MXPA97006166A - An aplastable tubular package and construction method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for constructing a tubular package, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) generating a tubular body, said tubular body having a first open end and a second open end, b) generating a tube head that it has an internal support surface, an external support surface, and a perimeter border, c) locating said tube head on a mandrel having an anvil surface that fits against said internal support surface, d) locating said mandrel and said tube head inside said first end of said tubular body so that a continuous wall portion of said tubular body extends longitudinally beyond said perimetric edge of said tube head to form an extended wall portion; wall portion internally extended against said external support surface of said tube head to form a stamped end of said body bular, said tube head being supported by said anvil surface of said mandrel, and f) ultrasonically welding said stamped end of said tubular body to said external support surface of said tube head to close said first open end of said tubular body, and melting an energy concentrating ring extending longitudinally from said external support surface of said tube head in a sealing interface between said stamped end and said external support surface, said stamping and ultrasonically welding steps being carried out in an operation by a common tool in direct contact with said extended wall portion

Description

AN APLASTABLE TUBULAR PACKAGE AND CONSTRUCTION METHOD FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to collapsible, tubular packages that only closes reconnected! It is in an ex tube tube, and to methods to weld together the elements of the tubular paqu.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Crushable tubular packages are used for the production of viscous products such as dental pastes and ointments. A tubular body is typically formed and closed in an outer tube by sealing a reconeeable closure attachment to that end. The product is then added to the end of the tube. The o < The outer tube of the tube is closed by flattening it perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, and by applying a pleated and / or flat thermal seal. Some tubular bodies are manufactured as extruded or blown tubes and some are manufactured by sealing two edges of a rolled piece of thermoplastic film together. Retractable closure accessories, called tube heads, are usually reserved for screw closures. cj typically manufactured by injection molding. Tube heads are typically welded to one end of an open tube by induction or dielectric sealing methods, or by convection / conduction sealing methods. For example, a tube head and a tubular body can be joined and welded by induction clipping or by dielectric heating under the pressure of a working tool at room temperature or at room temperature, which provides pressure to the inside of the body. the births. The induction heating depends on a metallic layer in the tube head, the tubular body, or both, being heated by placing an oscillating magnetic induction field around the tube head. The dielectric heating depends on certain plastic materials, which have polar molecules, being heated by placing an electromagnetic field of radio frequency around the tube head. The convection / conduction methods use hot air and / or a heated tool to carry the heat through a part to the interface between them, which is then maintained under pressure to generate a weld. Methods that use cold working tools, such as induction and dielectric energy, generally carry out tube welding with the pipe head faster than methods using hot bottom t tools. Several references of the prior art describe three-piece tube constructions containing a rolled tubular body, a laminated shoulder piece and an injection molded fitment. It is thought that the metallic layer serves as a heating medium for the induction sealing. For example, the US patent. No. 4,526,297 by Grnnsley issued on July 2, 1985, has a metallic lamin succession of three-piece tube. TUcha construction requires training, manipulation and a r the three components, which is considered less convenient than forming and manipulating only two components. Welding a tube with a tube head that has a commingled shoulder often requires a cylindrical ridge extending from the shoulder, which can be rolled against the tube, or stamping one end of the tube to adapt the angle of the tube. shoulder of the tube head. In any method, a part is given a surface that overlaps that of the other part to create a sealing interface. The flange on the shoulder represents added material, which is added to the cost of the tubular package. It also hardens the closing package of the ex emo download, making it difficult to compress the last part of the package product. The welding of the flange typically includes the rotation of the tube and the progressive application of radial pressure, while the alternative stamping involves axially applying pressure over the entire sealing area. Therefore, it is often? Refepble to stamp the end of the tube to provide a flange. The stamping was typically done before the parts were joined together by sealing. What has been missing is a low-cost tubular package made of only the pieces, not one of which has a costly metallic layer or requires polar molecules; and a construction method that has stamped and welded and tube in one step with minimum time per cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Ultrasonic welding is an alternative sealing method to induction and dielectric welding, which also has a cold working tool to provide fast welding cycles. Ultrasonic welding does not depend on polar molecules or metallic laminates arranged in layers to generate heat in a sealing shell. Rather, the vibratory energy becomes heat in the interface between the parts. Thus, traceability provides considerable freedom in the selection of tepnoplastic material, as well as high-speed training. In one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible tubular package having a reclosable closure comprises a tubular body having a first open end and a second open end. It also comprises a tube head having an outer shoulder surface and a perineum rim. The tube head is located just inside the first open end of the tubular body, so that a continuous wall portion of the tubular body extends longitudinally up to the bottom of the pipe cap. The continuous wall portion is embossed and ultrasonically welded to the outer shoulder surface, the second open end of the tubular body is flattened and sealed tightly. Preferably, the tube head has a ring of concentration of molten energy in a sealing interface between the continuous wall portion and the external shoulder surface, and the tubular body and the tube head comprise only two individual parts made of non-polar plastic welds that lack metallic laminates and metal particles in them. Preferably, the continuous wall portion of the tubular body extends approximately 2 millimeters to 4 millimeters beyond the perimetral edge of the pipe head before it is stamped. In another aspect of the present invention, an all f > To construct a tubular package having a reclosable closure comprises the steps of generating a tubular body having a first open end and a second open end; and a tube head having an internal shoulder surface, an outer shoulder surface and a percutaneous edge. Other steps include locating the tube head on a mandrel, which has a bearing surface that fits against the inner shoulder surface; and locating the mandrel and the tube head within the first open end of the tubular body, such that a continuous wall portion of the tubular body extends longitudinally beyond the peprotic edge of the tube head. The step includes embossing the wall portion contiguous to the outer shoulder surface of the tube head to form a stamped end of the tubular body, while the tube head is supported by the mandrel support surface. . Still another step includes ultrasonically welding the stamped end of the tubular body to the external shoulder surface of the tube head to close the open end ppmer of the tubular body 1. The method comprises embossing the steps of filling the product into the second open end of the tubular body. In this case, flatten the second open end and seal the second open end closed hermetically. The method may further comprise a step of melting an energy concentrating ring in a sealing interface between the oxture or embossing and the spacing surface extrudes. The reconnect closure can be fixed to the pipe head before welding the pipe head to the pipe body or after welding the pipe head to the pipe body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Even though the specification concludes with claims that paricularly state and claim the present invention in a different manner, it is thought that the present invention will be better understood from the following description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers identify identical elements, and wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the collapsible tubular package of the present invention, describing a cioi e, a tube head and a tubular body-; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a mandrel used in a preferred method of combining a tube head and a tubular body; Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof, showing the closure and the tube head of Figure 1 assembled and mounted thereto; Figure 4 is a front elevational view in section thereof, showing the position of the tube head within a first open end of the tubular body - before welding the two parts together; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 4 in the shaded circle 5, showing a concentric ring of ultrasonic energy projecting outwardly from the shoulder of the tube head; Figure 6 is a front elevational view in section similar to Figure 4, showing an ultrasonic rod stamping the first open end of the tubular body against the external shoulder surface of the tube head, while the tube head is supported by the tube head. mandrel, and soldering the first open ex-emo rimmed to the head of the tube head; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 6 in the shaded circle 7, showing the welded plate between the tubular body and the tube head; Figure 8 shows a front elevational view partially in section of the assembled collapsible tubular package of Figure 1, showing the inverted and full tube; and Figure 9 is a view in elevation thereof, showing the second open end of the tubular body flattened and hermetically closed by sealing jaws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure L, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, which provides a tubular-collapsible package, and which is generally indicated as 10. The package 10, shown in FIG. schematically, it comprises a reclosable closure 12, a tube head generally indicated as 14, and a tubular body IB. The tube head 14 has a shoulder 18, which has a resilient edge 20, an external surface 22, an internal surface 23 (not shown in Figure 1), and a threaded fitting 24. The accessory 24 has a hole 25 a Through the same (not shown in Figure 1) that provides communication of the fluid with the tubular body-16 when the package 10 is assembled. The tube head 14 also preferably has an energy concentrating ring 26, used to ultrasonically weld the tube head 14 to the tubular body 15. The head of the hub 14 is preferably injection molded; however, the thermoforming of the tube head, including the fitting, can provide a way to incorporate a barrier layer into the tube head. The tubular body 15 has a first open end and a second open end 30. It is shown that the tubular body 15 has an overlap seam 32; however, the tubular body 15 can be a seamless tube, such as can be manufactured by blowing or plastics extrusion processes. The tube head 14 and the tubular body 16 are preferably each made of plastic. They do not need to have metallic laminations or expensive metal particles thereon for induction sealing, nor do they need to be made of plastics having polar molecules. necessary for dielectric sealing. Rather, materials need only be compatible with thermal welding by ultrasonic vibration. Figure 2 shows a mandrel generally indicated as 34, which is used to keep and weld the tube head 14 to the tubular body 15. The mandrel 34 has a body 35 that fits loosely in the tubular body 16, preferably with a space free from 0.076 millimeters to 0.0254 millimeters. The mandrel 34 also has a passage 30, a shoulder portion 40, and a centering stud 42. The passage 38 locates the second open member 30 when the mandrel 34 is inserted into the tubular body 16. The pin 20 centered 42 locates the fixture 24 on the mandrel, assuming that the fixture 24 is centered over the tube head 14. If the fixture 24 does not sit on the tube head 14, I may need to orient itself around the per-no. 42 to be inserted into the tubular body 16. The shoulder portion 40 substantially has the same contour as the inner shoulder surface 23 of the tube head 14, which functions as a support surface for welding-the tubular body 16 to the external shoulder surface 22. The shoulder portion 40 may have vacuum holes (not shown) that can act to hold a tube head on the mandrel 34 ,. Also, a spring closure fit for holding a pipe head on the mandrel 4 can be used. Figure 3 shows the lock 12 pre-threaded to the pipe head 14 and both slid on the centering bolt 42 of the mandrel 34. In this condition, the mandrel 34 is inserted into the second open end 30 and through the tubular body 16 to locate the tube head 14 at the first open end 28. However, several other assembly sequences are possible. First, the closure 12 does not need to be installed on the head of the hub 14 until after the parts are welded or shortly before filling the tubular 10. Second, the mandrel 34 can be inserted into the tubulai body 16, followed by placement of the tube head 14 on the centering bolt 42. Since the tube head 14 preferably fits smoothly in the tubular body 16can be dropped at an open first end 28 and onto the mandrel 34. The preferred assembly sequence is that shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the location of the body. tubular 16 on the mandrel 34, the location of the tube head 14 on the mandrel 34, and the relationship between the tube head 14 and the tubular body 16 prior to stamping at the first open end 28. A continuous wall portion 27 of the tubular body 16 extends preferentially about 2 mm to 4 mm longitudinally beyond the peprnet ridge 20 of the tube head 14 ,. The shaded circle 5 indicates the location of the enlarged view of Figure 5. Figure 5 shows more clearly the energy concentration ring 26 on the external shoulder surface 22 of the tube head 14. Although ultrasonic welding does not require the ring 26, the ring 26 serves to improve the ultrasonic sealing and to reduce the precision with which an ultrasonic rod must align with the mandrel 34 to effect an adequate seal all the way around the tube head 14. For example, if the mandrel 34 is one of four mandrels radially mounted with equally spaced spokes on an adjusting wheel, and an ultrasonic pole is externally mounted on the wheel, some difference in alignment could be expected with the mandrel shaft at another angle. of an ao ro index. Figure 6 shows a unique ultrasonic horn 44 recessed on the tube head 14, which is supported by the mandrel 34. The horn 44 is preferably hollow to surround the closure 12 and the accessory 24 of the tube head 14 without putting them in Contact. An ultrasonic pole allows heating to occur in the sealing shell in tenths of a second, without having to conduct heat through one part or the other. Likewise, being a cold working tool, as opposed to a hot working tool, an asonic shank, typically made of aluminum, extracts heat from the softened sealing insert allowing the welding to form quickly. Thus, minimum time per cycle is provided by the use of the ultrasonic rod 44. The rod 44 has an internal passage 46 which is the continuous wall portion 27 against the outer surface 22 to form the stamped end 48 on the body. -po tubular 16. The stamping step occurs as the shaft 44 ba a on the continuous wall portion 27. The passage 38 of the mandrel 34 holds the second open ex-oar 30 of the tubular body 16 as stamping occurs. During this procedure, wrinkling occurs at the stamped end 48. However, as the internal passage 46 of the tool 44 presses the stamped ex emo 48 against the external shoulder surface 22 of the tube head 14, the wrinkles are flattened and the patterned end 48 is attached to the surface 22. This is best seen in Figure 7, which is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 6 in the shaded circle 6. Figure 7 also shows the inner shoulder surface 23 of the tube head 14, which is supported by the shoulder 40 of the mandrel 34. The arrows 50 show the direction of vibration of the rod 44. The energy-condensing ring 26 melts and flows in an on-shell seal 52, which is created between the stamped end 48 and the external shoulder surface 22. When the weld is completed, a wedge transition is preferably formed at the end of the stamped end 48. Figure 8 shows the head of the tube 14 With the tubular body 16, and the closure 12 installed on the tube head 14. As indicated above, the closure 12 can be installed before or after the tube head 14 and the tubular body 16 are welded together. Figure 8 has been sectioned partly to show the product 54 filled in the tubular package * 10 inverted from the second open end 30. Sufficient space is provided for the arpba head of the product 54 to allow the flattening and closing of the second end open 30. Figure 9 shows the second open end 30 flattened substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body L6. The second open end 30 is preferably flattened and sealed by a pair of opposed sealing dies 55 and 58. Sealing of the second open end 30 may occur prior to filling, and the filling can be achieved through the hole 52 in the tube head 14; however, the small size of the hole 52 relative to the second open end 30 can cause the filling time to be excessive. Thus, filling through the second open end 30 is preferred. Likewise, the second open end 30 can be sealed in a plane that is not centered on, or perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 16. However, said alternative does not It would be symmetrical. In addition, the tubular body 16 and the mandrel 34 are not necessarily cylindrical, but the cylindrical shape is preferred to avoid orientation problems of the tube head. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pipe head 14 is molded of low density polyethylene, and the conical shoulder 18 is 0.51 millimeters thick where it is welded. The ring 26 rises approximately 0.43 millimeters from the outer shoulder surface 22 to a point, having an included angle of 90 °. The shoulder 18 is angled approximately 45 ° to the axis of rotation of the tube head. The diameter of the pipe head 14 at the perimetic edge 20 is approximately 27.18 millimeters. The tubular body 16 is made of a high density polyethylene laminate, vinyl alcohol-ethylene copolymer, and linear low density polyethylene. The laminate has a GS6268 specification number, and is manufactured by American National Can of Washington, N, 3 ,. Body 16 has a par-ed thickness of 0.28 millimeters. The internal diameter of the tubular body 16, where the film overlaps and sews, is approximately 27.43 millimeters. The mandrel 34 is made of solid steel and has the same body diameter as the tube head 14. The shoulder or bearing surface 40 of the mandrel 34 is angled at 45 ° to the axis of rotation of the mandrel. The ultrasonic seal is achieved by an ultrasonic seller 20KHZ rnodolo Branson 401, manufactured by Branson Ultrasorucs of Danbury, CT. A pressure of 275.8 bar is developed in the welding area for a period of approximately 0.8 seconds of vibration and 0.5 seconds of sustained time. It is estimated that the amplitude of vibration is 0.051 mrn. The shaft 44 is made of aluminum 2024 T351, and the internal passage 46 is angled to approximately 45 ° r-spike from the axis of rotation of the shaft. Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that it is intended to cover the claims annexed, all those modifications that are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A collapsible tubular package having a recognizable closure, said package characterized by: a) a tubular body having a first open end and a second open end; and b) a tube head having an outer shoulder surface and a peprometric edge, said tube head being located just inside said first open end of said tubular body, such that a continuous wall portion of said tubular body is extends longitudinally beyond said perpendicular edge of said tube head, said continuous wall portion being stamped against, and ultrasonically welded, said external shoulder undersheet, said second open end of said tubular body being flattened and closed tightly. .

2. A collapsible tubular package having a reclosable closure, said package characterized by. a) a tubular body having a first open end and a second open end, said tubular body made of plastic that has no metal laminates therein; and b) a tube head made of plastic and not having metal laminates therein, said tube head having an external shoulder surface and a perimetc border, said tube head being located just inside said first open end of said body tubular, so that a portion of p ed continues to be stamped against, and ultrasonically welded to, said external shoulder surface, said second open end of said tubular body being flattened and hermetically sealed.

3. The tubular package according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said tube head has a ring of concen- tration of molten energy in a sealing interface in said continuous wall portion and said external shoulder surface. .

4. The tubular package according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said tubular body and said tube head are made of non-polar solids plastics that do not have metallic laminates or metal particles therein. .

5. A method to build a tubular package having a reclosable closure characterized by the steps of: a) generating a tubular body, said tubular body having a first open end and a second open end; b) generating a tube head having an internal shoulder surface, an external shoulder surface, and a peprnetric edge; c) locating said tube head on a mandrel having a bearing surface that conforms to said inner shoulder surface; d) locating said mandrel and said tube head within said first open end of said tubular body, such that a continuous wall portion of said tubular body extends longitudinally beyond said sharp edge of said tube head.; e) stamping said continuous wall portion against said external shoulder surface of said tube head to form a stamped end of said tubular body, said tube head being supported by said support surface of said mandrel; and f) ultrasonically welding said stamped end of said tubular body to said outer shoulder surface of said tube head to close said first open end of said tubular body.

6. The method according to claim 5, further characterized by a step of melting an energy concentration ring in a sealing interface between said stamped extrusion and said external shoulder surface. t. - The method according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said portion of continuous parod of said tubular body extends from about 2 mm to 4 nrn beyond said perpendicular edge of said tube head. 8. The method according to any of claims 5, 6 or 7, further characterized by the step of filling product in said open end stud of said tubular package. 9. The method according to any of claims 5, 6, 7 or 8, further characterized by the steps of: a) flattening said second open end; and b) sealing said second open end closed hermetically. 10. The method according to any of claims 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein said tubular body and said tube head are made of non-polar solids plastics that do not have metallic laminates or torque. metallic particles in them.