JP2021519733A - Screw protector fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fixing device for arranging a screw protector (10) on a screwed neck (11) integrally formed on a container wall (13) of a plastic container (12). Protects a protector housing (20) with a threaded flange (18) having an internal thread (17) for screwing into an external thread (16) formed in a threaded extension (15) of a threaded neck (11). A fixing ring (28) is arranged between the container wall (13) and the screw flange (18), and the fixing ring (28) is arranged on the inner peripheral surface thereof and is a lock that faces inward in the radial direction. The locking means (36) has a locking projection (37) for forming the means (36), and the locking means (36) has a locking end having a diameter D for locking by the stopper means (48) formed on the container (12). The external thread (16) of the threaded neck (11) is located on a lock circumference (53) that is greater than or equal to the diameter d of the external thread (16).

Description

The present invention relates to a fixing device for arranging a screw protector on a threaded neck integrally formed with a container wall of a plastic container, the screw protector being formed concentrically with the inlet neck at the inlet neck. It has a protector housing with a threaded flange, the threaded flange is a threaded extension of the threaded neck so that the threaded neck engages the annular neck receiving space formed between the inlet neck and the threaded flange. It has an internal thread for tightening to the external thread formed in, a fixing ring is placed between the container wall and the threaded flange, and the fixing ring is for connecting to the container with the fixing means for fixing to the threaded flange. It has a locking means, the fixing ring is arranged on the inner circumference thereof and has a locking protrusion for forming a locking means that faces inward in the radial direction, and the locking means is a stopper means formed on the container. The locking end for locking is located on the circumference of the lock whose diameter is greater than or equal to the diameter of the external thread of the threaded neck.

Fixing devices for placing screw protectors are generally operated after the container is provided with a screw protector, for example, a screw protector suitable for the container or liquid held in the container, but not suitable for the screw protector. It has the role of ensuring the original association between the screw protector for the container and the container in order to prevent operations that could be replaced with.

Generally, this type of fixing device is designed as a fixing ring that cannot prevent the screw protector from being forcefully removed from the container, but at least partially breaks it to allow some undesired operation.

During the installation of the screw protector, to install the conventional screw protector, which is formed independently of the protector housing and has a union nut that tightens the screw protector to the threaded neck formed in the container. The fixing ring should be placed between the union nut and the container wall of the container. This involves holding the protector housing of the screw protector in place, tightening the union nut to the threaded neck of the container, and locking with a stopper means formed on the threaded neck. A fixing ring with an inner circumference is placed axially along with the locking protrusion in a threaded neck shape across the screw of the threaded neck, and the corresponding complexity is allowed to tighten the screw protector only afterwards. With various processing operations.

When the retaining ring is placed on the threaded neck, the locking protrusion is on the thread of the external thread of the threaded neck because the diameter of the lock circumference defined by the locking protrusion is smaller than the outer diameter of the threaded neck. When at least partially caught and the retaining ring moves axially on the threaded neck, the retaining ring gets stuck on the threaded neck.

This overall complex installation task is for automated installation of screw protectors with fixing rings, where only the tightening operation is performed after the installation robot has placed the protector housing coaxially with the threaded neck. Is not suitable.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to propose a screw protector fixing device that enables a screw protector with a fixing device that is automatically mounted on a container.

In order to achieve the above object, the fixing device according to the present invention has the feature of claim 1.

By combining the threaded flange integrally formed with the inlet neck, the threaded flange is not a component independent of the inlet neck where the position of the fixing ring with respect to the protector housing is determined via the fixing means formed on the fixing ring. According to the fixing device according to the present invention, the diameter of the lock circumference of the fixing ring is set to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the outer screw of the threaded neck. The screw protector is handled only by screwing the protector housing of the screw protector into the threaded neck of the container, without causing the fixing ring to get caught, which can impair the required coaxial placement of the protector housing with respect to the threaded neck. Can be attached to the container.

Therefore, according to the fixing device according to the present invention, the screw protector can be automatically attached.

An axial stopper configured to contact the front end of the threaded neck is preferably formed in the neck receiving space, which results in a threaded neck for the axial stopper formed in the neck receiving space of the protector housing. Due to the axial impact of the front end of, the mounting torque can be set to a set value during mounting, regardless of the sealing force acting on the radial sealing space. Therefore, automatic mounting by the mounting robot becomes possible according to the desired mounting torque.

According to another preferred embodiment, the stopper means is formed on the neck base of the threaded neck and the neck base is formed adjacent to the container wall, whereby a blow molding technique commonly used in the manufacture of plastic containers. Preferably, the neck base is configured as a collar formed in the transition region from the container wall to the threaded extension of the threaded neck so that the stopper means can be manufactured together with the threaded neck during a molding process such as the above. The collar features a hooking projection that is dispersed in the circumferential direction and each has a hooking surface that extends substantially parallel to the long axis of the thread protector, and the clear relative position of the fixing ring to the threaded neck is hooked. It is determined by a hooking protrusion that hooks behind the protrusion.

When the hook protrusion is configured as a hook slope portion having an inclined surface that rises from the outer circumference of the neck base and forms a hook shoulder portion with the hook surface, the lock protrusion is deformed in a continuously enlarged state. Because it does, it is kind to the material while hanging.

The length of the threaded neck, the structure of the external thread of the threaded neck, and the distribution of the retaining protrusions on the circumference of the neck base are such that the axial stopper of the protector housing has a predetermined preload force with the front end of the threaded neck. Upon contact, at least one locking protrusion on the locking ring elastically hooks behind the stopper surface of the retaining protrusion, and the preload force is selected to be related to the locking position of the locking ring on the threaded neck. This allows the screw protector to be mounted in the correct position with respect to the threaded neck, and the position of the screw protector on the threaded neck is simultaneously and effectively secured only by the mounting torque that produces the given force. .. In particular, it can be ensured that the valve shaft of the screw protector, which allows the operation of the screw protector, is placed in the desired vertical direction.

In order to form a sealing means that acts in the radial direction, a sealing space including an inner sealing surface formed by the outer wall of the inlet neck and an outer sealing surface formed by the inner wall of the threaded neck is provided, and the inner sealing space is provided with an inner sealing space. It is preferable to provide an O-ring seal that is housed in the seal space so that it is in contact with the seal surface and the outer seal surface, so that the preload force between the screw protector and the threaded neck acts radially as the seal means. Therefore, it does not affect the sealing means.

In order to form a seal space, a circumferential recess is formed in the opening edge inside the front end of the threaded neck to partition the seal surface in the axial direction, and a stopper surface that contacts the axial stopper of the neck receiving space at the front end. It is preferable to form a section screen recessed in the axial direction by recesses. Therefore, if desired, the O-ring seal can be inserted fitted into the threaded neck to attach the screw protector.

The inner and / or outer seal surfaces are particularly effective when tapered axially so that the height of the seal space decreases toward the threaded neck, which allows during the mounting process. Although a sealing force is generated, the preload force generated during the mounting process is not transmitted via the sealing means.

The fixing means has a driver pocket formed on the front surface of the fixing ring facing the screw flange, and the driver pocket is engaged with the fixing ring and the screw protector by the meshing of the driver tab in the driver pocket in the fitted state. It is preferred to engage with a driver tab formed on the threaded flange so that the is particularly easily aligned coaxially.

If the locking ring has, in addition to the driver pocket, at least one other driver element that allows torque to be transmitted from the threaded flange to the locking ring only in the mounting direction, the torque can be easily applied to the locking ring via multiple contact points. Although guaranteed to transmit, other driver elements cannot support the threaded flange while turning in the removal direction, and torque is only through the driver pocket when the threaded flange is removed from the threaded neck. The driver pocket can also be used as an unauthorized opening prevention element.

In order to transmit torque, the driver element preferably has a radial stopper surface formed on the threaded flange and in contact with the web flank of the driver web extending axially.

If the driver element has a matching hook element formed on the screw flange and a hook protrusion that hooks axially, the axis allows the fixing ring to be radially fixed to the screw flange during the mounting process. Can be fixed in the direction.

The driver pocket is configured as an unauthorized opening prevention element so that the base wall formed in the fixing ring is provided with a visible wall connected via a predetermined breaking means, and the screw flange driver so as to constitute the driver pocket. It is especially effective if a receiving space for the tab is formed between the base wall and the visible wall.

Preferably, the visible wall has at least two visible wall portions connected to the base wall via a predetermined breaking means, and the visible wall portion in front of the thread flange removal direction has a stopper edge for the driver tab. The visible wall behind the removal direction has a stopper edge on the threaded flange for the driver web that follows in the removal direction.

This two-part configuration of the tamper-evident prevention element, which enables the complete destruction of the tamper-opening prevention element by the two-step operation of the rotation of the screw flange, eliminates the visible wall with a large overall size, so that the screw protector can be operated. It can be clearly seen from a distance.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screw protector attached to a threaded neck of a container. FIG. 2 is another view of the screw protector shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the screw protector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a mounted state in which a fixing ring is arranged on a screw flange. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the screw protector illustrated in FIG. 2 along the IV-IV line of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fixing ring arranged on the threaded neck of the container. FIG. 7 is a top view of the fixing ring shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the fixing ring shown in FIG. 6 alone. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fixing ring shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the fixing device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 show a screw protector 10 attached to a threaded neck 11 of a plastic container 12. This type of plastic container 12 is particularly used as an internal container for an intermediate bulk container (IBC), in which case the plastic container 12 is secured to a transport pallet and housed in a protective shell often configured as a cage.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, the threaded neck 11 is arranged on the container wall 13 of the plastic container 12, has a collar-shaped neck base 14 in the immediate vicinity of the container wall 13, and a threaded extension 15 in the vicinity thereof. The screw extension portion 15 has an external screw 16 that is fastened to the internal screw 17 of the screw flange 18 formed in the inlet neck 19 of the protector housing 20 of the screw protector 10.

The protector housing 20 is provided with a valve, in this case realized as a flap valve 21 and having a valve flap 23 arranged on the valve shaft 22, said valve flap 23 having a valve handle 24 and the valve handle 24 having a valve handle 24. By pivoting the valve shaft 22 with the valve handle 24, the end of the protector housing 20 is displaced so that the valve flap 23 can be displaced from the closed position shown in FIG. 3 to the open position (not shown). Protruding from. A screw cap 26 is provided on the outlet neck 25 of the protector housing 20 to protect the screw protector 11 from dirt.

In FIG. 3, a screw flange 18 integrally with the protector housing 20 and made of the same material as the inlet neck 19 is connected to the fixing ring 28 via a driver tab 27 that protrudes radially from the screw flange 18. The screw protector 10 of the mounting form is shown. To connect the fixing ring 28 to the driver tab 27 of the screw flange 18, the fixing ring 28 has a driver pocket 29 to which the driver tab 27 fits and engages, whereby the fixing ring 28 is being installed. The mounting unit is formed with the screw protector 10 which is concentrically aligned with the screwed neck 11 together with the screw protector 10 and can be tightened to the screwed neck 11.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the protector housing 20 is provided with an O-ring seal 30 that is placed on the outer wall 32 of the inlet neck 19 when the screw protector 10 is mounted on the inlet neck 19. The outer wall 32 is tapered towards the neck end 31 in a conical shape and thus constitutes another element of the mounting unit.

FIG. 4 shows a screw protector 10 in a usage mode connected to a plastic container 12 after being mounted on a threaded neck 11, in which the screw flange 18 provides a desired preload. It is sufficiently tightened to the axial stopper 34 formed at the bottom of the annular neck receiving space 33 formed between the inlet neck 19 and the threaded flange 18 so as to come into contact with the front end 35 of the threaded neck 11.

As can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9, the fixing ring 28 is provided with a locking means 36 on the inner circumference thereof, and the locking means 36 has a plurality of locking protrusions 37 facing inward in the radial direction, and the locking protrusions 37 are provided. In the illustrated embodiment, is further inclined with respect to the radius r in the removal direction 38 at a hooking angle α. Also, at the front surface 40 facing the screw flange 18 at the mounting position shown in FIG. 3, the fixing ring 28 has two axially oriented driver elements 41, each of which is at the driver end 42, particularly in the drawing. As shown in 2, it has a hooking projection 43 that hooks onto the web edge 44 of the screw flange 18.

Further, the driver element 41 has a radial stopper surface 45 formed on the screw flange 18 and in contact with the web flank 46 of the driver web 47 extending in the axial direction.

In the mounting mode of the screw protector 10 shown in FIG. 3, the fixing ring 28 has a driver tab 27 of the screw flange 18 that is received in the driver pocket 29 of the fixing ring 28 and a driver as shown in FIG. By hooking on the element 41, the relative position is determined in both the radial direction and the axial direction with respect to the screw flange 18. As a result, the fixing ring 28 and the screw protector 10 are arranged coaxially with each other, and the screw protector 10 is mounted together with the fixing ring 28 and on the inlet neck 19 of the protector housing 20. Together with the seal 30, it can be fastened to the threaded neck 11 in the neck receiving space 33 as a mounting unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, the neck base 14 of the threaded neck 11 is provided with stopper means 48, and in this case, the stopper means 48 are dispersed and arranged in the circumferential direction of the neck base 14. , It has four hooking projections as the hooking inclined portion 49. The hook inclined portion 49 has an inclined surface 50 that rises from the outer periphery of the neck base 14 and forms a hook surface 51 and a hook shoulder portion.

In order to explain the interaction between the locking means 36 of the fixing ring 29 and the stopper means 48 formed on the threaded neck 11, the fixing ring 28 arranged on the threaded neck 11 is shown in a different figure from the screw protector 11. As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the lock end 52 of the lock protrusion 37 of the fixing ring 28 is arranged on the lock circumference 53 having a diameter D larger than the diameter d of the external screw 16 formed on the threaded neck 11. Has been done. As a result, the fixing ring 28 mounted on the screw protector 10 is required to tighten the screw protector 10 to the threaded neck 11 when the lock protrusion 37 of the fixing ring 28 collides with the thread 54 of the external screw 16. It is possible to form a mounting unit that is fastened to the threaded neck 11 together with the screw protector 10 without affecting the coaxial alignment.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the stopper means 48 has a distance between the stopper means 48 and the front end 35 of the threaded neck 11 that is substantially equal to the length l of the threaded neck 11. It has a hook inclined portion 49 arranged in such a manner. The length l of the threaded neck 11 and the structure of the external thread 16, that is, in particular the radial position of the starting point of the thread 54 and the pitch of the thread 54, and the position of the lock end 52 on the lock circumference 53 of the fixing ring 28. As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the hooking surface 51 of the stopper means 48 is such that the protector housing 20 is screwed when the axial stopper 34 of the protector housing 20 comes into contact with the front end 35 of the threaded neck 11. The lock end 52 of the locking means 36 of the fixing ring 28 is selected to be elastically hooked behind the hooking surface 51 while contacting the neck 11 with a predetermined preload force.

Therefore, once the fixing ring 28 is hooked on the stopper means 48, it is guaranteed that the preload force is transmitted from the protector housing 20 to the threaded neck 11.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, in order to form the sealing means 55 acting in the radial direction, the inner sealing surface 56 formed by the outer wall 32 of the inlet neck 19 and the inner wall 57 of the threaded neck 11 are used. The formed outer seal surface 58 is provided, and the seal space 59 is partitioned in the radial direction. In order to axially partition the seal space 59 that receives the O-ring seal 30, a circumferential recess 60 is formed at the inner opening edge of the front end 35, and the seal surface 59 is axially partitioned and a stopper surface formed at the front end 35. The recess 60 forms a ward screen 62 that is axially recessed with respect to 61 and comes into contact with the axial stopper 34 of the neck receiving space 33.

In this case, in order to support the sealing effect in the radial direction, the outer sealing surface 58 formed by the inner wall 57 of the threaded neck 11 has the height of the sealing space 59 reduced in the mounting direction 39 of the screw protector 10. It tapers in a conical shape in the axial direction.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, in order to configure the driver pocket 29 as an unauthorized opening prevention element, the base wall 63 formed on the fixing ring 28 is formed on the visible wall 64 arranged on the opposite side of the base wall 63. , Corresponding axial direction between the base wall 63 and the visible wall 64 to form a receiving space 65 for the driver pocket 29, connected via a predetermined first breaking means 66 and a predetermined second breaking means 67. A distance a is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the visible wall 64 has two visible wall portions 69, 70 connected to each other via another predetermined breaking means 68. As can be best seen from FIG. 1, the driver tab 27 that realizes the unauthorized opening prevention element has a stopper edge 71 formed on the front visible wall portion 69 when the screw protector 10 is turned in the removal direction 38. When the driver tab 27 is broken due to being caught by the driver tab 27 and turned in the removal direction 38, the driver tab 27 penetrates the radial recess 72 of the driver pocket 29, and the connection webs 73 and 74 of the predetermined breaking means 66 and the predetermined The connecting webs 75 and 76 of the breaking means 68 are broken, and the front visible wall portion 69 is detached from the fixing ring 28. When the screw protector 10 is further turned in the removal direction 38, the stopper edge 78 formed on the second visible wall portion 69 is caught by the driver web 47 of the screw flange 18 following the driver tab 27, and a predetermined breakage occurs. The connecting webs 79, 80, 81, 82 of the means 66 are broken, and the second visible wall portion 69 is also detached from the fixing ring 28.

Claims (15)

A fixing device for arranging a screw protector (10) on a screwed neck (11) integrally formed on a container wall (13) of a plastic container (12).
The screw protector (10) has a protector housing (20) with a screw flange (18) formed concentrically with the plastic inlet neck (19) on the inlet neck (19).
The threaded flange (18) is a threaded neck (18) such that the threaded neck (11) engages an annular neck receiving space (33) formed between the inlet neck (19) and the threaded flange (18). It has an internal screw (17) for tightening to an external screw (16) formed in the screw extension portion (15) of 11).
A fixing ring (28) is arranged between the container wall (13) and the screw flange (18), and the fixing ring (28) is connected to a fixing means for fixing to the screw flange (18) and the container (12). The fixing ring (28) has a locking means (36) for forming the locking means (36) for forming the locking means (36) which is arranged on the inner circumference thereof and faces inward in the radial direction. The locking means (36) has a locking end (52) for locking with the stopper means (48) formed on the container (12), and has an external screw (16) having a diameter D of a threaded neck (11). ) Is located on a lock circumference (53) that is greater than or equal to the diameter d. In the fixing device of claim 1,
A fixing device characterized in that an axial stopper (34) for contacting the front end (35) of the threaded neck (11) is formed in the neck receiving space (33). In the fixing device of claim 1 or 2,
The stopper means (48) is a fixing device formed on a neck base (14) of a threaded neck (11) formed adjacent to a container wall (13). In the fixing device of claim 3,
The neck base (14) is realized as a collar formed in the transition region from the container wall (13) to the threaded extension (15) of the threaded neck (11), the collar being distributed on its circumference. A fixing device having hook protrusions, each of which has a hook surface (51) extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the screw protector (10). In the fixing device of claim 4,
The hooking protrusion is formed as a hooking inclined portion (49) having an inclined surface (50) that rises from the outer periphery of the neck base (14) and forms a hooking shoulder portion on the hooking surface (51). A fixing device characterized by. In any one of the fixing devices of claims 1 to 5,
The length of the threaded neck (11), the structure of the external thread (16) of the threaded neck (11), and the distribution of the hook protrusions (43) on the outer circumference of the neck base (14) are in the axial direction of the protector housing. When the stopper (34) comes into contact with the front end (35) of the threaded neck (11) with a predetermined preload force, at least one locking projection (37) of the locking means (36) of the fixing ring (28) is hooked. A fixing device characterized in that it is selected to be elastically hooked behind the hooking surface (51) of the stop protrusion (43). In any one of the fixing devices of claims 1 to 6,
An inner sealing surface (56) formed by the outer wall (32) of the inlet neck (19) and an inner wall (57) of the threaded neck (11) to form a radial acting sealing means. A seal space (59) with an outer seal surface (58) is formed, and the seal space (59) is housed in the seal space (59) so as to be in contact with the inner seal surface (56) and the outer seal surface (58). A fixing device comprising an O-ring seal (30) to be formed. In the fixing device of claim 7,
In order to form the seal space (59), a circumferential recess (60) is formed in the inner opening edge of the front end (35) of the threaded neck (11) to axially partition the seal space (59) and to form the seal space (59). A fixation characterized in that an axially recessed section screen (62) is formed by a recess (60) with respect to a stopper surface (61) in contact with the axial stopper (34) of the neck receiving space (33). Device. In the fixing device of claim 7 or 8.
The inner sealing surface (56) and / or the outer sealing surface (58) is axially tapered so that the height of the sealing space (59) decreases in the direction of the threaded neck (11). A fixing device characterized by that. In any one of the fixing devices of claims 1 to 9,
The fixing means has a driver pocket (29) formed on the front surface (40) of the fixing ring (28), the front surface (40) facing the screw flange (28), and the driver pocket (29). Formed on the screw flange (18) so that the screw protector (10) and the fixing ring (28) are coaxially arranged when the driver tab (27) engages with the driver pocket (29) in a mated state. A fixing device comprising engaging with a screwdriver tab (27). In the fixing device of claim 10,
The fixing ring (28), in addition to the driver pocket (29), allows at least another driver element (41) to transmit torque from the threaded flange (18) to the fixing ring (28) only in the mounting direction (39). A fixing device characterized by having. In the fixing device of claim 11,
The fixing device (41) is a fixing device formed on a screw flange (18) and having a radial stopper surface (45) in contact with a web flank (46) of a driver web (47) extending in the axial direction. .. In the fixing device of claim 12,
The driver element (41) shafts with a matching locking element (44) formed on the threaded flange (18) so that the fixing ring (28) is fixed coaxially to the threaded flange (18) at a mounting position. A fixing device having a hooking projection (43) that hooks in a direction. In any one of the fixing devices of claims 1 to 13,
The driver pocket (29) is illicitly opened so that the base wall (64) formed on the fixing ring (28) is provided with a visible wall (64) connected via a predetermined breaking means (66, 67). A receiving space (65) for the driver tab (27) of the screw flange (18) is between the base wall (63) and the visible wall (64) so that it is configured as a protective element and constitutes the driver pocket (29). A fixing device characterized in that it is formed in. In the fixing device of claim 14,
The visible wall (64) has at least two visible wall portions (69,70) connected to the base wall (63) via a predetermined breaking means (66,67), and the screw flange (18) is removed. The visible wall portion (69) in front of the direction (38) has a stopper edge (71) for the driver tab (27), and the visible wall portion (70) behind the removal direction (38) is in the removal direction (70). A fixing device comprising a stopper edge (78) for a driver web (47) of a threaded flange (18) following 38).

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