WO2011099854A1 - Article à ouverture fermée hermétiquement par un opercule - Google Patents

Article à ouverture fermée hermétiquement par un opercule Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011099854A1
WO2011099854A1 PCT/NL2011/050096 NL2011050096W WO2011099854A1 WO 2011099854 A1 WO2011099854 A1 WO 2011099854A1 NL 2011050096 W NL2011050096 W NL 2011050096W WO 2011099854 A1 WO2011099854 A1 WO 2011099854A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
foil
cap
article
retention member
members
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL2011/050096
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Laurens Last
Peter Jan van der Molen
Original Assignee
Ipn Ip B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from NL2004240A external-priority patent/NL2004240C2/en
Application filed by Ipn Ip B.V. filed Critical Ipn Ip B.V.
Publication of WO2011099854A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011099854A1/fr

Links

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
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
    • B65D5/74—Spouts
    • B65D5/746—Spouts formed separately from the container
    • B65D5/747—Spouts formed separately from the container with means for piercing or cutting the container wall or a membrane connected to said wall
    • B65D5/749—Spouts formed separately from the container with means for piercing or cutting the container wall or a membrane connected to said wall a major part of the container wall or membrane being removed from the container after the opening
    • 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
    • B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
    • B65D51/20—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing
    • B65D51/22—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing having means for piercing, cutting, or tearing the inner closure
    • B65D51/228—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing having means for piercing, cutting, or tearing the inner closure a major part of the inner closure being removed from the container after the opening
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
    • B65D2251/0015—Upper closure of the 41-type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0037—Intermediate closure(s)
    • B65D2251/0056—Intermediate closure(s) of the 47-type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
    • B65D2251/0093—Membrane

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an article having a foil sealed opening, wherein a foil extends across said opening and is at its periphery secured to or integral with the article.
  • a manually operable closure device is mounted on said article so as to extent over said foil sealed opening.
  • the invention is applied in the field of packaging containers, e.g. containers filled with a flowable product, e.g. a food product.
  • a flowable product e.g. a food product.
  • the invention may however also be applied in other fields, e.g. when the article is a tube, a connector, etc, for instance in the medical devices field, e.g. for packaging a surgical tool, a wound dressing, etc..
  • a container filled with a product it is known for a container filled with a product to have a neck defining an opening for dispensing or removing of product from the container. It is also known to close the opening by means of a foil which extends across the opening. The foil is then commonly a thin, circular foil part that is secured at its periphery to the neck of the container, e.g. via induction or heat sealing.
  • a screw cap is fitted on the neck of the container, so as to extent over the foil sealed opening.
  • the cap is unscrewed. Then the user has to peel the foil from the neck or pierce it with a knife or the like.
  • the foil may have a peel tab for this purpose.
  • the cap serves to close the container again after the foil has been removed or broken.
  • a plastic screw cap fitment to a panel of the container, e.g. a gable top panel, to provide a dispensing opening when the user removes the cap.
  • Fitments having a cylindrical fitment wall, wherein a rotational tubular cutter is arranged on the inside of said fitment wall.
  • the cutter and the fitment wall have mating threads.
  • the screw cap has mating threads with the outside of the fitment wall. The cutter is coupled with the screw cap in a manner such that it rotates with the cap when the user unscrews the cap.
  • the present invention aims to provide an improved article wherein the user can manually open the cap by rotation as is common, and at the same time, basically without the user being aware of this, a cutting of the foil taking place so that a foil piece is released from its periphery, said foil piece being connected to the cap so that it is removed with the cap as the user removes the cap from the article.
  • the manually operable closure device mounted on said article according to the first aspect of the invention comprises:
  • a rotational cap which - for removal of the cap from the article by a user - is adapted to be manually rotated from a closed position in an opening direction;
  • foil piece retention member which is at its lower end stationary secured to the top side of the foil so that an annular region of the top side of the foil is exposed around said foil piece retention member, said foil piece retention member being rotatably connected to the cap;
  • one or more cutting members concealed within said cap above the exposed annular region of the foil and adapted to make one or more cuts in said exposed annular region of the foil; wherein said one or more cutting members are coupled to the cap so as to rotate with the cap, and wherein said one or more cutting members and said foil piece retention member are provided with cooperating motion translation members, e.g.
  • the closure device comprises:
  • a rotational cap which - for removal of the cap from the article by a user - is adapted to be manually rotated from a closed position in an opening direction;
  • foil piece retention member which is at its lower end stationary secured to the top side of the foil so that an annular region of the top side of the foil is exposed around said foil piece retention member, said foil piece retention member being rotatably connected to the cap;
  • one or more cutting members concealed within said cap above the exposed annular region of the foil and adapted to make one or more cuts in said exposed annular region of the foil; wherein said one or more cutting members are movably arranged on or carried by said foil piece retention member,
  • said one or more cutting members and said rotational cap are provided with cooperating motion translation members, e.g. cam - cam track members, so that - upon rotation of the cap from its closed position by a user in the opening direction - the one or more cutting members move with respect to the stationary foil piece retention member and the cooperating motion translation members cause the one or more cutting members to penetrate the foil in the process of making said one or more cuts, said one or more cuts releasing the foil piece retained by said foil piece retention member fully or with the exception of one or more frangible bridge portions from the periphery of the foil, said foil piece being retained by the foil piece retention member, possibly upon breaking said one or more frangible bridge portions, upon removal of the cap from the article.
  • cooperating motion translation members e.g. cam - cam track members
  • the foil in the inventive articles can be a different foil than the foils presently used as peelable foils.
  • Suitable peelable foils are often quite expensive multilayer foils, e.g. as they include a layer of Mylar or the like to avoid undesirable tearing.
  • the application of the peelable foil on the neck of a container, e.g. by induction sealing, is practically quite complicated, e.g. due to tolerances of the container neck and the need to make a join that is both reliable as well as peelable.
  • the foil may be of a quality that tears rather easily, which quality was deemed unsuitable for peelable foils. These tearable foils are generally cheaper.
  • the foil may be a multilayer foil, e.g. with top and/or bottom layer of plastic and an intermediate metallic layer, e.g. aluminium. A monolayer foil is also possible in the inventive articles.
  • a potential advantage offered by the invention is that the securing of the foil at its periphery is less delicate than with a peelable foil structure, thereby avoiding quality issues, problems with sealing equipment for the foil, etc.
  • the foil may be secured very strong at its periphery, which is easier to do than a peelable foil joining.
  • the foil is of uniform strength and thickness throughout its exposed region, preferably throughout its entire foil body.
  • the foil has no prefabricated zones or lines of weakening, e.g. no prefabricated circular incision through a portion of its thickness. The absence of such weakening provisions in the foil reduce the price of the foil and is beneficial for the barrier properties of the foil.
  • the foil is planar, preferably at right angles to the axis of rotation of the cap.
  • the cap has a top wall and a downward depending skirt.
  • the cap is embodied to be refitted on the article when the article should be closed again, e.g. when the article is a container and a part of its content has been dispensed.
  • the cap has a circumferential sealing surface, e.g. on the inside of the skirt, sealingly engaging another portion of the closure device or article, e.g. the pour spout when present, e.g. the top portion thereof, to provide a seal, e.g. a hermetic seal, from the environment when the cap is in its closed position.
  • the one or more cutter members are adapted to create a complete circular cut in the foil during the rotational movement required for the removal of the cap from the article.
  • the closure device or the article further comprises a dispensing spout part having a connector portion, the spout part furthermore having a pour spout portion with an inner face and forming a pour spout facilitating the discharge of a material from the article when the foil piece has been removed by operation of the cap, preferably said cap concealing said pour spout portion when in its closed position.
  • the article is a hand-held container, e.g. a (plastic) bottle, carton, collapsible pouch, from which a flowable, e.g. liquid, product is to be dispensed, or even directly placed to the lips of a consumer for drinking.
  • a hand-held container e.g. a (plastic) bottle, carton, collapsible pouch
  • a flowable, e.g. liquid, product is to be dispensed, or even directly placed to the lips of a consumer for drinking.
  • the spout part can also be applicable to other articles and uses of said articles.
  • the one or more cutter members cut the foil directly adjacent the inner face of the pour spout portion when present. This achieves that the dispensing passage is completely formed by said dispensing pour spout, without any disturbance of the flow (e.g. of a flowable product) by the foil.
  • the inner face of the dispensing pour spout is smooth, without any flow disturbing ribs or the like, to avoid disturbance of the product flow during dispensing. It is noted that as the one or more cutting members cooperate with the foil piece retention member, e.g. via a cam - cam track mechanism, for their penetrating operation, there is no need for cooperation between the one or more cutting members and the spout part.
  • the pour spout portion is trumpet shaped, with a flaring upward and outward inner face.
  • the cap is embodied to perform an upward lift motion with respect to the foil as a result of the rotational opening motion of the cap from its closed position.
  • This is what is best known to consumers for screw caps, in contrast to a design wherein the cap may first move downwards and then upwards as is also known in the art of container closure devices.
  • the foil piece retention member and/or its connection to the cap is of elongatable construction, such that said lift motion of the cap with respect to the foil upon rotation of the cap in its opening direction is absorbed without a significant upward pull force being exerted on the foil by said foil piece retention member. In this manner it is assured that the foil is not torn due to upward motion of the foil piece retention member, but is cut by means of the one or more cutting members.
  • the elongatable construction is a telescopic construction.
  • the elongatable construction may preferably by such as to compensate for one or more of the aspects below:
  • the pressure within the article can be such that the foil bulges outwardly or inwardly (e.g. due to temperature changes, e.g. after hot-filling a product into a container).
  • the elongatable construction may serve to compensate for such changes of the shape of the foil.
  • the elongatable construction may serve to compensate for differences in the thickness of the glue applied.
  • the elongatable construction can in a possible embodiment be designed to provide a frictional resistance to elongating and/or shortening motion of the construction.
  • the frictional resistance may e.g. serve to cause sufficient pressure of the foil piece retention member onto glue or another adhesive that serves to secure the retention member to the foil.
  • a light frictional resistance against elongating motion may also serve to exert a limited pretension on the foil prior to the one or more cutting members penetrating into the foil and/or during cutting of the foil.
  • a tamper-evident feature is preferably associated with the cap.
  • a tamper-evident band is provided at the lower edge of the skirt, e.g. the band engaging behind an associated circumferential flange so that one or more frangible portions in the band and/or between the band and the skirt of the cap break upon opening the closure device.
  • it may be preferably to provide a cap having upward lift motion upon opening by rotation, so that the lift motion causes the one or more frangible portions to break.
  • the cap is connected via one or more frangible portions to another part of the article of the closure device to provide a tamper-evident function.
  • the closure device comprises a monolithic cutter part having said one or more cutting members, e.g. made by plastic injection moulding.
  • the closure device is assembled from a cap, a cutter part, and a foil piece retention part, possibly with the additional pour spout part, so that the closure device is composed of three or four components.
  • the closure device comprises a cutter part having said one or more cutting members, wherein the foil piece retention member and the cutter part have been manufactured, e.g. by plastic injection moulding, as a monolithic assembly, so that the retention member and the cutter part are interconnected by one or more frangible portions that break upon first rotation of the cap in its opening direction from its closed position.
  • This allows manufacturing the closure device from only two or three (plastic) components.
  • the closure device comprises one or more resilient members arranged and construed to cause said one or more cutting members to return to their original position upon completion of the one or more cuts and/or upon complete removal of the cap from the container. This causes the effect that the cutting members are retracted deep into the cap after the removal of the cap has been completed.
  • the closure device comprises one or more resilient members arranged and construed to cause said one or more cutting members to fold the foil piece that has been cut loose inwards, possibly upon attempting to reach their original position, upon completion of the one or more cuts and/or upon complete removal of the cap from the container.
  • the rotation angle for complete removal of the cap is at most 360°, preferably between 120 and 360°, preferably between 180 and 360°.
  • the foil piece retention member is stationary secured to the foil by an adhesive or by welding (e.g. induction, heat or ultrasonic welding).
  • the adhesive can e.g. be deposited on top of the foil, e.g. in the centre thereof, by a suitable adhesive dispensing machine before mounting the closure device.
  • a camera and an automated image analysis device can be employed to check whether sufficient adhesive has been deposited prior to mounting, preferably by an automated placement machine, the closure device.
  • the securing of the retention member to the foil can be enhanced or effected by temporarily applying an additional fluid pressure within the article, e.g. by squeezing a packaging article, e.g. a bottle or pouch, so as to cause the foil to be pressed outwardly under influence of the fluid pressure acting on the lower side thereof, thereby causing the foil to be pressed against or towards the retention member, e.g. to exert an extra pressure on adhesive between the retention member and the foil.
  • an additional fluid pressure within the article e.g. by squeezing a packaging article, e.g. a bottle or pouch, so as to cause the foil to be pressed outwardly under influence of the fluid pressure acting on the lower side thereof, thereby causing the foil to be pressed against or towards the retention member, e.g. to exert an extra pressure on adhesive between the retention member and the foil.
  • the closure device of the first aspect of the invention comprises a cutter part having a base portion and one or more cutter members integral, preferably monolithic, with said base portion, the base portion being connected to the cap so as to rotate with the cap.
  • the base portion is snap-fitted to the cap, which can be done by suitable automated assembly machinery.
  • the base portion is an annular base portion connected to the cap, preferably to a top wall of the cap, and the base has multiple posts extending downward from the annular base portion at angularly spaced locations about the circumference of the base portion.
  • the base portion has two, three or four posts.
  • a resilient arm extends from each post of the base portion in a direction towards another post, each resilient arm supporting a cutting member, e.g. at an end thereof neighbouring said other post.
  • the foil piece retention member comprises multiple cam members corresponding to the number of resilient arms, each arm having a cam track that cooperates with a cam member so as to cause the one or more cutting members carried by said arm to penetrate the foil in the process of making said one or more cuts.
  • the cutter part comprises three resilient arms, each having one or more cutting members, wherein preferably the cap is embodied to be rotated at least 120°, preferably more than 130° degrees, most preferably between 170° and 220° degrees for removal of the cap, so that the cutting members together create a full circular cut in the foil.
  • the articles according to the invention may be embodied as a fitment to be mounted on a container or can embodied as a container having a neck onto which the closure device is mounted.
  • the container is filled with a product, e.g. a flowable product, e.g. a beverage, diary product, fruit juice, energy drink, etc.
  • other applications are e.g. containers for powdery products, e.g. toner for printers and copiers.
  • the container could also be a sterilized container.
  • the container could be a package for a medical device, e.g. stored in sterile conditions in said container, e.g. a surgical tool, a syringe, a wound dressing, etc.
  • the fitment includes a pour spout part, the foil being secured to the pour spout part prior to mounting the fitment on the container.
  • the connector portion of the pour spout part is at its lower end provided with said foil.
  • the foil could then also be secured at its periphery to the article after placement of the fitment on the container, e.g. via induction sealing.
  • This fitment and method are also applicable to non-container articles.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an article with a manually operable closure device according to the invention.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a container having a foil sealed opening, said container being filled with a product, e.g. a flowable (food) product, wherein said container is provided with a manually operable closure device according to the invention.
  • a product e.g. a flowable (food) product
  • steps b) and c) are performed in a chamber under aseptic conditions, e.g. in a bottle filling installation, and the step d) is performed under non-aseptic conditions.
  • an adhesive is deposited on the foil for securing the foil piece retention member to the foil. The presence of said adhesive may be checked by a camera and associated electronic image analysis equipment.
  • Fig. 1 shows in perspective view, with portions cut away or transparent, a part of a first preferred embodiment of a container according to the invention, the foil being intact and the cap in closed position,
  • Fig.2 shows the container of figure 1 in a different perspective view
  • FIG. 3 shows the container of figure 1 and 2 in yet another different perspective view
  • Figs. 4a, 4b show the top portion of the container with the pour spout part thereof after the foil piece has been removed by opening and removing the cap, in side view and perspective view respectively
  • Figs. 4a, 4b show the top portion of the container with the pour spout part thereof after the foil piece has been removed by opening and removing the cap, in side view and perspective view respectively
  • Fig. 5 shows parts of the closure device of figures 1 , 2 and 3 with the removed foil piece in perspective view
  • Fig. 6 shows the parts of the closure device of figure 5 in side view
  • Figs. 7a, 7b show the monolithic assembly of the cutter and the foil piece retention member of the closure device of figures 1 -6 in different perspective views
  • Fig. 8 shows in perspective view a second preferred embodiment of an article according to the invention
  • Fig. 9 shows the article of figure 8 in vertical cross-section
  • Fig. 10 shows the article of figure 9 in vertical cross-section from a different perspective
  • Fig. 1 1 shows the article of figure 8 in vertical cross-section in yet another perspective
  • Fig. 12 shows the article of figure 8 in a horizontal cross-section in a plane above the bottom plate portion of the foil piece retention member
  • Fig. 13 the article of figure 8 in an embodiment as fitment on a paperboard carton.
  • the reference numeral 1 denotes a container of which only a portion is shown.
  • the container is a plastic bottle having an integral neck 2.
  • the neck 2 is of generally cylindrical design.
  • the bottle is e.g. formed by a blow moulding process as is known in the art.
  • the neck 2 defines a passage 3 for dispensing of a product from the container 1 , possibly - as here - also for filling the container with the product.
  • the product is a flowable, here liquid, product, e.g. a food product.
  • the passage 3 leads to an opening 3a that is closed by a foil 4.
  • the upper rim 3a extends around said opening 3a.
  • the foil 4 is of planar shape, as is preferred.
  • the foil 4 is at its periphery secured to the rim 2a of the neck 2 of the container 1 , e.g. by induction sealing, heat sealing, adhesive, etc. Such methods are known in the art.
  • the foil 4 does not extend over the outside of the neck.
  • the foil 4 is preferable cut from a sheet of suitable foil material, e.g. from a roll of such sheet material.
  • a manually operable closure device is mounted on the neck 2 of the container 1 so as to extent over the foil sealed opening.
  • a preferred closure device comprises four main components, two of which - as is preferred - have been manufactured as a monolithic component to reduce manufacturing costs and facilitate the assembly process of the closure device.
  • the components are:
  • pour spout part 20 (as a preferred feature)
  • the members 30 and 40 have been manufactured as a monolithic part by injection moulding of suitable plastic material.
  • the foil 4 has been secured first to the closure device prior to mounting the closure device on the article.
  • the foil is then secured at its periphery to the article, e.g. the neck of a fitment or of a container, e.g. by induction sealing or adhesive.
  • This version allows to sterilize the closure device, e.g. with suitable radiation, in particular when the cap provides a second hermetic seal above the foil.
  • two foils are employed, the one foil being secured at its periphery to the article, e.g. the container after it has been filled, to close the opening therein, and the other foil being secured at its periphery to a peripheral wall of the closure device, e.g.
  • the closure device has been assembled as a unit prior to mounting the unit on the neck 2 of the container 1 .
  • the cap 10 is a rotational cap which - for removal of the cap from the container by a user - is adapted to be manually rotated from a closed position in an opening direction (see arrow P).
  • the cap 10 has a top wall 1 1 and a downwardly depending skirt 12.
  • the cap is generally cup shaped.
  • the cap 10 has a circumferential sealing surface 15, here on the inside of the skirt, sealingly engaging another portion of the closure device, here the top portion or rim 21 of the pour spout part 20 when present, to provide a seal, e.g. a hermetic seal, from the environment when the cap 10 is in its closed position.
  • the foil piece retention member 30 is at its lower end, with lower face 30a (preferably planar face 30a) stationary secured to the top side of the foil 4 so that it is immovable with respect to the foil.
  • the retention member 30 is arranged centrally on the foil and dimensioned such that an annular region of the top side of the foil 4 is exposed around the foil piece retention member 30.
  • the closed cap conceals the retention member as well as the exposed region of the foil from the outside.
  • an adhesive may be used for securing the foil to the member 30.
  • the foil piece retention member 30 is rotatably connected to the cap 10 so that upon opening the cap by rotation, the member 30 does not rotate with the cap.
  • the top wall 1 1 of the cap 10 is provided with a downwardly depending collar 13 into which the central pillar 30b of the member 30 extends.
  • the collar 13 in this example has an inwardly protruding rib which has been snap-fitted over a thickened rib 30c at the upper end of the pillar 30b.
  • the connection allows free rotation of the cap 10 with respect to the stationary held member 30. Yet as the foil 4 has been cut and the cap 10 has been removed, this connection is effective in axial direction so that the released foil piece and the member 30 holding said foil piece remain attached to the cap 10.
  • connection between the collar 13 and the pillar 30b is of axially elongatable design, as is preferred of telescopic design.
  • an axial play is present between the ribs on the collar 13 and on the pillar 30b when the cap is in closed position.
  • the elongatable design is such that a lift motion of the cap 10 with respect to the foil 4 upon rotation of the cap 10 in its opening direction is absorbed without a significant upward pull force being exerted on the foil 4 by said foil piece retention member 30.
  • no pull force is caused and if any the pull force itself should not lead to any tearing of the foil piece in order not to interfere with the proper operation of the cutter part 40.
  • some frictional resistance may be present in the telescopic design, e.g.
  • the cutter part 40 in general has one or more cutting members, here sharp edged blades 41 , the cutter part being concealed within the closed cap 10.
  • the cutting members are generally in a rest position above the exposed annular region of the foil 4 and are adapted to make one or more cuts in said exposed annular region of the foil 4 upon rotation of the cap for removal of the cap.
  • the cutter part 40 is coupled to the cap 10 so that it rotates with the cap, when the cap is rotated. This can be achieved in many ways as is known in the art.
  • the cutter part 40 is fixed to the cap, as is preferred via a snap-fit, here via one or more snap fingers 10b on the inside of the cap 10.
  • the monolithic plastic cutter part 40 of this example has an annular base portion 42 which is fixed to the cap, here to the bottom side of the top wall 1 1 by suitable snap members 10b.
  • the cutter part 40 further has multiple, here three, posts 43 extending downward from the annular base portion 42 at angularly spaced locations about the circumference of the base portion.
  • a resilient arm 44 extends from each post 43 in a direction towards another post 43, each resilient arm 44 supporting a cutting member 41 , e.g. at an end thereof neighbouring said other post 43.
  • each arm 44 extends from its end integral with the post 43 in an inclined upward direction, so away from the foil, so that the downward protruding cutting member is above the exposed region of the foil 4.
  • the cutting members 41 are spaced above the top of the foil so as to avoid any detrimental contact prior to the actual opening of the closure device by a user.
  • the foil piece retention member 30 comprises multiple cam members 33 corresponding to the number of resilient arms 44, each arm having a cam track 44a that cooperates with a cam member 33 so as to cause the one or more cutting members carried by said arm 44 to penetrate the foil in the process of making said one or more cuts.
  • each cam member 33 is a tab that extends radially outward from a central portion of the member 30, here beyond the outer contour of the bottom plate portion with face 30a that is secured to the foil 4.
  • the temporary connection between the cutter part 40 and the member 30 is formed by frangible portions 34, here extending between a cam member 33 and the opposed post 43 of the cutter part. This can be best seen in figure 3.
  • the cutter part has three resilient arms, each having a cutting member.
  • the cap 10 is embodied to be rotated at least 120°, preferably more than 130° degrees, most preferably between 170° and 220° degrees for removal of the cap, so that the cutting members together create a full circular cut in the foil.
  • the three cutter members cut the foil 4 directly adjacent the inner face of the pour spout portion, so that only a ring of the foil caught between the pour spout part and the neck is left behind as shown in figure 4b.
  • the remaining foil does not extend into the passage for the product to be discharged from the container, so that the flow thereof is not disturbed.
  • the resilient arms 44 each have a guide surface 44b, here above the cam track 44a, that cooperates with a cam member 33 in radial direction so as to cause the cutting members to make a cut directly adjacent the inner face of the pour spout portion.
  • the pour spout part 20 has a lower connector portion 20a fitted to the article, here on the neck 2, the spout part 20 furthermore having an upper pour spout portion 20b forming a pour spout facilitating the discharge of a material from the container 1 when the foil piece has been removed by operation of the cap.
  • the cap 10 conceals the pour spout portion 20b when in its closed position.
  • the pour spout portion 20b is trumpet shaped, the inner surface flaring upward and outward from the level of the foil 4.
  • the pour spout portion 20b has a smooth inner surface such as to avoid disturbance of the flow of substance from the container 1.
  • the spout part 20 has been snap-fitted on the neck 2, here the neck 2 having an outer circumferential flange 2b, the connector portion 20a having one or more formations engaging underneath said flange 2b in snap-fit manner.
  • the spout part is provided with external thread formations 23, the cap 10 being provided with cooperating internal thread formations 16, so that the cap 10 is threaded onto the spout part 20 in closed position.
  • the cap 10 is provided with a tamper-evident band 17 at the lower end of the skirt.
  • the temper-evident band 17 interlocks with a tamper evident flange 20d on the spout part 20.
  • the tamper evident band is integral with the skirt via frangible bridge portions, so that upon removal of the cap, the lifting of the body of the cap causes the tamper-evident band 17 to become detached from the skirt 1 1 and to remain on the spout part.
  • FIG. 4a, b It is noted that many alternative tamper evident bands are known, including versions wherein the band remains attached to the cap. Other tamper evident structures for the cap can also be envisaged in conjunction with the invention.
  • the cutting members do not create a full circular cut in the foil, so that one or more frangible bridge portions of foil remain between the piece to be removed and the outer peripheral zone of the foil.
  • the removal of the cap 10 will lead to such a stress on said one or more remaining bridge portions that they rupture, in particular when the foil is of a suitable quality that facilitates such rupturing.
  • the spout part 2 and/or the neck 2 can also be embodied as a fitment to be secured to a container, e.g. such that the fitment has a cylindrical collar and the dispensing closure device is or will be mounted on collar of said fitment.
  • the reference numeral 100 denotes an article having a foil sealed opening with a manually operable closure device.
  • the article 100 here is composed of:
  • the article shown here can be mounted e.g. on a container or other object having an opening that should be provided with a foil seal, yet also with a manually operable closure device.
  • the dispensing spout part 150 here has an upper pour spout portion 150a with an inner face and forming a pour spout facilitating the discharge of a material from the article when the foil piece has been removed by operation of the cap 1 10.
  • the dispensing spout part 150 also has a lower connector portion 150b designed to connect the spout part to another article, e.g. the mentioned container.
  • the connector portion 150b here has a cylindrical shape for placement e.g. on or in the neck of a container (or a neck fitment attached to a container).
  • the connector portion 150b could have a circumferential flange, e.g. to fasten the part 150 to a panel or wall of a container around an opening in said container.
  • the inner face of the pour spout portion above the foil 150 is smooth so that flow of product is not disturbed.
  • the inner face is cylindrical of substantially constant diameter, which may be a preferred for many applications.
  • the foil 150 here is secured to the pour spout part 140 prior to mounting the article 100 on another article, e.g. the mentioned container.
  • the foil 150 is secured at is periphery to a shoulder 140c of the part 140, e.g. by induction sealing, heat sealing, adhesive, etc.
  • the rotational cap 1 10 can be removed from the article 100 by a user through manual rotation from a closed position in an opening direction (arrow P).
  • the cap 1 10 here has a top wall 1 1 1 and a skirt 1 12.
  • the skirt 1 12 overlies the spout part as is preferred.
  • the skirt 1 12 is provided at its interior side with suitable thread members engaging corresponding thread members on the exterior of the part 140. As is preferred the thread members here provided limited lift of the cap 1 10 during opening.
  • the foil piece retention member 120 is at its lower end stationary secured to the top side of the foil 150 so that an annular region of the top side of the foil is exposed around said foil piece retention member. This can best be seen in figure 12 showing the bottom plate portion 124 of the retention member, in this example with a generally circular outer contour (as is preferred) and with centrally a pillar 121 .
  • the foil piece retention member 120 is at its top end rotatably connected to the cap, here via a central pillar 121 to the top wall 1 1 1 thereof. Therefore the retention member 120 remains stationary during the rotary opening motion of the cap 1 10.
  • the rotatable connection preferably is of elongatable design as discussed with reference to the embodiment in figures 1 -7.
  • the cutter part 130 is of cylindrical or tubular shape, as is preferred with a diameter so that it closely fits in the spout part 140 above the foil 150. There are no cooperating members between the cutter part 130 and the inner face of the spout part, so that the latter can be smooth as is preferred.
  • the cutter part 130 is concealed within said cap 1 10 above the exposed annular region of the foil and adapted to make one or more cuts in said exposed annular region of the foil.
  • the cutter part 130 is provided with one or more cutting members, here, as is preferred a series of cutting teeth 131 distributed about the circumference of the cutter part, said teeth facing the foil 150.
  • the cutter part 130 here is carried by the foil piece retention member 120 in such a manner that the cutter part does not rotate with the cap upon unscrewing the cap 1 10.
  • the cutter part 130 can perform a generally axial or vertical motion with respect to the retention member 120 and thus with respect to the foil 150.
  • the cutter part 130 is connected to the retention member 120, here a central pillar 121 thereof, via one or more resilient connection portions 122, here embodied as resilient arms 122 that extend between the member 120 and the cutter part 130.
  • the retention member 120, the one or more resilient connection portions 122, and the cutter part 130 have been manufactured as a monolithic injection moulded plastic part. This reduces the number of components, which is advantageous for production costs and the assembly of the article.
  • the arms 122 are radial arms.
  • the downward motion of the cutter part 130 that is required to let the teeth thereof penetrate the foil 150 is governed by rotation of the cap 1 10. This is done as the cutter part 130 and the rotational cap 1 10 are provided with cooperating motion translation members, e.g. cam - cam track members, so that - upon rotation of the cap from its closed position by a user in the opening direction - the cutter part moves with respect to the stationary foil piece retention member 120 and the cooperating motion translation members cause the cutting teeth to penetrate the foil 150 in the process of making said one or more cuts.
  • cooperating motion translation members e.g. cam - cam track members
  • the top edge of the cutter part 130 is embodied with one or more cam tracks 132 and the cap 1 10 is provided with one or more cams 1 14 that cooperate with said cam tracks 132.
  • the cuts made by the series of teeth can be such that the foil piece retained by said foil piece retention member 120 is fully cut free from its periphery.
  • the series of cuts my leave frangible bridge portions in the foil that still connect the central foil piece to be removed to the periphery of the foil. In the latter case the complete removal of the cap 1 10 will result in the breaking of said frangible portions of the foil.
  • the resilient arms 122 prevent the cutter part 130 from rotating with the cap 1 10, yet do effect a bias or return of the cutter part 130 towards its original position upon completion of the cut.
  • the foil 150 is cut directly adjacent the inner face of the spout part 140, so as to provide an optimal opening.
  • the cap 1 10 also provides a sealing surface that sealingly engages with the spout part, and the cap 1 10 can be used to close the opening again after the foil piece has been removed.
  • the cutter part 120 could also be arranged on the retention member 120 so as to be guided for substantially axial translation with respect to the retention member.
  • the retention member could be embodied with a cylindrical collar inside a cylindrical cutter part, the retention member and cutter part having cooperating axial guide members, e.g. one or more grooves and cooperating bosses. The cap could then cooperated with the cutter part to effect the vertical cutting motion.
  • the articles of the invention can also be applied to the situation wherein the container is a carton, the body thereof having a dispensing opening covered by a foil, e.g. a foil layer of a multilayer carton wall panel in which is dispensing opening is present or a foil additionally secured across an opening in the wall of the carton.
  • a foil e.g. a foil layer of a multilayer carton wall panel in which is dispensing opening is present or a foil additionally secured across an opening in the wall of the carton.
  • Figure 13 shows for example the article of figure 8 in an embodiment as fitment on a paperboard carton 160 having an opening in a wall thereof, e.g. in a top panel of a gable top container.
  • the foil 150 extends across said opening, here secured at its periphery to the inner face of the carton 160.
  • the fitment includes a flange 140b that is secured to the carton, here to the outer face of the carton. Tamper-evident means may be provided, e.g. the cap being connected via one or more frangible portions to the flange 140b as is known in the art.
  • the foil 150 is shown in figure 13 as a separately manufactured object that is secured to the carton 160. It is also envisaged that the foil 150 ca be a plastic layer of the multilayer laminate of the container, preferably an inner plastic layer of said laminate as often found in cartons.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un article (1) dont l'ouverture (3a) est fermée hermétiquement par un opercule (4), ledit opercule (4) recouvrant l'ouverture (3a) et étant fixé sur l'article à sa périphérie ou étant intégré à l'article. Un dispositif de fermeture commandé manuellement est monté sur l'article de manière à s'étendre sur la totalité de l'ouverture fermée par l'opercule. Le dispositif de fermeture comprend : un bouchon tournant (10) - que l'on retire en le dévissant à la main à partir d'une position fermée - un élément de rétention d'opercule (30) qui est fixé de manière fixe par son extrémité inférieure à la face supérieure de l'opercule de sorte qu'une partie annulaire de cette face supérieure est exposée autour dudit élément de rétention de l'opercule, ledit élément de rétention étant relié rotatif au bouchon ; un ou plusieurs éléments de coupe (40) dissimulés dans ledit bouchon au-dessus de la région exposée de l'opercule et conçus pour faire une ou plusieurs entailles dans la région annulaire exposée de l'opercule.
PCT/NL2011/050096 2010-02-12 2011-02-10 Article à ouverture fermée hermétiquement par un opercule WO2011099854A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2004240 2010-02-12
NL2004240A NL2004240C2 (en) 2010-02-12 2010-02-12 An article having a foil sealed opening.
NL2004584 2010-04-21
NL2004584 2010-04-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011099854A1 true WO2011099854A1 (fr) 2011-08-18

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WO (1) WO2011099854A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10086983B2 (en) 2015-02-23 2018-10-02 Ecolab Usa Inc. Closed loop connector for dispensing systems
US11220379B2 (en) 2019-05-23 2022-01-11 Ecolab Usa Inc. Dispensing system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2770832A1 (fr) * 1997-11-10 1999-05-14 Lorraine Capsules Metall Dispositif de bouchage d'un emballage pourvu d'une ouverture predecoupee et obturee par une pastille de securite
WO1999042375A1 (fr) * 1998-02-17 1999-08-26 Elopak A.S. Perfectionnements portant sur un emballage
WO2004000667A1 (fr) * 2002-06-20 2003-12-31 Sig Technology Ltd. Fermeture auto-ouvrante pour des emballages composites ou pour des tubulures de contenant ou de bouteille a fermer a l'aide d'un materiau pelliculaire

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2770832A1 (fr) * 1997-11-10 1999-05-14 Lorraine Capsules Metall Dispositif de bouchage d'un emballage pourvu d'une ouverture predecoupee et obturee par une pastille de securite
WO1999042375A1 (fr) * 1998-02-17 1999-08-26 Elopak A.S. Perfectionnements portant sur un emballage
WO2004000667A1 (fr) * 2002-06-20 2003-12-31 Sig Technology Ltd. Fermeture auto-ouvrante pour des emballages composites ou pour des tubulures de contenant ou de bouteille a fermer a l'aide d'un materiau pelliculaire

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10086983B2 (en) 2015-02-23 2018-10-02 Ecolab Usa Inc. Closed loop connector for dispensing systems
US11220379B2 (en) 2019-05-23 2022-01-11 Ecolab Usa Inc. Dispensing system
US11643257B2 (en) 2019-05-23 2023-05-09 Ecolab Usa Inc. Dispensing system

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