EP0410913A1 - Cap closure and plastics necked container assembly, and its use - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a unit made up of a cap and a receptacle with a neck made of plastics, the cap includes a base made of plastics, the base including a sealing member inside the neck which can be fixed on the neck simply by pushing and snapping it on. The base and neck, by longitudinal insertion, cooperate to prevent relative rotation. When the base is pushed onto the neck, insertion with a full cross-section is initiated, then forced insertion of the sealing member in the neck is initiated, and then the snapping on action is initiated. The cap of the invention is used to provide decorated tubes, with the cap oriented in a constant and definitive manner relative to the tubes.

Description

The subject of the invention is a capsule in two parts typically hinged together, their first part being a base or stump fixed in leaktight manner to the neck of a container, while the second part, closing in the closed position the orifice which passes through the first part can be opened for example by rotation or by pivoting relative to said first part.

Such plastic capsules are known, the base or strain of which is fixed to the plastic neck of a tube typically by snap-fastening, this base comprising a sealing means from the inside of said neck, for example a crown penetrating with necessarily inside this neck. The position of such a capsule relative to the container on which it is fixed can vary voluntarily or accidentally, which is often undesirable when it is a container of circular non-cylindrical shape and / or with decorated skirt , mass produced.

The Applicant has sought to develop a container with an opening capsule which does not have such drawbacks.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the invention is the assembly of a capsule and a container with a plastic neck, this capsule comprising, as is known, a plastic base or strain and an opening part capable of closing off said base, this base comprising a sealing means inside said neck and which can be fixed on this neck by simple pressing and snap-fastening.

• a) ladite base et ledit goulot comportent des moyens d'immobilisation relative en rotation par insertion longitudinale ;
• b) lesdits moyens complémentaires d'insertion longitudinale et les moyens complémentaires d'encliquetage respectivement de ladite base et dudit goulot ainsi que ledit moyen d'étanchéité de cette base sont disposés de façon à obtenir lors de l'enfoncement de ladite base sur le goulot l'ordre des évènements de référence suivants :
  - début de l'insertion à pleine section ;
  - puis, début de l'enfoncement à force du moyen d'étanchéité dans le goulot ;
  - puis, début de l'encliquetage.

In a new way:

• a) said base and said neck comprise means of relative immobilization in rotation by longitudinal insertion;
• b) said complementary means of longitudinal insertion and the complementary means of latching respectively of said base and of said neck as well as said sealing means of this base are arranged so as to obtain during the insertion of said base on the neck the order of the following reference events:
  - start of full-section insertion;
  - Then, start of the forced insertion of the sealing means into the neck;
  - then, start of the click-in.

In general, the longitudinal insertion of blades carried by the capsule base into the outer layers of the neck, these blades penetrating there at the start gradually then with force, makes it possible to definitively fix the orientation of the capsule base relative to the container. or tube. This insertion requires a particular effort during the insertion of the capsule on the neck, and refusals of insertion were encountered with a cylinder for insertion of the capsule on the neck used for capsules with opening or "service capsules" "not provided with such longitudinal insertion means.

The Applicant has noticed that the effort corresponding to this insertion was maximum at the time when this insertion became full section or maximum section. And that the simultaneity of this maximum insertion force with the forced insertion of the sealing ring into the neck led to an unacceptable insertion force for such an installation. Similarly, the insertion of this sealing ring therefore being located after the start of insertion at full section, care must be taken that it does not occur at the same time as the maximum force of latching, at the start of this latching. These observations are important because the heights of the base of the capsule or strain and of the corresponding part of the neck are limited and the positioning latitudes of the fixing and sealing means are quite low.

Preferably, the longitudinal insertion means carried by the capsule base consist of radial notching fins with a tapered edge of thickness 0.1 to 0.3 mm, the neck of the container comprising an anti-locking locking portion. rotation of outer diameter greater than the inner diameter between tapered edges of said capsule base and this base being of a harder plastic than the plastic of the neck. Typically, these radial fins are carried by the interior of an axial crown inside said capsule base, the locking means of the capsule also being carried by this crown below said fins.

The use of longitudinal radial cutting fins, arranged inside a plastic crown, is known for the nesting and the rotational driving of a tear-off cover, by patent EP-B-0192011. Such fins are used here as anti-rotation means of the capsule base relative to the neck.

In the case of the notching fins, the start of the notching is preferably made progressive by chamfering the top of the extra thickness portion of the neck, and also by progressive widening of the bottom of said fins. The beginning of full-section tapping requires maximum tapping effort by sinking the capsule base, while continued tapping is easier. The excellent relative immobilization obtained by these fins, the notched plastic material being applied with clamping against each portion of the fin inserted, is known from the above document. The respective choices of plastic material for the capsule base and the neck are those known from this document.

Particularly in this case of the notched radial fins, it has been determined that the following two practical rules must be observed so that the insertion of the capsule base on the neck is done easily, that is to say with the materials usual:
- the difference in level (D1) of the capsule base between the end of the widening of the bottom of its notching fins and the start of the penetration portion by force of its sealing means must be greater than the difference in level (d1) of the neck between the top of the orifice of said neck and the start of its anti-rotation locking portion;
the level difference (D2) of said capsule base between the minimum diameter of its latching means and the start of the penetration portion by force of its sealing means must be less than the level difference (d2 ) the neck between the top of its orifice and the maximum diameter of its latching means corresponding to said latching means of the capsule base.

The level differences (D1) and (D2) of the capsule base and (dl) and (d2) of the neck are identified in Figures 1 and 4.

The insertion of the capsule base on the neck of the container must be done axially and centrally, both for the sealing means of the inside of the neck and for the latching means, and the anti-rotation means. by longitudinal insertion, in particular the notching means, generally do not have a centering role. For manual insertion and even more for mechanized insertion in series production, it is desirable to provide at the top of the neck, for the start of insertion of the capsule base, a cylindrical guide portion with a lower outside diameter of less than 0.5 mm, typically 0.1 to 0.4 mm, at the inside diameter between insertion means, in particular between tapered edges of notching of said capsule base. There may be a first positioning of the capsule base on this guide portion, typically 2 to 4 mm high, then a push to complete the insertion, the passage of the reference events already mentioned, corresponding to driving force peaks, being facilitated by the alignment in the axis and the centering carried out thanks to the guide portion.

The snap-fastening means located below the anti-rotation means are typically a ring and an annular groove of profiles complementary chosen to facilitate the attachment and stopping of the capsule base: in axial section, these profiles preferably have an upper or inlet surface inclined at 15 to 35 ° relative to the axis and a lower surface or stop inclined at 40 to 60 ° relative to the axis.

It was found preferable in this application to choose for the tapered radial fins notching the neck a total angle in section perpendicular to the axis of 10 to 15 °. For the neck, the preferred arrangement comprises a thickened anti-rotation portion with upper end chamfered at 10 to 30 ° relative to a perpendicular plane or "horizontal plane", surmounted by a guide portion.

The invention also relates to the use of its capsule with opening on a container, making it possible to obtain a fixed position of the strain or base of capsule on the neck with a chosen orientation relative to the container, due to the decoration or the particular shape of this container. This use will be described in the Examples.

EXAMPLES

• FIG. 1 represents an assembly according to the invention, in the notching phase, in axial section.
• FIG. 2 represents a defective comparison unit in axial section.
• FIG. 3 represents a second defective assembly, in axial section.
• Figures 4 and 5 show the assembly of Figure 1, respectively at the start of the forced insertion of the sealing ring in the neck and at the start of the snap, in axial section.
• FIG. 6 represents a device for placing capsules according to the invention on tubes, in a perspective view.

In FIG. 1, we see a tube 1 with neck 2 made of LDPE (low density polyethylene) surmounted by a capsule 3 made of PP (polypropylene) comprising a base or strain 4 and a cover 5 articulated on this base 4 and shown here in open position, when in reality this cover 5 is closed for the insertion of the capsule 3 on the neck 2. The top of this neck 2 has a cylindrical orifice 6 with a diameter of 11 mm and a height of 1.5 mm. The outside of the neck 2 comprises from top to bottom a free engagement portion 7 of height 2 mm, then a cylindrical guide portion 8 of diameter 16 mm and height 2.5 mm, then an anti-rotation locking portion 9 starting with a frustoconical chamfer 10 at 60 ° with the axis of symmetry 11 and continuing with a cylindrical portion 12 of diameter 17 mm and height 4 mm, and finally a circular snap relief 13 of maximum diameter 18.5 mm, the line 14 corresponding to this diameter being situated 11 mm (= d2) below the upper end of the neck 2, and the relief 13 being followed by a latching groove 15.

The capsule base 4 has inside, in addition to a central sealing ring 16 with an outside diameter of 11.3 mm and an inside diameter of 9.1 mm, which is forced into the orifice 6 neck 2, an intermediate ring 17 whose inside diameter 18.2 mm carries four tapered radial fins 18 spaced at 90 °, and below a snap rib 19 whose profile in axial section corresponds to that of the groove 15 of the neck 2, with an upper surface inclined at 30 ° relative to the axis and a lower surface inclined at 50 °.

The cutting fins 18 have an end 20 of increasing width by 2 mm in height, then an axial edge 21 of thickness 0.2 mm with a total angle in section perpendicular to the axis 11 of 13 °, the width of each wing 18 then being 1 mm and the internal diameter between the fins being 16.2 mm. The difference in level between the bottom of the axial edges 21 and the bottom 22 of the diameter 11.3 mm of the central crown 16 is 6 mm (= D1), while the difference in level D2 between the minimum diameter of the rib 19 and this same bottom of the full section of the central crown 16 is 9 mm.

We see in Figure 1 that the bottom 4 of the capsule 3 has been pressed onto the neck 2 with good centering by sliding the edges 20 of the fins 18 with a play of 0.2 mm in diameter around the guide portion 8, then began to cut with the progressive widening of its fins 18 the top of the locking portion 9 of the neck 2. The engagement of the fins was facilitated by the chamfering 10 and one reaches or is about to achieve maximum notching effort. During this time, the sealing ring 16 is not yet engaged in the orifice 6 of the neck, and at the moment when it engages there by force the notching by the fins will be sufficiently advanced so that the total effort d sinking is acceptable.

This favorable situation is identified by the condition "(D1) greater than (d1)": we have seen that D1 was equal to 6 mm, and d1, difference in level between the top of the neck 2 and the top of the frustoconical chamfer 10 overcoming its locking portion is 4.5 mm.

Figures 2 and 3 show two unfavorable situations outside the invention, for comparison.

In FIG. 2, the central crown 116 of the capsule base 104 is longer, so that it enters the neck 2 before the notching by the fins 118 begins. The effort at the start of the notching in addition to the effort to continue the insertion with forcing of the crown 116 in the orifice 6 gives an abnormally high total effort and gives rise to a refusal of the mechanized plugging. D1 = 3 mm while dl is always equal to 4.5 mm.

In FIG. 3, the capsule base 204 has a difference in level D2 between the bottom of the full section of its central sealing ring 216 and the minimum diameter of its latching rib 219 of 9.3 mm. The neck 202 has a difference in level d2 between its upper end and the line 214 of maximum diameter of its snap relief 213 of 9 mm. In this situation, the snapping of the rib 219 into the groove 215 of the neck 202 is done without difficulty, but the sealing ring 216 is barely engaged, which is unacceptable. If D2 was equal to d2, the friction of the minimum diameter of the rib 219 against the maximum relief 214 surmounting the latching groove 215 of the neck 202 would coincide with the start of the forced engagement of the crown 216 in the orifice 206 of the neck, which leads in the usual conditions to a refusal to sink further.

The often gradually increasing diameter of the relief 214 and the analysis made above lead to prefer in practice that (D2) is less than (d2) by at least 1 mm.

Figures 4 and 5 show the assembly according to the invention of Figure 1 at the following stages of the depression of the capsule base 4 considered critical as soon as the structures no longer meet the conditions of the invention.

In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the notching of the locking portion 9 of the neck 2 by the notching fins 18 is well advanced when the forced insertion of the sealing ring 16 into the orifice 6 of the neck 2 begins, and there is not yet a push-in effort preparing for the latching. D2 is 9 mm, and d2 is 11 mm. The order of precedence of significant force and friction is respected.

In FIG. 5, the setting in coincidence of the rib (19 of internal diameter at rest 17.2 mm with the bulge 14 of diameter 18.5 mm of the latching relief of the neck 2 corresponds to a driving force of which l The importance is usually predominant The sealing ring 16 is well engaged in the orifice 6, and there is only a sliding of the notching fins 18 in the notches or incisions already produced in the neck 2. It has been verified on series of parts that the insertion of the capsule base 4 on the neck 2 was, in such a situation, completed without difficulty.

EXAMPLE OF USE

Figure 6 shows the use of sets such as that of the Figure 1 in a corking installation 30. The tubes 1 are each placed on a horizontal mandrel such as 31, mounted on a rotating turret 32 and can be rotated on itself. The tubes 1 thus mounted, neck in front, are placed in successive positions designated by the corresponding hours on the dial of a clock. Block 33 groups together various means, in particular a loading cylinder (axis 34) and two cylinders for driving capsules 3 with axes 35 and 41.
Above the turret 32 and behind is placed a vibrating bowl 36 through which the capsules are brought. Each capsule 3 is extracted therefrom then conveyed by a guide path 37 initially horizontal or slightly inclined then plunging to bring the capsule, above towards the front, opposite the neck of a tube on which it is pressed with centering by the axis cylinder 35. The orientation of the capsule is fixed at the start of the guide path using an inner rib 38 carried by the outside of the intermediate ring 17 (FIG. 1) and then kept. This first depression typically corresponds to the depression of the notching fins around the guide portion of the neck of the tube, without actual notching.

The tubes 1 carry a mark 39 detectable by optical means, always in the same position relative to the decoration of their skirt. Each tube 1 is loaded in the "6 o'clock" position, then rotated on itself and stopped using a photoelectric detector 40 in the "4 o'clock" position, then capped with a capsule 3 in the "12 o'clock" position, then the capsule is pressed onto the neck of the tube until it clicks into place (axis cylinder 41) in the "9h" position, and the tube is then discharged.

The capsule of the invention makes it possible to obtain series of decorated tubes with capsules oriented in a constant and definitive manner with respect to these tubes to within ± 1 to 3 °, by using for example an installation of the type described above.

Claims (9)

1. Set of a capsule (3) and a container (1) with a neck (2) of plastic material, this capsule (3) comprising a base (4) or strain (4) of plastic material and an opening part (5) being able to close off said base (4), this base (4) comprising a sealing means (16) from the inside of said neck (2) and which can be fixed to this neck (2) by simple pressing in and snap-fastening, characterized in that: a) said base (4) and said neck (2) comprise means for relative immobilization in rotation (18 and 9) by longitudinal insertion; b) said complementary means (18 and 9) for longitudinal insertion and the complementary latching means (19, 13 and 15) respectively of said base (4) and of said neck (2) as well as said sealing means (16 ) of this base (4) are arranged so as to obtain during the insertion of said base (4) on the neck (2) the order of the following events:
- start of full-section insertion;
- Then, start of the forced insertion of the sealing means (16) in the neck (2);
- then, start of the click-in. 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the longitudinal insertion means (18) carried by said base (4) of capsule consist of radial notching fins (18) with tapered edge (21) of thickness 0, 1 to 0.3 mm, said neck (2) comprising an anti-rotation locking portion (9) with an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter between tapered edges (21) of said capsule base (4) and this base (4) being made of a harder plastic than the plastic of the neck (2). 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said radial fins (18) are carried by the interior of an axial ring (17) inside said capsule base (4), said latching means (19) of this capsule (4) also being carried by this crown (17) below said fins (18). 4. An assembly according to any one of claims 2 or 3, in which said capsule base (4) and said neck (2) obey the following two conditions:
- the difference in level (D1) of the base of the capsule (4) between the end of the widening of the bottom of its notching fins (18) and the start (22) of the driving-in portion its sealing means (16) is greater than the difference in level (d1) of the neck between the top of its orifice (6) and the start of its anti-rotation locking portion (9);
- the difference in level (D2) of said capsule base (4) between the minimum diameter of its latching means (19) and said start (22) of the penetration portion by force of its said sealing means (16) is less than the difference in level (d2) of the neck (2) between the top of its orifice (6) and the maximum diameter (14) of its latching means (13 and 15) corresponding to said means snap-fastening (19) of said capsule base (4). 5. An assembly according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the anti-rotation locking portion (9) of the neck (2) is preceded by a cylindrical guide portion (8,) of less outer diameter less 0.5 mm to said internal diameter between tapered edges (18) of said capsule base (4). 6. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said latching means (19) of said capsule base (4) and said neck (2) are a rod (19) and a groove (15) annulars of complementary profiles, these profiles comprising in axial section an upper surface or entry surface inclined at 15 to 35 ° relative to the axis and a lower surface or abutment surface inclined at 40 to 60 ° relative to the axis (11). 7. Assembly according to any one of claims 2 or 3, in which the radial notching fins (18) have a tapered edge. (21) at a total angle in section perpendicular to the axis of 10 to 15 °. 8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said anti-rotation locking portion (9) of the neck (2) comprises a chamfered upper end (10) facilitating the start of the notching by said radial fins (18) of said base capsule (4). 9. Use of an assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which, the container (1) carrying a locating means (39), on the one hand this container (1) is oriented using an external locating device (40) which cooperates with said locating means (39), and on the other hand the capsule (3) is oriented relative to said container (1) then it is fixed by its base or stump ( 4) on the neck (2) of said container (1) by simply pushing in and snapping in, thus obtaining a capsule (3) of fixed position with a chosen orientation.

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