WO2009060291A1

WO2009060291A1 - Cap, apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: WO2009060291A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/002970
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Falzoni
Original assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
Priority date: 2007-11-08
Filing date: 2008-11-06
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: ITMO20070333A1

Abstract

An apparatus comprises cutting means arranged for making an intended opening line (2) in a cap (3; 103; 203), said cutting means comprising a cutting element (4) arranged for being received inside said cap (3; 103; 203) for interacting with an internal face (14) of a skirt (5) of said cap (3); a method for making an intended opening line (2) in a cap (3; 103; 203) comprises cutting a skirt (5) of said cap (3) starting from an internal face (14) of said skirt (5) and proceeding towards an outer face (16) of said skirt (5); a cap comprises a skirt (5) along which there extends an intended opening line (2) and grasping promoting means (25) protruding from an outer face (16) of said skirt (5), said intended opening line (2) passing through said grasping- promoting means (25).

Description

Cap, apparatus and method

The invention relates to a cap that is applicable to a container for closing a dispensing opening of the container, in particular a cap made of plastics . The invention further relates to a method and an apparatus for making caps.

Caps are known that are applicable to containers for closing a dispensing opening of the containers. Such caps comprise a cap body - having a substantially cylindrical side wall and a substantially circular bottom wall - and a tamperproof band, bridge elements that are intended to be broken when the cap is opened for the first time being interposed between the side wall and the tamperproof band. The caps can be obtained by forming plastics, for example by compression or injection. When the caps are extracted from a forming mould they comprise a continuous skirt in which a circumferential cut or a circumferential incision is made that forms in the skirt the bridge elements and defines an intended opening line. The caps may comprise grasping promoting elements protruding from an external surface of the cap body. The grasping promoting elements can be shaped as elongated bodies arranged substantially parallelly to a longitudinal axis of the caps. The grasping promoting elements define a knurled portion of the caps that can be solidly grasped by a user to remove the cap body from the container at the moment of the first opening of the caps. In addition, the grasping promoting elements enable the user to apply the cap body to the container again, after part of the contents of the container has been removed. The grasping promoting elements, are further engaged by applying tools provided in capping heads that apply the caps to the containers .

In an embodiment, it is possible to make the bridge elements by means of a blade provided with cutting portions between which recesses are interposed. When a cap interacts with the blade, the zones of the skirt arranged at the cutting portions are cut, whilst the zones of the skirt arranged at the recesses are not cut and define the bridge elements. In a further embodiment, from an internal surface of the skirt there leads a plurality of ribs, extending substantially parallelly to a longitudinal axis of the caps. In this case, the bridge elements can be made by a blade provided with a continuous cutting portion. When a cap interacts with the blade, the cutting portion makes a cut that completely passes through the skirt, but does not completely pass through the ribs. The ribs thus form the bridge elements.

In both the embodiments disclosed above, in order to make the intended opening line, a rotatable driving tool, for example a spindle, is inserted inside the cap, that causes the cap to roll on the blade. The blade is provided outside the cap and is arranged in a fixed position. The driving tool not only drags the cap along the blade but also acts as an abutting element that prevents the skirt, flexing inside the cap, from interacting incorrectly with the blade. Currently, the market requires caps having a low cost. In order to limit the cost of the caps, the quantity of plastics intended for forming a single cap has been reduced. This entails making caps comprising a skirt - i.e. a side wall of the cap body and a tamperproof band - having a lower height than that of the skirt of the caps that were previously available commercially.

A drawback of these caps is that it is very difficult to make the intended opening line in the skirt. As the skirt has a very low height, in fact, the space in which to position the aforesaid driving tool is significantly reduced. As a result, the driving tool does not act effectively as a contrasting element for the blade positioned outside the cap. A further drawback of these caps is that, as the side wall of the cap body has a very reduced height, the knurled portion that is defined by the grasping elements is correspondingly reduced. As a result, the aforesaid caps are very inconvenient to open, as the zone of the cap body that can be gripped by a user has a much lesser extent than that of the caps that were previously available commercially. An object of the invention is to improve known caps.

Another object is to simplify making of an intended opening line in a cap.

A further object is to obtain a cap, provided with a skirt of reduced height, that is easily openable. In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising cutting means arranged for making an intended opening line in a cap, characterised in that said cutting means comprises a cutting element arranged for being received inside said cap for interacting with an internal face of a skirt of said cap.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for making an intended opening line in a cap, comprising cutting a skirt of said cap, starting from an internal face of said skirt and proceeding towards an outer face of said skirt.

Owing to these aspects of the invention, it is possible to obtain with simplicity and accuracy an intended opening line in a cap, also in a cap having a skirt of reduced height. It is in fact possible to make a cutting element having very small dimensions, which is thus easily positionable inside the cap.

Abutting means can also be provided arranged for interacting with the outer face of the skirt, which abutting means, by preventing the skirt from flexing, ensure that the cap interacts correctly with the cutting element.

The abutting means, in order to effectively perform the task of contrasting the cutting element, has to have very large dimensions. Nevertheless, this does not constitute a problem inasmuch as the abutting means, unlike what occurs in known apparatuses, is positioned outside the cap. In an embodiment, the cap is provided with grasping promoting elements that extend for a prevalent portion of the height of the skirt, i.e. they extend both in a side wall of a cap body of the cap and in a tamperproof band of the cap. In this case, the cutting means makes a cut that completely passes through the skirt, but does not completely pass through the grasping promoting elements. The non-cut portions of the grasping promoting elements thus define the intended opening line and form breakable bridge means interposed between the cap body and the tamperproof band. As a result, it is possible to obtain breakable bridge means from the grasping promoting elements, without the forming moulds of the caps - if the caps are made of plastics - having to be modified. In addition, the caps, being provided with very long grasping promoting elements - i.e. with a very extended knurled zone - are easy to open.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a cap, comprising a skirt along which there extends an intended opening line and grasping promoting means protruding from an outer face of said skirt, characterised in that said intended opening line passes through said grasping promoting means .

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain a cap in which the grasping promoting means extends for a prevalent portion of the height of the skirt, i.e. extends both in a side wall of a cap body of the cap and in a tamperproof band of the cap.

The cap, thus, being provided with very long grasping promoting means, comprises a knurled zone - intended to be gripped by a user - that is very long. Consequently, the cap is easy to be opened, even if the cap comprises a skirt of very low height .

In an embodiment, the intended opening line is defined by a cut that completely passes through the skirt, but does not pass through - or does not pass through completely - the grasping promoting means. Non-cut portions of the grasping promoting means, therefore, form breakable bridge means of the intended opening line.

The aforesaid cut can be made by a cutting element arranged for being received inside the cap for interacting with an internal face of the skirt. The cutting element is provided with a continuous blade.

In this manner, it is possible to obtain a cap made of plastics, in which the breakable bridge means is obtained from the grasping promoting means, using known moulds. In another embodiment, ribs are provided inside the skirt that extend - like the grasping promoting means substantially parallelly to a longitudinal axis of the cap. In this case, the intended opening line is defined by a cut that completely passes through the grasping promoting means and the skirt, but does not pass through - or does not pass through completely - the ribs. Non-cut portions of the ribs, therefore, form breakable bridge means of said intended opening line. The aforesaid cut is made by a cutting element positioned outside the cap. The cutting element is provided with a continuous blade.

In a further embodiment, the intended opening line is made by a cutting element provided with cutting zones between which recesses are interposed. The parts of the skirt and of the grasping promoting means that, when the cutting element interacts with the cap, are arranged at the recesses and are therefore not cut, form breakable bridge means of the intended opening line. In a still further embodiment, the breakable bridge means is obtained directly during forming of the cap. This in particular if the cap is obtained through injection of plastics .

The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non- limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a sectioned front perspective view of an apparatus for making an intended opening line in a cap;

Figure 2 is a sectioned top perspective view of the apparatus in Figure 1 ; 5 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a blade of the apparatus in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a view like the one in Figure 3 that shows a blade made according to a version;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a supporting element ofo the blade of the apparatus in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of an abutting element of the apparatus in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a view like the one in Figure 6 that shows a portion of an abutting element made according to a version;s Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cap;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a cap provided with flaps folded towards an internal zone of the cap;

Figure 10 is a view like the one in Figure 9 that shows the flaps extending outside the cap; c Figure 11 is a perspective view of a version of the cap in

Figure 9 provided with flaps folded towards an internal zone of the cap;

Figure 12 is a view like the one in Figure 11 showing the flaps extending outside the cap; 5 Figure 13 is a perspective view of another cap embodiment;

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing a version of the cap in Figure 13 ;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a further cap embodiment;

Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a version of the capc in Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a still further cap embodiment .

With reference to Figures 1 to 7, there is shown an apparatus 1 for making an intended opening line 2 in a cap5 3. The apparatus 1 comprises a cutting element 4 shaped so as to be received inside the cap 3 for cutting a skirt 5 of the cap 3.

The cap 3 can be obtained by compression or injection- 5 forming plastics .

The cap 3 comprises a cap body 18 provided with a side wall 19 and with a bottom wall 20.

The cap 3 further comprises a tamperproof band 21 - having an annular shape - provided with hooking means 22 intended io for engaging with a portion of a container to which the cap 3 can be applied.

In the case of caps made in plastics, when the cap 3 is extracted from the forming mould the skirt 5 can be shaped as a continuous body.

_5 The intended opening line 2, subsequently made by the cutting element 4 in the skirt 5, defines in the skirt 5 the cap body 18 and the tamperproof band 21. The intended opening line 2 is in fact interposed between the cap body 18 and the tamperproof band 21.

2c The apparatus 1 further comprises a supporting element 6 arranged for supporting the cutting element 4. In an embodiment, driving means is provided that rotates the supporting element 6. In this case, the cutting element 4 is fixed to the supporting element 6, which acts as a spindle

25 that rotates the cutting element 4 around a rotation axis R. In a further embodiment, the cutting element 4 is rotatably supported by the supporting element 6, i.e. can rotate with respect to the supporting element 6 around a rotation axis R. In this case, the supporting element 6 does not rotate on

30 itself.

Further driving means can be provided that rotates the cutting element 4 with respect to the supporting element 6. Alternatively, the cutting element 4 can be rotatable idly with respect to the supporting element 6. The cutting

35 element 4, when it interacts with the cap 3, rotates with respect to the supporting element 6 due to friction with the skirt 5.

The supporting element 6 comprises a shaft 8 from which a projection 9 leads away. The projection 9 comprises a base wall 10 - having the shape of a circular crown and arranged substantially perpendicularly to the rotation axis R - that restingly receives the cutting element 4. The projection 9 further comprises a side wall 11 - having a cylindrical shape and arranged substantially coaxially with respect to the rotation axis R - which, during operation, interacts with an internal zone of the cap 3 , for example with a thread 13 projecting from an internal face 14 of the skirt 5. The supporting element 6 further comprises a bead 23 extending from the shaft 8 - that, during operation, interacts with a further internal zone of the cap 3 , for example with a sealing element 24 protruding from the bottom wall 20. The supporting element 6 has, overall, a profile similar to a profile of the aforesaid internal zone of the cap 3. In this way, the supporting element 6 can effectively engage with the aforesaid internal zone of the cap 3. The apparatus 1 further comprises a locking element 7, for example an elastic ring, arranged for locking the cutting element 4 on the supporting element 6.

The apparatus 1 further comprises an abutting element 12 that, during operation, acts as a contrast for the cutting element 4 to prevent the skirt 5 flexing and, therefore, not interacting correctly with the cutting element 4.

The abutting element 12 comprises an abutting surface 15 arranged for restingly receiving an outer face 16 of the skirt 5. In particular, as shown in Figure 7, the abutting surface 15 may comprise a knurled zone .33 arranged for engaging with a further knurled zone provided outside the skirt 5. The abutting element 12 further comprises a cavity 17 that opens on the abutting surface 15 and is arranged for facing a zone of the skirt 5 in which the cutting element 4 makes the intended opening line 2. In particular, the cavity

17 can receive a portion of the cutting element 4 that has completely passed through the skirt 5.

During operation, the cap 3 is positioned in such a way that the bottom wall 20 rests on a supporting plane that is not shown.

The supporting element β is partially inserted into the cap 3, so that the cutting element 4 is received inside the cap

3.

Also the projection 9 and the bead 23 are received inside the cap 3.

The cutting element 4 interacts with the internal face 14, whilst the supporting element 6 presses the cap 3 against the abutting element 12, which is maintained in a fixed position.

In a first embodiment, the driving means rotates the supporting element 6 - and the cutting element 4 fixed thereto - around the rotation axis R.

In a second embodiment, the further driving means rotates the cutting element 4 with respect to the supporting element

6 around the rotation axis R.

Simultaneously, moving means - which is not shown - moves the supporting element 6 with respect to the abutting element 12 so that the cap 3 rolls on the abutting surface

15.

The aforesaid moving means may comprise a carousel - which is rotatable around a further rotation axis - on which the shaft 8 is supported.

In the aforesaid first embodiment, the shaft 8 is rotatably supported by the ^• carousel .

In the aforesaid second embodiment the shaft 8 is arranged in a fixed position with respect to the carousel, i.e. it does not rotate with respect to the carousel. The aforesaid carousel can support a plurality of shafts 8, for example arranged at substantially constant angular intervals on a peripheral edge of the carousel. In this case, as shown in Figure 7, the abutting surface 15 is shaped as a circular sector.

Alternatively, the aforesaid driving means may comprise linear driving means. In this case, the abutting surface 15 is shaped like a flat wall. Similarly to what is disclosed above, the shaft 8 can be rotatably supported by the carousel, or be arranged in a fixed position with respect to the carousel.

Whilst the cap 3 rolls on the abutting surface 15, the cutting element 4 cuts the skirt 5 starting from the internal face 14 and proceeding towards the outer face 16. The cutting element 4 has very small dimensions - in particular a very small thickness - and can thus be easily positioned inside caps 3 having a skirt with a very modest height . The abutting element 12, being positioned - unlike what occurs in known apparatuses - outside the cap, does not have to be subject to particular dimensional constraints, In other words, the dimensions of the abutting element 12 are not linked to the height of the skirt 5. The abutting element 12, may thus have an abutting surface 15 that is very extended so as to provide an effective contrast for the cutting element 4.

As shown in Figure 4, the cutting element 4 may comprise a blade 4a provided with cutting portions 34 between which are interposed recesses 35. In this case, the cutting element 4 can make the intended opening line 2 in caps of known type, for example in the cap 103 shown in Figure 8. When the cap 103 interacts with the cutting element 4, zones of the skirt 5 arranged at the cutting portions 34 are cut, whilst further zone of the skirt arranged at the recesses 35 are not cut and define bridge elements 130 of the intended opening line 2. The bridge elements 130 connect the cap body 18 to the tamperproof band 21 and are intended to be broken when the cap 103 is opened for the first time.

With reference to Figures 9 to 17, caps 203 are shown in which the intended opening line 2 passes through grasping promoting means 25 of the cap 203. The grasping promoting means 25 comprises elongated elements - shaped as projections, or ridges - that protrude from the skirt 5 to define a knurled zone. The grasping promoting means 25 extends along a perimeter of the skirt 5 substantially parallelly to a longitudinal axis of the cap 203.

The grasping promoting means 25 occupies a prevalent portion of the skirt 5 and extends both into the side wall 19 of the cap body 18 and into the tamperproof band 21.

The caps 203 shown in Figures 9 to 17 can easily be opened, as they comprise a very large knurled zone, this knurled zone extending not only into the side wall 19 of the cap body 18, as in known caps, but also into the tamperproof band 22.

With reference to Figures 9 and 10, there is shown a cap 203a in which the hooking means 22 comprises a plurality of flaps 26.

Alternatively, the hooking means 22 may comprise a continuous flap.

Still alternatively, the hooking means 22 may comprise any other hooking element suitable for causing, at the moment of the first opening of the cap, breaking of bridge elements.

The grasping promoting means 25 does not extend as far as a peripheral end 31 of the tamperproof band 21 that is further from the intended opening line 2. At the peripheral end 31 there is provided an edge 32 extending outwards the cap 203a and having a greater diameter than that of the cap body 18.

The edge 32 is intended to interact with corresponding edges

32 of further caps 203a. The edge 32 prevents, during conveying, when the caps 203a are advanced so as to form a row, the grasping promoting means 25 of a cap 203a interacting with the grasping promoting means 25 of adjacent caps 203a, preventing movement of the caps 203a.

With reference to Figures 11 and 12, there is shown a cap 203b that differs from the cap 203a shown in Figures 9 and 10 by the fact that the grasping promoting elements 25 extends as far as the peripheral end 31 of the tamperproof band 21, the edge 32 not being provided. With reference to Figure 13, there is shown a cap 203c in which the hooking means 22 comprises a plurality of hooks 27.

The grasping promoting means 25 does not extend as far as a peripheral end 31 of the tamperproof band 21 that is further from the intended opening line 2. Similarly to what has been disclosed with reference to Figures 9 and 10, at the peripheral end 31 there is provided an edge 32 extending outwards the cap 203c and having a greater diameter than that of the cap body 18. With reference to Figure 14, there is shown a cap 203d that differs from the cap 203c shown in Figure 13 by the fact that the grasping promoting elements 25 extend as far as the peripheral end 31 of the tamperproof band 21, the edge 32 not being provided. With reference to Figure 15, there is shown a cap 203e in which the hooking means 22 comprises an engaging element 28 arranged along a coil defined by the thread 13. In particular, the thread 13 may comprise a first portion of thread 29 projecting from the cap body 18 and a second portion of thread - that defines the engaging element 28 - projecting from the tamperproof band 21. The first portion of thread 29 and the second portion of thread lie on the same helical thread 13 and are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the intended opening line 2. In the case of caps provided with a multi-start thread 13, for example triple- starts thread, a plurality of hooking elements 28 is provided. Using hooking means 21 defined by a portion of thread - or by a plurality of portions of thread - enables caps to be made that are provided with a skirt 5 having a limited height .

5 The grasping promoting means 25 does not extend as far as a peripheral end 31 of the tamperproof band 21 that is further from the intended opening line 2.

Similarly to what has been disclosed with reference to Figures 9 and 10, at the peripheral end 31 there is providedo an edge 32 extending outwards the cap 3 and having a greater diameter than that of the cap body 18.

With reference to Figure 16, there is shown a cap 203f that differs from the cap 203e shown in Figure 15 by the fact that the grasping promoting elements 25 extend as far as thes peripheral end 31 of the tamperproof band 21, the edge 32 not being provided.

In the caps 203 shown in Figures 9 to 16 the intended opening line 2 can be obtained by using an apparatus 1 - of the type disclosed with reference to Figures 1 to 7 -in0 which the cutting element 4 comprises a blade 4b (shown in Figure 3) provided with a continuous cutting portion 36. The intended opening line 2 is obtained by starting to cut the skirt 5 starting from the internal face 14 and proceeding towards the outer face 16. s During operation of the apparatus 1, the cutting element 4 makes a cut that completely passes through the skirt 5, but does not completely pass the grasping promoting elements 25. Non-cut portions of the grasping promoting elements 25 thus define bridge elements 230 of the intended opening line 2.o The bridge elements 230 connect the cap body 18 to the tamperproof band 21 and are intended to be broken when the cap 3 is opened for the first time.

Alternatively, the intended opening line 2 that passes through the grasping promoting means 25 can be made by a5 cutting element 4 of the type shown in Figure 4, i.e. a cutting element provided with cutting portions 34 between which are interposed recesses 35. The parts of the skirt 5 and of the grasping promoting means 25, that, when the cutting element 4 interacts with the cap, are arranged at the recesses 35 - and are therefore not cut - form breakable Ξ bridge elements of the intended opening line 2.

In this case, the intended opening line 2 can be obtained both by starting to cut the skirt 5 starting from the internal face 14, and by starting to cut the skirt 5 starting from the outer face 16. Q In the first case, it is possible to use an apparatus 1 - of the type disclosed with reference to Figures 1 to 7 - in which the cutting element 4 comprises a continuous cutting portion 36, i.e. a blade 4b like that shown in Figure 3. In the second case, it is possible to use an apparatus ofs known type provided with a continuous blade.

With reference to Figure 17, there is shown a cap 23Og in which the grasping promoting means 25 occupies a prevalent portion of the skirt 5 and extends both in the side wall 19 of the cap body 18 and in the tamperproof band 21, in this0 cap, inside the skirt 5 being provided ribs 37, extending - like the grasping promoting means 25 - substantially parallelly to a longitudinal axis of the cap. In this case, the intended opening line 2 is obtained by starting to cut the skirt 5 starting from the outer face 16,5 i.e. making a cut that completely passes through the grasping promoting means 25 and the skirt 5, but does not traverse - or does not traverse completely - the ribs 37. Non-cut portions 38 of the ribs 37 thus form breakable bridge elements 330 of the intended opening line 2. o The aforesaid cut is made by a continuous blade provided in an apparatus of known type.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising cutting means arranged for making an intended opening line (2) in a cap (3; 103; 203) , characterised in that said cutting means a comprises a cutting element (4) arranged for being received inside said cap (3; 103; 203) for interacting with an internal face (14) of a skirt (5) of said cap (3) .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and furthero comprising abutting means (12) positioned outside said cap (3; 103; 203) for interacting with an outer face (16) of said skirt (5) .

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said abutting means (12) comprises cavity means (17)s facing towards said cutting element (4) .

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, or 3, wherein said abutting means (12) comprises an abutting surface (15) arranged for restingly receiving at least part of said outer face (16) . 0

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said abutting surface (15) is provided with a knurled zone (33) arranged for engaging with a further knurled zone provided outside said skirt (5) .

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, or 5, wherein said5 abutting surface (15) is shaped as a circular sector .

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said abutting means (12) is arranged in a fixed position. 0

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, and further comprising supporting means (6) arranged for supporting said cutting element (4) .

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said cutting element (4) is fixed to said supporting means (6) .

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, and further comprising driving means arranged for rotating said supporting means (6) and said cutting element (4) .

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising further driving means arranged for rotating said cutting element (4) with respect to said supporting means (6) .

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11 as appended to any one of claims 2 to 7 , wherein said supporting means (β) comprises pressing means (9, 23) arranged for interacting with an internal zone (13, 24) of said cap (3; 103; 203) for pressing said cap (3) against said abutting means (12) .

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said pressing means (9, 23) is shaped so as to be received inside said cap (3; 103; 203) .

14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11 as appended to any one of claims 2 to 7 , or according to claim 12, or 13, and further comprising moving means arranged for moving said supporting means (6) with respect to said abutting means (12) .

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said moving means rotatably supports said supporting means (6) .

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said moving means supports said supporting means (6) , said supporting means (6) being arranged in a fixed position with respect to said moving means.

17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein said moving means comprises carousel means that is rotatable and arranged for rotating said supporting means (6) .

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein said moving means comprises linear driving means arranged for translating said supporting means (6) .

19. Method for making an intended opening line (2) in a cap (3; 103; 203) , comprising cutting a skirt (5) of said cap (3) starting from an internal face (14) of said skirt (5) and proceeding towards an outer face (16) of said skirt (5) .

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein, during said cutting, acting on said outer face (16) is provided for contrasting deformations of said skirt (5) .

21. Method according to claim 19, or 20, wherein said cutting comprises providing a cutting element (4) arranged for being received inside said cap (3; 103; 203) for interacting with said internal face (14) and said acting comprises providing abutting means (12) positioned outside said cap (3) for interacting with said outer face (16) .

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein said cutting comprises rotating said cutting element (4) .

23. Method according to claim 21, or 22, wherein said cutting comprises maintaining said abutting means (12) in a fixed position and moving said cutting element (4) and said cap (3) with respect to said abutting means (12) .

24. Method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein, during said cutting, said cap (3; 103; 203) is pressed against said abutting means (12) .

25. Method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein in said cap (203) grasping promoting means

(25) protrudes from said outer face (16) and said intended opening line (2) passes through said grasping promoting means (25) , said cutting comprising making a cut that does not completely pass through said grasping promoting means (25) so that non-cut portions of said grasping means (25) forms breakable bridge elements (230) of said intended opening line (2) .

26. Method according to claim 25, wherein said cut completely passes through said skirt (5) .

27. Method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein said cutting comprises cutting said skirt

5 (5) with a blade (4a) provided with cutting zones

(34) between which there are interposed non- cutting zones (35) so that non-cut portions of said skirt (5) form breakable bridge elements (130) of said intended opening line (2) . o

28. Cap, comprising a skirt (5) along which there extends an intended opening line (2) and grasping promoting means (25) protruding from an outer face

(16) of said skirt (5) , characterised in that said intended opening line (2) passes through saids grasping promoting means (25) .

29. Cap according to claim 28, wherein said intended opening line (2) defines in said skirt (5) a side wall (19) of a cap body (18) of said cap (3) and a tamperproof band (21) of said cap (3) , said grasping0 promoting means (25) extending both in said side wall (19) and in said tamperproof band (21) .

30. Cap according to claim 28, or 29, wherein said intended opening line (2) comprises a cut extending from an internal face (14) of said skirt (5) towards5 said outer face (16) .

31. Cap according to claim 30, wherein said cut does not completely pass through said grasping promoting means (25) so that non-cut portions of said grasping means (25) form breakable bridge elements (230) ofo said intended opening line (2) .

32. Cap according to claim 31, wherein said cut completely passes through said skirt (5) .

33. Cap according to claim 28, or 29, wherein said intended opening line (2) comprises a cut extending5 from said outer face (16) towards an internal face (14) of said skirt (5) .

34. Cap according to claim 33, wherein said cut is defined by a plurality of mutually adjacent cut portions between which are interposed non-cut portions of said skirt (5) , said non-cut portions defining breakable bridge elements of said intended opening line (2) .

35. Cap according to claim 33, and further comprising rib means (37) protruding from said internal face (14), said cut not completely passing through said rib means (37) so that non-cut portions (38) of said rib means (37) form breakable bridge elements (330) of said intended opening line (2) .

36. Cap according to claim 35, wherein said cut completely passes through said grasping promoting means (25) and said skirt (5) .

37. Cap according to claim 35, or 36, wherein said rib means (37) extends substantially parallelly to said grasping promoting means (25) .