WO2003066462A1

WO2003066462A1 - Overcap closure with adhesive head

Info

Publication number: WO2003066462A1
Application number: PCT/FR2003/000319
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacques Granger; Jacky Maugas
Original assignee: Pechiney Capsules
Priority date: 2002-02-06
Filing date: 2003-02-03
Publication date: 2003-08-14
Also published as: FR2835510A1; AR038395A1; WO2003066462A8; AU2003222867A1; FR2835510B1

Abstract

The invention concerns an overcap closure (1) comprising a head (10) and a skirt (11), the skirt being designed to be secured to a neck (3) closed by a closure means (2). The invention is characterized in that the head (10) comprises, over all or part of its inner surface, a layer (40) of an adhesive (4) selected to adhere to the head (10) and to the closure means (2) or to the neck (3), so that, when the cap is being installed, the adhesive deposit (40) secures the head (10) to the closure means (2) or to the neck (3), and so that, as a result, the overcap closure (1) cannot be subsequently separated from the closure means (2) or the neck (3) without visible tampering of the cap (1) so as to warn consumers about a risk of fraud.

Description

CAPPING CAP WITH ADHESIVE HEAD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of overcapping capsules, and in particular that of caps for sparkling wines.

STATE OF THE ART

We already know a very large number of overcap capsules.

These capsules can be of the type described in French application No 9311815, in particular in the case of bottles closed by a stopper, or even in application No 9815004, all requests on behalf of the applicant.

French applications No 0008805, No 9001014, No 8812547, in the name of the plaintiff, also disclose overcapping capsules.

Plastic shrink capsules are also known.

During a so-called capping operation, the capsule is secured to the neck of a bottle, previously capped after filling.

If the capsule is metallic, it will typically be fixed by crimping on the counter ring. If the capsule is made of plastic, it is heat-shrunk on the counter ring.

If the capsule is a cap, it is applied and pressed, typically with the formation of four folds against the neck.

PROBLEMS POSED The state-of-the-art overcap capsules are intended to fulfill various functions, and in particular:

- a decoration function for the neck of a bottle,

a function for protecting or masking the closure means associated with the overcap capsule,

- an indicator function for the first opening of the bottle.

However, these capsules only very imperfectly fulfill the function of the first opening indicator, and this all the more since the risk of fraud greatly increases with the value in the trade of these bottles, a value which can be high in the case of 'alcohols, liqueurs, certain wines, whether sparkling wines, such as Champagne wines, or non-sparkling red or white wines.

The object of the invention is to make the overcapping capsules known from the prior art reliable as first opening indicators, so as to prevent fraudulent recycling of bottles or overcapping capsules, without having to increase the price appreciably. cost of these capsules.

The invention aims not to significantly modify, nor to modify the manufacturing processes, or the methods of application or overcapping, any more than the methods of opening the bottles or the final presentation of the bottles after opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the overcap, intended to protect a closure means (2) closing a neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, comprises a head and a skirt, said skirt being intended to be secured to said neck, typically by crimping or plating, during a so-called capping operation, is characterized in that said head comprises, on all or part of its internal surface, a deposit of an adhesive capable of adhering to said head and to said sealing means or said neck, so that, during said capping operation, said adhesive deposit is secured said head to said sealing means or said neck, and that thus, said overcaping capsule cannot then be separated from said sealing means or said neck without visible alteration of said capsule in order to prevent any consumer from a risk of fraud.

The means of the invention make it possible to solve the problems posed: with the means of the invention, the adhesive cannot be accessible to a potential fraudster without the overcap capsule being visually modified, or even being destroyed. In fact, the adhesive is located between the head of the overcap and the closure means or the neck of the bottle. Preferably, the adhesive is centered relative to the neck, so as to be the least accessible possible.

Thus, access to said adhesive would suppose an expansion of the skirt such that the skirt would not remain intact or visually unaltered, and that in practice it would be destroyed. The invention applies in particular when said plugging means cannot be removed or used without first removing all or part of said overcap capsule, and at least the lower part of the skirt of this capsule.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a principle view, in axial section, of a method of forming the deposit (40) of adhesive (4) on the inner face of the head (10) of an overcap capsule (1) according to the invention, using a device (5) comprising a nozzle (51) supplied with adhesive (4) kept liquid and under pressure, and maintained in the open or closed position by a shutter (52).

Figures 2a to 2b illustrate the shape of some adhesive deposits on the inside of the heads (10) of capsules (1).

Figures 3a to 3c illustrate, in axial section, the case where the overcap (1) is a cap (! ') For a bottle of sparkling wine closed by a stopper (23) comprising a metal plate (230) on its upper part, using a wire cap (231).

Figure 3a corresponds to a bottle after capping and before a first opening. FIGS. 3b and 3c correspond to a first opening: in FIG. 3b, the stopper (23) still comprises a remainder of capsule (13) adhering to the plate (230), while FIG. 3c represents the stopper after having removed manually this remainder of the capsule while simultaneously causing the deposit (40) of adhesive.

Figures 4a to 4d illustrate, in axial section, other modalities varying by the nature of the plugging means (2).

In FIG. 4a, the closure means is a cap with a head (21).

In FIG. 4b, the closure means is a screw closure capsule (22).

In FIGS. 4c and 4d, the closure means is a typical cork stopper

(20), the deposit (40) being formed on the rim (30) of the neck in FIG. 4c, while in FIG. 4d, the deposit (40) is formed on the plug (20) itself.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, said adhesive (4) can be a permanent adhesive, typically adhering by simple contact.

Said adhesive (4) can be a hot-melt adhesive, typically of the "hot-melt" type, so that it can be applied hot and without volatile solvent. Said adhesive (4) can be peelable, so that it can be removed from said sealing means or from said neck, typically manually.

However, according to a variant of the invention, it is possible to choose a peelable adhesive but, on the contrary, having better adhesion to the neck or to the mouth of the neck than to the overcap capsule itself, so as to form, after having separated by peeling the overcap, and typically on the periphery of the rim (30) of the neck (3) as illustrated in FIG. 4c, a ring of adhesive of hydrophobic nature so as to prevent the flow of the liquid contained along the neck, as usually occurs.

Preferably, said adhesive (4) can be approved for food contact, in particular when there is a risk of the contents of the container or of the bottle coming into contact with the adhesive, whether during storage. or its consumption.

Said adhesive deposit (40) can cover from 5 to 70% of the interior surface of said head, in the form of one or more drops, of circular or annular area, or of lines.

According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3a to 3c, said capsule (1) can be an overcap (V) for sparkling wines, said capping means (2) typically comprising a stopper (23) covered with a metal plate (230) and secured to said neck (3) by a wire cap (231).

According to a second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b, said capsule can be an overcaping capsule (1 ") for still liquids with a high skirt (11 '), said capping means (2) typically comprising a cap. with head (21) comprising a lower part pressed into said neck (3) and an upper part or head allowing manual unblocking (see FIG. 4a), or a closure cap (22) typically with screw (see FIG. 4b).

According to a third embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4c and 4d, said capsule can be a capsule for still liquids (1 ") with skirt (11) crimpable or heat shrinkable on said neck, said plugging means (2) typically comprising a plug (20) pressed into said neck (3).

Typically, said skirt (11) is of frustoconical shape, so that said capsules (1, l ', 1 ") are able to form a stick stack (6), as illustrated in FIG. 1, and that said deposit of adhesive (40), located on the inner surface of the head of a capsule of said stick (6), is not in contact with the outer surface of the head (10) of the capsule (1, l ', 1 ") adjacent to the same stick (6), and so that said capsule (1, l', 1") comprising said deposit of adhesive (40) can be manufactured at high speed without risk of seeing a capsule adhere to another capsule. A few mm in the axial direction usually separate a capsule from the preceding and following capsules from the same stick (6), which is sufficient so that there is no involuntary contact of the adhesive deposit (40), and therefore no problem of unstacking the stick (6) during capping.

Another object of the invention is constituted by a method of overcapping the neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, closed by a corking means (2, 20, 21, 22, 23), by a capsule. overcap (1, l, 1 ") according to the invention.

This method comprising, during a so-called capping operation, an axial removal of said capsule (1, l ', 1 ") on said neck or on said sealing means, a fixing or securing of said skirt (11) to said neck (3) or to said closure means, typically by crimping or plating, is characterized in that: a) the said closed container is supplied by the said closure means, b) the said capsule (1, l ', 1 ") is supplied , its head (10) comprising, over all or part of its internal surface, a deposit of an adhesive (40), c) said capping operation comprises, after said axial removal, and typically during the fixing step, applying said head (10) against said plugging means (2) or said neck (3), typically by an axial pressure exerted on said head (10), so that said adhesive deposit (40) secures said head to said plugging means or to said neck, and then said capsule of (1, l ', 1 ") does not can be separated from said neck (3) or from said closure means (2) without visible alteration of said capsule (1, l ', 1 ") and thus prevent any risk of fraud.

According to another method, the method of overcapping the neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, closed by a corking means (2, 20, 21, 22, 23), by an overcapping capsule (1 , l ', 1 "), comprises, during a so-called capping operation, an axial removal of said capsule (1, l', 1") on said neck or on said closure means, a fixing or securing of said skirt (11) at said neck (3) or said closure means, typically by crimping or plating, and is characterized in that: a) supplying said container, the neck of which is closed by said closure means (2), and said closure capsule (1, l ', 1 "), b) supplying an adhesive (4), c) before said axial removal and said capping operation proper, a deposit (40) of said adhesive (4) is formed on all or part of the interior surface of said head (10), or possibly on all or part of the upper surface of said plugging means (2) or said neck (3), or on the rim (30) of said neck, d) said capping operation comprises, after said removal axial, the application of said head (10) against said sealing means (2) or said neck (3), typically by an axial pressure exerted on said head (10), so that said adhesive deposit ( 40) secures said head (10) to said plugging means (2) or to said neck (3), and then, lad ite capsule (1, l ', 1 ") cannot be separated from said neck (3) or from said closure means (2) without visible alteration of said capsule (1, l', 1") and that thus any risk of fraud is prevented or prevented.

In fact, while it is more practical, during encapsulation, to use overcapping capsules comprising said adhesive deposit, there is nothing to prevent this deposit from being formed at the time of encapsulation, in particular for disposing of stocks of capsules of standard type overcap.

Whatever the variant of the process used, said adhesive (4) can be a hot-melt adhesive. In this case, said adhesive (4) can be applied, under pressure and in the molten state, using a gun or using a nozzle (51) allowing a projection of a predetermined amount. of said adhesive on the inner surface of said capsule or on said sealing means, or on said neck, so as to form said deposit of adhesive (40). This deposit can be cooled by blowing air so as to increase production rates. Said predetermined amount can typically range from 0.01 g to 5 g, and preferably range from 0.05 g to 1 g. Said projection may include one or more projections, or a succession of burst projections, said nozzle (51) being fixed or not relative to said head (10).

According to the invention, said deposit of adhesive (40) can join said head (10) to said sealing means (2) or to said neck (3, 30) with a peeling force F at least equal to 0.1 daN.

In the method according to the invention, said overcaping capsule (1, l ', 1 ") can be chosen from metal capsules, typically aluminum or tin, metalloplastic capsules, in particular in the case of caps (V), typically with a rolled skirt in A1 / PE / A1 complex comprising two aluminum sheets joined together by a layer of PE, the plastic capsules, and in particular the heat-shrinkable capsules.

Whatever the method and capsules according to the invention, said skirt (10) may, in order to facilitate a first opening of the container or of the bottle, have at least one weakening line (12) see FIG. 3 a ) and / or mechanical characteristics chosen that are weak enough so that any separation of said skirt from said neck, in particular during a first opening, is accompanied by the rupture of said weakening line and / or by irreversible destruction of said skirt.

In addition, with the method according to the invention, it is possible, after having formed said deposit of adhesive (40), to place in contact with said deposit of adhesive an additional means for combating fraud, so as not to not prevent said deposit of adhesive (40) from joining said head (10) to said sealing means (2) or to said neck (3).

EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION

Overcap capsules (1) were supplied according to the state of the art - caps (! ') According to FIG. 3a, made of complex material A1 / PE / A1 - overcap capsules (1 ") with high skirt (11 ¹ ) according to FIG. 4a,

- heat-shrinkable PVC overcap (1 ") according to FIG. 4b,

- annealing cap (1 ") in annealed aluminum according to FIGS. 4c and 4d.

Several adhesives, of the "hot-melt" type, were supplied, and in particular Plastoflex® adhesives referenced 8919, 8920, 9116, 9117, 9140, 9159 from the Paramelt Company. After a series of selection tests, intended to obtain both sufficient adhesion and possible peeling, Plastoflex ® 8920 and 9159 were selected for the tests, these two adhesives varying in particular by their viscosity: 2800 mPa.s for the 9159 and 19000 mPa.s for 8920 around 160 ° C.

A test bench was made as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 comprising a spray nozzle (51) provided with a shutter (52) and supplied with adhesive under pressure and kept liquid at a high temperature, adhesive contained in a reservoir ( 50). We also used a pistol connected to a tank.

Nozzles 0.4 or 0.6 mm in diameter were used.

A device makes it possible to control and regulate the temperature of the adhesive and therefore its viscosity, as well as the pressure of the adhesive and the opening time of the shutter (52). The caps (1) to be treated are placed opposite the nozzle as illustrated in FIG. 1. The following operating parameters are typically used:

- tank pressure: 3.5 to 4 bars

- temperature: 155 to 175 ° C

- duration of the projection: from 10 to 40 milliseconds.

There were thus obtained overcapping capsules, the head comprising on its inner surface of the adhesive, typically in droplets, as illustrated in FIGS. 2a to

2c.

After supplying bottles with their corking means (2), the overcap capsules were placed on the necks to cap them using the usual devices appropriate to the case: - plating and folding device in the case caps for sparkling wines,

- heat-shrinking device in the case of the PVC overcap, - crimping device with a thumbwheel in the case of the hardened aluminum capsule. However, pressure was applied to the head of the capsules (1) when these devices did not otherwise include means for exerting axial pressure on the head of the capsule (1).

After capping, the tests carried out have shown that it was difficult or even impossible to remove the cap (1) without damaging it, without this appreciably modifying the ease of opening the bottles.

LIST OF REFERENCES

Overcap 1

Head 10

Skirt 11

Weakening line (1st opening) 12 Remainder of capsule 13

Cap for sparkling wines

Capsule for liquids 1 "

Corking medium 2

Cap 20 Head cap 21

Screw cap 22

Champagne cork 23

Metal plate 230

Muselet 231 Neck of a container or bottle 3

Bottom or top edge of neck 30

Counter ring 31

Thread 32

Adhesive 4 Adhesive deposit 40

Spraying station 5 Pressure vessel 50

Nozzle 51

Shutter 52

Stick of overcap capsules 1, the 6

Claims

1. Overcapping capsule (1), intended to protect a sealing means (2) closing a neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, comprising a head (10) and a skirt (11), said skirt ( 11) being intended to be secured to said neck (3), typically by crimping or plating, during a so-called capping operation, characterized in that said head (10) comprises, over all or part of its internal surface, a deposit (40) of an adhesive (4) able to adhere to said head (10) and to said plugging means (2) or to said neck (3), so that, during said capping operation, said deposit adhesive (40) secures said head (10) to said plugging means (2) or to said neck (3), and thus, said overcap capsule (1) cannot then be separated from said plugging means (2) or of said neck (3) without visible alteration of said capsule (1) in order to warn any consumer of a risk of fraud.

2. Capsule according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive (4) is a permanent adhesive, typically adhering by simple contact.

3. Capsule according to claim 2 wherein said adhesive (4) is a hot-melt adhesive, typically of the "hot-melt" type.

4. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said adhesive (4) is peelable, so that it can be removed from said sealing means or said neck, typically manually.

5. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said adhesive (4) is approved for food contact.

6. Capsule according to claim 1, in which said deposit of adhesive (40) covers from 5 to 70% of the interior surface of said head, in the form of one or more drops, of circular area or of lines. .

7. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said capsule

(1) is an overcap (l ¹ ) for sparkling wines, said capping means

(2) typically comprising a plug (23) covered with a metal plate (230) and secured to said neck (3) by a wire cap (231).

8. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said capsule is an overcapping capsule (1 ") for still liquids with a high skirt (1 l '), said capping means (2) typically comprising a head cap ( 21) comprising a lower part pressed into said neck (3) and an upper part or head allowing manual uncorking, or a closure cap (22) typically with screws.

9. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said capsule is a capsule for still liquids (1 ") with skirt (11) crimpable or heat shrinkable on said neck, said sealing means (2) typically comprising a plug (20 ) pressed into said neck (3).

10. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said skirt (11) is of frustoconical shape, so that said capsules (1, l ', 1 ") are able to form a stack of sticks (6) , and in that said deposit of adhesive (40), located on the inside surface of the head of a capsule of said stick (6), is not in contact with the outside surface of the head (10) of the capsule (1, l ', 1 ") close to the same stick (6), and thus said capsule (1, l', 1") comprising said deposit of adhesive (40) can be manufactured at high speed without risk of see a capsule adhere to another capsule.

11. Method for overcapping the neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, closed by a capping means (2, 20, 21, 22, 23), by an overcapping capsule (1, V, 1 ") according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising, during a so-called capping operation, an axial deposition of said capsule (1, l ', 1 ") on said neck or on said closure means, a fixing or securing of said skirt (11) to said neck (3) or to said sealing means, typically by crimping or by plating, characterized in that: a) supplying said closed container with said sealing means, b) supplying said capsule (1, l ', 1 "), its head (10) comprising, on all or part of its internal surface, a deposit of a adhesive (40), c) said capping operation comprises, after said axial removal, and typically during the fixing step, the application of said head (10) against said sealing means (2) or said neck (3 ), typically by an axial pressure exerted on said head (10), so that said adhesive deposit (40) secures said head to said plugging means or to said neck, and then, said capsule of (1, l ', 1 ") cannot be separated from said neck (3) or from said closure means (2) without visible alteration of said capsule (1, l', 1") and thus prevent any risk of fraud.

12. Method for overcapping the neck (3) of a container, typically a bottle, closed by a corking means (2, 20, 21, 22, 23), by an overcapping capsule (1, 1 ′, 1 " ), comprising, during a so-called capping operation, an axial removal of said capsule (1, l ', 1 ") on said neck or on said plugging means, a fixing or securing of said skirt (11) to said neck (3) or to said plugging means, typically by crimping or plating, characterized in that: a) supplying said container, the neck of which is closed by said plugging means (2), and said plugging capsule (1, l ', 1 "), b) supplying an adhesive (4), c) before said axial removal and said capping operation proper, a deposit (40) of said adhesive (4) is formed on all or part of the interior surface of said head (10), or possibly over all or part of the upper surface of said plugging means (2) or said neck (3), or on the rim ( 30) of said neck, d) said capping operation comprises, after said axial removal, the application of said head (10) against said plugging means (2) or said neck (3), typically by an axial pressure exerted on said head (10), so that said deposit of adhesive (40) secures said head (10) to said sealing means (2) or to said neck (3), and then, said capsule (1, the , 1 ") cannot be separated from said neck (3) or from said closure means (2) without visible alteration of said capsule (1, l ', 1") and thus prevent any risk of fraud.

13. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 12 wherein said adhesive (4) is a hot melt adhesive.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said adhesive (4) is applied, under pressure and in the molten state, using a gun or using a nozzle (51) allowing a projection of 'a predetermined amount of said adhesive on the inner surface of said capsule or on said sealing means, or on said neck, so as to form said deposit of adhesive (40).

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said predetermined amount is typically from 0.01 g to 5 g, and preferably is from 0.05 g to 1 g.

16. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 15 wherein said projection comprises one or more projections, or a succession of burst projections, said nozzle (51) being fixed or not relative to said head (10).

17. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein said deposit of adhesive (40) secures said head (10) to said sealing means (2) or to said neck (3, 30) with a peeling force F at least equal to 0.1 daN.

18. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein said overcap capsule (1, l ', 1 ") is chosen from metal capsules, typically aluminum or tin, metalloplastic capsules, especially in the case of caps (1 '), typically with a rolled skirt in Al / PE / Al complex comprising two aluminum sheets joined together by a layer of PE, the plastic capsules, and in particular the heat-shrinkable capsules.

19. ^" Method according to any one of claims 11 to 18 in which said skirt (10) has at least one weakening line (12) and / or chosen mechanical characteristics which are weak enough so that any separation of said skirt said neck, in particular during a first opening, is accompanied by the rupture of said weakening line and / or the irreversible destruction of said skirt.

20. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 19 in which after having formed said deposit of adhesive (40), is placed in contact with said deposit of adhesive an additional means of fight against fraud, so as not to prevent that said deposit of adhesive (40) secures said head (10) to said sealing means (2) or to said neck (3).