FR2835510A1 - OVERHEAD CAPSULE WITH ADHESIVE HEAD - Google Patents

Abstract

The overcapping capsule (1) comprises a head (10) and a skirt (11), the skirt (11) being intended to be secured to a neck (3) closed by a closure means (2), is characterized in that that the head (10) comprises, on all or part of its interior surface, a deposit (40) of an adhesive (4) chosen to adhere to the head (10) and to the sealing means (2) or to the neck ( 3), so that, during capping, the deposit of adhesive (40) secures the head (10) to the stopper means (2) or to the neck (3), and thus, the overcapping capsule (1) cannot then be separated from the closure means (2) or from the neck (3) without visible alteration of the capsule (1) in order to prevent any consumer of a risk of fraud.

Description

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OVERHEAD CAPSULE WITH ADHESIVE HEAD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the field of overcap capsules, and in particular that of caps for sparkling wines.

STATE OF THE ART A very large number of overcap capsules are already known.

These capsules may be of the type described in the French application No. 9311815, particularly in the case of bottles closed by a plug, or in the application No. 9815004, all applications on behalf of the applicant.

French Applications No. 0008805, No. 9001014, No. 8812547, in the name of the Applicant, also disclose caps for overcaping.

Heat-shrinkable plastic capsules are also known.

During a so-called capping operation, the capsule is secured to the neck of a bottle, previously plugged after filling.

If the capsule is metallic, it will be fixed typically by crimping on the counterbuck.

If the capsule is plastic, it is heat-shrunk on the counter-ring.

If the capsule is a cap, it is applied and plated, typically with formation of four folds against the neck.

PROBLEMS POSED

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The overcap capsules of the state of the art are intended to fulfill various functions, and in particular: a decoration function of the neck of a bottle, a function of protection or masking of the closure means associated with the capsule of overcap, - a first opening indicator function of the bottle.

However, these capsules only very imperfectly fulfill the function of first opening indicator, and all the more so as the risk of fraud increases sharply with the commercial value of these bottles, a value which can be high in the case of alcohols, liqueurs, certain wines, whether sparkling wines, such as Champagne wines, or non-effervescent red or white wines.

The aim of the invention is to make reliable, as first-opening indicators, the overcap capsules known from the state of the art, so as to prevent the fraudulent recycling of bottles or caps for overcoupling, without having to increase the price substantially. of these capsules.

The aim of the invention is not to substantially modify or modify the manufacturing processes, the methods of application or over-charging, nor the methods of opening the bottles or the final presentation of the bottles after opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the overcap, intended to protect a closure means (2) closing a neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, comprises a head and a skirt, said skirt being intended to be secured to said neck, typically by crimping or plating, during a so-called capping operation, is characterized in that said head comprises, on all or part of its inner surface, a deposit of an adhesive capable of adhering said head and said closure means or said neck, so that, during said capping operation, said adhesive deposit solidarizes

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ladite tête audit moyen de bouchage ou audit goulot, et qu'ainsi, ladite capsule de surbouchage ne puisse ensuite être séparée dudit moyen de bouchage ou dudit goulot sans altération visible de ladite capsule afin de prévenir tout consommateur d'un risque de fraude.

said head to said closure means or said neck, and that, said overcap can not then be separated from said closure means or said neck without visible alteration of said capsule to prevent any consumer from a risk of fraud.

The means of the invention make it possible to solve the problems posed: with the means of the invention, the adhesive can not be accessible to a potential fraudster without the overcap capsule being modified visually, or even destroyed.

Indeed, the adhesive is located between the head of the overcap and the capping means or the neck of the bottle. Preferably, the adhesive is centered relative to the neck, so as to be the least accessible possible.

Thus, access to said adhesive would require an expansion of the skirt such that the skirt would not remain intact or unaltered visually, and that in practice it would be destroyed.

The invention applies in particular when said closure means can not be removed or implemented without first removing all or part of said overcap, and at least the lower portion of the skirt of this capsule.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a view in principle, in axial section, of a mode of forming the deposition (40) of adhesive (4) on the inside face of the head (10) of an overcap ( 1) according to the invention, using a device (5) comprising a nozzle (51) supplied with adhesive (4) maintained liquid and under pressure, and held in the open position or closed by a shutter (52).

Figures 2a to 2b illustrate the shape of some adhesive deposits on the inside of the heads (10) of capsules (1).

FIGS. 3a to 3c illustrate, in axial section, the case where the overcap (1) is a cap (1 ') for an effervescent wine bottle closed by a stopper (23)

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 comprising a metal plate (230) on its upper part, using a wire cap (231).

 Figure 3a corresponds to a bottle after capping and before a first opening. FIGS. 3b and 3c correspond to a first opening: in FIG. 3b, the plug (23) further comprises a remainder of capsule (13) adhering to the plate (230), while FIG. 3c represents the plug after having manually removed this capsule remains by simultaneously driving the deposit (40) of adhesive.

Figures 4a to 4d illustrate, in axial section, other modalities varying by the nature of the closure means (2).

In Figure 4a, the closure means is a cap (21).

In FIG. 4b, the closure means is a screw closure cap (22).

In FIGS. 4c and 4d, the closure means is a cork (20), the deposit (40) being formed on the rim (30) of the neck in FIG. 4c, whereas in FIG. (40) is formed on the plug (20) itself.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, said adhesive (4) can be a permanent adhesive, typically adhering by simple contact.

Said adhesive (4) may be a hot-melt adhesive, typically of the "hot-melt" type, so that it can be applied hot and without volatile solvent.

Said adhesive (4) can be peelable, so that it can be removed from said closure means or said neck, typically manually.

However, according to a variant of the invention, it is possible to choose a peelable adhesive but having, on the contrary, a better adhesion to the neck or mouth of the neck than to the overcap capsule itself, so as to form, after having separated by peeling the overcap, and typically on the periphery of the rim (30) of the neck (3) as shown in Figure 4c, a ring of hydrophobic nature adhesive so as to

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 prevent the flow of liquid contained along the neck, as usually happens.

 Preferably, said adhesive (4) can be approved for food contact, in particular when there is a risk of the contents of the container or bottle coming into contact with the adhesive, whether during storage or its consumption.

Said adhesive deposit (40) may cover from 5 to 70% of the inner surface of said head, in the form of one or more drops, circular or annular range, or lines.

According to a modality of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3a to 3c, said capsule (1) can be an overcap (1 ') for sparkling wines, said stopper means (2) typically comprising a plug (23) covered with a metal plate (230) and secured to said neck (3) by a wire (231).

According to a second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b, said capsule may be an overcap capsule (1 ") for still liquids with a high skirt (11 '), said closure means (2) typically comprising a stopper head (21) comprising a lower part driven into said neck (3) and an upper part or head allowing manual unclogging (see Figure 4a), or a closure cap (22) typically screw (see Figure 4b).

According to a third embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4c and 4d, said capsule can be a capsule for still liquids (1 ") with a skirt (11) that can be crimped or heat-shrinkable on said neck, said closure means (2) typically comprising a plug (20) pressed into said neck (3).

Typically, said skirt (11) is of frustoconical shape, so that said capsules (1, 1 r, 1 ") are able to form a stick stack (6), as illustrated in FIG. 1, and at this point said adhesive deposit (40), located on the inner surface of the head of a capsule of said stick (6), is not in contact with the outer surface of the head

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(10) of the capsule (1, 1 ', 1 ") next to the same stick (6), and that said capsule (1, l',
1 ") comprising said adhesive deposit (40) can be manufactured at high speed without the risk of one capsule adhering to another capsule.A few mm in the axial direction usually separate a capsule of the previous and next capsules of the same stick ( 6), which is sufficient so that there is no inadvertent contact of the adhesive deposit (40), and therefore no problem of unstacking the stick (6) during capping.

 Another object of the invention is constituted by a method of overcoupling the neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, closed by a closure means (2, 20, 21, 22, 23), by a capsule of overcap (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to the invention.

This method comprising, during a so-called capping operation, an axial removal of said capsule (1, 1 ', 1 ") on said neck or on said closure means, a fixation or attachment of said skirt (11) to said neck (3) or said closure means, typically by crimping or plating, is characterized in that a) supplying said closed container by said closure means, b) supplying said capsule (1, 1 ', 1 ") its head (10) comprising, on all or part of its inner surface, a deposition of an adhesive (40), c) said capping operation comprises, after said axial deposition, and typically during the fixing step, applying said head (10) against said closure means (2) or said neck (3), typically by axial pressure exerted on said head (10), so that said adhesive deposit (40) secures said head to said closure means or said neck, and then said capsule of (1, 1 ', 1 ") does not can be separated from said neck (3) or said closure means (2) without visible alteration of said capsule (1, 1 ', 1 ") and thus prevent any risk of fraud.

According to another method of the method, the method of overcoupling the neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, closed by a closure means (2, 20, 21, 22, 23), by an overcap (1 , l ', 1 ") comprises, during a so-called capping operation, an axial removal of said capsule (1, 1', 1") on said neck or on said closure means, a fixing or joining of said skirt (11) at said neck (3) or

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 said means of closure, typically by crimping or plating, and is characterized in that: a) supplying said container whose neck is closed by said closure means (2), and said closure cap (1, 1 ', 1 "), b) supplying an adhesive (4), c) before said axial deposition and said capping operation itself, forming a deposit (40) of said adhesive (4) on all or part of the inner surface of said head (10), or possibly all or part of the upper surface of said closure means (2) or said neck (3), or on the rim (30) of said neck, d) said capping operation comprises, after said removal axial, the application of said head (10) against said closure means (2) or said neck (3), typically by an axial pressure exerted on said head (10), so that said adhesive deposit ( 40) secures said head (10) to said closure means (2) or to said neck (3), and that subsequently ite capsule (1, 1 ', 1 ") can not be separated from said neck (3) or said closure means (2) without visible alteration of said capsule (1, 1', 1") and thus any risk of fraud is prevented or prevented.

Indeed, if it is more convenient, during capping, to use overcaping capsules comprising said adhesive deposit, nothing, however, prevents forming this deposit at the time of capping, in particular to sell stocks of capsules. overcap of standard type.

Whichever process variant is used, said adhesive (4) may be a hot melt adhesive. In this case, said adhesive (4) can be applied, under pressure and in the molten state, by means of a gun or by means of a nozzle (51) allowing projection of a predetermined quantity said adhesive on the inner surface of said capsule or on said closure means, or on said neck, so as to form said adhesive deposit (40). This deposit can be cooled by blowing air in order to increase production rates.

Said predetermined amount can typically range from 0.01 g to 5 g, and preferably from 0.05 g to 1 g.

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Said projection may comprise one or more projections, or a series of continuous projections, said nozzle (51) being fixed or not relative to said head (10).

 According to the invention, said adhesive deposit (40) can join said head (10) to said closure means (2) or to said neck (3, 30) with a peeling force F at least equal to 0.1 daN.

In the process according to the invention, said overcap (1, 1 ', 1 ") can be chosen from metal capsules, typically aluminum or tin, the metal-plastic capsules, especially in the case of caps (1'). , typically with an Al / PEI Al complex skirt comprising two aluminum sheets joined together by a layer of PE, the plastic capsules, and in particular the heat-shrinkable capsules.

Whatever the method and capsule mode of the invention, said skirt (10) may, in order to facilitate a first opening of the container or the bottle, have at least one line of weakness (12) see FIG. 3a) and / or mechanical characteristics chosen rather weak so that any separation of said skirt of said neck, in particular during a first opening, is accompanied by the rupture of said line of weakening and / or the irreversible destruction of said skirt.

In addition, with the method according to the invention, it is possible, after having formed said adhesive deposit (40), to place in contact with said adhesive deposit a complementary means of combating fraud, so as not to not prevent said adhesive deposit (40) secures said head (10) to said closure means (2) or said neck (3).

EXAMPLES OF COMPLEMENTS Overcap capsules (1) were supplied according to the state of the art: - caps (1 ') according to FIG. 3 a, in complex material Al / PElAI

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 - Overcap Caps (1 ") with high skirt (11 ') according to FIG. 4a, - heat-shrinkable overcap (1") of PVC according to FIG. 4b, - overcap Caps (1 ") of annealed aluminum according to FIGS. 4c and 4d.

 Several "hot-melt" type adhesives, including Plastoflex® adhesives, have been supplied. referenced 8919.8920, 9116.9117, 9140.9159 of the Paramelt Company.

After a series of selection tests, intended to obtain both sufficient adhesion and a possible peel, the Plastoflex EO) 8920 and 9159 were selected for the tests, these two adhesives varying in particular by their viscosity: 2800 mPa. s for the 9159 and 19000 mPa. s for the 8920 to 160 C.

A test stand is shown schematically in FIG. 1 comprising a projection nozzle (51) provided with a shutter (52) and supplied with adhesive under pressure and kept liquid at a high temperature, adhesive contained in a reservoir ( 50). A gun attached to a tank was also used.

Nozzles of 0.4 or 0.6 mm in diameter were used.

A device controls and controls the temperature of the adhesive and thus its viscosity, as well as the pressure of the adhesive and the shutter opening time (52).

The caps (1) to be treated are placed in front of the nozzle as shown in FIG.

The following operating parameters were typically used: - pressure in the tank: 3.5 to 4 bar - temperature: 155 to 175 ° C - duration of the projection: from 10 to 40 milliseconds.

Overcoupling caps have thus been obtained, the head of which comprises on its inner surface adhesive, typically in drops, as illustrated in FIGS. 2a to 2c.

After supplying bottles equipped with their capping means (2), the caps were placed on the necks for capping using the usual devices appropriate to the case of the case: - plating device and folding in the case caps for sparkling wines, - heat-shrinking device in the case of the PVC overcap,

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 - crimping device with the wheel in the case of the hardened aluminum cap.

However, pressure was applied to the capsule head (1) when these devices did not otherwise include means for exerting axial pressure on the capsule head (1).

After capping, the tests carried out showed that it was difficult or impossible to remove the cap (1) without damaging it, without this significantly modifying the ease of opening of the bottles.

LIST OF REFERENCES

<Tb>
<tb> Capsule <SEP> of <SEP> Overbouchable ........................ <SEP>"" ... <SEP> 1
<tb> Head <SEP> 10
<tb> Skirt <SEP> 11
<tb> Loss Line <SEP><SEP> (1 <SEP><SEP> Opening) ...... <SEP> 12
<tb> Rest <SEP> of <SEP> capsule <SEP> 13
<tb> Headdress <SEP> for <SEP> Effervescent wines <SEP> ........................ <SEP> 1 '
<tb> Capsule <SEP> of <SEP> for <SEP> liquids <SEP> swindles <SEP> reads
<tb> Medium <SEP> of <SEP> clogging <SEP> 2
<tb> Stopper <SEP> 20
<tb> Plug <SEP> to <SEP> head <SEP> 21
<tb> Capsule <SEP> of <SEP> plugging <SEP> to <SEP> screws <SEP> 22
<tb> Stopper <SEP> from <SEP> Champagne <SEP> 23
<tb> Plate <SEP> metallic <SEP> 230
<tb> Muselet <SEP> 231
<tb> Bottleneck <SEP> of a <SEP> container <SEP> or <SEP> bottle <SEP> 3
<tb> Drinking <SEP> or <SEP> Top <SEP> Top <SEP> of <SEP> Bottleneck <SEP> 30
<tb> Counter Ring <SEP> 31
<tb> Threading <SEP> 32
<tb> Adhesive <SEP> 4
<tb> Depot <SEP> Adhesive <SEP> 40
<tb> Post <SEP> of <SEP> spraying <SEP> 5
<Tb>

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<Tb>
<tb> Container <SEP> under <SEP> pressure <SEP> 50
<tb> Nozzle <SEP> 51
<tb> Shutter <SEP> 52
<tb> Stick <SEP> of <SEP> capsules <SEP> of <SEP> overflow <SEP> 1, <SEP> 1 '................ <SEP> 6
<Tb>

Claims (20)

1. Overcap capsule (1), intended to protect a closure means (2) closing a neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, comprising a head (10) and a skirt (11), said skirt ( 11) being intended to be secured to said neck (3), typically by crimping or plating, during a so-called capping operation, characterized in that said head (10) comprises, on all or part of its inner surface, a deposition (40) of an adhesive (4) able to adhere to said head (10) and to said closure means (2) or to said neck (3), so that, during said capping operation, said deposit adhesive (40) secures said head (10) to said closure means (2) or said neck (3), and thus, said overcap (1) can not be separated from said closure means (2) or said neck (3) without visible alteration of said capsule (1) to prevent any consumer from a risk of fraud. 2. The capsule of claim 1 wherein said adhesive (4) is a permanent adhesive, typically adhering by simple contact. 3. Capsule according to claim 2 wherein said adhesive (4) is a hot melt adhesive, typically of the "hot melt" type. 4. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said adhesive (4) is peelable, so as to be removed from said closure means or said neck, typically manually. 5. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said adhesive (4) is approved for food contact. 6. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said adhesive deposit (40) covers from 5 to 70% of the inner surface of said head, in the form of one or more drops, circular range or lines. . <Desc / Clms Page number 13> 7. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said capsule (1) is an overcap (1 ') for effervescent wines, said closure means (2) typically comprising a plug (23) covered with a plate metal (230) and secured to said neck (3) by a muselet (231).  8. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said capsule is an overcap (1 ") for quiet liquids with high skirt (11 '), said closure means (2) typically comprising a cap with a head (21). ) comprising a lower portion embedded in said neck (3) and an upper part or head for manual unblocking, or a cap closure (22) typically screwed. 9. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said capsule is a capsule for quiet liquids (1 ") with skirt (11) crimpable or heat-shrinkable on said neck, said closure means (2) typically comprising a plug (20). ) pressed into said neck (3). 10. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said skirt (11) is frustoconical in shape, so that said capsules (1, 1 ', 1 ") are able to form a stack of sticks (6) , and that said adhesive deposit (40), located on the inner surface of the head of a capsule of said stick (6), is not in contact with the outer surface of the head (10) of the capsule (1, 1 ', 1 ") next to the same stick (6), and that said capsule (1, 1', 1") comprising said adhesive deposit (40) can be manufactured at high speed without risk of see one capsule adhere to another capsule.  11. Method for overcoupling the neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, closed by a closure means (2, 20, 21, 22, 23), by an overcap (1, 1 ', 1 ") ) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising, during a so-called capping operation, an axial removal of said capsule (1, 1 ', 1 ") on said neck or said closure means, a fixing or joining said skirt (11) to said neck (3) or said closure means, typically by crimping or plating, characterized in that: <Desc / Clms Page number 14>  a) supplying said container closed by said closure means, b) supplying said capsule (1, 1 "1"), its head (10) comprising, on all or part of its inner surface, a deposit of an adhesive (40), c) said capping operation comprises, after said axial deposition, and typically during the fixing step, the application of said head (10) against said capping means (2) or said neck (3) , typically by an axial pressure exerted on said head (10), so that said adhesive deposit (40) secures said head to said closure means or to said neck, and that, subsequently, said capsule of (1, 1 ', 1 ") can not be separated from said neck (3) or said closure means (2) without visible alteration of said capsule (1, 1', 1") and thus prevent any risk of fraud. 12. Method of overcoupling the neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, closed by a closure means (2, 20, 21, 22, 23), by an overcap (1, 1 ', 1 " ), comprising, during a so-called capping operation, an axial removal of said capsule (1, 1 ', 1 ") on said neck or on said closure means, a fixation or attachment of said skirt (11) to said neck (3) or said closure means, typically by crimping or plating, characterized in that: a) supplying said container whose neck is closed by said closure means (2), and said closure cap (1, 1 ', l "), b) supplying an adhesive (4), c) before said axial deposition and said capping operation itself, forming a deposit (40) of said adhesive (4) on all or part of the inner surface of said head (10), or possibly all or part of the upper surface of said closure means (2) or said neck (3), or on the rim (30). ) of said neck, d) said capping operation comprises, after said axial deposition, the application of said head (10) against said closure means (2) or said neck (3), typically by axial pressure exerted on said head (10), so that said adhesive deposit (40) secures said head (10) to said closure means (2) or said neck (3), and then said capsule (1, 1 ', l ") can not be separated from said neck (3) or said closure means (2) without visible alteration of said capsule (1, 1 ', 1") and thus prevent any risk of fraud. <Desc / Clms Page number 15>  The method of any one of claims 11 to 12 wherein said adhesive (4) is a hot melt adhesive.  14. The method of claim 13 wherein said adhesive (4) is applied, under pressure and in the molten state, using a gun or with a nozzle (51) allowing a projection of a predetermined amount of said adhesive on the inner surface of said capsule or on said closure means, or on said neck, so as to form said adhesive deposit (40). The method of claim 14 wherein said predetermined amount is typically from 0.01g to 5g, and preferably from 0.05g to 1g. 16. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 15 wherein said projection comprises one or more projections, or a succession of continuous projections, said nozzle (51) being fixed or not relative to said head (10). 17. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein said adhesive deposit (40) secures said head (10) to said closure means (2) or said neck (3, 30) with a peeling force F at least equal to 0.1 daN. 18. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein said overcap (1, 1 ', 1 ") is selected from metal capsules, typically aluminum or tin, the metal-plastic capsules, especially in the case of caps (1 '), typically with an AI / PE / Al complex skirt comprising two aluminum sheets joined together by a layer of PE, the plastic capsules, and in particular the heat-shrinkable capsules.  19. "Method according to any one of claims 11 to 18 wherein said skirt (10) has at least one weakening line (12) and / or mechanical characteristics chosen rather low so that any separation of said skirt. <Desc / Clms Page number 16>  said neck, in particular during a first opening, is accompanied by the breaking of said weakening line and / or the irreversible destruction of said skirt. 20. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 19 wherein after forming said adhesive deposit (40) is placed in contact with said adhesive deposit complementary means of fighting fraud, so as not to prevent said adhesive deposit (40) secures said head (10) to said closure means (2) or said neck (3).