WO2021018516A1

WO2021018516A1 - Assembly for closing a tube and tube comprising said assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2021018516A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/068865
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sylvain DEFERT
Original assignee: Albea Services
Priority date: 2019-07-26
Filing date: 2020-07-03
Publication date: 2021-02-04
Also published as: FR3099141A1; FR3099141B1

Abstract

Assembly (1) for closing a tube (100), the assembly (1) comprising: - a tube head (3) comprising a neck (10) and a seal (5) for closing off the neck (10), - a cap (30) comprising a punch (7) suitable for cutting the seal (5), the neck (10) and the cap (30) being configured to allow the cap (30) to be guided from an initial position wherein the cap (30) is not in engagement with the neck (10) to a standby position wherein the punch (7) is held at a distance from the seal (5), and subsequently from the standby position to a closed position, wherein the punch (7) has pierced the seal (5), the cap (30) and the neck (10) defining a first guide path (21) enabling the assembly to be shifted from the initial position to the standby position and to be held in the standby position, and a second guide path (22) enabling the assembly to be shifted from the standby position to the closed position, the first and second guide paths being independent from each other.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Set for closing a tube and tube including this set

The present invention relates to the field of flexible tubes comprising a cover closing the neck prior to the first use of the tube, and a perforating cap suitable for piercing the cover.

Tubes provided with a cover associated with a perforating cap comprising a punch suitable for perforating said cover are known. The cap is generally disposed at the end of the neck in fluid communication with the reservoir of the tube. The cap thus closes the lower end of the neck.

The cap makes it possible to keep the product contained in the tube hermetically during its storage prior to its first use, which represents a very important part of the overall lifespan of the tube.

There are plugs in which the punch is placed in the plug and protrudes therefrom so as to be able to perforate the cover when the plug is screwed onto the tube head. In order to ensure the preservation of the cap prior to the first use, a ring is placed between the cap and the shoulder of the tube head, so as to keep the punch away from the cap when the cap is screwed on. on the neck. In this position, the stopper is in said transport position or standby position before the ^era use.

To pierce and / or cut the cap, the user must first unscrew the cap, then remove the ring and finally screw the cap back on until the cap is pierced and / or cut. The number of steps is restrictive for the user who often does not understand what the ring is for and does not necessarily understand either that a cover must be pierced before using the tube for the first time.

There are also plugs interacting with a ring located on the outer surface of the neck. In the standby position, the ring of the neck is held in the standby position, away from the cap. The ring of the neck and the protuberances of the stopper constitute a means of blocking in the standby position which does not require an added part such as the ring mentioned above. Although meeting the expectations of ease of use, such a set may however have axial play between the stopper and the neck when the stopper is in the standby position. Such play is undesirable for many reasons, including storage, handling or testing.

There is therefore a need for an assembly for closing a tube which at least partially overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks.

To this end, the present invention provides an assembly for closing a tube, said assembly comprising:

- a tube head comprising a neck and a cap closing off said neck,

- a stopper comprising a punch suitable for cutting said cover,

said neck and said stopper being configured to make it possible to guide the stopper from an initial position in which the stopper is not engaged with the neck to a standby position in which the punch is kept at a distance from the cap, then from said standby position to a closed position in which said punch has pierced said cap, the stopper and the neck defining a first guide path allowing passage from the initial position to the standby position as well as the maintenance in said waiting position, and a second guide path allowing the passage from the waiting position to the closed position, said first and second guide paths being independent of one another.

The fact that the first and second guide path are independent of each other means that they are not two portions of the same guide path such as the same thread separated into two portions by a transverse partition but well two distinct paths.

Such an assembly allows the stopper to be kept in the standby position without having to use an additional part other than the neck and the stopper. In other words, the free end of the punch projecting from the stopper is kept away from the cover closing the neck and the cover is thus preserved from any perforation or cutting prior to the first use of the tube by a user in a simple and reliable manner. without complicating the closing assembly. In particular, such an assembly makes it possible to refrain from using the spacer ring generally used in such a system to keep the punch away from the cover in the standby position. The fact that the locking means in the waiting position is a guide path implies a better grip between the stopper and the neck and thus makes it possible to limit the axial play between the stopper and the neck when the stopper is in the waiting position. .

In addition, the fact that the assembly has two guide paths independent of each other makes it possible to further limit the risk of accidental perforation of the cover. In the case of a guide path formed by a thread separated into two portions by a stop located in the thread, the second portion of the guide path is in continuity with the first portion of the guide path. If too much torque is applied to the plug when it is placed in the standby position, the part engaged in the first portion of the thread runs the risk of crossing the stopper and passing directly into the second portion of the thread. The presence of two independent guide paths from one another makes it possible to reduce the continuity of guiding the stopper and therefore to limit the risk of accidental perforation of the cover.

The invention can also include any of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combination:

- one of the two between the first guide path and the second guide path induces a clockwise rotation of the cap, the other of the two between the first guide path and the second guide path induces a counterclockwise rotation of the cap,

- the first guide path induces a counterclockwise rotation of the cap and the second guide path induces a clockwise rotation of the cap,

- each guide path is defined by a male part and a female part,

- the male part of the first guide path is configured to be able to interact with the female part of the first guide path only,

- the male part of the second guide path is configured to be able to interact with the female part of the second guide path only,

- the first guide path is defined by a guide groove of one of the two between the neck and the stopper interacting with an element projecting from the other of the two between the neck and the stopper,

- the second guide path is defined by a first thread of one of the two between the neck and the stopper interacting with a second thread of the other of the two between the neck and the stopper,

- the neck includes the guide groove and the first thread,

- the plug comprises the protruding element and the second thread,

- the guide groove is located in a lower part of the neck, - the first thread is located in an upper part of said neck,

- the protruding element is located in a lower part of the cap,

- the second thread is located in an upper part of said plug,

- the first thread is formed by a plurality of threads extending from an external face of the neck and having a distal edge,

- the neck comprises three grooves regularly distributed on its external face,

- the guide groove is formed by a plurality of ribs extending from an external face of the neck and having a distal edge,

- the cap includes three protruding elements,

- the projecting elements are regularly distributed on the internal face of the stopper,

- the assembly includes an equal number of projecting elements and grooves,

- the rib comprises a portion forming a helical ramp and a bent portion,

- the neck comprises three ribs regularly distributed on the external face of the neck,

- the distal edge of the ribs is radially offset from said distal edge of the threads,

- the neck extends along a longitudinal axis (A) passing through its center, the radial distance between the distal edge of the ribs and said longitudinal axis (A) being greater than the radial distance between the distal edge of the threads and said longitudinal axis (A),

- the width of the neck at the level of the first thread is less than the width of the neck at the level of the guide groove,

- the groove comprises protuberances of said neck to keep said stopper in the standby position,

- the protuberances extend from the edges of the ribs,

- the protuberances are configured so as to induce a first resistance when the stopper arrives in the waiting position and a higher resistance when the stopper leaves the waiting position towards the closed position,

- the groove has successive guide portions including at least a first portion ensuring the passage from the initial position to the standby position and at least a second portion allowing the second thread to engage with the first thread,

- The first portion of the groove induces a counterclockwise rotation of the stopper and the second portion of the groove induces a clockwise rotation of the stopper.

The invention also relates to a tube comprising a closure assembly as described above. Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

- [Fig. 1] figure 1 is a perspective view of a tube head for a tube closure assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention,

- [Fig. 2] figure 2 is an elevational view of the tube head of figure 1,

- [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cap for an assembly for the tube closure according to the first embodiment of the invention,

- [Fig. 4] FIG. 4 is a view in elevation with transparency of a closure assembly according to the invention in the initial position,

- [Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a sectional view of the assembly of Figure 4,

- [Fig. 6] FIG. 6 is an elevational view with transparency of the assembly of FIG. 4 in the standby position,

- [Fig. 7] Figure 7 is a sectional view of the assembly of Figure 6,

- [Fig. 8] Figure 8 is an elevational view with transparency of the assembly of Figure 4 in the closed position,

- [Fig. 9] Figure 9 is a sectional view of the assembly of Figure 8,

- [Fig. 10] Figure 10 is an exploded view of an assembly for the tube closure according to another embodiment of the invention,

- [Fig. 11] FIG. 11 is a top view of a tube head of an assembly according to the invention,

- [Fig. 12] FIG. 12 is a top view of a stopper of an assembly according to the invention,

- [Fig. 13] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a tube according to the invention.

As illustrated in the various figures, the invention relates to an assembly 1 for closing a tube, said assembly 1 comprising a tube head 3 and a stopper 30. The tube head 3 comprises a neck 10 and a cap 5 closing off said neck 10 in the lower part of the latter. In other words, the cap is disposed at the end of the neck in fluid communication with the reservoir of the tube. The stopper 30 comprises a punch 7 adapted to cut said cover 5. The neck 10 and the stopper 30 extend substantially along a longitudinal axis (A) passing through their center. The stopper 30 is movable in rotation and / or in translation with respect to said neck 10 along said longitudinal axis (A).

Said neck 10 and said stopper 30 are configured to allow the stopper 30 to be guided from an initial position to a waiting position, then from said waiting position to a closed position. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the stopper 30 is in the initial position, said stopper 30 is not engaged with the neck 10. Said stopper 30 is in this initial position at the start of the movement for fitting the stopper 30. on the tube head 3. This positioning, also called capping, is carried out in particular on production lines. It is therefore important to allow simple, reliable and repeatable kinematics in order to limit production incidents. Advantageously, when placing the stopper 30 on the tube head 3 of the assembly 1 according to the invention, on production lines, the stopper 30 is simultaneously pushed towards the tube head and turned in the opposite direction. hands of a watch.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, when the stopper 30 is in the standby position on the neck 10, the punch 7 is maintained at a distance from the cap 5. Said cap 30 is in this standby position at the end of the process. movement of placing the stopper 30 on the tube head 3. It is in this position that the assembly 1 is sold before filling the tube. It is also in this waiting position that the assembly 1 is sold to the consumer, after filling the tube.

As illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, when the cap 30 is in the closed position, said punch 7 has pierced said cap 5. The cap 30 then hermetically closes the tube 100 on which the assembly is fitted 1. The position of closure can also be qualified as a position of use insofar as the cutting of the cover determines the starting point for the use of the tube 100 on which the closure assembly 1 according to the invention is mounted. The stopper 30 may in particular be intended to remain in the closed position. This is particularly the case when the punch 7 has the shape of a hollow barrel and has an opening 8 at the level of the upper face of the stopper 30. Thus, once the stopper 30 is in the closed position on the neck 10, the Access to the internal volume of the tube 100 on which the assembly 1 is fitted is possible through said opening 8.

Advantageously, when the stopper 30 is intended to remain in the closed position, the tube head 3 comprises a first series of notches 6 cooperating with a second series of notches 9 of the stopper 30 when said stopper 30 is in the closed position. The two series of notches then act as an anti-return system preventing the stopper 30 from returning to the waiting position.

According to an embodiment not shown, the opening 8 of the neck 30 is closed by a cover connected to the stopper 10. Thus, the stopper 30 can be kept in the closed position on the neck 10 while allowing access to the internal volume. tube 100 and the closing of this access. The stopper 30 and the neck 10 together define a first guide path 21. Said first guide path 21 allows the passage from the initial position to the standby position. In addition, said first guide path 21 also allows the stopper 30 to be maintained in said standby position.

The stopper 30 and the neck 10 also together define a second guide path 22. Said second guide path 22 allows the passage from the waiting position to the closed position.

The first guide path 21 and the second guide path 22 are independent of each other. This means that the guide paths are indeed two distinct paths and not two portions of the same guide path.

Such an assembly ensures maintenance in the waiting position without the use of an additional part such as a spacer ring.

The fact that the locking means in the waiting position is a guide path implies a better grip between the stopper and the neck and thus makes it possible to limit the axial play between the stopper and the neck when the stopper is in the waiting position. .

In addition, as mentioned above, the fact that the assembly has two guide paths independent of one another makes it possible to further limit the risk of accidental perforation of the cover.

The first and second guide paths of the assembly 1 according to the invention are not limited to the shapes disclosed in Figures 1 to 9.

Advantageously, one of the two between the first guide path 21 and the second guide path 22 induces a clockwise rotation of the plug 10, the other of the two between the first guide path 21 and the second guide path 22 induces a counterclockwise rotation of the plug 10. The fact that the passage from the initial position to the waiting position is achieved by a rotation in one direction and that the passage from the waiting position to the closed position is achieved by a rotation in another direction makes it possible to further limit the risk of an accidental passage into the closed position. Indeed, a single rotation in a single direction of rotation cannot thus make it possible to pass directly from the initial position to the closed position. This is particularly advantageous when the fitting of the stopper 30 is carried out on production lines. Indeed, in the case where the passage from the standby position to the closure is achievable with only one direction of rotation, if the torque of the capping unit is too high compared to the plastic resistance of the ring, the cap will be screwed in beyond its standby position and thus damage the ring and pierce the seal. On the other hand, with an assembly 1 according to the invention requiring a rotation in one direction to go from the initial position to the waiting position and a rotation in an opposite direction to go from the waiting position to the closed position, even if the rotational torque of the capping unit is too high, the risk of accidentally passing to the closed position, and therefore the risk of deterioration of the stopper and the piercing of the seal, is greatly limited.

Moreover, in the case of a stopper intended to be removed from the stopper, this double direction of rotation is also useful for securing the opening after the first use, when the cover has already been cut.

Again advantageously, the first guide path 21 induces a counterclockwise rotation of the stopper 10 and the second guide path 22 induces a clockwise rotation of the stopper 10. The user receiving the assembly 1 in the standby position then only has in carrying out a clockwise rotation of the stopper 30 on the neck 10 in order to pierce the cover. Clockwise rotation is preferable for a user because it is more usual.

Preferably, each guide path is defined by a male part and a female part. The male part of the first guide path 21 is configured to be able to interact with the female part of the first guide path 21 only. The male part of the first guide path 21 therefore cannot interact with the female part of the second guide path 22 or with the male part of the second guide path 22.

Likewise, the male part of the second guide path 22 is configured to be able to interact with the female part of the second guide path 22 only. The male part of the second guide path 22 therefore cannot interact with the female part of the first guide path 21 or with the male part of the first guide path 21.

This distinction between the male and female part of the first and second guide path ensures the separation between the movement induced by the first guide path 21 and the movement induced by the second guide path 22.

Advantageously, the first guide path 21 is defined by a guide groove 11 of one of the two between the neck 10 and the stopper 30 interacting with a projecting element 31 of the other of the two between the neck 10 and the stopper 30. So the female part of the first path guide 21 corresponds to the guide groove 11 and the male part of said first guide path 21 corresponds to the projecting element 31.

Likewise, the second guide path 22 is defined by a first thread 16 of one of the two between the neck 10 and the stopper 30 interacting with a second thread 36 of the other of the two between the neck 10 and the plug 30. Thus, the female part of the second guide path 22 corresponds to the first thread and the male part of said second guide path 22 corresponds to the second thread 36.

The male and female parts of the first and second guideways of the assembly 1 according to the invention are not limited to the shapes disclosed in Figures 1 to 9.

Advantageously, as shown in Figures 1 to 10, the neck 10 comprises the guide groove 11 and the first thread 16. Thus, the plug 30 comprises the projecting element 31 and the second thread 36.

Preferably, the neck comprises three guide grooves 11 regularly distributed over its external face.

Again advantageously, the stopper comprises three projecting elements 31. Said projecting elements 31 are regularly distributed over the internal face of the stopper 30.

According to another embodiment not shown, the guide groove 11 and the first thread 16 can be located on the stopper 30. In this configuration, the projecting element 31 and the second thread 36 are located on the neck 10.

Again advantageously, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the guide groove 11 is located in a lower part of the neck 10, that is to say the part of the neck starting from its lower end in fluid communication with the reservoir of the tube. . The first thread 16 is for its part located in an upper part of said neck 10, that is to say the part of the neck starting from its upper end in communication with the outside of the tube. In this configuration, the projecting element 31 is located in a lower part of the plug 30 and the second thread 36 is located in an upper part of said plug 30, so as to be able to interact respectively with the guide groove 11 and the first thread. 16. Such an arrangement allows better stabilization of the stopper 30 in the standby position.

Insofar as the first guide path 21 induces a counterclockwise rotation of the cap 10 and the second guide path 22 induces a clockwise rotation of the cap 10, the groove of guide 11 has a retrograde direction and the first and second threads 16, 36 have a right pitch.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first thread 16 is formed by a plurality of threads

17 extending from an outer face of the neck 10 and having a distal edge 18. The guide groove 11 is itself formed by a plurality of ribs 12 extending from an outer face of the neck 10 and having a distal edge 13 Advantageously, the rib 12 comprises a portion 12a forming a helical ramp and a bent portion 12b.

Also advantageously, the neck 10 comprises three ribs 12 at 120 ° from each other. The ribs 12 are thus regularly distributed over the external face of the neck 10.

Preferably, the distal edge 13 of the ribs 12 is radially offset with respect to said distal edge 18 of the threads 17. This radial offset makes it possible to avoid any interference on the one hand between the projecting element 31 and the threads 17 of the first thread 16. and on the other hand between the ribs 12 and the second thread 36.

In this configuration, the projecting element 31 and the second thread 36 of the plug 30 are also radially offset with respect to each other so as to be able to interact respectively with the guide groove 11 and the first thread 16.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the neck 10 extends along a longitudinal axis (A) passing through its center. Advantageously, the radial distance between the distal edge 13 of the ribs 12 and said longitudinal axis (A) is greater than the radial distance between the distal edge 18 of the threads 17 and said longitudinal axis (A). In other words, the ribs 12 have a greater height or depth relative to the threads 17 of the first thread 16. The ribs 12 are thus offset radially outwardly of the neck 10 with respect to the threads 17 of the first thread 16.

In this configuration, the projecting element 31 is itself also offset radially towards the outside of the plug 30 relative to the threads of the second thread 36. In particular, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the minimum diameter d31 of the circle defined by the edge of the protruding elements 31 is greater than the maximum diameter dl6 of the first thread 16 defined by the distal edge

18 of the threads 17. On the other hand, the outer diameter dl2 of the circle defined by the distal edge 13 of the ribs 12 is greater than the minimum diameter of the circle defined by the edge of the projecting elements 31.

In this way, when the stopper 30 is mounted on the neck 10 and moves in translation along the longitudinal axis (A), the projecting element 31 comes into contact with a rib 12 without come into contact with the threads 17 of the first thread 16 of the neck 10. There is therefore no interference between the projecting element 31 and the first thread 16.

A first way of allowing the radial offset between the ribs 12 and the threads 17 is therefore to vary their height or depth. According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the width or diameter of the neck 10 at the level of the first thread 16 is less than the width or diameter of the neck 10 at the level of the guide groove 11. Thus, even with ribs and threads 17 of identical height, the ribs 12 are radially offset with respect to the threads 17. This configuration allows in particular a simplified manufacture. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as regards the release from the mold of the neck during its manufacture. Indeed, the radial offset between the upper part and the lower part of the neck

10 makes it possible to facilitate the demolding of said neck 10.

In practice, during the manufacture of a neck 10 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9, the neck 10 undergoes a force-release by rotation of the mold. This rotation is liable to damage the rib 12.

On the other hand, the embodiment of FIG. 10 is formed by a mold comprising an upper part forming the thread 16 of the upper part of the neck 10 and a lower part forming the rib 12 of the lower part of the neck. During demolding, the upper part of the mold is removed by rotation, which does not damage the thread 16, and the lower part of the mold is forcefully removed by a translational movement. This forced withdrawal by a translational movement reduces the risk of damaging the rib 12.

Maintaining the stopper 30 in the waiting position can be achieved by a plurality of different shapes. Advantageously, the guide groove 11 comprises protrusions 14 of said neck 10 to maintain said stopper 30 in the standby position. As shown in Figure 2, each rib 12 may include a plurality of protuberances. Said ribs 12 shown here have two protuberances 14a and 14b, but the number, shape and arrangement of protuberances 14 is in no way limited to those disclosed by the figures. Such protuberances constitute a partial obstacle for the passage of the protruding element 31 in the guide groove 11. The passage of the protruding element 31 in the guide groove

11 at the level of a protuberance 14 induces a certain resistance.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the protuberances 14 advantageously extend from the edges of the ribs 12. Such a configuration of the protuberances 14 allows in particular a simplified manufacture. Again advantageously, the protuberances 14 are configured so as to induce a resistance when the stopper 30 arrives in the waiting position and a higher resistance when the stopper 30 leaves the waiting position towards the closed position.

The passage of a first protuberance 14a allows the fitting of the stopper 30 in the standby position. When the projecting element 31 crosses the first protrusion 14a, said projecting element comes into contact with the bent portion 12b of the rib 12. The stopper 30 is then in the standby position. Said first protuberance 14a and said angled portion 12b together form a housing accommodating said protruding element 31 when stopper 30 is in the standby position. Thus, the first protuberance 14a encountered by the projecting element 31 makes it possible both to ensure that the stopper 30 is put in place in the standby position and to prevent an accidental return to the initial position. When the protruding member is in the standby position, the first thread 16 and the second thread 36 are not yet engaged with each other.

The passage of a second protuberance 14b allows the passage from the waiting position to the closed position. When the protruding member 31 passes the second protrusion 14b, said protruding member disengages from the bent portion 12b of the rib 12 and the second thread 36 of the stopper engages the first thread of the neck 30. The second protuberance 14b makes it possible to prevent accidental passage into the closed position and therefore accidental cutting of the cover. The cutting of the cover represents a critical aspect of the storage of product in the tube on which the closure assembly is mounted, it is therefore preferable to further secure the passage in the closed position, in this case by a protuberance inducing greater resistance. Such a configuration therefore allows mounting of the stopper 30 on the neck 10 and secure maintenance in the waiting position.

Preferably, the groove 11 has successive guide portions. At least a first portion 11a ensures the passage from the initial position to the standby position. At least a second portion 11b allows the second thread 36 to engage with the first thread 16. The angled portion 12b therefore also ensures a positioning of the second thread 36 relative to the first thread 16 so that, during the ^1st In use, the second thread 36 engages correctly in the first thread 16 and that the user does not feel a hooking or locking sensation if the second thread 36 abuts against the first thread 16 by a bad positioning. The groove 11 is formed between two neighboring ribs 12. The groove 11 has in particular a first opening allowing passage to the standby position and a second opening allowing passage to the closed position. The first opening is formed between the end of the helical portion 12a of a first rib 12 and the upper part of the angled portion 12b of a second rib 12. The second opening is in turn formed between the end of the helical portion 12a of a first rib 12 and the lower part of the angled portion 12b of a second rib 12. Thus, when the stopper 30 passes into the standby position, a projecting element 31 passes through the first opening of the groove 11 and comes to be housed in the hollow of the bent portion 12b of the rib 12. When the plug 30 passes into the closed position, the projecting element 31 dislodges from the hollow of the bent portion 12b and passes through the second opening of the groove 11.

Advantageously, the first portion 11a induces an anti-clockwise rotation of the plug 30 and the second portion 11b induces a clockwise rotation of the plug 30.

Figures 4 to 9 show a closure assembly 1 according to the present invention, in the initial position, in the waiting position and in the closed position.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the stopper 30 is in the initial position on the neck 10, each projecting element 31 comes into contact with an upper part of the helical portion 12a of one of the ribs 12 of the groove 11. In in this position, the first thread 16 and the second thread 36 do not engage with each other. As shown in Figure 5, in this initial position the punch 7 of the stopper 10 is at a distance from the cap 5 of the tube head 3.

When passing from the initial position to the standby position illustrated in FIG. 6, the stopper 30 undergoes a counterclockwise rotation with respect to the neck 10 and the protruding member 31 of the stopper 30 slides along the helical portion 12a of the rib 12, in one of the first portions 11a of the groove 11. Said projecting element 31 then projects beyond one of the protuberances 14, in this case the first protuberance 14a, and passes through the first opening of the groove 11 of so as to come into abutment against the hollow of the bent portion 12b of the rib 12. The protrusion of the protuberance 14a requires a certain effort. The bent portion 12b of the rib 12 prevents continued anti-clockwise rotation of the stopper 30. The protuberances 14 prevent accidental clockwise rotation of the stopper 30 to return to the initial position or to pass into the closed position. The stopper 30 is thus held in the waiting position by the groove 11 and by the protuberances 14. In this position, the first thread 16 and the second thread 36 are still not engaged with each other. As shown in Figure 7, in this standby position the punch 7 of the stopper 10 is at a reduced distance from the cap 5 of the tube head 3. When passing from the standby position to the closed position illustrated in Figure 8, the stopper 30 undergoes a clockwise rotation with respect to the neck 10 and the projecting element 31 of the stopper 30 slides along the bent portion 12b of the rib 12, in one of the second portions 11b of the groove 11. Said protruding element 31 then projects beyond a protuberance 14, in this case the second protuberance 14b and passes through the second opening of the groove 11. The protrusion of the protrusion 14b requires a greater force than for the first protuberance 14a. When passing said second protuberance 14b, the punch 7 begins to pierce the cover 5. Simultaneously, the first thread 16 and the second thread 36 come into engagement with one another. The first thread 16 will then guide the stopper 30 until it reaches the closed position. The stopper then undergoes a clockwise rotation with respect to the neck 10 and the punch 7 cuts the cover 5. As shown in FIG. 9, in this closed position the cover 5 of the tube head 3 is cut by the punch 7. of the stopper 10. Advantageously, said cover is only partially cut. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the present invention also relates to a tube 100 comprising a closure assembly 1 as described above.

Claims

1. Assembly (1) for closing a tube (100), said assembly (1) comprising: - a tube head (3) comprising a neck (10) and a cap (5) closing off said neck (10) , - a stopper (30) comprising a punch (7) adapted to cut said cover (5), said neck (10) and said stopper (30) being configured to allow the stopper (30) to be guided from an initial position in which the stopper (30) is not engaged with the neck (10) at a standby position in which the punch (7) is kept away from the cap (5), then from said standby position to a closed position in which said punch (7) has pierced said cover (5), the stopper (30) and the neck (10) defining a first guide path (21) allowing the passage from the initial position to the position waiting as well as maintaining in said waiting position, and a second guide path (22) allowing passage from the waiting position to the closed position, said pre miers and second guide paths being independent of each other, each guide path being defined by a male part and a female part, the male part of the first guide path being configured to be able to interact with the female part of the first guide path only, the male part of the second guide path being configured to be able to interact with the female part of the second guide path only.

2. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein one of the two between the first guide path and the second guide path induces a clockwise rotation of the plug (10), the other of the two between the first path. guide and the second guide path inducing a counterclockwise rotation of the plug (10).

3. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first guide path (21) induces a counterclockwise rotation of the cap (10) and the second guide path (22) induces a clockwise rotation of the cap (10).

4. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first guide path (21) is defined by a guide groove (11) of one of the two between the neck (10) and the stopper ( 30) interacting with a projecting element (31) of the other of the two between the neck (10) and the stopper (30), the second guide path (22) being defined by a first thread (16) of the one of the two between the neck (10) and the stopper (30) interacting with a second thread (36) of the other of the two between the neck (10) and the stopper (30).

5. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the neck (10) comprises the guide groove (11) and the first thread (16), the plug (30) comprising the protruding element (31) and the second thread (36).

6. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the guide groove (11) is located in a lower part of the neck (10) and the first thread (16) is located in an upper part of said neck (10).

7. Assembly (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the first thread (16) is formed by a plurality of threads (17) extending from an outer face of the neck (10) and having an edge distal (18), the guide groove (11) being formed by a plurality of ribs (12) extending from an outer face of the neck (10) and having a distal edge (13), said distal edge (13) of the ribs (12) being radially offset from said distal edge (18) of the threads (17).

8. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the neck (10) extends along a longitudinal axis (A) passing through its center, the radial distance between the distal edge (13) of the ribs (12). ) and said longitudinal axis (A) being greater than the radial distance between the distal edge (18) of the threads (17) and said longitudinal axis (A).

9. The assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the width of the neck (10) at the first thread (16) is less than the width of the neck (10) at the level of the guide groove (11).

10. The assembly (1) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the guide groove (11) comprises protrusions (14) of said neck (10) to maintain said stopper (30) in the standby position.

11. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the protuberances (14) extend from the edges of the ribs (12).

12. Assembly (1) according to one of claims 10 to 11, wherein the protuberances (14) are configured so as to induce a first resistance when the plug (30) arrives in the standby position and a higher resistance when the stopper (30) moves out of the standby position towards the closed position.

13. Assembly (1) according to one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the groove (11) has successive guide portions including at least a first portion (IIa) ensuring the passage from the initial position to the position of. hold and at least a second portion (11b) allowing the second thread (36) to engage with the first thread (16).

14. The assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first portion (11a) induces a counterclockwise rotation of the plug (30) and the second portion (11b) induces a clockwise rotation of the plug (30).

15. Tube (100) comprising a closure assembly (1) according to any preceding claim.