WO2007115976A1

WO2007115976A1 - Reclosable pouring element for composite cardboard/plastic packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2007115976A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/053249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Felix Rigling
Original assignee: Sig Technology Ag
Priority date: 2006-04-04
Filing date: 2007-04-03
Publication date: 2007-10-18
Also published as: EA200702017A1; ATE432884T1; WO2007115978A1; EP1868903B1; BRPI0702839A; EA013271B1; BRPI0702842A; PL1868903T3; ATE432883T1; AU2007221929A8; ES2327974T3; ES2327975T3; PL1863717T3; AU2007236004A1; DE102006016113B3; MX2007015317A; EP1863717B1; EA200702016A1; EP1868903A1; AR060305A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a reclosable pouring element for composite cardboard/plastic packaging, particularly packaging for beverages, consisting of a shell element (1) that has a continuous fixing flange (5) and an outer thread (4) and an inner thread (6), a cutting element (2) that has an outer thread (7), and a screw lid (3) with an inner thread (16). After injection moulding, the cutting element (2) is moulded in one piece at the opposite end of the shell element (1) from the fixing flange (5) and is attached to said shell element in one piece by means of connecting bridges (15). When the pouring element is assembled, the cutting element (2) is situated inside the shell element (1). To achieve a particularly simple assembly and to ensure the integrity of the pre-assembled pouring element, the outer thread (7) consists of two thread sections (7A and 7B), each extending approximately around a quarter of the periphery of the cutting element (2) and having a gradient that is steeper than the inner thread (16) of the screw lid (3) and the cutting element (2) has protuberances (10) that jut out radially and are distributed around its outer periphery, said protuberances extending axially from the upper edge of the cutting element (2) beyond the outer thread (7) in such a way that they form a stop for the cutting element (2) that is pressed inside the shell element (1) during assembly.

Description

03. April 2007

Resealable pouring element for carton / plastic composite packages

The invention relates to a resealable pouring element for cardboard / plastic composite packages, in particular beverage packages, consisting of a peripheral mounting flange and an external thread having frame member, an external thread and an internal thread exhibiting cutting element and a screw cap with an internal thread, wherein the cutting element in the injection position on the the mounting flange opposite end of the frame member and is injection molded integrally with this via connecting bridges and wherein the cutting element is arranged in the mounting position of the pouring element in the interior of the frame member.

Reclosable pouring spouts for disposable packages have long been known in many designs. Here, versions with screw cap are particularly popular because they ensure a reliable tight reclosure, so that it can be shaken in resealed packaging, without any of the contents can escape.

Such spouts are often constructed in three parts, with a peripheral flange equipped with a frame member is firmly connected to the top of the composite package. Due to the interaction with the screw cap is the actual frame shape

TH / bs 060180WO cylindrical, wherein inside the cylinder, a cutting element is arranged, which, actuated by the screw cap, has the task of opening the composite package by being moved when first opening the screw from the frame member into the interior of the composite package, so that below the pouring a Pouring occurs.

The initially mentioned pouring element described above is known from WO 02/28728 A1. Due to the fixed connection of the frame element and the cutting element via connecting bridges, in this known pouring element for mounting the frame element and the cutting element need only be aligned with one another with the screw cap.

Another three-part pouring element is described in EP 1 088 764 Bl. Again, the frame member has an external thread and the screw on a corresponding internal thread. Here, too, the cutting element is forced the first time Betatigen the screw through corresponding threads in the interior of the frame member or on the outer periphery of the cutting element hineinzudrucken axially in the composite material. There frame member and cutting element are also connected to each other in the production by injection molding, however, the cutting element is connected to the flange of the frame member with this. When mounting so cutting element and screw on different sides with opposite movements on or in the frame element zoom in or must be guided.

TH / bs 060180WO Furthermore, from WO 2004/000667 a three-part pouring element is known in which, however, the opening element is not moved in a screwing manner. The actual opening process happens here rather by a combination of a piercing with a rotary motion, so a superposition of an axial and a radial movement.

Also, from US 5,141,133 a pouring is known in which screw and cutting element are made einstuckig. This spout is fastened with its flange from the outside on the composite package. Here, the cylindrical frame in its upper region on an internal thread, wherein the screw cap is provided with a corresponding external thread. When opening the screw cap arranged in Axialfuhrungen in the frame member cutting element is printed by the packing material downwards, whereby the package is opened.

Based on this, the present invention has the object, the above-mentioned and more closely described above pouring element for cardboard / plastic composite packages and further, that while maintaining a simple three-part construction a particularly simple installation and good cohesion of the preassembled pouring element is achieved , Furthermore, a reliable penetration of the pouring spanning film over the first opening should be ensured.

The solution of the task is carried out in that the external thread of the cutting element consists of two threaded sections, each about about

TH / bs 060180WO extend a quarter of the circumference of the cutting element and have a slope which is steeper than the internal thread of the screw cap and that the cutting element distributed on the circumference of its outer side arranged and radially projecting cams, which axially from the upper edge of the cutting element to the external thread over extend, that they form a stop for the pressed into the interior of the frame member during assembly cutting element.

The invention has recognized that in this way the cutting element is always in a defined position: After removal from the injection mold a plurality of circumferentially distributed radial connecting bridges are provided for connection between the frame member and cutting element, which between the bottom of the cutting element and the upper edge run of the frame element and are destroyed only when nesting. Later, dropping out of the cutting element from the downwardly open frame member during transport or application to the composite package is reliably prevented. Even with the pouring element already applied to the composite packing, no damage to the underlying PE layer of the over-coated pouring opening can take place since the cutting element having the actual cutting elements is arranged inside the frame element so as to be protected.

Furthermore, a simultaneous axial telescoping of the mounted on the unit of cutting element and frame element screw is sufficient to allow the final assembly of the applied to a composite package pouring.

TH / bs 060180WO According to another teaching of the invention, the frame member has at least one internal thread, which consists of two threaded portions, each extending over about a quarter of the circumference and having a slope corresponding to the pitch of the external thread of the cutting element. By such a steep

Thread pitch is achieved that when screwing the screw the cutting element moves very quickly with a cutting rotary motion (superimposed rotational and axial movement) in the over-coated pouring opening, so that there existing film is reliably destroyed and printed inside the pack, without completely demolish, because the cutting element does not perform a full turn.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the external thread of the frame member is zweigangig and cooperates with the internal thread in the screw cap. For easier (axial) application of the screw cap, it is advantageous if the external thread in a preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a plurality of individual with short interruptions spaced threaded portions.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the frame element at its lower inner circumference on a circumferential and downwardly pointing lip. This is manufacturing technology when demolding the injection-molded component frame element / cutting element favorably and further serves the lip as a stop for the rotated in the frame member when opening cutting element.

TH / bs 060180WO A further teaching of the invention provides that the cutting element has a plurality of circumferentially arranged radially outwardly directed projections, which cooperate with corresponding inner cam of the frame member to prevent unscrewing of the cutting element from the frame member. When screwing on the screw cap, they release the rotation of the cutting element only in one direction, allowing only one left turn. These projections can be formed either by the cams projecting radially on the outside of the cutting element and / or by respective horizontal extensions of the upper ends of the threaded sections. Particularly preferably, the cams and the threaded sections merge into one another.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the cutting element has on its outer side a plurality circumferentially distributed and radially projecting cams, which extend from the upper edge of the cutting element down and correspond in shape to the already described cam of the cutting element. Preferably, the lower ends of all cams lie in a common, perpendicular to the vertical axis of the cutting element extending plane and thus serve for safe support on the lip at the inner end of the frame member.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the screw cap on at least one internal power transmission element, which at the first unscrewing of the screw cap on arranged in the interior of the cutting element projecting cam the

TH / bs 060180WO Movement of the cutting element causes. Such a power transmission element is preferably designed trapezoidal and concentric to the screw cap bent and facilitates the assembly process, the orientation of the screw with respect to the cutting element.

A pouring element produced by the method according to the invention preferably has a tamper-evident seal. This can be formed by an integrally molded with the screw cap and radially projecting from this flat element, which is firmly connected to the flange of the frame member, wherein the element is connected to at least one destructible material bridge with the screw cap.

In addition, in the assembly process of the screw cap provided with such a tamper-evident seal, alignment with respect to the frame member is facilitated. There are, however, other, known for known types of originality closures such as a screw cap the encircling band or the like (WO 2004/000667 Al as ^Λ guarantee strip 25 'refers to).

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only a preferred embodiment. In the drawing show:

1 shows a resealable pouring element according to the invention prior to assembly in vertical section,

TH / bs 060180WO 2 shows a frame element and a one-piece with this injection-molded cutting element before final assembly in a perspective view,

2 during the assembly in vertical section, wherein the screw cap already engages over the cutting element,

4 shows the fully assembled and axially pushed together pouring element in vertical section,

5 shows the fully assembled and axially pushed together pouring element in a perspective view,

6 shows the inserted into the frame member cutting element before the opening process, cut in a perspective plan view,

Fig. 7 inserted into the frame member

Cutting element during the opening process, cut in perspective,

Fig. 8 inserted into the frame member

Cutting element after the opening process, cut in perspective and

Fig. 9 inserted into the frame member

Cutting element, taken along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8 in a perspective view.

TH / bs 060180WO In the figures, a preferred embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention is shown in order to make clear the method steps of its manufacture and its operation during opening. 1, a pouring element according to the invention is shown in longitudinal section, consisting of a frame element 1, a single piece with the frame member 1 injection molded cutting element 2 and a screw 3. The frame member 1 has in its cylindrical Hauptkorper an external thread 4 and a peripheral flange. 5 for attachment to a composite package (not shown). Inside the frame member 1 can be seen a threaded portion 6A. For better understanding, the assembly of frame member 1 and cutting element in Fig. 2 is shown in perspective. There is a corresponding with the threaded portion 6A threaded portion 7A of an external thread 7 of the cutting element 2 can be seen, both threaded portions 6A and 7A have the same, compared to the external thread 4 very steep slope.

From Fig. 1 it is still apparent that the frame member 1 has at its lower inner end a circumferential lip 8, whose function will be explained later.

Furthermore, an inwardly projecting cam 9 can be seen at the upper edge of the frame member 1, which serves as a stop for the cutting element 2, which will be discussed in more detail below.

From Fig. 2 shows that the cutting element has at its upper periphery a plurality of cams, which

TH / bs 060180WO projecting radially outward, wherein two opposed cams 10 are each disposed above the threaded portions 7A and 7B. Further cams 11 and 12, of which only the front of the opposite pairs can be seen, are in the illustrated and so far preferred exemplary embodiment with a horizontal extension 7D of the threaded portion 7B einstuckig connected. On the opposite side is also a horizontal extension 7C of the threaded portion 7A can be seen. However, it is also possible to dispense with the cams 12 and the extensions 7C and 7D.

In the section according to FIG. 1, circumferentially arranged teeth 13 of the cutting element 2 are also clearly visible. These teeth 13 have in the preferred and illustrated embodiment sharp edges. In the upper inner region of the cutting element 2, in turn, radially inwardly projecting cams 14 can be seen, as can be seen particularly clearly from FIG. The frame member 1 is connected to the cutting element 2 via connecting bridges 15, as also apparent from Fig. 2.

The screw cap 3 has an internal thread 16 corresponding to the pitch of the external thread 4 of the frame element 1 and an internal, essentially trapezoidal, and concentrically with the screw cap extending force transmission element 17. The force transmission element 17 causes the cutting element is rotated by means of the inwardly projecting cam 14 at the first opening of the spout along the threaded portions 6 and 7 and thus penetrates axially into the package interior.

TH / bs 060180WO For mounting the pouring element according to the invention, the screw cap 3 is now first moved over the cutting element 2 protruding from the frame element 1, as shown in FIG. The remaining reference numerals in FIG. 3 correspond to those of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 now shows the finished mounted pouring element in vertical section, wherein the axial movement of the applied screw cap 3 and the cutting element 2 has been moved axially into the interior of the frame member 1, without moving in rotation. It can be seen clearly that the tips of the teeth 13 are also arranged at a distance from the lower edge of the frame element 1.

Due to the special shape of the Kraftubertragungselements 17 can be dispensed with an exact positioning and alignment of both structural parts. By further axial compression break the Verbindungsbrucken 15 and the cutting element 2 is pushed into the frame member 1, wherein at the same time the screw cap 3 is bounced on the frame member 1, so that the external thread 4 of the frame member 1 comes into contact with the internal thread 16 of the screw cap 3.

In Fig. 5, the finished mounted pouring is reproduced in perspective again for clarity. It can be seen here that the pouring element according to the invention also has a seal of originality: For this purpose, a plate 18 is injection-molded onto the screw cap 3 in one piece, which plate is pressed against the screw cap 3 via connecting bridges 19

TH / bs 060180WO is in connection, as clearly apparent from Fig. 5. The plate 18 has on its underside in the present case, two pins 20 which engage in corresponding recesses 22 (Fig. 2) of the flange 5 from the frame member 1, which are caulked for firm connection from below.

Finally, FIG. 6 shows the assembly position from FIGS. 4 and 5, but without a screw cap 3. Here it can be seen that the inner cam 9 cooperate with the outer cam 11 and the end of einstuckig associated with the cam 11 extensions 7C and 7D of the threaded portions 7A and 7B. Unscrewing the cutting element 2 from the frame member 1 upwards is reliably excluded by this latching, since the cutting element 2 can rotate only by a counterclockwise rotation when unscrewing the screw cap 3.

Fig. 7 now shows a state in which the teeth are just in contact with the film to be pierced (not shown). It can be seen clearly that the lower edges of the cams 10 extend down to the respective threaded section 6A or 6B of the internal thread of the frame element 1. Despite the only one-piece threaded sections 6A, 6B and 7A, 7B, a reliable leadership for the necessary rotary cutting movement is achieved.

8 and 9 show the cutting element 2 in its end position, in which it is also after further use

TH / bs 060180WO of the screw cap 3 by re-screwing or screwing remains and thus reliably retains the opened film from the pouring channel. Here it can be seen that both the cams 10 (FIG. 8) and the cams 11 (FIG. 9) rest with their lower edge against the lip 8 and fix the cutting element 2 in this way. The same applies to the cam 12, which is not recognizable here. In addition, all the cams 10, 11 and 12 arranged diametrically opposite each other ensure that a "falling in" of the cutting element 2 into the interior of the package is reliably ruled out.

TH / bs 060180WO

Claims

03. April 2007P ATENTANSPRU CHE

1. Resealable pouring element for

Cardboard / plastic composite packs, in particular beverage packs, consisting of a frame element (1) having an encircling mounting flange (5) and an external thread (4) and an internal thread (6), a cutting element (2) having an external thread (7) and a screw cap (3) with an internal thread (16), wherein the cutting element (2) in injection position at the mounting flange (5) opposite end of the frame member (1) and with this injection molded integrally via connecting bridges (15) and wherein the cutting element ( 2) is arranged in the mounting position of the pouring element inside the frame element (1), characterized in that the external thread (7) consists of two threaded portions (7A and 7B), each extending over about a quarter of the circumference of the cutting element (2) and have a slope which is steeper than the internal thread (16) of the screw cap (3) that the internal thread (6 ) consists of two threaded portions (6A and 6B), each extending about a quarter of the circumference and having a slope corresponding to the pitch of the external thread (7) of the cutting element (2) and that the cutting element (2) on the circumference distributed over its outer side and radially projecting cams

TH / bs 060180WO (10) which extend from the upper edge of the cutting element (2) to beyond the external thread (7) such that their lower edges with the respective threaded portions (6A and 6B) of the internal thread (6) has a stop for the during assembly form into the interior of the frame member (1) pressed in cutting element (2).

2. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the external thread (4) of the frame element (1) is zweigängig and with the internal thread (16) in the screw cap (3) cooperates.

3. Pouring element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the external thread (4) consists of a plurality of individual threaded sections.

4. Pouring element according to one of claims 1 to 3, d a d u r c h e c e n e, said the frame element (1) at its lower inner periphery a circumferential and downwardly pointing lip

(8).

5. A pouring spout according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cutting element (2) has a plurality of circumferentially arranged radially outwardly directed projections which engage with corresponding inner cams

(9) of the frame element (1) cooperate to prevent unscrewing of the cutting element from the (2) frame element (1).

TH / bs 060180WO

6. Pouring element according to claim 5, characterized in that the projections are formed by the cams (11) projecting radially on the outside of the cutting element (2).

7. Pouring element according to claim 5, characterized in that the projections of respective horizontal extensions (7C, 7D) of the upper ends of the threaded sections (7A and 7B) are formed.

8. Pouring element according to claim 6 and 7, d a d u r c h e k e n e c i n e s, the cams (11) and the threaded sections (7A and 7B) merge into one another.

9. Pouring element according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cutting element (2) on its outer side a plurality of circumferentially distributed and radially projecting cam (12) which extend from the upper edge of the cutting element (2) downwards and in shape correspond to the cam (10 or 11).

10. Pouring element according to claim 9, wherein the lower ends of the cams (10 and 11) lie in a common plane extending perpendicular to the vertical axis of the cutting element (2)

TH / bs 060180WO to be supported on the lip (8) when the cutting element (2) protrudes from the frame element (1).

Pouring element according to claim 9, characterized in that the lower ends of the cams (12) lie in a common plane extending perpendicularly to the vertical axis of the cutting element (2), in order to extend out of the frame element (1) on the cutting element (2) Support lip (8).

12. Pouring element according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the screw cap (3) has at least one internal power transmission element (17) which on the first turn of the screw (3) via inside the cutting element (2) arranged cam (14 ) causes the movement of the cutting element (2).

13. Pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one force transmission element is designed to run trapezoidally and concentrically with respect to the screw cap (3).

14. The pouring element according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element has a tamper-evident seal.

TH / bs 060180WO

15. Pouring element according to claim 9, characterized in that as a seal of integrity an integrally molded with the screw cap and radially projecting from this flat plate (18), which is fixedly connected to the flange (5) of the frame member (1) prior to the final assembly of the spout ,

TH / bs 060180WO