GB2128966A - Sealing of containers - Google Patents

Sealing of containers Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2128966A
GB2128966A GB08230323A GB8230323A GB2128966A GB 2128966 A GB2128966 A GB 2128966A GB 08230323 A GB08230323 A GB 08230323A GB 8230323 A GB8230323 A GB 8230323A GB 2128966 A GB2128966 A GB 2128966A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sealing
container
membrane
sealing surface
container according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08230323A
Inventor
David Vivian Eckett
Sidney Maurice Budd
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
UNITED GLASS PLC
Original Assignee
UNITED GLASS PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by UNITED GLASS PLC filed Critical UNITED GLASS PLC
Priority to GB08230323A priority Critical patent/GB2128966A/en
Publication of GB2128966A publication Critical patent/GB2128966A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
    • B29C66/7232—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer
    • B29C66/72321—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer consisting of metals or their alloys
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/34—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement"
    • B29C65/36—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction
    • B29C65/3604—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the type of elements heated by induction which remain in the joint
    • B29C65/3644—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the type of elements heated by induction which remain in the joint being a ribbon, band or strip
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/34—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement"
    • B29C65/36—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction
    • B29C65/3604—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the type of elements heated by induction which remain in the joint
    • B29C65/3656—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the type of elements heated by induction which remain in the joint being a layer of a multilayer part to be joined, e.g. for joining plastic-metal laminates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/34—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement"
    • B29C65/36—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction
    • B29C65/3672—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the composition of the elements heated by induction which remain in the joint
    • B29C65/3676—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the composition of the elements heated by induction which remain in the joint being metallic
    • B29C65/368—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the composition of the elements heated by induction which remain in the joint being metallic with a polymer coating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
    • B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
    • B29C66/53—Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
    • B29C66/534—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars
    • B29C66/5346—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars said single elements being substantially flat
    • B29C66/53461—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars said single elements being substantially flat joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
    • B65D51/20—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
    • B65D2251/0015—Upper closure of the 41-type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
    • B65D2251/0093—Membrane

Abstract

A method of sealing a container is provided in which a metal sealing membrane is first placed on the sealing surface of the container to which it is to be applied. The membrane is coated with heat-softenable material and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the sealing surface. A plastics cap is then placed over the membrane to force the membrane against the sealing surface and form the margin of the membrane around the container finish adjacent the sealing surface. The membrane is then subjected to the action of an induction field to seal the membrane on the container sealing surface.

Description

SPECIFICATION Sealing of containers This invention relates to the sealing of containers, and especially to the application to the mouth thereof of metal foil membranes.
The technique of applying a metal foil membrane to a container, to seal the mouth thereof, such as is described in our U.K.
Patent Specification No. 1 135 943, is now well established on a commercial scale.
Broadly speaking, the technique involves applying to a container mouth a metal foil membrane, e.g. an aluminium foil membrane, coated on its side adjacent the mouth with a heat-softenable plastics material, placing the membrane under pressure on the mouth, and raising the temperature of the membrane, for instance by the application of an induction field, to soften the plastics coating and adhere the membrane to the container mouth. Preferably the operation is conducted in such a manner as not to distort the container mouth, so that the membrane is removably, or strippably, adhered to the container.
Although in certain cases the foil membrane is a sufficient seal, it is usually preferred, especially when the container contents are not ali immediately consumed, to use a secondary seal in conjunction with the membrane. Such a secondary seal may take the form for example of an injection-moulded snap-on or screw-on plastics overcap.
For example, currently the sealing of the coated metal, e.g. aluminium, foil membrane to a glass container may be carried out by crimping the foil membrane round the glass, heating the aluminium foil in the region of the glass contact, and subsequently applying a plastics cap which for example locks onto a bead on the external surface of the glass finish. The sealed container thus produced may be used to contain products which are sensitive to enviromental contamination, e.g.
by oxygen, but once the aluminium seal is broken the contents should be consumed within a short period e.g. a few days. The purpose of the plastics cap in this case is to provide a convenient reseal for the short period of time during which the contents are being consumed.
It is a great advantage if the pressure which must be applied to the sealing membrane, to bring about its attachment to the container, is supplied by the plastics overcap. In this case the heating must be applied by induction heating.
The majority of the users of the induction heating process described inter alia in our U.K. Patent Specification No. 1 135 943 use a sealing membrane comprising a plasticscoated metal foil laminated to a cardboard wad or disc, and place this membrane in a plastics cap prior to placing the whole on a container and submitting the assembly to induction heating.
However, it has been found that the process described in our U.K. Patent Specification No.
1 135 943 cannot be used for effectively sealing aqueous liquids in untreated glass containers. An effective seal can only be obtained by firstly treating the glass finish with special materials, placing the plastics-coated membrane over the finish, applying top pressure to.
the foil by means of a pressure head while submitting the assembly to heating, and then snapping on or screwing on a plastics overcap. In this case the cap plays no part in the sealing process.
In our U.K. Patent Application No.
8207922 (Serial No. 2 096 980 A) we have described the placing of plastics-coated foil membranes contained within special plastics caps onto the finishes of glass containers, and thereafter the simultaneous application to the foil of pressure (by the cap) and induction heating, to bring about the sealing.
This method can be applied in the sealing of aqueous liquids in untreated glass containers. However, preloading the membrane into the cap is a difficuit operation on a commercial scale.
In accordance with the present invention the pressure necessary to attach the sealing foil to a container during induction heating is applied by the cap, and in accordance with the present invention a method of sealing a container comprises placing on the sealing surface of said container a metal sealing membrane coated with heat-softenable material and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said sealing surface, placing a plastics cap over said sealing membrane to force the membrane against said sealing surface and to form the margin of said membrane around the container finish adjacent said sealing surface, and subjecting the membrane to the action of an induction field to seal the membrane of the container sealing surface.
The metal sealing membrane is preferably slightly "dished" before application to the container, i.e. it is provided with a concave surface facing the container. This helps to centralise it on the container when it is first applied thereto, e.g. by dropping it from a stack of such membranes or by "punching" it directly onto the container from a ribbon of coated metal foil. The seal obtained by the method is a strong one which endures during storage of the sealed container.
The plastics cap used in the method of the invention is suitably a plastics snap-on cap which has an inwardly directed annular bead which snaps over a complementary formation on the container beneath the container sealing surface. Clearly, the cap and the container must be manufactuted with great accuracy since it is the interaction between the bead on the cap and the formation on the container finish which is responsible for maintaining the sealing pressure applied by the top of the cap on the sealing membrane.
Although of course the metal of the membrane heats up during the application of the induction field in order to melt the coating resin in contact with the container, we have found that common plastics materials can be used for the cap with little effect on its appearance of integrity. Such plastics materials include polyethylene and polypropylene.
The foil membrane suitably comprises plain 20 to 50 ym aluminium, coated on one side with heat seal coating e.g. "Surlyn". Where print or decoration is required, the aluminium can be printed with a heat resistant ink to prevent print transfer to the cap during induction heating. If necessary, the ink can be overlacquered for further protection.
It is preferred, in the operation of the present invention, to use magnetic flux intersifiers to concentrate or focus the induction field onto the actual area of sealing. A benefit to be obtained from this is that any unwanted liquid which may be present on the container sealing surface can be evaporated off immediately prior to sealing. Intensifiers are also of advantage when the sealing membrane has a tear tab, as the heating field can be directed away from the tear tab. The use of magnetic flux intensifiers is described in our U.K. Patent Specification No. 1319679.

Claims (8)

1. A method of sealing a container comprising placing on the sealing surface of said container a metal sealing membrane coated with heat-softenable material and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said sealing surface, placing a plastics cap over said sealing membrane to force the membrane against said sealing surface and to form the margin of said membrane around the container finish adjacent said sealing surface, and subjecting the membrane to the action of an induction field to seal the membrane on the container sealing surface.
2. A method for sealing a container according to claim 1 in which the metal sealing membrane presents a concave profile to the mouth of the container.
3. A method of sealing a container according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the plastics cap is a snap-on cap which has an inwardly directed annular bead which snaps over a complementary formation on the container beneath the container sealing surface.
4. A method of sealing a container according to any of claims 1, 2 and 3 in which the plastics cap is made of polyethylene or polypropylene.
5. A method sealing a container according to any preceding claim in which the metal sealing membrane comprises aluminium foil coated on one side with a heat seal coating.
6. A method of sealing a container according to claim 5 in which the aluminium foil has a thickness in the range from 20 to 50 ,um.
7. A method of sealing a container according to any preceding claim in which the induction field is concentrated onto the actual area of sealing by magnetic flux intensifiers.
8. A method of sealing a container substantially as hereinbefore described.
GB08230323A 1982-10-22 1982-10-22 Sealing of containers Withdrawn GB2128966A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08230323A GB2128966A (en) 1982-10-22 1982-10-22 Sealing of containers

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08230323A GB2128966A (en) 1982-10-22 1982-10-22 Sealing of containers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2128966A true GB2128966A (en) 1984-05-10

Family

ID=10533806

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08230323A Withdrawn GB2128966A (en) 1982-10-22 1982-10-22 Sealing of containers

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2128966A (en)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB401616A (en) * 1933-06-22 1933-11-16 Ferdinand Gutmann & Company Improvements in closures for bottles and other containers
GB603295A (en) * 1945-04-05 1948-06-14 George Ide Butler Improvements in or relating to closures for jars, glasses, bowls, tubs, cans, or like containers
GB695086A (en) * 1952-01-09 1953-08-05 Alan James Brown Improved closure for bottles and like containers
GB961597A (en) * 1961-08-03 1964-06-24 Nat Res Dev Improvements in or relating to the capping of filled containers
GB1135943A (en) * 1964-12-09 1968-12-11 United Glass Ltd Container closuring
GB1207306A (en) * 1966-10-25 1970-09-30 United Glass Ltd Container closuring
GB1376749A (en) * 1972-12-22 1974-12-11 United Glass Ltd Container closure
GB1376775A (en) * 1971-08-12 1974-12-11 Owens Illinois Inc Package and method of manufacture thereof
GB1580572A (en) * 1976-04-26 1980-12-03 Owens Illinois Inc Method and apparatus for applying a lid and tamper indicating sheet to a container

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB401616A (en) * 1933-06-22 1933-11-16 Ferdinand Gutmann & Company Improvements in closures for bottles and other containers
GB603295A (en) * 1945-04-05 1948-06-14 George Ide Butler Improvements in or relating to closures for jars, glasses, bowls, tubs, cans, or like containers
GB695086A (en) * 1952-01-09 1953-08-05 Alan James Brown Improved closure for bottles and like containers
GB961597A (en) * 1961-08-03 1964-06-24 Nat Res Dev Improvements in or relating to the capping of filled containers
GB1135943A (en) * 1964-12-09 1968-12-11 United Glass Ltd Container closuring
GB1207306A (en) * 1966-10-25 1970-09-30 United Glass Ltd Container closuring
GB1376775A (en) * 1971-08-12 1974-12-11 Owens Illinois Inc Package and method of manufacture thereof
GB1376749A (en) * 1972-12-22 1974-12-11 United Glass Ltd Container closure
GB1580572A (en) * 1976-04-26 1980-12-03 Owens Illinois Inc Method and apparatus for applying a lid and tamper indicating sheet to a container

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)