capping stricto sensu is most often ensured by a cork, typically of cork, the neck being covered by an overcap. In this case, the glass ring is a non-threaded ring. There is no

  filling means apart from the reintroduction by force of the plug into the neck.

  Such overcapping capsules are described for example in the following patents in the name of the applicant: EP 363,285 BI, FR 2,665,887 BI, FR2,678,587 BI, FR 2

710 611 BI,

  - finally, in the case of liqueurs or aperitifs intended to be consumed in several installments, and sometimes, but more rarely, in the case of wine, capping is most often ensured by a so-called corking capsule internally provided with an insert sealing plastic, capsule which is screwed onto the neck with threaded glass ring, so that the capsule can be used to recap the container or the bottle. In this case

  glass ring is threaded with a thread on the right.

  As an example of wine bottles thus closed, mention may be made of wine bottles of a particular size (50 cl) closed by a closure cap, in the meal trays

airlines.

  Such capsules have weakening lines, located under the thread, and intended mainly to guarantee the inviolability of the container while facilitating the

first opening.

  to The weakening line can be located below the thread, at the level of the glass ring, as described for example in French patent FR 2 657 862 in the name of the applicant. The weakening line can also be located above the thread, as described in

  European application EP 0 673 850 AI.

PROBLEMS POSED

  The problems posed by the corking capsules and methods of the state of the art are as follows: - on the one hand, it is noted, at least in France, an evolution in the consumption habits of wine, with a decrease in the consumption of common table wines in favor of higher quality wines, wines which are, therefore, packaged in bottles closed by a cork, - on the other hand, it is also observed an extension of the shelf life average of European populations in general, with the problems and difficulties associated with aging, typically less skill and less strength which can make it more difficult to uncork a bottle closed with a cork, while

  can stay present with age, taste for good wine, and the means to afford it.

  Western societies therefore see their populations age and, ultimately, the means

  current closures, described above, are not adapted to this new fact.

  It should also be taken into account that the non-threaded glass rings of bottles closed by a cork stopper are internationally standardized rings, and that it does not seem possible, for reasons both economic and traditional , to apply to wine, in general, the method hitherto reserved for aperitifs or

wine consumed on airplanes.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

  The invention relates to a corking method using a corking cap which simultaneously solves all the problems posed - using standard bottles with a flat ring, that is to say unthreaded,

  - however, allowing opening by unscrewing and subsequent filling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  According to the invention, the method of capping a container, typically a bottle, provided with a neck with glass ring, using a corking cap whose head is provided internally with a plastic insert d sealing and whose skirt is provided with a weakening line provided with bridges, is characterized in that, a) a container or bottle is supplied having a neck with a standard non-threaded flat ring with counter-ring, a threaded ring made of plastic and a closure cap, said ring having an internal diameter suitable for its subsequent fixing to said neck, b) said threaded ring is fixed to said neck by forcing it under the counter ring or shoulder of said glass ring, c) assembling said closure cap on said threaded ring by crimping it onto the thread of said threaded ring and also optionally under the lower flange or

  end of said threaded ring.

  This set of means according to the invention makes it possible to simultaneously solve all the problems posed. Indeed, the invention allows, by means of the use of a threaded plastic ring, to use containers or bottles with standard flat glass ring and closure caps with incorporated seal, possibly standard. The Applicant has also recognized the possibility of implementing the invention with standard capping equipment, with relatively simple adaptations, and without substantially modifying either the capping rates or the usual working methods in the beverage packaging trade. and wine in particular. This is very important insofar as, in practice, a requirement for change of habit or modification of device or method is too important

  could condemn an otherwise interesting invention.

  For the consumer, everything happens as if the bottle was a bottle of aperitif and not a bottle of wine, and therefore, all the problems raised are solved. In fact, with the invention, the only movement to be carried out by the consumer is a rotational movement, in the usual opening direction which is anti-clockwise, with sufficient torque to break the bridges of the weakening line and

  if necessary remove the seal from the neck of the bottle.

  On the one hand, compared to the efforts to deploy to remove a cork, such a

  movement is easy to perform manually or using a common utensil.

  On the other hand, a person skilled in the art can also measure the stress of breaking bridges.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

  Figure I shows a closed bottle neck according to the invention, with a left part in front view after removal of the closure cap, and a right part

  in axial section view in the vertical plane, with the closure cap.

  The left part shows the threaded plastic ring (3), with its left-hand thread (31),

  placed in contact with the lower edge (100) of the counter-ring (10) of the neck (1).

  The right part shows, in section, in addition to the same threaded plastic ring (3) placed under the counter ring (10), the closure cap (2) provided with a head (26) and its sealing insert, here a seal (22) with an inner skirt (220), with its weakening line (270) situated above the thread (31) of the plastic ring (3), so that at the opening, the upper part unthreaded (23) is separated, while remains on the

  neck (1) of the bottle the lower part (24) comprising the thread (28).

  Figure la is an enlargement, in section, of the threaded plastic ring (3).

  FIG. 2 is substantially symmetrical with respect to a plane in FIG. 1.

  It differs in that: - on the one hand, the sealing insert is a flat seal (21), - the plastic ring (3) is provided with a right-hand thread (32), - at the opening, the threaded upper part (25) is separated, while the lower part (20) which is crimped under the end (33) of said bottle remains on the neck (1) of the bottle

plastic ring (3).

  Figures 3a to 3c schematize the process according to the invention Figure 3a: the capping turret (5), represented schematically by a circle, is supplied with bottles, the neck (1) of which is with a standard flat glass ring,

  threaded plastic rings (3) and in closure caps (2).

  Figure 3b: using a ring (50) mounted on said turret and on which is placed said threaded plastic ring (3), said threaded plastic ring (3) is first forcefully placed under the bottom edge ( 100) of the counter-ring (10), said device, mounting of the threaded ring under the counter-ring of the flat ring. Figure 3b shows, in section, three phases of this step, the initial phase to the left of the figure, the intermediate phase

  in the center of the figure, and the final phase on the right of the figure.

  Figure 3c: the capsule (2) being placed on the neck (1) provided with said plastic ring (2), a crimping wheel (51) mounted on said turret (5) applies the skirt

  (27) of the capsule (2) and thus form said thread (28) of capsule.

  On the left side of the figure, has been reproduced on a reduced scale Figure I representing the sealing means obtained according to the invention, where the height H of the capsule (2) has been brought, with indication of the heights 0, H / 2 and H.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  According to a first embodiment of the invention, said plastic ring (3) is left-hand threaded and said closure cap (2) has a weakening line (270) located above the thread (31) of said ring threaded (3), when said capsule is placed in position on said neck (1) provided with said threaded ring (3) for said assembly, so that, when opened by unscrewing in the usual direction, that is to say in the anticlockwise direction, the threaded part of the capsule (24) moves downwards away from said head, so that, said bridges being energized, it there is tearing of said line of weakness and release of the unthreaded upper part of the capsule (23) located above said line

  weakening (270), the threaded part of the capsule (24) remaining integral with the neck (1).

  This method is illustrated in Figures I and 1a. In this mode, the ring (3) is left-hand threaded, while the "normal" thread of a neck is a right-hand thread, so as to unscrew any screwed cap by rotating it in the opposite direction

clockwise.

  To tear the weakening line (270), a fraction of a turn is sufficient, which does not require any particular effort and poses no problem for the consumer even with a capsule fully set on all the threads of the

thread (31) of the ring (3).

  According to another embodiment of the invention, said plastic ring (3) is threaded on the right and said closure cap (2) has a weakening line (270) located below the thread (32) of said ring threaded and above said lower flange (33), when said cap (2) is placed in position on said neck (1) provided with said ring (3) for said assembly, so that, during the opening by unscrewing in the usual direction, that is to say anticlockwise, the threaded part of the capsule (25) moves upwards, puts said bridges under tension, and thus ensures the tearing of said weakening line (270) by releasing the threaded upper part of the capsule (25) located above said weakening line (270), the crimped lower part (20) remaining integral with said neck (1) , the capsule having been crimped by

  constricted from the part (271) of the capsule under said ring (3).

  This method has been represented in FIG. 2, which is symmetrical with respect to a plane in FIG. 1. In this case, the thread of the ring (3) is "normal" in the sense that it is

  that of commercially available threaded glass ring necks.

  In this case, the lower part of the capsule is crimped so that it cannot be unscrewed without breaking the bridges of the line.

weakening (270).

  According to the invention, a conventional capping turret (5) is used to implement the invention, and it is adapted to automatically fix and force said plastic ring (3) under said counter ring (10), in such a way that conventional capping equipment for closure caps can, with minimal modifications,

capping bottles.

  This is another important advantage of the invention, particularly necessary in a

  profession which often includes a strong part of tradition.

  As regards the capsules, they must include plastic sealing inserts which can be chosen from among the existing inserts, typically, either flat or shaped seals (21) maintained applied to the bottom of said capsule on the inside of said head by a retaining groove of said capsule, either identical seals glued under the sky of the capsule or on the inside of said head, or again shaped seals (22) with internal skirt (220) allowing in particular a reclosure

  leakproof of said container in case of fractional consumption.

  A flat seal capsule (21) is shown in Figure 2, while a flat seal capsule (21)

  shape (22) with skirt (220) is shown in Figure 1.

  It may be advantageous to choose the inside diameter of the rings (3) in relation to the outside diameter of said neck (1) so that, after press fitting on the neck, the ring is made integral with the neck and is neither free nor in rotation, nor in

  axial displacement relative to said neck.

  Furthermore, it may also be advantageous, in particular from an aesthetic point of view, to supply threaded rings which are colored in the shade of the glass constituting the neck. Another object of the invention consists of closure capsules to be used to implement the method according to the invention, and which, according to a first embodiment, include a weakening line (270) located on the upper part of said skirt

  (27), that is to say between said head (26) and the half-height (/ 2) of said skirt (27).

  This is the case illustrated in FIG. 1. The weakening line (270), which must be located in this case above the thread (28) of the capsule, must in practice be located several millimeters above of the latter, under penalty of risk of breaking bridges during the crimping of the capsule with formation of the thread (28). In practice, this line (270)

  may be located above the lower edge (100) of said counter ring (10).

  Likewise, these stopper capsules to be used to implement the method according to the invention may comprise, according to a second method, a weakening line (270) located on the lower part of said skirt (27), that is to say between the half height of

  said skirt (27) and its lower end furthest from said head (26).

  This is the case illustrated in FIG. 2. In this case, said weakening line (270) must be located between the threaded portion (28) of the capsule and the crimped portion (271) located below

  of the lower edge (33) of the ring (3).

. 2786173

  Another object of the invention is the use of metal or metalloplastic caps for sealing (2) with seal (21, 22) incorporated for sealing of containers or bottles with neck (1) with a flat glass ring not threaded through the use of

  plastic rings (3) threaded on the right or left, previously mounted under the counter

  ring (10) of the neck (1) of said containers or bottles. Another object of the invention is constituted by the closure means comprising a container or bottle with neck (1) with a flat glass ring, a threaded plastic ring (3) mounted under the counter-ring (10) of said neck, and a metallic or metalloplastic capsule (2), with incorporated seal (21, 22), having a weakening line (270), crimped on said threaded plastic ring (3) mounted on said

neck (1).

  These means also have two modalities according to the direction of the threading of the plastic ring (3): According to a first modality, represented in FIG. 1, said plastic ring (3) is

  left-hand threaded and said weakening line (270) of the capsule (2) is located above

  above the thread (28) of the capsule (2) corresponding to that (30) of said threaded ring (3). According to a second method, shown in FIG. 2, said plastic ring (3) is

  threaded to the right and said weakening line (270) of the capsule (2) is located above

  below the thread (29) of the capsule (2) corresponding to that (31) of said ring

threaded (3).

EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION

  PE rings (3) were made by molding, with left-hand thread as shown in Figure 1, having the dimensions indicated in Figure la - internal diameter ranging from 27 mm at the top to 28 mm at the lower part, - thickness (excluding thread grooves) ranging from 1.6 mm to the greater part than 0.8 mm to the

lower part.

  Thanks to this slight internal taper and the gradual thinning of the ring, the lower end - which is the leading end when the ring is forced into the neck - is thinner, which facilitates press fitting the neck with said ring (3), without breaking the ring. The fitting is therefore facilitated by the elasticity of said lower end and also by the speed of the operation.

  fitting implemented as illustrated in Figure 3b.

  These rings (3) have been mounted and assembled on necks (1) with a standard glass ring

as shown in Figure 1.

  For this assembly carried out on a conventional capping turret, modified to be supplied with rings (3), as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 3a to 3b, it can be noted that the tool (50) surrounds the ring (3) in its threaded upper part and not in its more flexible and unthreaded lower part, which allows the ring to be force-fitted

without damaging it.

  These means, both in terms of the geometry of the ring and in terms of the manner of proceeding for the fitting, ensure quality assembly, that is to say without

  manufacturing incident and without quality defects on the neck fitted with a threaded ring.

  The capping turret (5) also being supplied with closure caps (2) according to the invention, made of aluminum, the capsules are then crimped with formation of the left-hand thread (28) by knurling wheels (51), in a conventional manner, as shown in the figure

3c.

  Other series of tests have also been carried out with rings with left-hand threads as in FIG. 1, but with flat seal capsules (21) as illustrated in FIG. 2 - and with a weakening line located approximately at a height of 0.6. H (see Figure 3c where heights 0, H / 2 and H are shown), so that the removable non-threaded upper part (23) includes a skirt portion of sufficient height to reach the level of the counter ring (10) and thus facilitate a filling of the bottle which is sufficient, if not watertight as in the previous case, to preserve the wine

  contained for the time necessary for its fractional consumption.

  The opening tests by consumers - including the elderly - were carried out on the closed bottles according to the invention. These tests have shown the validity of the concepts developed in the present invention and the great ease of opening bottles thus closed, ease at least as great as that of bottles of alcohols or aperitifs. On an economic level, the cost of a PE ring is much lower than the average cost of a quality cork stopper, so that the economic balance is favorable to

  plugging according to the present invention.

  With regard to the organoleptic qualities of the wine, it is certain that the stopping according to the invention eliminates all the problems brought by the stoppers which can sometimes be

  of variable quality, like any natural material.

  It has been verified that the organoleptic qualities of the wine are not appreciably modified by the seals (21, 22), at least when the wine is kept or stored in the cellar for an average period, typically a few years. Trials are underway with wines from

  keeps on longer storage life.

  All of these results confirm the great interest of the present invention.

Claims (12)

  1 method of capping a container, typically a bottle, provided with a neck (1) with glass ring, using a capping capsule (2) whose head (26) is provided internally with a plastic sealing insert (21, 22) and whose skirt (27) is provided with a weakening line (270), typically provided with bridges, characterized in that: a) a container or bottle is supplied having a neck (1) with a standard non-threaded flat ring with counter-ring (10), a threaded plastic ring (3) and a closure cap (2), said ring (3) having an internal diameter suitable for fixing it subsequent to the bottleneck (1),   b) said threaded ring (3) is fixed to said neck (1) by forcing it under the counter   ring or shoulder (10) of said glass ring, c) assembling said closure cap (2) on said threaded ring (3) by crimping it onto the thread (31, 32) of said threaded ring (3) and also possibly under the ledge   lower (33) of said threaded ring (3).   2. Method according to claim I in which said plastic ring (3) is left-hand threaded and said closure cap (2) has a weakening line (270) situated above the thread (31) of said ring threaded (3), when said capsule is placed in position on said neck (1) provided with said threaded ring (3) for said assembly, so that, when opened by unscrewing in the usual direction, that is to say in the anticlockwise direction, the threaded part of the capsule (24) moves downward away from said head, so that, said bridges being energized, it there is tearing of said line of weakness and release of the unthreaded upper part of the capsule (23) located above said line   weakening (270), the threaded part of the capsule (24) remaining integral with the neck (1).   3. Method according to claim 1 wherein said plastic ring (3) is threaded on the right and said closure cap (2) has a weakening line (270) located below the thread (32) of said ring threaded and above said lower flange (33), when said capsule (2) is placed in position on said neck (1) provided with said ring (3) for said assembly, so that, during the opening by unscrewing in the usual direction, that is to say anticlockwise, the threaded part of the capsule (25) moves upwards, so that said bridges are energized , the capsule being crimped by shrinking the capsule under said ring (3), there is tearing of said weakening line (270) and release of the threaded upper part of the capsule (25) located above said line   weakening (270), the crimped lower part (20) remaining integral with said neck (1).   4. Method according to any one of claims I to 3 in which a   conventional capping turret (5) and it is adapted to automatically fix and force said plastic ring (3) under said counter ring (10), so that conventional capping equipment for closure caps can, at the price of   minimal modifications, ensure bottle capping.   5. Method according to any one of claims I to 4 wherein said inserts   sealing plastics can be chosen from either flat or shaped seals (21) kept applied to the bottom of said capsule on the inside of said head by a retaining groove for said capsule, or identical seals glued under the sky of the capsule or inner side of said head, or again shaped seals (22) with inner skirt (220) allowing in particular a tight reclosure of said container in the event of fractional consumption.   6. Method according to any one of claims I to 5 in which we supply   threaded rings (3) colored in the shade of the glass constituting said neck (1).   7. Capsules to be used to implement the method according to a   any of claims 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 including a line of weakness   (270) located on the upper part of said skirt (27), that is to say between said head (26) and the half height of said skirt (27). . 2786173   8. Capsules to be used to implement the procedure according to the   Claims 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 comprising a weakening line (270) located on the   lower part of said skirt (27), that is to say between the half-height of said skirt (27) and   its lower end furthest from said head (26).   9. Use of metal or metalloplastic caps for sealing (2) with seal (21, 22) incorporated for the sealing of containers or bottles with neck (1) with a non-threaded flat glass ring thanks to the use of rings plastic (3) threaded on the right or on the left, previously mounted under the counter-ring (10) of the neck (1) said containers or bottles.   10. Corking means comprising a container or bottle with neck (1) with a flat glass ring, a threaded plastic ring (3) mounted under the counter-ring (10) of said neck, and a metal or metalloplastic capsule (2), with incorporated seal (21, 22), having a weakening line (270), crimped on said plastic ring   threaded (3) mounted on said neck (1).   11. Corking means according to claim 10 wherein said plastic ring (3)   is left-hand threaded and said weakening line (270) of the capsule (2) is located above   above the thread (28) of the capsule (2) corresponding to that (30) of said threaded ring (3). 12. Corking means according to claim 10 wherein said plastic ring (3)   is threaded to the right and said line of weakness (270) of the capsule (2) is located above   below the thread (29) of the capsule (2) corresponding to that (31) of said ring threaded (3).