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
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
  • B65D81/26—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators
  • B65D81/266—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators for absorbing gases, e.g. oxygen absorbers or desiccants
• • 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
  • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
  • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
• • 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
  • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
  • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
  • B65D41/3442—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container
  • B65D41/3447—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
• • 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
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
  • B65D51/244—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with oxygen absorbers
• • 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
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
  • B65D51/245—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels

Definitions

• the invention relates to a closure for containers for storing food, in particular for beer bottles, and a method for producing such a closure.
• Sealing caps for containers for storing food, in particular for beverage bottles are generally formed in two parts. They consist of a cap and a sealing element in the form of a separate sealing ring or a circular sealing washer. Due to its strength, the harder cap ensures that the cap is held on the container. The sealing washer, which is inserted into the cap, is softer and fulfills the sealing function by pressing against the edge of the opening of the container.
• the sealing washer which is inserted into the cap, is softer and fulfills the sealing function by pressing against the edge of the opening of the container.
• the cap and sealing disc are manufactured independently of one another and then joined into one another before the filled container or the filled bottle is closed. In particular before recycling, the components of the closure have to be separated again.
• closures for bottles for soft drinks have already been proposed, for example in PCT / EP99 / 01357.
• These closures are made of plastic, especially polyethylene.
• the material of the closures is among others
• both the locking function, the sealing function and, under certain circumstances, the guarantee function must be fulfilled by a guarantee tape.
• a guarantee tape For this purpose, different, sometimes contradicting requirements must be met when choosing the material and designing the closure.
• the material must be hard enough to provide a secure hold for the cap screwed onto the bottle, and soft enough to ensure that it seals when pressed onto the bottle neck.
• the PE material can perform a secure sealing function, a good sealing function and, under certain circumstances, the guarantee function with a guarantee band.
• closures in particular for beer bottles, are equipped with a sealing disc which has an oxygen scavenger, ie a material with oxygen-scavenging or oxygen-withdrawing properties.
• oxygen scavengers are, for example, from EP 0 664 824 Bl.
• the sealing washers are approximately 0.28 mm thick, soft and must contain "oxygen scavenger" material in a certain minimum amount in order to provide sufficient oxygen scavenging capacity.
• these materials Upon contact with the high humidity inside the container or bottle, these materials are activated after they have been stored dry before use and remove the oxygen from the inside of the container. They can also reduce the diffusion of oxygen into the interior of the container.
• the closures used are, as described above, in two parts.
• the sealing disc must be made in addition to the cap and then joined together before closing the bottle.
• coatings can also be implemented inside and on the surface of the packaging materials.
• a one-piece cap would be desirable for manufacturing reasons as well as for easier disposal and cheaper recycling.
• the object of the invention is to provide a closure which, in addition to the closure function, ensures a reliable sealing function and, moreover, also a very effective oxygen removal for the preservation function. According to a further aspect of the invention, this is to be ensured in particular for a one-piece closure for a container for storing food, in particular such as beer bottles, which is characterized by simple manufacture and a secure closure, as well as an effective preservation function for perishable foods.
• the solution is in accordance with the characterizing features of claim 3.
• the invention also relates to the provision of a sealing material or a liner for a closure, with which, in particular, effective oxygen removal and a good sealing function are ensured.
• the solution results from the features of the characterizing part of claim 2.
• the invention is characterized in that the sealing surface of a closure is enlarged with respect to its active surface by providing it with an active surface which is enlarged compared to an essentially flat or smooth sealing surface.
• Such an enlargement of the effective sealing surface can be achieved in particular by eroding the sealing surface or by providing the sealing surface or the sealing element with projections and / or depressions for the purpose of enlarging the active sealing surface. This results in a roughly structured surface with a larger effective contact area and thus increased oxygen absorption.
• the closure in particular for use in beer bottles, is made in one piece from a material which contains a carrier material and an oxygen scavenger.
• a material which contains a carrier material and an oxygen scavenger Any oxygen scavenger known, for example, from the above-mentioned publication can be used as the oxygen scavenging material.
• the invention is not intended to be limited to these substances, but rather to include all possible suitable oxygen scavengers.
• Oxygen deprivation can be based, for example, on absorption, adsorption or other chemical reactions.
• the sealing surface which is in contact with the interior of the container is provided with an active surface which is enlarged compared to the active surface of a substantially flat or smooth sealing surface, so that a larger active surface is provided which removes oxygen from the interior of the bottle ,
• the effectiveness of the oxygen uptake is increased in this way with a constant proportion of oxygen scavengers in the carrier material.
• the proportion of soft “oxygen scavenger” materials in the material of the closure cap can be reduced at least to such an extent that the strength of the closure, in particular the resistance to stress cracking, is sufficient to ensure a reliable closure function.
• oxygen scavengef material should be selected in such a way that due to the increased active oxygen-trapping area, so much oxygen can be extracted from the vessel that the required preservation requirements are met, so that the conflicting requirements for securing the closure function, the sealing function and the
• the size of the active surface of the sealing surface and the proportion of "oxygen scavenger" material are selected taking into account the other size.
• the closure can be manufactured in a single injection molding process due to the one-piece design. The second injection molding process required with conventional closures and the joining of the sealing washer with the closure cap are dispensed with. This results in a simplification of production and advantages in disposal or recycling.
• the sealing surface is formed by a separate sealing element, in particular a sealing disk arranged in a closure, or the sealing surface can be formed by a sealing liner molded onto the closure.
• the advantages of the inventive concept of the enlarged active sealing surface of a sealing element can thus also be applied to other, in particular conventional, closures or closure caps.
• the sealing element is nem oxygen scavenger, but has a significantly increased effective surface, which increases the oxygen deprivation and thus the preservation function is optimized. This can also be achieved with a separately molded liner on a closure.
• independent protection of such a sealing element in particular in the manner of a sealing washer or linder, is therefore also claimed.
• the enlargement of the sealing surface can in particular be achieved in that the active surface is at least partially formed by rough eroding of the sealing surface.
• rough erosion means rough roughening of the sealing surface.
• the active surface of the sealing surface can have a structure with projections and / or depressions to enlarge the active surface.
• the shape and the dimensioning of the projections and the depressions can be chosen so that the size of the active area is sufficient for the fulfillment of the preservation function.
• the enlarged active surface is preferably formed by punctures in the sealing surface. This measure can be particularly effective since the depth and the extent of the punctures can be selected so that the necessary active surface is achieved.
• the enlarged active surface of the sealing surface can also be formed by a wave-like or rib-like structure in the sealing surface.
• the active surface of the sealing surface will preferably be enlarged 2 to 3 times compared to an essentially smooth or flat sealing surface.
• the closure is preferably made of plastic.
• a polymer composition is generally used as the carrier material for this purpose.
• polyethylene PE
• polyethylene can be selected as the carrier material.
• polyethylene can guarantee the sealing function, on the other hand, it has the strength necessary to close the bottle.
• an oxygen scavenger is used, which is activated by water or water vapor.
• the material of the closure may further contain a catalyst to increase the rate of reaction of the oxygen scavenger with the oxygen.
• the proportion of oxygen scavenger in the closure can in particular be selected such that the closure has the required strength to ensure the closure function on the one hand and the required oxygen scavenging capacity to guarantee the shelf life requirements for the food on the other.
• the one-piece closure is usually designed as a twist lock.
• the invention can also be applied to detachable closures, such as crown caps, or twist-off crown caps.
• the closure preferably has a guarantee band for fulfilling the guarantee function.
• the closure can have an inner seal which presses against the inner wall of the container when the container is closed.
• closure can comprise a wedge seal which, when the container is closed, rests on its upper edge at the transition into the interior of the container.
• the closure can have a cap wall with an annular seal, which lies against the outer wall of the container when the container is closed.
• the closure can have a tear-off guarantee band to fulfill a guarantee function.
• a method for producing a closure described above comprises the steps of: producing a mixture comprising a carrier material and an oxygen scavenger; and producing the one-part closure from the mixture by injection molding, the active surface of the sealing surface of the closure being roughly eroded
• the method eliminates at least the steps of manufacturing a sealing washer and assembling the sealing washer with the sealing cap, thereby reducing the effort and costs.
• the figure shows a sectional view of a closure for a beer bottle according to the invention.
• An inventive closure 1 for a bottle is shown in the figure.
• An internal thread 9 is formed in the side wall 2 of the cap of the closure.
• the end wall 3 of the closure 1 has a sealing surface 4 which is in contact with the inside of the closed bottle.
• annular inner seal 5 which projects to the open end and is spaced apart from the cap wall 2. Their outer diameter tapers in the area of their free end. A bulge 5a is formed towards the cap wall 2, which bears against the inside of the bottle neck when the bottle is closed.
• the bead 5a comprises the area 5b which tapers in the outer diameter.
• the inner surface 5c of the inner seal 5, runs essentially perpendicular to the sealing surface 4.
• the inner seal 5 extends approximately in an arc shape to the bead 5a, that is to say it merges with the bead 5a, and tapers from there again in a roughly straight line in the outer diameter.
• the bead 5a is dimensioned or extends in such a way toward the cap wall 2 that the inner seal 5 or the bead 5a is pressed against the inner wall of the bottle in the region of the bottle mouth in the screwed-on state with a predetermined contact pressure.
• the figure further shows that the end wall 3 in the area between the cap wall 2 and the inner seal 5 has a wedge seal 6 protruding from the end wall 3 and inclined towards the inner seal 5.
• the wedge seal 6 is positioned and dimensioned such that, in the screwed-on state, it bears against the radius or against the inside edge of the bottle neck or at the transition into the bottle mouth. This wedge seal 6 tapers to its free end.
• cap wall 2 in the upper region i. H. in the area shortly before the transition to the end wall 3, has an approximately radially or inwardly projecting annular seal 7 for contacting the outer wall of the bottle neck.
• the seal 7 is dimensioned in such a way that it bears against the outer wall of the bottle under tension in the screwed-on state.
• Caps with which beverage bottles or similar containers can be closed have to meet different requirements.
• the sealing of the beverage bottles or containers must be achieved in such a way that the beverage contained in them cannot escape from the container in the closed or locked state.
• the containers to be sealed are beverage bottles, this requirement is determined by the viscosity of the liquid.
• the seal must also be gas-tight to prevent the gas from escaping from the bottle.
• Relatively high internal pressures can also arise in beer bottles, so that a secure and firm seal is required to prevent the gas from escaping.
• the invention achieves adequate sealing for the internal pressures which arise and for external loads.
• the seal can also be achieved in that a corrugated, ribbed structure is provided, which presses the sealant specifically against the upper edge of the container, thereby creating a sealing zone in which the sealant is pressed against the upper edge of the container with high pressure.
• annular guarantee band 8 which adjoins the cap wall 2 and can be torn off at a predetermined breaking point, is provided.
• the guarantee band 8 has, for example, two predetermined breaking points, which lie opposite one another, so that the guarantee band 8 is divided into roughly equal halves when torn open.
• the closure cap according to the invention is made in one piece overall.
• the closure is made of a material which contains polyethylene as a carrier material and an oxygen scavenger.
• the one-piece design results in production advantages and disposal advantages.
• the sealing surface 4 is roughly eroded in order to enlarge the active surface, which is intended to extract oxygen from the inside of the bottle, compared to an essentially flat or smooth sealing surface.
• the enlargement of the active surface was achieved by a large number of depressions in the sealing surface.
• the cap receives the necessary crack resistance to ensure a secure closure function.
• This enables a one-piece design of the closure cap, which makes it easier to manufacture.
• material costs can be saved by reducing the relatively more expensive oxygen scavenger.
• a two to three times enlargement of the active area is usually sufficient for the purposes mentioned. It may be sufficient to only partially roughen the sealing surface.
• the inner surface 5c and / or the tapered area 5b of the inner seal 5 can also be eroded. In this way, a maximum active area that removes oxygen from the inside of the bottle can be created.
• the active area can be eroded in different ways. The only important thing is that the active surface is enlarged compared to a surface that is essentially not roughened.
• the surface can be provided, for example, with recesses, waves, ribs, lamellas, depressions, projections, etc.
• closures for closing beer bottles are suitable for any type of container, for example for any type of food container.
• closure cap according to the invention can be used both for reusable bottles and for disposable bottles.
• the closures are suitable, for example, for beer bottles that are packaged in a sealed six pack.
• the invention can be used not only in connection with screw caps, but also with crown caps, e.g. rotatable crown caps or detachable caps can be used.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34466015

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (3)

Citations (6)

• 2004
  • 2004-10-13 WO PCT/EP2004/011509 patent/WO2005037677A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-10-13 CA CA002545836A patent/CA2545836A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-13 EP EP04790376A patent/EP1673289A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-10-13 AU AU2004281942A patent/AU2004281942A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-13 BR BRPI0415461-4A patent/BRPI0415461A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (6)

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