US20220185546A1 - Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container - Google Patents
Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20220185546A1 US20220185546A1 US17/645,287 US202117645287A US2022185546A1 US 20220185546 A1 US20220185546 A1 US 20220185546A1 US 202117645287 A US202117645287 A US 202117645287A US 2022185546 A1 US2022185546 A1 US 2022185546A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- screw cap
- cap
- packaging container
- protrusion
- engagement
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title abstract description 19
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 61
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 27
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000005030 aluminium foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
- B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
- B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
- B65D41/0414—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
-
- 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
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
- B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
-
- 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
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
- B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
- B65D41/0471—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means for positioning the cap on the container, or for limiting the movement of the cap, or for preventing accidental loosening of the cap
-
- 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
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
- B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
- B65D41/0485—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means specially adapted for facilitating the operation of opening or closing
-
- 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
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
- B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
- B65D43/0225—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by rotation
- B65D43/0231—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by rotation only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
- B67B3/00—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps
- B67B3/02—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps by applying flanged caps, e.g. crown caps, and securing by deformation of flanges
- B67B3/06—Feeding caps to capping heads
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
- B67B3/00—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps
- B67B3/20—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps
- B67B3/2066—Details of capping heads
-
- 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
- B65D2251/04—Orienting or positioning means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
- B67B3/00—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps
- B67B3/26—Applications of control, warning, or safety devices in capping machinery
- B67B3/262—Devices for controlling the caps
Definitions
- the present invention is related to a screw cap for containers with a threaded neck portion made of polymer material. Furthermore, it is related to a tool for feeding a screw cap onto such a container and a packaging container for foodstuffs. Moreover, it is related to a method for aligning a threaded screw cap with a complementary threaded neck portion of a packaging container. Also, it is related to a method for screwing a screw cap comprising at least one threaded portion onto a neck portion of a packaging container.
- Screw caps for containers having a threaded neck portion have been known in the art for a very long time.
- both the screw cap and the neck portion are made of polymer material, comprising one or more complementary threaded portions for screwing the cap onto the neck.
- packaging containers with a bottle-like shape, having a body portion of laminated paper material and a top portion of polymer material including a threaded neck part are well known.
- packaging containers are Tetra TopTM, Tetra EveroTM and Tetra Evero AsepticTM wherein the latter additionally comprises an oxygen barrier in the form of an aluminium foil as part of the laminated paper material for longer storage time of the foodstuff contained in the packaging container.
- a top portion comprising threaded neck part is injection moulded onto the body, which may be of different material than the top portion as evident from the packaging containers mentioned in the previous paragraph.
- a screw capping unit screws a threaded cap usually made of polymer material and having threads complementary to the threaded neck part is screwed onto the neck part of the packaging container.
- the hollow side of the packaging container is filled with the foodstuff to be contained whereafter the hollow end of the container is folded and sealed.
- the hollow packaging container body including the injection moulded top portion is fed into a rotating drum and rotated to face a screw cap holder while at a distance a screw cap is fed to the screw cap holder. While both the packaging container and the screw cap holder are locked in their radial positions, the screw cap is rotatingly moved towards the top portion of the packaging container and screwed onto its neck portion.
- misalignment may be storage conditions for the caps, such as temperature and moisture, which may influence the expansion coefficients for the cap material. Another reason may be inaccuracies in the relative position of the screw application tool (chuck) and the screw cap. Such misalignment may lead to a slightly oblique application of the cap to the neck and thus either in a not sufficiently sealed container, damaged threaded portions on the neck part and the cap itself or too easy opening of the bottle. Containers with these deviations need to be discarded.
- a solution is provided by a screw cap for containers with a threaded neck portion, where the screw cap comprises a base portion with a top and a bottom surface ( 214 ), an annular portion raised from the base portion which has an inner and an outer surface ( 222 ), at least one first threaded portion arranged on the inner surface of the annular portion, wherein the base portion comprises at least one engagement portion, such that the screw cap is configured to engage a tool with at least one complementary engagement portion in a process of alignment of the screw the cap and a complementary threaded neck portion.
- the engagement portion of the screw cap may be located on the inner surface of the base portion.
- the inner surface is defined as the surface of the base portion facing a pouring opening of the container defined by its neck portion.
- the engagement portion above may be at the outer surface of the screw cap's base portion, where the outer surface is defined as the surface of the base portion facing away from the pouring opening of the container.
- the engagement portion may have many variations, in one embodiment of the screw cap, the engagement portion may comprise at least one protrusion.
- the engagement portion may also be formed by at least one protrusion and a recess adjacent to it. It is contemplated to have the at least one protrusion and recess located in close proximity to each other. In this fashion, movement of a tool during engagement of its shoulder portions complementary to the one or more recesses of the engagement portions is reduced.
- the at least one protrusion of the engagement portion may be vertically aligned with the starting part of the at least one threaded portion on the screw cap.
- the tool according to the present invention is suitable for feeding the screw cap described earlier to a screw cap holder and comprises a body, a top end portion in contact with the body which is arranged to engage the screw cap, a bottom end portion in contact with the body comprising means for mounting the tool onto a tool holder and at least one engagement portion for engaging at least one complementary engagement portion on the screw cap when rotating the screw cap around the tool.
- the engagement portion may be a shoulder portion.
- the top end portion of the tool may be made so that it comprises three shoulder portions arranged along a circular circumference of the top end portion where the shoulders are radially aligned with the center of top end portion.
- the screw cap may be applied to a packaging container for foodstuffs itself comprising a body portion and a threaded neck portion of polymer material.
- Yet another aspect of the present invention is defined by a method for aligning a threaded screw cap with a complementary threaded neck portion of a packaging container.
- a screw cap holder is positioned, such that it faces a screw cap feeding too from which it receives the screw cap.
- the screw cap holder is rotated until there is an engagement between the engagement portion in the screw cap and a complementary engagement portion in the feeding tool.
- the radial position of the screw cap holder is recorded and the screw cap is disengaged from the feeding tool.
- the screw cap holder may move towards the feeding tool or both the screw cap holder and the feeding tool may move towards each other.
- Disengagement may be performed by rotating the screw cap away from engagement and retracting the screw cap from the feeding tool.
- yet another aspect of the present invention is defined by a method for screwing a screw cap to a neck portion of a packaging container comprising at least one complementary threaded portion.
- the method is performed by positioning a screw cap holder which is holding the screw cap, such that it faces the threaded portion of a packaging container and such that their symmetry axes are aligned.
- the screw cap holder rotates the screw cap to a predefined radial position recorded during an alignment step with a screw cap feeding tool.
- the screw cap holder moves towards the packaging container or vice versa rotating the screw cap holder and thus the screw cap in the direction of engagement with the threaded portion of the packaging container, such that the cap is screwed onto the threaded portion.
- the screw cap will always have a well-defined radial position in relation to the neck portion of the packaging container onto which it is screwed and misalignments are minimized.
- FIG. 1 displays a cap application apparatus
- FIGS. 2A-C display one embodiment of the screw cap according to the present invention.
- FIGS. 3A-3C display one embodiment of a loading piston according to the present invention.
- FIG. 4 displays a flow chart illustrating alignment of the screw cap and a loading tool according to one embodiment of the method of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 displays a flow chart illustrating the screwing of the screw cap by means of a screw cap application unit according to one other embodiment of the method of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 displays a cap application assembly 100 for application of the screw cap onto a packaging container.
- the cap application assembly 100 comprises a drum 130 rotatable around an axis A-A and tubular openings 132 for receiving packaging containers.
- the cap application assembly 100 comprises a stripper unit 110 which feeds the packaging containers from the drum 130 onto a capping station where a screw cap is applied to threaded neck portion of the packaging container. The stripper unit 110 then moves the packaging container away from the capping station 120 and places a new packaging container there.
- a screw cap application unit 140 moves downward along the B-B axis and forward along the C-C axis in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1 (forward meaning towards the drum 130 ) to pick up a screw cap from a screw cap handling unit (not shown).
- the screw cap is fed on a piston (not shown) into a screw cap holder or chuck 150 .
- the screw cap application unit 140 moves up along the B-B axis and backward along the A-A axis in the direction of the arrows (i.e. away from the drum 130 ) in order to position the chuck 150 holding the screw cap in front of the package in the capping station 120 .
- the screw cap application unit 140 rotates the chuck 150 while the packaging container is moved towards the chuck 150 .
- the screw cap held in the chuck 150 is screwed onto the threaded neck portion of the packaging container.
- the stripper unit 110 moves the thus closed packaging container away from the capping station 120 to the package filling step where the packaging containers, which are hollow on the end opposite the cap end, are filled with foodstuff and where the open end of the packaging container is folded together and sealed.
- a new packaging container is fed to the capping station and 120 and the screw application cycle starts all over again.
- FIG. 2A is a top view of a screw cap 200 for packaging containers according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- the example screw cap essentially comprises a base part 210 with a top and bottom surface 212 and 214 , the bottom surface 214 being orientated towards the opening spout of a packaging container (not shown) onto which the screw cap is to be applied.
- the screw cap further comprises a first raised annular portion 220 extending from the base part 210 in the direction of the bottom surface 212 of the same and extending along the circumference of the base part. This annular portion is held by the cap holder 150 in cap application unit described in FIG.
- the exemplary screw cap 200 also comprises a second raised annular portion 230 centered around the central axis C-C of the screw cap 200 and extending to a height substantially lower than the height of the first raised annular portion 220 .
- the screw cap 200 according to the embodiment in FIG. 2A also comprises engagement portions 240 comprising three pairs of protrusions 242 and recesses 244 arranged in the bottom surface 214 . As is evident from FIG.
- the three engagement means 240 are arranged on a circle centered around the symmetry axis C-C of the screw cap 200 , where the symmetry axis C-C is perpendicular to a plane in which the bottom surface is located.
- the protrusions 242 and recesses 244 are arranged parallel and in close proximity to each other. Even though the angular separation illustrated by the angle a between the three engagement portions 240 in FIG. 2A is around 120 degrees, the separation need not be uniform nor is the number of engagement portions 240 tied to three. Any number of engagement portions may be arranged with it without uniform separation.
- FIG. 2B illustrates the screw cap 200 from FIG. 2A in a cross section along the axis A-A.
- the screw cap 200 comprises a number of threads on the inner surface 222 of the first raised annular portion 220 which are of which a first and a second thread 252 and 254 are shown, which make it possible to screw the cap 200 onto complementary threads arranged on a neck portion of a packaging container and thus close the container.
- the threads are descending when seen from the bottom surface 212 in the direction of the neck portion of a packaging container (not shown).
- the threads and the engagement portions 240 are aligned such that the starting point of each thread, the starting point 255 of the second thread 254 , for example, is vertically aligned with one end of the protrusion 242 of the engagement portion 240 .
- the significance of this arrangement will be described later in the text.
- the purpose of the engagement portion 240 is to engage a corresponding cap loading tool, such as a loading piston 300 in order for the shoulder portion arranged on the top part of the loading piston 300 to be able to engage the engagement portion 240 .
- a corresponding cap loading tool such as a loading piston 300
- the engagement between the screw cap 200 and the loading piston 300 will prevent further rotation of the screw cap 200 .
- the locked screw cap position can be used in a later screw cap application process to hit the starting point of a complementary threaded neck portion of a packaging container.
- Using the protrusion and recesses 242 , 244 for the engagement portion 240 in the screw cap has the added advantage that the engagement with a complementary shoulder portion of a loading piston 300 is achieved with very little play. Hence, the rotational position of the screw cap 200 achieved when being engaged to the loading piston 300 can be determined even more accurately.
- the reduced play between the engagement portion 240 of the screw cap 200 and the shoulder portions of the loading piston 300 will thus increase precision when applying screw cap 200 to a complementary threaded neck portion of a packaging container and therefore achieve better sealing of the container.
- FIGS. 3A-3C Such an exemplary loading tool is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C . It will be explained later in the text why this is the case.
- FIG. 2C displays the screw cap 200 from FIG. 2A in a cross section along the axis E-E, where especially an enlarged view of one of the engagement portions 240 discussed earlier is illustrated.
- the engagement portion 240 comprises a protrusion 242 having a vertical and a horizontal portion and furthermore one declining portion.
- the protrusion 242 comprises a recess 244 adjacent to the vertical portion of the protrusion 242 , where the recess 244 comprises a declining portion and an arcuate portion.
- This structure of the engagement portion ensures that a shoulder portion of a loading piston which is engaged with the engagement portion 240 of the screw cap 200 stays in the arcuate portion of the recess 244 where its further rotational movement is restricted by the vertical portion of the protrusion 242 with very little play. It is however possible to manufacture the screw cap 200 only comprising protrusions as engagement portions, which would allow for some play between the shoulder portion of the loading piston and the engagement portion of the screw cap, but still leading to satisfactory alignment between screw cap and the neck portion of a packaging container.
- FIG. 3A displays an exemplary embodiment of a loading piston 300 which is used as a tool pushing the cap 200 into the chuck and for orienting it.
- the loading piston 300 has a cylindrical shape comprising a cylindrical body 310 , a top part 320 and a base 330 .
- the top part 320 consists of a conical portion 328 on top of which resides a annular portion 322 which has shoulders 324 arranged along its circumference as complementary engagement portions.
- the loading piston 300 also comprises a recessed portion 326 formed in the top part 320 of the loading piston 300 in order not to contact a slight protrusion in the center of the screw cap see in FIG. 2B for example.
- the function of the shoulders 324 of which three are present in this embodiment of the loading piston 300 is to engage the engagement portions 240 on the screw cap 200 in FIG. 2A .
- the loading piston 300 may have any shape for the complementary engagement portion and any number of these complementary portions which are manufactured so that they are able to engage the engagement portions on the screw cap.
- the engagement means may have different shapes than the ones illustrated as long as they are able to engage the complementary engagement portions in the loading piston 300 leading to restricted movement of the loading piston 300 in the screw cap when the two are engaged.
- the base 330 of the loading piston 300 comprises a conical bore 336 and conical holes 334 for attachment to a feeding unit which is configured to feed a new screw cap into the screw cap holder 150 described in FIG. 1 .
- a spring (not shown) may be arranged in the conical bore 336 which tension can be used by the servo motor rotating the chuck 150 in relation to the loading piston in order to detect the position of engagement between the shoulder portion 324 of the loading piston 300 and the corresponding engagement portion 240 in the screw cap 200 .
- each chuck may be adapted for screwing a cap of different size and possibly adapted in its complementary engagement portion to achieve engagement with different engagement portions in different screw caps.
- FIG. 4 illustrates the steps of a cap orientation method according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- a screw cap such as the screw cap 200 illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C is loaded onto a piston and held stationary there.
- the piston is moved along the C-C axis towards the chuck.
- a servo motor onto which a chuck such as the chuck 300 illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C , is mounted, brings the chuck into rotation along its central axis after the cap is loaded into the chuck.
- the servo motor onto which the chuck is mounted may move towards a stationary piston onto which the screw cap is loaded or both the servo motor together with the chuck and the piston with the screw cap may move towards each other.
- the servo motor checks whether the engagement portion of the screw cap has come into contact with the complementary engagement portion in the loading tool. This can be detected as a stop of the movement of the chuck if no special means for detecting the building up of torque are arranged. Engagement between the screw cap and the loading tool will also lead to a stop of the servo motor.
- the rotational position of the chuck is then recorded, for example in an internal memory connected to the servo motor. If no engagement between the chuck and the screw cap could be detected, the servo motor stops and proceeds with capping routine without knowing the rotational alignment.
- the screw cap is disengaged from the engagement portion of the loading piston by being rotated by the servo motor in the opposite direction away from engagement.
- step 460 the loading piston is moved in a direction along the central axis C-C away from the chuck and cap.
- the chuck will be able to have an exactly defined rotational position in relation to the screw cap, such that the risk of misalignment between the screw cap and a threaded neck portion of a packaging container is minimized.
- FIG. 5 illustrates the screw cap application method according to one embodiment of the present invention in the form of a flow chart.
- the servo motor retrieves the previously saved rotational position of the chuck in relation to the screw cap and rotates the chuck into a new position in relation the saved one so when the cap and neck has engagement they hit each other perfectly aligned.
- the servo motor locks the chuck position to a specific position on the packaging container.
- This can be done with the help of a virtual cam shaft.
- a virtual cam shaft usually, using a real mechanical cam shaft one can determine how other shafts should rotate in relation to the position of the cam shaft.
- such a mechanical cam shaft is made virtual and the other servo motor cam shafts pivot in relation to it. In this way the start of a thread on the screw cap is aligned with a specific rotational position of the neck portion of a packaging container, so that when the cap is screwed onto the neck it hits a predefined spot on the neck portion.
- step 540 the cap is screwed on the packaging container using the steps described in FIG. 1 .
- the engagement portion in the screw cap and the loading piston have been described with respect to one specific embodiment it may be also possible to manufacture the screw cap and the loading piston, such that the engagement portion is located on the outer surface 212 of the screw cap. Also, the engagement portion in the screw cap may need to be vertically aligned with the start of a thread in the cap, but may be located a rotational distance away from it. Likewise, instead of a protrusion and recess being located in the screw cap, they may be located on the loading piston instead, while complementary engagement portions may be located in the screw cap.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Sealing Of Jars (AREA)
- Closing Of Containers (AREA)
Abstract
Screw cap (200), loading piston (300), method for aligning the screw cap (200) and the loading piston (300) in relation to each other and a method for screwing a screw cap (200) onto a threaded neck portion of a packaging container. The screw cap (200) comprises a base portion (210) comprising a top (212) and a bottom surface (214);
-
- an annular portion (220) raised from the base portion (210), the annular portion having an inner (222) and an outer surface (224);
- at least one first threaded portion (252) arranged on the inner surface (222) of the annular portion, wherein
the base portion (210) comprises engagement means (240), such that the screw cap (200) is configured to engage a tool (300) with at least one complementary engagement means in a process of screwing the cap onto the container with the complementary threaded neck portion.
Description
- The present invention is related to a screw cap for containers with a threaded neck portion made of polymer material. Furthermore, it is related to a tool for feeding a screw cap onto such a container and a packaging container for foodstuffs. Moreover, it is related to a method for aligning a threaded screw cap with a complementary threaded neck portion of a packaging container. Also, it is related to a method for screwing a screw cap comprising at least one threaded portion onto a neck portion of a packaging container.
- Screw caps for containers having a threaded neck portion have been known in the art for a very long time.
- Usually, both the screw cap and the neck portion are made of polymer material, comprising one or more complementary threaded portions for screwing the cap onto the neck.
- In the food packaging industry, packaging containers with a bottle-like shape, having a body portion of laminated paper material and a top portion of polymer material including a threaded neck part are well known. Examples of such packaging containers are Tetra Top™, Tetra Evero™ and Tetra Evero Aseptic™ wherein the latter additionally comprises an oxygen barrier in the form of an aluminium foil as part of the laminated paper material for longer storage time of the foodstuff contained in the packaging container.
- After a web of paper material is laminated with several outer polymer materials, folded and spliced to form a hollow packaging container body, a top portion comprising threaded neck part is injection moulded onto the body, which may be of different material than the top portion as evident from the packaging containers mentioned in the previous paragraph. In the next step, a screw capping unit screws a threaded cap usually made of polymer material and having threads complementary to the threaded neck part is screwed onto the neck part of the packaging container. In the ensuing step, the hollow side of the packaging container is filled with the foodstuff to be contained whereafter the hollow end of the container is folded and sealed. It should be mentioned, that in one possible and known implementation of the capping process, the hollow packaging container body including the injection moulded top portion is fed into a rotating drum and rotated to face a screw cap holder while at a distance a screw cap is fed to the screw cap holder. While both the packaging container and the screw cap holder are locked in their radial positions, the screw cap is rotatingly moved towards the top portion of the packaging container and screwed onto its neck portion.
- Experience shows that a small percentage of the thus capped package containers display a misalignment between the cap and the neck part of the container.
- One reason for the misalignment may be storage conditions for the caps, such as temperature and moisture, which may influence the expansion coefficients for the cap material. Another reason may be inaccuracies in the relative position of the screw application tool (chuck) and the screw cap. Such misalignment may lead to a slightly oblique application of the cap to the neck and thus either in a not sufficiently sealed container, damaged threaded portions on the neck part and the cap itself or too easy opening of the bottle. Containers with these deviations need to be discarded.
- In any case, it would be desirable to solve at least some of the problems mentioned earlier leading to better sealing of the capped packaging container and a lower discard rate.
- At least some of the problems with existing technology are solved by a screw cap according to claim 1 of the present invention.
- Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, a solution is provided by a screw cap for containers with a threaded neck portion, where the screw cap comprises a base portion with a top and a bottom surface (214), an annular portion raised from the base portion which has an inner and an outer surface (222), at least one first threaded portion arranged on the inner surface of the annular portion, wherein the base portion comprises at least one engagement portion, such that the screw cap is configured to engage a tool with at least one complementary engagement portion in a process of alignment of the screw the cap and a complementary threaded neck portion.
- In one embodiment, the engagement portion of the screw cap may be located on the inner surface of the base portion. The inner surface is defined as the surface of the base portion facing a pouring opening of the container defined by its neck portion.
- In other embodiment, the engagement portion above may be at the outer surface of the screw cap's base portion, where the outer surface is defined as the surface of the base portion facing away from the pouring opening of the container.
- While the engagement portion may have many variations, in one embodiment of the screw cap, the engagement portion may comprise at least one protrusion.
- Otherwise, the engagement portion may also be formed by at least one protrusion and a recess adjacent to it. It is contemplated to have the at least one protrusion and recess located in close proximity to each other. In this fashion, movement of a tool during engagement of its shoulder portions complementary to the one or more recesses of the engagement portions is reduced.
- To obtain an even better alignment of the above screw cap with a threaded neck portion of a packaging container the at least one protrusion of the engagement portion may be vertically aligned with the starting part of the at least one threaded portion on the screw cap.
- In one variant, there may be three protrusion-recess pairs arranged along a circular circumference of the inner surface of the screw cap, where one end of each protrusion is vertically aligned with the starting parts of three threaded portions arranged along the inner surface of the annular portion.
- Another aspect of the present invention is defined by a tool according to claim 9. The tool according to the present invention is suitable for feeding the screw cap described earlier to a screw cap holder and comprises a body, a top end portion in contact with the body which is arranged to engage the screw cap, a bottom end portion in contact with the body comprising means for mounting the tool onto a tool holder and at least one engagement portion for engaging at least one complementary engagement portion on the screw cap when rotating the screw cap around the tool.
- In one embodiment of the tool, the engagement portion may be a shoulder portion.
- In this way the shoulder or shoulders of the tool will engage the complementary engagement portion on the screw cap and lock the position of the screw cap.
- Corresponding to the embodiment of the screw cap described in the last paragraph dealing with the screw cap, the top end portion of the tool may be made so that it comprises three shoulder portions arranged along a circular circumference of the top end portion where the shoulders are radially aligned with the center of top end portion.
- The screw cap may be applied to a packaging container for foodstuffs itself comprising a body portion and a threaded neck portion of polymer material.
- Yet another aspect of the present invention is defined by a method for aligning a threaded screw cap with a complementary threaded neck portion of a packaging container. According to the method, a screw cap holder is positioned, such that it faces a screw cap feeding too from which it receives the screw cap. The screw cap holder is rotated until there is an engagement between the engagement portion in the screw cap and a complementary engagement portion in the feeding tool. The radial position of the screw cap holder is recorded and the screw cap is disengaged from the feeding tool.
- It may also be mentioned that the screw cap holder may move towards the feeding tool or both the screw cap holder and the feeding tool may move towards each other.
- Disengagement may be performed by rotating the screw cap away from engagement and retracting the screw cap from the feeding tool.
- Finally, yet another aspect of the present invention is defined by a method for screwing a screw cap to a neck portion of a packaging container comprising at least one complementary threaded portion. The method is performed by positioning a screw cap holder which is holding the screw cap, such that it faces the threaded portion of a packaging container and such that their symmetry axes are aligned. The screw cap holder rotates the screw cap to a predefined radial position recorded during an alignment step with a screw cap feeding tool. The screw cap holder moves towards the packaging container or vice versa rotating the screw cap holder and thus the screw cap in the direction of engagement with the threaded portion of the packaging container, such that the cap is screwed onto the threaded portion.
- In this way, the screw cap will always have a well-defined radial position in relation to the neck portion of the packaging container onto which it is screwed and misalignments are minimized.
-
FIG. 1 displays a cap application apparatus -
FIGS. 2A-C display one embodiment of the screw cap according to the present invention. -
FIGS. 3A-3C display one embodiment of a loading piston according to the present invention. -
FIG. 4 displays a flow chart illustrating alignment of the screw cap and a loading tool according to one embodiment of the method of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 displays a flow chart illustrating the screwing of the screw cap by means of a screw cap application unit according to one other embodiment of the method of the present invention. - Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in order for those skilled in the art to be able to carry out the invention. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The embodiments do not limit the invention, but the invention is only limited by the appended patent claims. Furthermore, the terminology used in the detailed description of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention.
-
FIG. 1 displays acap application assembly 100 for application of the screw cap onto a packaging container. It should be mentioned here that once the packaging laminate web is cut and folded into a hollow packaging container body and once a polymer portion comprising a threaded neck portion is injection moulded on top of the packaging container it is forwarded to thecap application assembly 100. Thecap application assembly 100 comprises adrum 130 rotatable around an axis A-A andtubular openings 132 for receiving packaging containers. Moreover, thecap application assembly 100 comprises astripper unit 110 which feeds the packaging containers from thedrum 130 onto a capping station where a screw cap is applied to threaded neck portion of the packaging container. Thestripper unit 110 then moves the packaging container away from thecapping station 120 and places a new packaging container there. While a new packaging container is fed to thecapping station 120, a screwcap application unit 140 moves downward along the B-B axis and forward along the C-C axis in the direction of the arrows inFIG. 1 (forward meaning towards the drum 130) to pick up a screw cap from a screw cap handling unit (not shown). The screw cap is fed on a piston (not shown) into a screw cap holder orchuck 150. Then, the screwcap application unit 140 moves up along the B-B axis and backward along the A-A axis in the direction of the arrows (i.e. away from the drum 130) in order to position thechuck 150 holding the screw cap in front of the package in thecapping station 120. Finally, the screwcap application unit 140 rotates thechuck 150 while the packaging container is moved towards thechuck 150. In this fashion the screw cap held in thechuck 150 is screwed onto the threaded neck portion of the packaging container. Once the screwing step has been completed, thestripper unit 110 moves the thus closed packaging container away from thecapping station 120 to the package filling step where the packaging containers, which are hollow on the end opposite the cap end, are filled with foodstuff and where the open end of the packaging container is folded together and sealed. At the same time a new packaging container is fed to the capping station and 120 and the screw application cycle starts all over again. -
FIG. 2A is a top view of ascrew cap 200 for packaging containers according to one embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen inFIG. 2B the example screw cap essentially comprises abase part 210 with a top andbottom surface bottom surface 214 being orientated towards the opening spout of a packaging container (not shown) onto which the screw cap is to be applied. The screw cap further comprises a first raisedannular portion 220 extending from thebase part 210 in the direction of thebottom surface 212 of the same and extending along the circumference of the base part. This annular portion is held by thecap holder 150 in cap application unit described inFIG. 1 when it is prepared for being screwed onto a neck portion of a packaging container the type of which have been mentioned in the background of invention section. The outer surface of theannular portion 220 may or may not comprise vertical ribs facilitating gripping of the screw cap when the closed packaging container is to be opened. Moreover, theexemplary screw cap 200 also comprises a second raisedannular portion 230 centered around the central axis C-C of thescrew cap 200 and extending to a height substantially lower than the height of the first raisedannular portion 220. Additionally, thescrew cap 200 according to the embodiment inFIG. 2A also comprisesengagement portions 240 comprising three pairs ofprotrusions 242 and recesses 244 arranged in thebottom surface 214. As is evident fromFIG. 2A the three engagement means 240 are arranged on a circle centered around the symmetry axis C-C of thescrew cap 200, where the symmetry axis C-C is perpendicular to a plane in which the bottom surface is located. In this specific embodiment, theprotrusions 242 and recesses 244 are arranged parallel and in close proximity to each other. Even though the angular separation illustrated by the angle a between the threeengagement portions 240 inFIG. 2A is around 120 degrees, the separation need not be uniform nor is the number ofengagement portions 240 tied to three. Any number of engagement portions may be arranged with it without uniform separation. -
FIG. 2B illustrates thescrew cap 200 fromFIG. 2A in a cross section along the axis A-A. Thescrew cap 200 comprises a number of threads on theinner surface 222 of the first raisedannular portion 220 which are of which a first and asecond thread cap 200 onto complementary threads arranged on a neck portion of a packaging container and thus close the container. The threads are descending when seen from thebottom surface 212 in the direction of the neck portion of a packaging container (not shown). In one possible variant of thescrew cap 200, there are three threads of which one is not shown inFIG. 2B and where each thread is aligned to oneengagement portion 240 illustrated inFIG. 2A . The threads and theengagement portions 240 are aligned such that the starting point of each thread, thestarting point 255 of thesecond thread 254, for example, is vertically aligned with one end of theprotrusion 242 of theengagement portion 240. The significance of this arrangement will be described later in the text. - The purpose of the
engagement portion 240 is to engage a corresponding cap loading tool, such as aloading piston 300 in order for the shoulder portion arranged on the top part of theloading piston 300 to be able to engage theengagement portion 240. During a screw cap alignment procedure described further down in the text, the engagement between thescrew cap 200 and theloading piston 300 will prevent further rotation of thescrew cap 200. While being locked in the rotational direction due to the engagement, the locked screw cap position can be used in a later screw cap application process to hit the starting point of a complementary threaded neck portion of a packaging container. Using the protrusion and recesses 242, 244 for theengagement portion 240 in the screw cap has the added advantage that the engagement with a complementary shoulder portion of aloading piston 300 is achieved with very little play. Hence, the rotational position of thescrew cap 200 achieved when being engaged to theloading piston 300 can be determined even more accurately. The reduced play between theengagement portion 240 of thescrew cap 200 and the shoulder portions of theloading piston 300 will thus increase precision when applyingscrew cap 200 to a complementary threaded neck portion of a packaging container and therefore achieve better sealing of the container. - Such an exemplary loading tool is illustrated in
FIGS. 3A-3C . It will be explained later in the text why this is the case. -
FIG. 2C displays thescrew cap 200 fromFIG. 2A in a cross section along the axis E-E, where especially an enlarged view of one of theengagement portions 240 discussed earlier is illustrated. - As can be seen from the enlarged view in
FIG. 2C theengagement portion 240 comprises aprotrusion 242 having a vertical and a horizontal portion and furthermore one declining portion. Moreover, theprotrusion 242 comprises arecess 244 adjacent to the vertical portion of theprotrusion 242, where therecess 244 comprises a declining portion and an arcuate portion. This structure of the engagement portion ensures that a shoulder portion of a loading piston which is engaged with theengagement portion 240 of thescrew cap 200 stays in the arcuate portion of therecess 244 where its further rotational movement is restricted by the vertical portion of theprotrusion 242 with very little play. It is however possible to manufacture thescrew cap 200 only comprising protrusions as engagement portions, which would allow for some play between the shoulder portion of the loading piston and the engagement portion of the screw cap, but still leading to satisfactory alignment between screw cap and the neck portion of a packaging container. - Next,
FIG. 3A displays an exemplary embodiment of aloading piston 300 which is used as a tool pushing thecap 200 into the chuck and for orienting it. - As can be seen in
FIG. 3A , theloading piston 300 has a cylindrical shape comprising acylindrical body 310, atop part 320 and abase 330. Thetop part 320 consists of aconical portion 328 on top of which resides aannular portion 322 which hasshoulders 324 arranged along its circumference as complementary engagement portions. Theloading piston 300 also comprises a recessedportion 326 formed in thetop part 320 of theloading piston 300 in order not to contact a slight protrusion in the center of the screw cap see inFIG. 2B for example. - The function of the
shoulders 324 of which three are present in this embodiment of theloading piston 300 is to engage theengagement portions 240 on thescrew cap 200 inFIG. 2A . Although in this embodiment theloading piston 300 has three shoulders to match the number ofengagement portions 240 on the screw cap, theloading piston 300 may have any shape for the complementary engagement portion and any number of these complementary portions which are manufactured so that they are able to engage the engagement portions on the screw cap. It should be borne in mind that the engagement means may have different shapes than the ones illustrated as long as they are able to engage the complementary engagement portions in theloading piston 300 leading to restricted movement of theloading piston 300 in the screw cap when the two are engaged. - With regards to the
base 330 of theloading piston 300, it comprises aconical bore 336 andconical holes 334 for attachment to a feeding unit which is configured to feed a new screw cap into thescrew cap holder 150 described inFIG. 1 . - A spring (not shown) may be arranged in the
conical bore 336 which tension can be used by the servo motor rotating thechuck 150 in relation to the loading piston in order to detect the position of engagement between theshoulder portion 324 of theloading piston 300 and thecorresponding engagement portion 240 in thescrew cap 200. - However, the presence of a spring in the
conical bore 336 is not necessary for that operation. - It may also be mentioned that they may be several sets of chucks, each chuck being adapted for screwing a cap of different size and possibly adapted in its complementary engagement portion to achieve engagement with different engagement portions in different screw caps.
- Next, the process of screw cap orientation and alignment in relation to a threaded neck portion of a packaging container will be explained with the help of flow charts depicted in
FIGS. 4 and 5 . -
FIG. 4 illustrates the steps of a cap orientation method according to one embodiment of the present invention. When a screw cap is delivered by the loading piston to the chuck in the cap application unit described inFIG. 1 its rotational position with respect to its central axis C-C and its rotational position in relation to the chuck is unknown. As stated earlier in the text, this undefined rotational relation can lead to misalignment between the screw cap and the complementary threaded portion on the neck of the packaging container when the cap application unit screws the cap onto the neck portion. The purpose of cap orientation is thus to achieve a well-defined rotational position of the cap which later can be used for aligned screwing of the cap onto the packaging container. - Now, at
step 410, a screw cap, such as thescrew cap 200 illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2C is loaded onto a piston and held stationary there. The piston is moved along the C-C axis towards the chuck. At the same time a servo motor onto which a chuck, such as thechuck 300 illustrated inFIGS. 3A-3C , is mounted, brings the chuck into rotation along its central axis after the cap is loaded into the chuck. Depending on the structure of the cap application unit, the servo motor onto which the chuck is mounted may move towards a stationary piston onto which the screw cap is loaded or both the servo motor together with the chuck and the piston with the screw cap may move towards each other. - At
step 430, the servo motor checks whether the engagement portion of the screw cap has come into contact with the complementary engagement portion in the loading tool. This can be detected as a stop of the movement of the chuck if no special means for detecting the building up of torque are arranged. Engagement between the screw cap and the loading tool will also lead to a stop of the servo motor. Atstep 440 the rotational position of the chuck is then recorded, for example in an internal memory connected to the servo motor. If no engagement between the chuck and the screw cap could be detected, the servo motor stops and proceeds with capping routine without knowing the rotational alignment. - At the
next step 450, the screw cap is disengaged from the engagement portion of the loading piston by being rotated by the servo motor in the opposite direction away from engagement. - Finally, at
step 460, the loading piston is moved in a direction along the central axis C-C away from the chuck and cap. - After these steps have been completed, the chuck will be able to have an exactly defined rotational position in relation to the screw cap, such that the risk of misalignment between the screw cap and a threaded neck portion of a packaging container is minimized.
-
FIG. 5 illustrates the screw cap application method according to one embodiment of the present invention in the form of a flow chart. - At
step 510 the servo motor retrieves the previously saved rotational position of the chuck in relation to the screw cap and rotates the chuck into a new position in relation the saved one so when the cap and neck has engagement they hit each other perfectly aligned. - At
step 530 the servo motor locks the chuck position to a specific position on the packaging container. This can be done with the help of a virtual cam shaft. Usually, using a real mechanical cam shaft one can determine how other shafts should rotate in relation to the position of the cam shaft. In this case, such a mechanical cam shaft is made virtual and the other servo motor cam shafts pivot in relation to it. In this way the start of a thread on the screw cap is aligned with a specific rotational position of the neck portion of a packaging container, so that when the cap is screwed onto the neck it hits a predefined spot on the neck portion. - Finally, at
step 540, the cap is screwed on the packaging container using the steps described inFIG. 1 . - It should be mentioned, that while the engagement portion in the screw cap and the loading piston have been described with respect to one specific embodiment it may be also possible to manufacture the screw cap and the loading piston, such that the engagement portion is located on the
outer surface 212 of the screw cap. Also, the engagement portion in the screw cap may need to be vertically aligned with the start of a thread in the cap, but may be located a rotational distance away from it. Likewise, instead of a protrusion and recess being located in the screw cap, they may be located on the loading piston instead, while complementary engagement portions may be located in the screw cap.
Claims (14)
1.-14. (canceled)
15. A screw cap for a container, comprising:
a base comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface configured such that the top surface faces towards an opening spout of a packaging container when the screw cap is applied to the packaging container;
an annular wall extending from the base, the annular wall comprising an inner surface comprising a thread;
a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base portion, the protrusions arranged in a circle around the center of the top surface, each protrusion having an end in a circumferential direction; and
wherein the end in the circumferential direction of at least one protrusion is aligned in a radial direction with a starting point of the thread.
16. The screw cap of claim 15 , comprising three or more protrusions.
17. The screw cap of claim 16 , comprising three protrusions.
18. The screw cap of claim 15 , wherein the inner surface comprises a plurality of threads.
19. The screw cap of claim 18 , wherein each thread comprises a starting point, each starting point aligned with a protrusion.
20. The screw cap of claim 18 , wherein the inner surface comprises three or more threads.
21. The screw cap of claim 20 , wherein the inner surface comprises three threads.
22. The screw cap of claim 15 , wherein each protrusion is configured to engage a complementary engagement part, the complementary engagement part positioned on a tool configured to place the screw cap on the packaging container.
23. The screw cap of claim 15 , wherein a first protrusion is separated from a second protrusion by approximately 120 degrees along the circle.
24. The screw cap of claim 15 , wherein each protrusion is adjacent a recess.
25. The screw cap of claim 24 , comprising three protrusions and three recesses.
26. A screw cap for a container, comprising:
a base comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface configured such that the top surface faces towards an opening spout of a packaging container when the screw cap is applied to the packaging container;
an annular wall extending from the base, the annular wall comprising an inner surface comprising three threads;
three protrusions protruding from the base portion, the three protrusions arranged in a circle around the center of the top surface, each protrusion separated approximately 120 degrees from another protrusion and having an end in a circumferential direction; and
wherein the end in the circumferential direction of at least one protrusion is aligned in a radial direction with a starting point of at least one thread.
27. The screw cap of claim 26 , wherein each end is aligned in a radial direction with a starting point of a respective thread.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/645,287 US20220185546A1 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2021-12-20 | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
SE1550070 | 2015-01-23 | ||
SE1550070-5 | 2015-01-23 | ||
PCT/EP2016/050624 WO2016116344A1 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2016-01-14 | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
US201715545650A | 2017-10-27 | 2017-10-27 | |
US17/645,287 US20220185546A1 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2021-12-20 | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2016/050624 Continuation WO2016116344A1 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2016-01-14 | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
US15/545,650 Continuation US11247815B2 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2016-01-14 | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20220185546A1 true US20220185546A1 (en) | 2022-06-16 |
Family
ID=55129882
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/545,650 Active 2037-03-10 US11247815B2 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2016-01-14 | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
US17/645,287 Pending US20220185546A1 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2021-12-20 | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/545,650 Active 2037-03-10 US11247815B2 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2016-01-14 | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
Country Status (20)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US11247815B2 (en) |
EP (3) | EP3778417A1 (en) |
JP (3) | JP6898242B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20170106336A (en) |
CN (4) | CN112340213B (en) |
AR (1) | AR103503A1 (en) |
AT (1) | AT16942U3 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2016208755A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112017015508B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2973925A1 (en) |
DE (2) | DE202016008905U1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK202000065Y4 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2950482T3 (en) |
HU (1) | HUE062449T2 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2017009393A (en) |
PL (1) | PL3224152T3 (en) |
RS (1) | RS64403B1 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2725362C2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016116344A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA201704708B (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
PL3224152T3 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2023-10-02 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
US10640351B2 (en) | 2015-05-07 | 2020-05-05 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | Cap orientation |
AT519129B1 (en) * | 2017-02-24 | 2018-04-15 | Greiner Packaging Int Gmbh | Screw cap with orientation and orientation tool |
JP7378758B2 (en) * | 2018-12-27 | 2023-11-14 | 紀伊産業株式会社 | screw cap |
JP2023535228A (en) | 2020-04-27 | 2023-08-16 | スヴァリン キャップ システムズ アーゲー | Closure systems for containers, containers with such closure systems, tools for attaching such closure systems to containers, and processes for attaching such closure systems to containers |
EP4157725B1 (en) * | 2020-05-28 | 2024-09-25 | Sonoco Development, Inc. | Systems and methods for the high-speed application of paper-based end closures on composite containers |
DE202020004567U1 (en) | 2020-10-16 | 2021-01-22 | Paccor Packaging Gmbh | Screw cap |
DE202022106061U1 (en) | 2022-10-27 | 2023-02-02 | Paccor Packaging Gmbh | screw cap |
Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2804225A (en) * | 1953-05-26 | 1957-08-27 | Ling H Lee | Closure for receptacle |
US3979001A (en) * | 1972-12-01 | 1976-09-07 | Clayton Bogert | Safety closure for containers |
US5048711A (en) * | 1990-06-28 | 1991-09-17 | Sage Products, Inc. | Label indicator for screw thread closure and method of use |
US20020148205A1 (en) * | 2001-04-13 | 2002-10-17 | Minoru Takebe | Capping method and capping apparatus |
US6510675B1 (en) * | 1998-11-26 | 2003-01-28 | Maschinenfabrik Polytype S.A. | Fastening of a cap on a container |
US7819264B2 (en) * | 2003-12-03 | 2010-10-26 | Rexam Closure Systems Inc. | Child-resistant closure, container and package |
US7836669B1 (en) * | 2006-03-09 | 2010-11-23 | The Sherwin Williams Company | Lid applying apparatus and method with lid orienting device |
US7938282B1 (en) * | 2008-01-18 | 2011-05-10 | Berlin Packaging, Llc | Closure for a container |
US20110290755A1 (en) * | 2010-05-27 | 2011-12-01 | Silgan White Cap LLC | Closure with impact resistant ribs |
US8534476B2 (en) * | 2009-12-11 | 2013-09-17 | Rexam Healthcare Packaging Inc. | Child-resistant closure shell, closure, and package |
US8746486B2 (en) * | 2011-04-15 | 2014-06-10 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Bowl with lid |
US10947015B2 (en) * | 2016-06-09 | 2021-03-16 | Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare (Uk) Ip Limited | Tamper evident cap assembly |
Family Cites Families (47)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2731185A (en) * | 1952-10-31 | 1956-01-17 | California Research Corp | Cap fastener |
GB1449174A (en) * | 1973-05-09 | 1976-09-15 | Metal Box Co Ltd | Closing and sealing containers such as bottles and jars |
NL181793C (en) * | 1975-07-01 | 1987-11-02 | Obrist Ag Crown | HOLDER WITH A SCREW CAP. |
JPS561574Y2 (en) * | 1975-10-02 | 1981-01-14 | ||
US4156491A (en) | 1978-07-10 | 1979-05-29 | Lyon Newton E | Attachment for container closure |
JPS5732123Y2 (en) * | 1979-06-25 | 1982-07-14 | ||
DE3108518A1 (en) * | 1981-03-06 | 1982-11-11 | Hans 8801 Schillingsfürst Heinlein | Plastic screwcap with compensation for thread tolerances |
US4674263A (en) * | 1985-10-29 | 1987-06-23 | Aluminum Company Of America | Finger assembly for a screwcapping head |
JPH02282092A (en) | 1989-04-24 | 1990-11-19 | Kao Corp | Method and apparatus for feeding cap |
DE4011398C2 (en) | 1990-04-09 | 1994-09-22 | Alcoa Gmbh Verpackwerke | Device and method for applying screw caps to containers |
US5588545A (en) * | 1991-09-23 | 1996-12-31 | Beeson And Sons Limited | Child-resistant and elderly friendly closure for containers |
US5301488A (en) | 1992-11-06 | 1994-04-12 | National Instrument Company, Inc. | Programmable filling and capping machine |
JPH0786034B2 (en) | 1993-03-19 | 1995-09-20 | 澁谷工業株式会社 | Capping method |
DE4405950A1 (en) * | 1994-02-24 | 1995-08-31 | Hermann Kronseder | Plastics screw cap for drinks bottles |
GB2298194A (en) * | 1995-02-24 | 1996-08-28 | Beeson & Sons Ltd | Child resistant closures for containers |
AUPO788697A0 (en) * | 1997-07-14 | 1997-08-07 | Closures And Packaging Services Limited | Push-on closure |
JPH11124196A (en) | 1997-10-22 | 1999-05-11 | Kao Corp | Device and method for fastening screw |
JP4316706B2 (en) * | 1998-12-16 | 2009-08-19 | 日本クラウンコルク株式会社 | Heat sterilization or sterilization method |
JP2000219261A (en) | 1999-01-29 | 2000-08-08 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Sleeve cap |
JP2000327086A (en) | 1999-05-17 | 2000-11-28 | Shibuya Kogyo Co Ltd | Capper |
JP4232311B2 (en) | 2000-03-06 | 2009-03-04 | 澁谷工業株式会社 | Capping method and capping device |
DE60239245D1 (en) * | 2001-06-20 | 2011-04-07 | Crown Cork Japan | Method of testing a closure and device mounted on a bottle |
EP1508527A1 (en) * | 2003-08-20 | 2005-02-23 | H. Obrist & Co. AG | Closing lid and assembly kit for the manufacture of a tube closure arrangement |
RU34523U1 (en) | 2003-09-01 | 2003-12-10 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Серверк" | Screw cap screw |
GB2409200B (en) * | 2003-12-19 | 2007-01-17 | Beeson & Sons Ltd | Bottle and closure assembly with improved locking elements |
DE602005011649D1 (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2009-01-22 | Creanova Universal Closures | CLOSURE |
SE529720C2 (en) * | 2006-03-10 | 2007-11-06 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance | Method of manufacturing a package |
JP4912829B2 (en) * | 2006-10-17 | 2012-04-11 | 日本クラウンコルク株式会社 | Container lid |
US20080110850A1 (en) * | 2006-11-14 | 2008-05-15 | Andrew Thomas Tilton | Audible closing feature for a threaded container and lid |
JP2008222239A (en) * | 2007-03-08 | 2008-09-25 | Alcoa Closure Systems Japan Ltd | Capping device |
US8584876B2 (en) * | 2007-07-05 | 2013-11-19 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Food containers adapted for accommodating pressure changes using skip seals and methods of manufacture |
GB2467355A (en) * | 2009-01-30 | 2010-08-04 | Beeson & Sons Ltd | Container closure with pressure seal |
DE102009042109A1 (en) | 2009-09-11 | 2011-04-07 | Closure Systems International Deutschland Gmbh | Sealing machine and method for closing containers |
DE102009045637A1 (en) | 2009-10-13 | 2011-04-14 | Krones Ag | Method and device for screw-closing vessels, in particular bottles |
DE102009060625A1 (en) | 2009-12-22 | 2011-06-30 | Krones Ag, 93073 | Device and method for closing containers with distance measurements |
JP2011195194A (en) * | 2010-03-23 | 2011-10-06 | Kaihatsu Giken:Kk | Cap attitude adjusting device and using method of the same |
DE102010012858B4 (en) | 2010-03-25 | 2020-07-09 | Packsys Global (Switzerland) Ltd. | Device and method for rotational alignment of a tube head relative to a tube body |
ES1072702Y (en) * | 2010-05-27 | 2010-12-17 | Betapack Sa | THREADED PLUG |
JP5945503B2 (en) | 2010-08-09 | 2016-07-05 | 日本山村硝子株式会社 | Resin cap |
JP5853357B2 (en) * | 2010-10-07 | 2016-02-09 | 東洋製罐株式会社 | Cap and positioning method thereof |
GB201200726D0 (en) * | 2012-01-17 | 2012-02-29 | Crown Packaging Technology | A screw lid for a food container |
CN102701124B (en) * | 2012-05-21 | 2014-05-07 | 贵州大学 | High-fitness and high-reliability cap screwing method and device thereof |
US20130313218A1 (en) * | 2012-05-22 | 2013-11-28 | Christopher A. Cox | Bottle Closures and Containment Systems |
ITMO20120253A1 (en) * | 2012-10-18 | 2014-04-19 | Sacmi | CAP FOR CONTAINERS. |
CN105247857A (en) | 2013-04-22 | 2016-01-13 | 派拉斯科技术公司 | Cap analysis technique |
ITTO20130644A1 (en) | 2013-07-30 | 2015-01-31 | Arol Spa | MACHINE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THREADED CONTAINER CAPSULES |
PL3224152T3 (en) | 2015-01-23 | 2023-10-02 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container |
-
2016
- 2016-01-14 PL PL16700477.9T patent/PL3224152T3/en unknown
- 2016-01-14 JP JP2017538633A patent/JP6898242B2/en active Active
- 2016-01-14 RS RS20230578A patent/RS64403B1/en unknown
- 2016-01-14 EP EP20198660.1A patent/EP3778417A1/en active Pending
- 2016-01-14 AU AU2016208755A patent/AU2016208755A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2016-01-14 HU HUE16700477A patent/HUE062449T2/en unknown
- 2016-01-14 CN CN202010801499.1A patent/CN112340213B/en active Active
- 2016-01-14 MX MX2017009393A patent/MX2017009393A/en unknown
- 2016-01-14 EP EP23175532.3A patent/EP4245717A3/en active Pending
- 2016-01-14 ES ES16700477T patent/ES2950482T3/en active Active
- 2016-01-14 BR BR112017015508-7A patent/BR112017015508B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2016-01-14 EP EP16700477.9A patent/EP3224152B1/en active Active
- 2016-01-14 KR KR1020177019873A patent/KR20170106336A/en unknown
- 2016-01-14 DE DE202016008905.7U patent/DE202016008905U1/en active Active
- 2016-01-14 CN CN202010801630.4A patent/CN112320053A/en active Pending
- 2016-01-14 RU RU2017129697A patent/RU2725362C2/en active
- 2016-01-14 CN CN201680007036.XA patent/CN107207130B/en active Active
- 2016-01-14 CA CA2973925A patent/CA2973925A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2016-01-14 CN CN202010801569.3A patent/CN112320052A/en active Pending
- 2016-01-14 AT ATGM73/2020U patent/AT16942U3/en unknown
- 2016-01-14 US US15/545,650 patent/US11247815B2/en active Active
- 2016-01-14 DE DE202016008904.9U patent/DE202016008904U1/en active Active
- 2016-01-14 WO PCT/EP2016/050624 patent/WO2016116344A1/en active Application Filing
- 2016-01-22 AR ARP160100182A patent/AR103503A1/en unknown
-
2017
- 2017-07-12 ZA ZA2017/04708A patent/ZA201704708B/en unknown
-
2020
- 2020-06-26 DK DKBA202000065U patent/DK202000065Y4/en active IP Right Grant
- 2020-07-28 JP JP2020127568A patent/JP2020186064A/en active Pending
-
2021
- 2021-12-20 US US17/645,287 patent/US20220185546A1/en active Pending
-
2023
- 2023-05-17 JP JP2023081157A patent/JP7500825B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2804225A (en) * | 1953-05-26 | 1957-08-27 | Ling H Lee | Closure for receptacle |
US3979001A (en) * | 1972-12-01 | 1976-09-07 | Clayton Bogert | Safety closure for containers |
US5048711A (en) * | 1990-06-28 | 1991-09-17 | Sage Products, Inc. | Label indicator for screw thread closure and method of use |
US6510675B1 (en) * | 1998-11-26 | 2003-01-28 | Maschinenfabrik Polytype S.A. | Fastening of a cap on a container |
US20020148205A1 (en) * | 2001-04-13 | 2002-10-17 | Minoru Takebe | Capping method and capping apparatus |
US7819264B2 (en) * | 2003-12-03 | 2010-10-26 | Rexam Closure Systems Inc. | Child-resistant closure, container and package |
US7836669B1 (en) * | 2006-03-09 | 2010-11-23 | The Sherwin Williams Company | Lid applying apparatus and method with lid orienting device |
US7938282B1 (en) * | 2008-01-18 | 2011-05-10 | Berlin Packaging, Llc | Closure for a container |
US8534476B2 (en) * | 2009-12-11 | 2013-09-17 | Rexam Healthcare Packaging Inc. | Child-resistant closure shell, closure, and package |
US20110290755A1 (en) * | 2010-05-27 | 2011-12-01 | Silgan White Cap LLC | Closure with impact resistant ribs |
US8746486B2 (en) * | 2011-04-15 | 2014-06-10 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Bowl with lid |
US10947015B2 (en) * | 2016-06-09 | 2021-03-16 | Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare (Uk) Ip Limited | Tamper evident cap assembly |
Also Published As
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20220185546A1 (en) | Screw cap, tool and method for screwing a cap onto a container | |
CN107244644B (en) | A leading-in positioning mechanism for centrifuging tube star dish | |
EP1996502B1 (en) | Method of producing a package | |
US10214305B2 (en) | Assembly machine adapted to assemble caps onto spouts and a method of assembling caps onto spouts | |
CN107635908B (en) | Method and device for positioning a cover | |
WO2017097787A1 (en) | Apparatus and method for filling and sealing containers | |
JP2018172134A (en) | Capper | |
JP2018144868A (en) | Capping method and device therefor | |
CN113911983A (en) | Auxiliary centering tool for capping machine and capping equipment | |
CN215156404U (en) | Labelling machine | |
US11628957B2 (en) | Station for feeding closing seals and method of sealing containers for a packaging line | |
JPH11157652A (en) | Stacking device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: RESPONSE TO NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTION ENTERED AND FORWARDED TO EXAMINER |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: FINAL REJECTION MAILED |