EP3206963A1

EP3206963A1 - Rotary closure with internal, separately fillable capsule comprising film seal to be opened by means of rotation

Info

Publication number: EP3206963A1
Application number: EP15790673.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fritz Seelhofer
Original assignee: Bevaswiss AG
Current assignee: Bevaswiss AG
Priority date: 2014-10-13
Filing date: 2015-10-09
Publication date: 2017-08-23
Also published as: WO2016059521A1; JP2017531601A; US20170240325A1

Abstract

The rotary closure has a separately fillable capsule (2) comprising a film seal for inserting same into the rotary closure. The film of the film seal can be automatically opened so that the capsule contents fall into the container provided with the closure. The closure consists of a rotary closure cap (1), a film-sealed capsule (2) insertable therein, and a container attachment (3) for placing on a container neck. The container attachment (3) forms a sleeve (13) inside which protrudes downwards and comprises an edge region (23) projecting inwards, the clear span at the bottom of the sleeve being spanned by a diametrical saw blade (20) comprising cutting teeth protruding upward. By rotating the rotary closure cap (1), the capsule (2) in the interior is initially driven axially downward and with the seal film thereof pressed across the saw blade (20), by which means the seal film is diametrically cut open. In the case of further rotation, the capsule lies at the bottom inner edge (23) of the inner sleeve (13) in the container attachment (3), and is then rotated without an axial movement. In the process, the seal film is cut open along the periphery on two sides each lying diametrically opposite at approximately 180º and the film pieces are bundled up in wave-like shapes.

Description

Screw cap with enclosed, separately refillable capsule with

Foil seal for opening by rotation

This invention relates to a rotary closure into which a separately fillable capsule can be inserted, and which is then automatically opened when the rotary closure is opened and the contents of which fall into the container of the container equipped with the rotary closure.

Many drinks are already produced today by mixing a concentrate with water. Instead of distributing the finished mix, it would be much more efficient if the bottlers could simply fill up with water on the spot, and the concentrate would only be added to the water in the bottle by the first opening of the bottle and then mixed with it. The same applies to bulk materials such as effervescent powder and the like.

For this purpose, various such capsule closures have become known, for example from WO2012 / 175317. This fillable closure serves to trigger the emptying of a separately filled capsule associated with this closure. It consists of a screwed onto the threaded neck of a container cap in which the separately filled capsule is used in the closed state from below, with downwardly directed Sealing film of the capsule. The top of the inserted capsule is deformable executed and axially pressed down, so that the downwardly directed sealing film of the capsule breaks or bursts. On the underside of the closure cap an axially downwardly projecting profile is formed, which fits into a matching to the cross section of this profile depression in the deformable top of the capsule used. By depressing the profile into this depression, its outer lower corners are pressed onto the sealing film of the capsule. Because the sealing film has weakening lines and the corners impinge on the bisectors of the circle segments formed by the weakening lines, these segments of the circle are to be pivoted downwards from the corners and swung downwards after bursting of the weakening lines.

Another solution shows WO / 2009/100544. Here is the fillable closure with push button for triggering a nozzle for screwing or bouncing on a container neck, and a to this piece by a hinge connection to the neck on the same swing-away and einklickbaren cap. In the nozzle is a separately fillable container can be used, which is closed at the bottom with a pierceable or aufschneidbaren sealing film. The closure consists of two components, namely a nozzle with arranged on its underside piercing and cutting device with upstanding teeth, and a cap as a common one-piece molded part on the one hand, and the separately prepared, filled and sealed with sealing film container on the other. The cap has a cap lid with a deformable outer annulus so that it forms an irreversible in the axial direction downwardly depressible pusher disc. On its underside a downwardly directed, over the head-mounted into the nozzle container stülpbare receiving sleeve is formed, which is exclusively movable in the axial direction and is intended to act as a guide member for the container. By pushing down this cap lid with the head-up with sealing foil directed down in the nozzle used, separately prepared and filled container this can be pressed down. Therefore, the downwardly moving sealing film from the lancing and cutting element punctured and cut open.

Other known solutions work with a formed from the closure itself on its underside vault-like capsule, which is closed at the bottom of a sealing film. To open the capsule can be depressed, whereby a cutting member pierces the sealing film from below and from one edge side or brings by means of a stamp disposed in its interior to burst. But always the opening of the sealing film is somewhat uncontrolled. Either it is only cut from one side, so often a part of the capsule contents does not flow or is distributed, or it is first stretched by the punch or opening organ from the inside and finally it bursts at the weakest point, so the resulting opening is not is regular and defined, but happens accidentally and also does not ensure reliable emptying.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rotary closure with separately fillable capsule, which is at least oxygen and water vapor-tight, and if necessary, UV-tight executable, the rotary closure should be designed even easier, so that its in-capsule should be safely and completely opened by simply turning the rotary cap. This is to ensure that the capsule contents are firstly optimally protected against external influences, and when necessary or when first opening the rotary closure reliably and completely falls into the container, which is equipped with this screw cap. In addition, the capsule should provide larger filling volumes for a given nozzle diameter than the conventional solutions.

This object is achieved by a rotary closure with in-lying, separately fillable capsule with foil seal, for inserting the same in this rotary closure, wherein the sealing film of the film seal is openable, so that the capsule contents fall into the container equipped with the closure, and thereby characterized in that the closure is made in three parts and consists of a screw cap, one in an overturned position in them, film-sealed and cup-shaped capsule and a container attachment for screwing onto the neck of a container, wherein the capsule is at least oxygen and water vapor-tight by being made of a water vapor absorbing polymer and sealed with an oxygen-tight sealing film, and that the capsule upon rotation the rotary closure cap is initially drivable axially downwards in the container attachment, and after diametrically cutting the sealing film by a diametrical saw blade with at least one upwardly projecting incisor on each radial side with sharp cutting edges at the bottom of the container top by support on the same rotates, so that the sealing film its outer circumference along two perpendicularly projecting from the saw blade cutting organs by approximately 180 ° aufschneidbar and wavy zusammenraffbar is.

In the figures, an embodiment of this loadable with a capsule rotary closure is shown for emptying. Based on these figures, the rotary shutter will be described below and its function will be explained.

It shows:

Fig. 1 seen the rotary closure with its three parts before assembly from the side;

Fig. 2 The three parts of the rotary closure arranged on the same axis of rotation, in a view obliquely from above;

Fig. 3 The three parts of the rotary closure arranged on the same axis of rotation, in a view obliquely from below;

Fig. 4 The assembled rotary closure with its three parts in a section, slightly in front of the diameter with the saw blade;

Fig. 5 The saw blade with the outer cutting members when cutting the sealing film.

In Figure 1 can be seen the shutter with its three parts seen from the side, before assembly. It consists of a rotary cap 1, a capsule 2, which forms here a fallen cup, which is closed at the open end with a sealing film 26, and a container attachment 3. The cap has on the outside a corrugation 4, so that it is more tangible and rotatable , At the bottom it is equipped with a guarantee strip 5, which is held on the rotary closure cap 1 over some fine material bridges. The capsule 2 is preferably made of a water vapor absorbing polymer. A main polymer provides as a basic component the structure of the packaging product, wherein an active polymer component provides the desired properties such as the absorption of moisture and oxygen. As an alternative or additive, the inner or outer side of the capsule 2 or both sides may be coated with a barrier layer against an oxygen and water vapor passage. With a barrier layer inside or outside, the UV-tightness of the capsule 2 can be achieved. This capsule 2 has a specially designed bottom. This floor, lying here because of the toppled location above, is shaped so that it is distributed around the circumference several oblique, radially outwardly sloping V-shaped depressions 8 forms, each having a V-shaped cross-section. On the floor a plurality of rising in the direction of the circumference ribs 6 are formed, which each form a rising clockwise ramp. Below the capsule 2 is closed by a sealing foil, which is sealed after the separate filling in the upright position of the capsule. This filling and sealing of the capsule 2 can be done locally far from the place of assembly of the three parts. Below the edge 7 of the capsule 2 protrudes laterally slightly, being interrupted at some points by recesses 9. Below the capsule 2 can be seen the container top 3. On its upper side, which forms a flat circular ring, there are two circular-arc-shaped ribs 10, between the ends of each gap 12 is left open. Outside, in each case in the middle of the circular-arc-shaped ribs 10 outwardly projecting bay 1 1 are formed on the same. Below the container top 3 runs in a sleeve 13 with reduced diameter, and projecting from this temporary supports 14 slightly inward. Outside of the container top 3 two cams 15 are still formed at diametrically opposite points. The function of all these elements will become clear in the following with reference to the description of the function of the screw cap.

First, however, Figure 2 shows the rotary closure with its three parts arranged on the same axis of rotation in a view obliquely from above. It can be seen the flat top of the rotary closure cap 1, the flat bottom of the cup-shaped capsule 2 with the oblique, in cross section V-shaped recesses 8, which are formed sloping outwards in the edge of the capsule bottom, and the ribs 6, the capsule bottom along his run outside outer edge. On the container top 3 can be seen again the circular-arc-shaped ribs 10 with the spaces 12 between their ends, and the outside formed bay 1. 1 In the interior of the container attachment 3, first axial guide rails 19 are formed, as well as temporary supports 14, which protrude slightly into the interior and serve as temporary supports for the edge 7 of the capsule 2, when the latter is inserted into the container attachment 3. The temporary supports 14 hold the capsule 2 in this position as long as the rotary closure is not actuated. They ensure that the sealing film 26 on the capsule 2 remains intact until deliberately opened.

3 shows the three parts of the rotary closure arranged on the same axis of rotation, in a view obliquely from below. Here is the view into the interior of the rotary cap 1 is released and it recognizes a receiving socket 16, in which the capsule 2 is used with its bottom ahead. The oblique depressions 8 come to lie below the ribs 18 in the interior of the receiving nozzle 16, which are externally formed on a ring 17 extending in the radial direction, wherein the ring acts as a support for the capsule bottom. In the interior of the rotary closure cap 1 can be seen further two diametrically arranged stop cam 24, which act as a rotation limiter. The next component is the capsule 2, which is shown here without sealing film 26, so that the view is released into it. Above or at the bottom of the capsule 2 you can see the wells 8. At the bottom of the container attachment 3 is shown. On it can be seen in this view, the sleeve 13, in which the capsule 2 comes to rest during assembly of the parts. In this case, the capsule 2 is placed with its recesses 9 in its edge 7 on the axial guide rails 19, and its edge 7 finally finds a stop on the temporary supports 14. With sufficient pressure on the same they give way and leave the edge 7 of the capsule 2 below slight deformation of the edge go past them. About the lower clear width of the sleeve 13 extends a diametrical saw blade 20 with upwardly directed cutting teeth. In the example shown here are a number of triangular incisors, the upward sides are designed as sharp cutting edges. The saw blade 20 can also be designed so that it forms on each radial side only a single cutting tooth with obliquely to the film plane extending cutting edge. The main thing is that the cutting edges are at an angle to the film, so that when lowering the film over the saw blade on at least one incisor or on the multiple incisors results in a cutting movement. The container top 3 is equipped with an internal thread 21 so that it can be screwed onto the external thread of a conventional container neck. On an outer shoulder 25 at approximately half the height of the container attachment 3 two diametrically arranged stop cams 15 are formed, which cooperate with the stop cam 24 on the rotary closure cap 1, so that they can be initially rotated slightly less than 180 ° during the opening process. Only with increased force, the rotary cap 1 can be further rotated in the release direction, in which case it also rotates the container attachment 3 and wegschraubt him from the container neck.

The function of the rotary closure will be described with reference to FIG. This shows the assembled rotary closure with its three parts in a section, slightly raised from the drawing sheet plane in front of the diameter with the saw blade 20. The capsule 2 is now located in the receiving socket 16 within the rotary closure cap 1. The ribs 18 are exactly within the oblique depressions 8 in now on the top of the capsule. Down rests the capsule edge 7 on the temporary supports 14 and is placed with the recesses 9 in the edge 7 on the axially extending guide rails 19, so that it is held against the same twist and guided and the capsule 2 inside the container attachment 3 therefore can not rotate. The sealing film 26 extends in this starting position, in which the closure with the filled capsule 2 is delivered in its interior to the Flaschenabfüller, just above the tips of the cutting teeth of the saw blade 20. In this constellation, the screw cap can be screwed onto a container neck until the Ribs 22 engage at its lower circumferential, held on a thin spot or some material bridges guarantee strip 27 under a circumferential projection on the container neck. Then the screw cap is safe and with a Erstöffnungsgarantie mounted on the container.

To open the rotary cap 1 is rotated from above seen in the counterclockwise direction. In the process, the guarantee strip 5 on the rotary cap 1 breaks loose and it can be turned further. Thereby, the capsule 2 by means of the ribs 18 on the rotary closure cap 1, which act on the inclined surfaces of the oblique depressions 8, driven without rotation downwards. However, because of the guidance of the recesses 9 on the guide rails 19, the capsule 2 can not rotate. It therefore carries out a purely axial downward movement, and in the process the edge 7 of the capsule is finally pushed further down via the temporary supports 14 and the sealing foil 26 is pressed down over the incisors of the saw blade 20. The result is a clean diametral section in the sealing film 26 and finally rests the capsule 2 with its edge 7 on the inwardly projecting at the lower sleeve end projection 23. When it has arrived in this position, the lower edge 7 has the lower end of the guide rails 19th happens and the capsule 2 thus released for rotation. Upon further rotation of the rotary closure cap 1, the capsule 2 is rotated in the sequence.

How the sealing film is then opened, reveals itself from the figure 5, wherein the saw blade shown here as a variant at its two radials each having an incisor with upwardly directed sharp cutting edge. The whole on the outside by 90 ° angled, pointing in the circumferential direction cutting elements 28 each have a sloping sharp cutting edge and show seen from above in the clockwise direction. During rotation of the capsule 2, these cutting members then cut the sealing foil 26 along their circumference on respectively diametrically opposite sides in the same direction as indicated by the arrow. In doing so, the subsequent saw blade radials gather the semi-circular sealing foil segment in front of them like a curtain, so that the passage down into the container is maximally released and the capsule contents therefore reliably fall into the container. If now further rotated on the rotary closure cap 1, the stop cam 24 take inside the rotary closure cap 1 with the cams 15 on the container attachment 3 and thus rotate the entire container attachment 3 in the opening direction. He is screwed away from the container neck 3 with breaking away the guarantee strip 27 and the contents of the container can then be poured out.

The geometry of this closure construction allows the design of particularly large capsule volumes with respect to a container neck to be equipped. Capsules with a filling volume of up to 6 ml can be realized in a 28-bottle neck, as in the embodiment shown in the drawings. The opening of the sealing film 26 is safe and the opening of the closure is not in need of explanation, only needs to be rotated on the rotary closure cap 1 in a single direction - the logical opening direction - until the closure is completely removed from the container neck. The metered addition of the substance from the capsule 2 into the container takes place automatically as described above.

digits directory

1 screw cap

2 capsules

3 container attachment

4 ribbing on screw cap 1

5 Warranty tape on turning cap 1

6 rib on the capsule bottom

7 projecting edge of the capsule 2

8 oblique depressions in the bottom of the capsule 2

9 recesses in the edge 7

10 arcuate rib on top of container attachment 3

1 1 oriel at circular arc edge

12 space between the circular arc ends

13 sleeve

14 Temporally supporting the body

15 cams outside on the container top 3

16 intake ports inside the screw cap

17 Ring at the bottom of the receiving nozzle

18 rib inside in the intake socket

19 Axial guide rails on the inside of the sleeve 13

20 diametrical saw blade with two radials

21 female thread on the container top 3

22 ribs on the guarantee strip 27 of the container attachment. 3

23 at the lower end of the socket inwardly projecting edge

24 stop cam on turning cap 1

25 shoulder outside on container top 3

26 sealing film

27 Guarantee tape on the container attachment 33

28 cutting member perpendicular to the saw blade 20 extending

Claims

claims

1 . Rotary closure with an enclosed, separately fillable capsule (2) with foil seal, for inserting the same in this screw cap, wherein the sealing film (26) of the foil seal is openable so that the capsule contents fall into the container equipped with the closure, characterized in that the closure is in three parts is executed and consists of a screw cap (1), an insertable in toppled, foil-sealed and cup-shaped capsule (2) and a container attachment (3) for screwing onto the neck of a container, wherein the capsule (2) is at least water vapor-tight in that it is produced from a water vapor absorbing polymer and is closed with a sealing foil (26), and that the capsule (2) is initially driven axially downwards in the container cap (3) upon rotation of the cap (1), and diametrically Slicing the sealing film (26) through a diametrical saw blade (20) m it on each radial side of at least one upwardly projecting cutting tooth with sharp cutting edges at the lower end of the container attachment (3) is rotatable by support on the same, so that the sealing film (26) along its outer circumference along two right angles from the saw blade (20) projecting cutting members (28 ) can be cut open by approximately 180 ° and can be folded together in a wave-like manner.

2. rotary closure with in-lying, separately fillable capsule (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner or outer side of the capsule (2) or its two sides is provided with a barrier layer, to ensure the oxygen-tightness, and that the Sealing film (26) is an oxygen-tight film.

3. rotary closure with inlying, separately fillable capsule (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner or outer side of the capsule (2) or its two sides is provided with a barrier layer, which in addition to the oxygen tightness and the UV tightness guaranteed.

Rotary closure with inlying, separately fillable capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container attachment (3) has on the inside a downwardly projecting sleeve (13) for the rotationally secure axial guidance of the capsule (2) whose inside width is at the bottom of a diametral, with its cutting teeth upwardly projecting saw blade (20) is spanned, and the rotary closure cap (1) has formed inside ribs (18) which act on inclined surfaces of oblique depressions (8) on the top of the fallen capsule (2), so that the capsule (2) upon rotation of the rotary closure cap (1) is initially drivable purely axially down, and after diametrically cutting the sealing film (26) by the saw blade (20) of these ribs (18) is rotatable, so that the sealing film (26) to the outer Circumference can be cut along approximately 180 ° and can be folded together in a wave-like manner.

Rotary closure with an enclosed, separately fillable capsule (2) with foil seal according to claim 4, characterized in that the container attachment (3) inside a downwardly projecting sleeve (13) with inwardly projecting edge region (23) whose clear width below of a diametrical, with its cutting teeth upwardly projecting saw blade (20) is spanned, and the sleeve (13) at the lower inner edge temporary supports (14) and axial guide rails (19), and the capsule (2) with its sealing film (26) after directed downwards on its upper side in its outer edge region oblique depressions (8), in which radial ribs (18) on the underside of the rotary closure cap (1) engage, and at its lower, outwardly projecting edge (7) recesses (9) for axial sliding over the guide rails (19) on the inside of the sleeve (13), wherein the capsule (2) initially with its lower edge (7) on the temporary supports (1 4) rests, and by turning the cap (1) initially axially along the sleeve (13) beyond these temporary supports (14) can be pressed down without rotation, under diametral cutting their sealing film (26) by means of the incisors of the saw blade (20) , the Recesses (9) thereby pass the lower ends of the guide rails (19) below and the capsule (2) rests later with its edge on the projection (23) and its sealing film (26) upon further rotation of cutting members (28) perpendicular to Saw blade (20) are integrally formed at its two ends, along the outer circumference along approximately 180 ° aufschneidbar and wavy zusammenraffbar.

6. rotary closure with in-lying, separately fillable capsule (2) with foil seal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the saw blade (20) has on its two radials a plurality of upwardly projecting incisors with sharp cutting edges, and at both ends of the saw blade ( 20) each a cutting member (28) is formed at right angles to the saw blade level seen from above pointing clockwise and having a sloping cutting edge.

7. screw cap with in-lying, separately fillable capsule (2) with foil seal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule (2) has a filling volume of 3 to 6 ml.

8. Rotary closure with inlying, separately fillable capsule (2) with foil seal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both at the bottom of the rotary closure cap (1) a guarantee strip (5) is formed on material bridges, as well as the bottom of the container attachment (3) a guarantee strip (27) is formed via a thin spot or fine material bridges.