MXPA99008993A - Cap with plastic sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a metallic cap (10) for closure or overcap closure of a container, with a top (11) and a skirt (12) comprising a metallic wall, with an opening zone to be broken when it is first opened. The invention is characterised in that said cap (10) comprises a plastic sleeve (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) adhering to said metallic wall in the part of said cap corresponding to said opening zone.

Description

CAPSULE WITH PLASTIC MATERIAL SLEEVE Field of the Invention The invention relates to the domain of the capsules, and more particularly to that of the metal cap and overcap capsules. The overcap capsules, applied on the neck or bottlenecks of the containers provided with a stopper, are intended, in addition to their certain decorative effect, especially to ensure the inviolability of the containers. These overcap capsules are optionally provided with first facilitated opening means (lines of weakening, removable or detachable tabs, etc ...), but the head of the capsule is cut off on one side, so that the container can be uncovered immediately. .

State of the Art Numerous metallic overcap capsules are already known, especially those described in the following patents, in the name of the applicant: REF. 31313 in the European patent EP-B1-363 285, there is described an easy uncoupling aluminum overcap capsule, having a peripheral joint or rib, so as to allow the guidance of a blade or blade for trimming the capsule at the tof the first opening. in the French patent FR-B1-2 636 257, a metal capsule is described having a non-cutting tear line obtained by a succession of reliefs and transverse recesses. - also in the French patent FR-B1-2 657 031, describes an aluminum capsule with a tear line not cuttable thanks to a succession of reliefs and alternating holes. - finally in the French patent FR-B1-2 665 887, an overcap capsule is described which can be cut without risk of injury. This capsule is made of a multilayer material consisting of two layers of aluminum joined together by an adhesive layer of Shore hardness less than 80.

Posed problem They are requesting products manufactured to a level of safety in the increasingly higher use. This is also the case of the metallic capsules of overlap and cover, although, cut in a correct way, they present very few risks of injuring the consumer by shear due to the metal slice formed at the tof the first opening. However, it is advisable that the manufactured products take into account the risks that can increase in the case of a consumer who would proceed to a cut of the capsule according to a non-academic method or being distracted. Already in the past, as mentioned in the state of the art, various attempts have been made to solve this problem. In the case of overcap capsules not provided with the first facilitated opening means, it is known from the French patent FR-Bl-2 665 887, that an overcap capsule made from a multilayer material consisting of two layers of aluminum joined or connected to each other by an adhesive layer of Shore hardness less than 80, can be trimmed without risk of injury. This solution has not been developed commercially because of the considerably higher manufacturing cost, taking into account the initial cost of the multi-layer material of the M / P / M type, where M designates a metallic layer of aluminum, and P designates a layer of adhesive material.

The problem to be solved is on the one hand to obtain capsules that are at the same tnon-cutting after trimming on one side, and that are of a low cost price. In addition, it is important that these capsules are similar in terms of their tactility, malleability, sonority when they come into contact with other objects, lead-tin capsules, which are often forbidden in general by national legislation, and so on. the image of "high tone or scale" is still desired by the consumer. Finally, the applicant has wished to develop a capsule that can, if necessary, be provided with facilitated opening means, at the tof the first opening by the consumer, so that the same manufacturing line can, by choice, drive to capsules that can be opened either by trimming on one side, or by pulling typically onto a tongue or a tear strip.

Description of the invention According to the invention, the cap or overcap capsule of a container, having a head and a skirt comprising a metal wall, having an opening area intended to be broken at the time of the first opening, is characterized in that said The capsule comprises a sleeve of plastic material which adheres to said metal wall in the part of said capsule corresponding to the opening area. The applicant has taken the surprise to note that the proposed solution allows simultaneously solve all the problems raised, which is to reduce the risk of injury, improve the "feel" of the capsules, or allow the union of the means of first opening facilitated. In general, the opening area comprises the upper part of the skirt - that which is close to the head - generally located at the level of the glass ring in the case where the container is a bottle. However, it can also comprise the end of said skirt, up to the angle formed by the skirt and the head, insofar as certain consumers cut only the head of the capsule on one side. Consequently, according to the invention, said skirt is covered by the sleeve over a height corresponding at least to that of the opening area.

Description of the Figures Figure 1 schematizes the formation of a rough piece of the capsule (2) from a wound material (1), which may be an aluminum strip of multilayer material comprising an aluminum layer. Said rough-cut piece (2), which can be formed by any known method, typically by stamping and lamination, by gluing, has a skirt (21) and a head (22). Said chipped piece (2) is represented in axial half-axial, the axis (9) is a cylindrical symmetry axis. The same representation has been used for Figures 2a to 4c. Figures 2a to 4c represent in axial half-caps the capsules (10) according to the invention. On Figures 2a and 2b, the sleeve (31, 32) is inside said roughing piece (2). On Figure 2a, said sleeve (31) covers the skirt (21) over its entire height, while on Figure 2b, said sleeve (32) does not coat the skirt (21) more than on the opening area. On Figures 3a and 3b, the sleeve (33, 34) is on the outside of said roughing piece (2). On Figure 3a, said sleeve (33) covers the skirt (21) over its entire height, while on Figure 3b, said sleeve (34) does not coat the skirt (21) more than on the opening area. On Figure 4a, analogous to Figure 2b, there is shown a capsule (10) having a circular tear strip (4) with its opening tab (40), formed between two weakening lines (41). On Figure 4b, analogous to Figure 2a, there is shown a capsule (10) having a vertical tear strip (5) with its opening tab (50), formed between two weakening lines (51). The tear strip extends over the entire height of the skirt (21). On Figure 4c, analogous to Figure 2a, there is shown a capsule (10) having at the same time a circular tear strip (4) and a vertical tear strip (5) extending from below the skirt (21) up to the height of said circular tearing band (4). On Figure 4d, there is shown, by way of example, a capsule analogous to that of Figure 4b, but whose head of the capsule is open (220), which allows placing the opening tab (50) from of the level of the head (22).

Figures 5 to 8 are axial half-shells of an example of the device intended to internally cover said rough-out part (2) with the sleeve (31, 32), which illustrate the stages of the corresponding procedure. Figure 5 shows a die (6) that comrpenses a central spreader ring with a substantially frustoconical end (62) on which a metal expandable cap with spring et (61) can be slid with an inner wall in the shape of a truncated cone and with a substantially cylindrical outer wall - in the elevated position, as shown in Figure 5, said expandable bushing (61) is covered with a cylindrical elastomer bushing (60). Figure 5 corresponds to the first stage of the process: a portion of the tube (3) intended to form said sleeve (31, 32) is placed on the cylindrical elastomer bushing (60), its upper rim exceeding a few millimeters. In Figure 6, a sleeve (30) with recessed upper flange (300) is formed on said punch or punch (6), with supply of hot air (7). In Figure 7, the roughing of the capsule (2) is put in place.

In Figure 8, the heating matrix 8 is driven by a reciprocating movement which results in: the separation of the cylindrical elastomer bushing (60), and the sleeve (30) located against the corresponding inner surface of said rough-out part (2), - the transfer of calories, through said roughing piece (2), necessary and sufficient to heat-seal said sleeve (30) to the rough-cut piece (2) and thus form a capsule (10) comprising a chipped piece of the capsule (2) covered internally by a sleeve (32). Figure 9 is an axial sectional view of a rough piece of the capsule (2) used for the tests. It has a skirt (21) whose opening area (210), in its upper part, is thinned. Figure 10 is a mixed view (in section on the right side - seen from the side on the left side) of a capsule (10) consisting of a head (11) and a skirt (12), obtained from the rough piece (2) of Figure 9, internally covered with a sleeve (32) on the upper half of its skirt.

Figure 10a is an enlarged sectional view of the splice area between the head (11) and the skirt (12). Figure 11 is a schematic view of the device (13) for the industrial start-up of the method according to the invention in the case of an inner sleeve. This device comprises a barrel (130) that rotates typically to 4 punches or dies (6) and 4 posts designated 1 to 4. In station 1, the portion of the tube (3) is provided and placed on the punch or die (ß), then the sleeve is formed by blowing with hot air (7). In position 2, the rough piece of the capsule is placed on the sleeve (30). In the post 3, the heating matrix (8) is applied with a certain trature, time and pressure. In the post 4, the formed capsule (10) is ejected. The device (13) may comprise other complementary stations.

Detailed description of the invention The capsule (10) according to the invention is constituted of a rough piece of the capsule (2) and of a sleeve (30) - only this signal will be used when it is a sleeve considered in a generic way, if not, other Signals (31, 32, 33, 34) will be used for the specific sleeves. The rough piece of the capsule (2) constitutes the metal wall. The metallic wall simultaneously comprises the case of a metal wall in the strict sense, and a metal-plastic wall according to the starting material (1) is a metal strip or sheet, typically made of aluminum, or a multilayer material comprising a metallic layer and at least one layer of plastic material. According to the invention, the sleeve (30) can be either inside or outside of said skirt - the words < < "interior" and "exterior" are taken with respect to the metal wall of the rough-out part of the capsule (2). In effect, the functions exerted by the cuff and the results obtained are not related to this placement criterion. Preferably, the sleeve (30) is inside said skirt.

The thickness of said sleeve (30) is comprised between 0.3 times and 3 times the thickness of said metal wall of the opening zone. In fact, for the problems according to the invention to be solved, said sleeve is made to have a sufficient thickness, equal to at least 0.3 times the thickness of said metal wall. On the other hand, an excess thickness of said very thick sleeve, beyond 3 times the thickness of said metal wall, would no longer serve to solve the problems posed. Preferably, the thickness of said sleeve is between 0.6 and 1.7 times the thickness of said metal wall. Preferably, the metal wall comprises a layer of aluminum or aluminum alloy, preferably of a reduced alloy (typically of the 1000 series), in the annealed state, and of average thickness comprised between 30 and 100 μm, and may optionally comprise a layer of plastic material of average thickness comprised between 20 and 100 μm, when the starting material (1) is a metalloplastic material. In the case of a metal wall in the strict sense or a metalloplastic wall, the average thickness of said metal wall is preferably between 50 and 80 μm, so that the capsule can be crimped or embedded without forming folds. According to the invention, the plastic material of the sleeve (30) is chosen from films of thermoplastic material in which the varnish comprises a thermoplastic material or the honeycombs lacquered with or without a porogenic agent. Said film of thermoplastic material, which may be single-ply or multi-ply, may comprise a cold-sealable or heat-sealable layer in said ply (21). The heat sealable layer comprises, a polyolefin polymer or copolymer having acid groups and functions, under free or salified form (for example ionomeric resins), ensuring adhesion to a metal wall, especially an aluminum or aluminum alloy wall . By way of example, the Suriyn® films, the co-extruded films of EAA / PE can be cited (LDPE), Morprime® / PP co-extruded films, OREVACc / PE O PP films, etc ... According to another embodiment of the invention, said film of plastic material of the sleeve can make adherent to said skirt thanks to a layer of adhesive, which is deposited at the time of the assembly of the sleeve (30) and of the cut piece (2).

According to another embodiment of the invention, the sleeve can also be obtained by direct injection or matrix-forming of the plastic material inside or outside of said chipped piece. It may be advantageous to use the sleeve for various purposes. Thus, the plastic material of the sleeve (30) can comprise at least one of the following elements: a) dyeing in the mass of said plastic material, b) printing on the surface or, optionally, between the layers in the case of a film of multiple layers, c) incorporation in said plastic material of identifying additives that constitute a means of combating theft, fraud or counterfeiting, d) the external supplementary layer allows adherence to the neck of said container, so that any fraudulent removal of said capsule is prevented without destruction thereof. Contrary to the capsules of the state of the art, corresponding to the pieces of the capsules (2) and which do not thus comprise the sleeve, the capsules according to the invention may comprise means intended to facilitate the first opening (4,40,41; 5, 50, 51), as illustrated in Figures 4a, 4b, 4c and 10.

In fact, the capsules corresponding to the rough pieces (2), for example as illustrated in Figure 9, must have a thinned wall in the opening area (210) in view of the opening in the side by trimming. The Applicant has observed that this same capsule could not be provided with more than one strip of tear - unless a band of a larger width was found, resulting in little aesthetics. Indeed, taking into account undoubtedly the relative reduced thickness of the metal in the opening zone, the tear strip would have the tendency to break before the same has been pulled or pulled over the entire circumference. The capsules according to the invention can thus be used from the same point of view in that they can be opened on one side, but with less risk of injury, without being provided with means intended to facilitate the first opening, and without being It is necessary to modify the specifications of the capsules, in particular the thickness of the metal wall. Another object of the invention is constituted by the method of manufacturing a capsule according to the invention. In the method according to the invention, a) a rough-cut piece (2) of said metallic capsule (10) is first formed by a succession of forming steps of a band (1) or of a sheet comprising a metallic layer, typically by stamping and rolling, so that said cut-out piece has at least 50% of the final height of said capsule, b) said cut-out part (2) is immediately coated by the preformed sleeve (30), making the sleeve (30) adhere. ) to the rough-cut piece (2), c) the shaping of the rough-cut piece (2) is optionally continued if it is incomplete at the exit of stage a), and it is finished or finished, especially the formation of the media ( 4, 40, 41, 5, 50, 51) intended to facilitate the first opening. In this procedure, all the treatments that will be capable of damaging the sleeve (30), especially thermal treatments, can be carried out in step a), and include operations that may require thermal treatments such as decoration of the capsules, which should be performed at a temperature above the melting temperature of said sleeve. It is possible to use in step b), where said roughing piece (2) of the sleeve (30) is covered, to ensure all or part of said shaping or the completion of stage c), for example to form an overhang on the head (11) of the capsule (10), or to deposit a fiscal stamp. According to a preferred embodiment, the sleeve (30) is placed inside said capsule. In this case, the sleeve (30) is preferably constituted by a plastic film, which is applied to the interior of said roughing piece (2): placing the sleeve (3) on a punch or die (6), then placing the rough piece (2) on said sleeve (30), possibly shaped, exercising, thanks to a heating matrix (8), a pressure and a thermal transfer of the matrix (8) towards the cut piece (2), then towards the sleeve (30), during a time and a temperature chosen so as to ensure the adherence of said sleeve ( 30) to the rough piece (2), without there being the fusion of said sleeve (30) at the interface between it and the punch or die (6). This procedure is illustrated in Figures 5 to 8. The applicant has found it particularly advantageous according to the invention to form said sleeve (30) on the die or punch (6) by simple inflation with hot air, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. , choosing to form said sleeve (30) a tubular film obtained by inflation by bubble extrusion, so that, taking into account the memory recovery effect of the film, the end of the portion of the tube (3) is automatically lowered on the head of the punch or die (6), under the action of heat. It is advantageous that said punch or punch (6) comprises a means (61, 62) that allows its radial expansion, so that said sleeve (30) is applied against the cut piece (2) with a sufficient pressure to ensure the adhesion of said sleeve to the rough piece. A specific embodiment of such die or punch (6) is described in Figures 5 to 8. On the one hand, as regards the conditions of pressure, temperature and time that ensure the adherence of said sleeve, it is advisable to have a temperature-time pair in such a way that said sleeve is softened therein, or said sleeve (30) and the rough-cut piece (2) are melted, and that without fusion of said sleeve (30). at the interface between it and the die or die (6). Typically, the heating matrix is at 200-300 ° C, preferably between 200 and 260 ° C, and it is applied for a period of time between 0.1 and 1.5 s, and preferably 0.5 to 0.9 s. On the other hand, as regards the pressure exerted on said sleeve against the roughing piece (2), it should preferably be at least equal to 0.1 daN / mm2, and preferably at least equal to 0.15 daN / mm2. It is also possible to apply, according to the invention, the sleeve (30) to the outside of said roughing, as illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b, and in this case, the sleeve (33, 34) is preferably a heat-shrinkable film that it is applied to the outside of the chipped piece (2). The method according to the invention can use a device for operating the method according to the invention in the case where said sleeve (30) is applied to the inside of the cut piece. This device is illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 and 11. It comprises a die or punch (6) and a heating matrix (8), said die or punch comprises a radially expandable sleeve instead of an axial compression between said die or punch (6) and the die (8), so that said sleeve (30) is applied against the cut piece (2). With the device illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, the axial pressure between the die (8) and the die or punch (6) is transformed into a radial pressure, taking into account the flare ring (62) with the cone shape truncated.

EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION EXAMPLE 1 Shaved pieces (2) of aluminum alloy of the series 1000 formed in Figure 9 have been manufactured by stamping and lamination of the 100 μm thick aluminum strip. A roll of EEA / LDPE film of 29 mm diameter and 90 μm thickness, comprising a layer of 30 μm of E-AA and 60 μm of LDPE, formed by blowing of co-extrusion into bubbles has been provided. A device (13) described in Figure 11 has been used, and in Figures 5 to 8, as regards the detail of each stage: In position 1, they have been formed, from the EEAA film / LDPE, sleeves (30) of 28 mm in height, having a collar (300) of 4 mm obtained instantaneously by blowing hot air (7). In position 2, the rough pieces (2) that have their final height have been provided.

In station 3, the heating matrix (8) is applied at a temperature of 240 ° C for 0.8 s and with an axial force of 300 daN converted into a radial force (200 daN) on a surface of the sleeve of approximately 1100 mm2 - or approximately a pressure of 0.18 daN / mm2. In the post 4, the capsules according to the invention have been ejected. These capsules have been used for the overcapping of wine bottles.

EXAMPLE 2 The capsules according to the invention, identical to those of example 1, have been manufactured, with an additional tear strip (4) as shown in Figure 10, but more specifically intended for the over-coating of alcohol bottles. This band would have a width of 6 mm.

Comparative results: The test capsules 1 have been compared with those of the caps of rough pieces (2). The test capsules 2 have been compared with the Softgard® tin capsules provided with the same strip of tear. The comparison of the capsules has been carried out together with that of the users according to a specific protocol that includes the opening of 15 bottles equipped with capsules under the name of the code and in the presence of a person in charge of observing in detail all the facts. outstanding. The result of these tests is that these capsules according to the invention have been judged, both in their ease of opening, and on the safety of this opening or its feel, superior to the reference capsules in the over-coating of the wine where the product of Reference is the piece itself, and comparable to the reference capsules in the over-coating of alcohols where the reference product is a tin-based capsule.

It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (17)

1. A metal capsule or overcap capsule of a container, having a head and a skirt comprising a metal wall, having an opening area intended to be broken at the moment of a first opening, characterized in that the capsule comprises a sleeve of plastic material that adheres to the metal wall in the part of said capsule that corresponds to the opening area.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the skirt is covered by the sleeve over a height corresponding at least to that of the opening area.

3. The capsule according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the sleeve is inside said skirt.

4. The capsule according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thickness of said sleeve is comprised between 0.3 times and 3 times the thickness of the metal wall of the opening zone.

5. The capsule according to claim 4, characterized in that the metal wall comprises a layer of aluminum or aluminum alloy, in the annealed state, and of average thickness comprised between 30 and 100 μm, and optionally a layer of plastic material of average thickness between 20 and 100 μm.

6. The capsule according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plastic material of said sleeve is chosen between the films of the thermoplastic material or the varnishes comprising a thermoplastic material.

7. A capsule according to claim 6, characterized in that the film of thermoplastic material, which can be single-ply or multi-ply, comprises a cold-sealable or heat-sealable layer with said ply.

8. The capsule according to claim 6, characterized in that the film of plastic material becomes adherent to the skirt thanks to a layer of the adhesive.

9. The capsule according to claim 7, characterized in that the heat-sealable layer comprises a polyolefin polymer or copolymer having acid groups or functions, under the free or salified form, ensuring adhesion to a metal wall, especially an aluminum or aluminum alloy wall. aluminum.

10. A capsule according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the plastic material comprises at least one of the following elements: a) dyeing in the mass of said plastic material, b) printing on the surface or, optionally, between the layers in the case of a multilayer film, c) incorporation into said plastic material of identifying additives that constitute a means of combating theft, fraud and counterfeiting, d) an external supplementary layer that allows adhesion to the neck of said container, so as to prevent any fraudulent lifting of said capsule without the destruction thereof.

11. The capsule according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises means intended to facilitate the first opening.

12. The method of manufacturing a capsule according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, a) a roughing of the metal capsule is first formed by a succession of steps of shaping a band or a sheet comprising a metallic layer, typically by stamping and lamination, so that said rough-cut piece presents at least 50% of the final height of said capsule, b) the rough-cut piece is next coated by the sleeve, preformed, making the sleeve adhere to the sleeve. rough piece, c) possibly continue the shaping of the rough piece if it is incomplete at the exit of stage a), and its completion or finishing, especially the formation of the means intended to facilitate the first opening.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that all the treatments that will be capable of damaging the sleeve, especially thermal treatments, are carried out in stage a) and include operations that may need thermal treatments such as capsule decoration, which they would have to be made at a temperature above the melting temperature of said sleeve.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it is used in step b), wherein the bruised part of the maguri is coated, to ensure all or part of said shaping or the completion or finishing of step c).

15. The method according to any of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the sleeve is constituted by a plastic film, and is applied to the inside of the cut piece, - placing the sleeve on a die or punch, then placing the piece on the sleeve, optionally shaped, - exerting, thanks to a heating matrix, a pressure and a thermal transfer of the matrix towards the cut piece, then towards the sleeve, for a time and at a chosen temperature so as to ensure the adhesion of the sleeve to the rough piece, without there being fusion of the sleeve at the interface between it and the punch or die.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the die or punch comprises a means that allows its radial expansion, so that said sleeve is applied against the chipped piece with a sufficient pressure to ensure the adherence of the sleeve to the chipped piece.

17. The method according to any of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the sleeve is a heat-shrinkable film and is applied to the outside of the cut piece.