WO2015032754A1

WO2015032754A1 - Self-opening plastic closure

Info

Publication number: WO2015032754A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/068618
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werner F. Dubach
Original assignee: Deltona Innovations Ag
Priority date: 2013-09-05
Filing date: 2014-09-02
Publication date: 2015-03-12
Also published as: US20160200491A1; EP3041753A1; CH708556A2; EP3041753B1

Abstract

Self-opening plastic closures (1) have a pouring spout (3) comprising a flange (31), a cutting member (4) that is moveable in said spout and a screw cap (2) for actuating the cutting member (4). In the present solution the cutting member (4) carries out a translatory cutting motion by means of the rotational movement of the screw cap (2). In order to open the sealed packaging, to which the plastic closure is attached, different torques are brought to bear. According to the invention, first means (50) and second means (60) engage with one another successively to produce different advance paths for each revolution of the screw cap (2).

Description

Self-opening plastic closure

The present invention relates to a self-opening KunstStoffverschluss consisting of a spout with a flange for connection to a single or multilayer packaging film of a closed package, with a movably guided inside the spout cylindrical cutting member, and a screw cap with a shell wall with internal thread and a top surface, said the screw cap with the spout with external thread is screw-connected and the screw cap and the cutting member have means which cause the screwing of the screw cap in a purely translational relative movement of the cutting member to the spout.

By self-opening KunstStoffVerschlüssen is meant closures that are welded or glued on a completely closed container from a single or multi-layer packaging film and have a cutting member which cuts the packaging film when first screwing the screw and holds in an open state. The reclosability of the Closure is then effected only by the screw cap.

Synthetic material of this kind has been practically on the market for about 20 years. Already in one of the earliest applications of a closure of this type two different types are disclosed. In particular, such self-opening KunstStoffverschluß are either provided with a rotating cutting member or with a cutting member which performs a purely translational movement. This latter type is already known from EP 0328652. The cutting member is guided axially in the spout and has on an upper edge of a ramp-like feed device, which presses with a corresponding ramp-like end face of a ring wall segment when unscrewing the cap of this cutting member down. Accordingly, the cutting member has a plurality of perforating teeth, which are distributed over the entire circumference, except for a short portion which is without teeth, to avoid that the packaging film is completely separated from the packaging and would fall into the container. The problem with such a solution is the force applied here. The entire force to be applied must be practically applied with only a quarter turn of the screw cap. Because of the high forces that are required, such a Closure to open, these closures have not prevailed in the market.

An early version of a self-opening KunstStaff connection with a rotating cutting member is known from WO 95/05996. In this closure, the spout has an internal thread in which the cutting member with an external thread stores. The screw cap, which has a circumferential casing wall and a top surface, has arranged on the inside of the top surface at least one driver which cooperates when screwed with a driver on the inner wall of the cutting member and now the cutting member screwed down while the screw cap is unscrewed upwards , Again, the cutting member has a plurality of perforation teeth, all of which also act simultaneously on the packaging film. Again, a very large force is needed to perform the opening, but here requires less force through a much longer Schraubweg. Nevertheless, it was initially hardly possible to open such a packaging film, especially if this is so-called composite films, which consists of a plurality of layers of plastic, cardboard, aluminum and again plastic. Accordingly, it has been provided here to provide the package with a punched opening and to glue or weld this opening with a thin, easily cut film. Such solutions are Of course, expensive and expensive and have the great disadvantage that the closures must be welded exactly to the exact location, so that only the patch patch must be severed and not the cutting member sometimes even the composite foil of the package must be separated.

Although one has then alternatively punched in such composite films, which went down only to the barrier layer, so that the cutting member had to cut through only this barrier layer and the underlying KunstStofffolie. It is easy to see that this solution requires a significantly higher precision of the assembly of the plastic closure on the packaging. Another variant is known from WO 2004/000667. Here, the delivery of the cutting member is carried out in a first step purely translationally by a drive, as already known from the aforementioned EP 0328652 and in the achievement of its lowest position, the cutting member is now only rotated.

While one has worked in the beginning and in particular in connection with so-called cardboard composite packaging with a variety of perforating teeth, one is later largely moved away from it. A major reason for this variety of perforation teeth is the fact that the paperboard layer of such packages require relatively much power to be pierced. The large number of teeth does not actually cause a cutting but a sawing.

However, the structure of such cardboard composite films has changed over the years. On the one hand, the paperboard layer has become thinner and thinner and, on the other hand, several different layers of plastics have been used, which in principle have repeatedly demanded different requirements for the cutting element. Accordingly, a variety of patent applications have been made, which deal with the shape and the arrangement of the perforating teeth and incisors. Typical examples of such designs are given, for example, in WO 2004/083055 or EP 1533240. A more complex arrangement is shown for example in EP 1795456. A reason for the many embodiments are, as already mentioned, the different types of packaging films, in particular, the recently spread on the market tubular bag made of pure plastic composite films are one reason. While in many cases the perforation with only one or a few perforating teeth succeed relatively reliably, the subsequent cutting activity is much more problematic. These two different activities require, namely, during perforation a relatively large force at the same time low relative movement during the subsequent cutting process, a much lower force with the greatest possible relative movement of the cutting edge is required relative to the severing film. At the today's There is no difference here in the market for synthetic materials.

In addition, it has been found that in self-opening KunstStoffVerschlüssen with rotating cutting the foil to be cut due to their high elasticity, as is the case practically for all polyethylenes, causes the material stretched and at the same time dammed at the cutting edge in the direction of rotation and thus practically makes the cutting edge ineffective. This then leads either to an incomplete cutting line or an uncontrolled tearing of the packaging film. This only partially open container only allows poor emptying.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a self-opening KunstStoffverschluss of the aforementioned type which can be actuated depending on the Zustellweges with different force, so as to master the problems discussed herein before.

This object is achieved by a self-opening KunstStoffverschluss according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the means provided are a first and a second successively engaged in delivery mechanism, which cause different axial delivery paths per revolution. Further advantageous embodiments of the

Subject of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings in the following description.

It shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled, self-opening

Plastic clasp, in top view, and

Fig. 2 in view of the underside.

Fig. 3 shows a screw cap of the self-opening

Plastic closure in one axial

Vertical section, and

Fig. 4 in a perspective view of the

Bottom.

Fig. 5 illustrates an axial vertical section through the

Pouring spout that is in the

Fig. 6 is shown in a perspective view;

in Fig. 7 shows the cutting member in a perspective view and

Figs. 8 and 9 show the integrally manufactured

Cutting members and spout together before attaching the screw cap in two different, perspective representations.

Figs. 10 - 13 show the assembled, self-opening

Plastic closure, each in a diametral cut in different

Opening stages.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the self-opening synthetic material closure according to the invention, which is designated as a whole by 1. In this view you can see practically only the screw cap 2 and that part of the spout 3, which is not covered by the screw cap. This uncovered part of the spout is practically only the terminal, circumferential flange 31. From the outside can be seen on the screw cap 2 whose peripheral jacket wall 20, at the lower end of a corresponding not visible here breaking points bridges a guarantee strip 22 is formed. The circumferential jacket wall 20 carries the upper cover surface 21. Outside of the jacket wall 20 are a plurality of Handle ribs 29 attached, which increase the grip for the user in the operation of the screw cap.

In the figure 2 is the same, self-opening art fabric connection 1 shown in the assembled state obliquely from below. In the position shown here is the self-opening art fabric closure 1 in one

Shown intermediate position in which the cutting member 4 is already shown slightly protruding with the perforating teeth arranged thereon from the spout 3, thus the cutting member 4 is at least partially visible. The spout 3 is now partially visible from the bottom, so that now recognizes a mounted on this bottom power line rib 32. The design of the power fins is shown here as a single, circumferential rib, but other design forms of such power fins 32 are known and their design is adapted according to the weld joint to be formed and the material pairing.

Subsequently, the three self-opening plastic forming parts will now be described individually and then explained their interaction. The screw cap 2 is shown individually in Figures 3 and 4. Like any screw cap, this also consists of the already mentioned shell wall 20 and the top surface closing off the screw cap 21. Escape under the shell wall 20 is likewise already mentioned warranty band 22, on, not specifically shown here, predetermined breaking points bridges formed. Here, one recognizes, in particular in the sectional view according to FIG. 3, the internal thread 23 on the casing wall 20. This internal thread 23 serves to cooperate with an external thread on the spout 3. In the sectional drawing can be seen a first annular wall 24, which has a different height in this sectional drawing. To the right of the central axis in this figure, the first annular wall 24 is higher than to the left of the central axis. The first annular wall 24 is completely circumferential in this embodiment and extends from a lowest point to the highest point, the lowest point being the starting point at the first opening, and the highest point corresponding to an end point after a rotation of 360 °, this being the end point the delivery route of a first delivery mechanism represents.

The ramp-shaped first annular wall 24 has a sliding surface 25 facing away from the top surface 21. This sliding surface 25 then cooperates with a second sliding surface of a first delivery mechanism, which will be discussed later. Concentrically to the first annular wall 24, offset inwardly, a second annular wall 26 is integrally formed on the underside of the top surface 21. This second annular wall 26 is the same height over its entire circumference. The axial length of the second annular wall 26 is here greater than the axial length of the shell wall 20. This is related to that Screw cap 2 is held in the assembled state with its guarantee strip 22 on the flange 31 of the spout and distanced to this. On the outside of this second annular wall 26, an external thread 27 is formed. This external thread 27 forms part of a second

Delivery mechanism.

In principle, four concentric annular walls are formed under cover surface 21, the outermost annular wall representing the lateral wall 20 and the innermost annular wall forms the so-called second annular wall 26. Between the second annular wall 26 and the jacket wall 20 follows from the inside to the outside only the first annular wall 24 and then an annular wall which forms a so-called sealing olive 28 which comes to rest in the closed state of the closure after the first opening sealingly on the inside of the spout. In the mounted state before the first opening, the packaging film is still closed and the sealing function of the sealing olive is not yet required.

The spout 3 is shown in Figures 5 and 6 each alone, with the figure 5 shows a diametrical section and Figure 6 is a perspective view with a view from above into the spout into it. The spout 3 consists of a cylindrical spout 30 having a lower edge peripheral, circumferential flange 31. This flange 31 has In principle, the flange can be glued to such a package, which is the case in particular in so-called Brikverpackungen consisting of multilayer packaging films, a cardboard layer, a - or multi-layer plastic and at least one barrier layer included. But even on such a packaging film, the spout, and thus the entire, self-opening KunstStaff development, also be welded, especially if the outermost layer of the packaging film is a Kunst StoffSchicht. If the self-opening synthetic material opens 1 on one

Tubular bag attached, which usually consists of a complex, multi-layer Kunststofffie film with a barrier layer, then, of course, comes here usually only a welding and little sticking in question. On the inside of the cylindrical spout 30 can be seen an axially extending guide rib 34. This axial guide rib extends from approximately the upper edge of the cylindrical spout 30 to the lower edge of the spout 30. This axial guide rib 34 serves to secure axial guidance of the cutting member to be described Further, on the inner wall of the cylindrical spout 30 in the lower region relatively close to the plane defining the peripheral flange 31, a plurality of latching cams 35 are arranged. Indeed there are practically two directly superimposed locking cams 35. These serve to hold the cutting member in a defined lowermost position. Furthermore, a plurality of separate predetermined breaking point bridge parts 36 can also be seen on the inner wall of the cylindrical spout 30 in the upper quarter. This will also be returned later. The attached on the outside of the cylindrical spout 30 stop ribs 37 which extend down to the peripheral flange 31, serve to cooperate with the guarantee strip. Finally, one recognizes in FIG. 6 a notch which is formed in the outer circumference of the flange 31 and forms an orientation notch 38 which merely serves to orient the various parts in an assembling system.

In the figure 7, the cutting member is shown by itself in a perspective view. It has a cylinder wall 40, whose upper edge is designed as a ramp-shaped end wall 41. This ramp-shaped end wall is designed in the same length and pitch as the ramp-shaped annular wall 24 of the screw cap 2. The ramp-shaped end wall 41 has a sliding surface 42 in the assembled state of the self-opening

Art fabric closure 1 rests on the sliding surface 25 of the first ramp-shaped annular wall 24. In the axial direction of the sliding surface 42, a plurality of perforating teeth 43 are integrally formed on this edge. Each perforating tooth 43 becomes bounded by Perforierkanten 44 and together include an acute angle. Cutting edges 45 follow on both sides of these perforating edges 44. Two cutting edges 45 each directed to the same perforating tooth 43 together enclose an obtuse angle. In an axial movement now lead the perforating teeth 43 thanks to the acute angle, which include the perforation 44, only a small cutting function, but practically only a puncture. The subsequent cutting edges 45, which are relatively flat, now lead, in the case of the further, purely translatory, axially acting delivery of the cutting member in the direction of the packaging film, to a significantly greater relative movement, with respect to the circumferential line per delivery path section. After the perforation of the packaging film thus takes place thanks to the second feed mechanism immediately the cutting movement. Experiments have shown that now practically the cutting movement immediately continue the resulting in the perforation in the direction of the perforation cracks tears in a cutting line.

On the outside of the cylinder wall 40 of the cutting member 4 reinforcing ribs 491 are formed, which extend from a peripheral collar 47 to as close as possible to the tip of the respective perforating tooth 43. The circumferential collar 47 extends in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the cutting member. The upper edge of the circumferential collar 47 is arranged at the height of the lowest point of the ramp-shaped end wall or the sliding surface 42. At least at those points at which the axial guide rib 34 is arranged in the spout, the circumferential collar 47 has a guide recess 49. Further, one recognizes on the outside of the circumferential collar 47 several separate predetermined breaking bridges 48, the cutting member 4 with the spout before mounting 3 connects. Before assembly, these separate predetermined breaking point bridges 48 are connected to the separate predetermined breaking point bridges 36.

The cutting member 4 and the spout 3 together form a one-piece assembly 70, which is shown in Figures 8 and 9 respectively in a perspective view with different angles.

The aforementioned orientation notch 38 in the flange 31 of the spout part 3 is not least of importance because the spout part 3 and the cutting member 4 are preferably made as a one-piece structural unit 70. This reduces the cost of production and assembly. The one-piece assembly 70 is realized so that the cutting member 4 is completely within the spout 30 of the spout 3. In this position, the highest point of the ramp-shaped end wall 41 of the cutting member 4 is at least approximately in the plane which is spanned by the upper edge 39 of the cylindrical spout 30. During assembly, the screw cap 2 is now placed on the one-piece assembly 70 with the screw cap is aligned so that the highest point 493 of the ramp-shaped end wall 41 is at that point corresponds to the point corresponding to the point on the first ramp-shaped annular wall 24 of the screw cap. 2 the top surface 21 is closest. During axial pushing together, the predetermined breaking point bridges between the circumferential collar 47 and the inner wall of the spout 30 are now preferably separated at the last moment of pushing together so that only the separate predetermined breaking point bridges 36 and 48 are present. At the same time, the cutting member 4 is moved slightly axially downward so that the point of the cutting member 4 which is in the axial direction, namely the tips of the perforating teeth 43, is still above the plane defining the underside of the flange 31. This ensures that not already when welding the assembled self-opening art fabric closure 1 this does not rest on the packaging film of the container on which it is to be attached. This position is now shown in FIG. 10 in a diametric section. This position shows the inventive self-opening art fabric closure 1 in the mounted position before the first opening. The predetermined breaking points between the screw cap 2 and the thereto Molded guarantee strip 22 are still intact, but since the diametrical section does not pass through a predetermined breaking point bridge this is not visible in the figure. In this position, the first feed mechanism 50 is in its home position. This first feed mechanism 50 consists, as mentioned, of the first ramp-shaped annular wall 24 with its sliding surface 25, wherein the sliding surface 25 rests on the sliding surface 42 of the annular end wall 41 of the cutting member 40 over the entire circumference.

In the figure 11, the screw cap 2 is now shown rotated 360 °. On the left side you can now see the ramp-shaped end wall 41 which is practically at the highest point, while the highest point of the ramp-shaped annular wall 24 is just exceeded and therefore only shown dotted. The opposite position on the right side thus shows the ramp-shaped annular wall 24, which is only half as high here, since the sliding surface 42 on this side has already moved down by the same amount.

In this position, in which now the first delivery mechanism has reached its maximum delivery, now the second delivery mechanism 60 takes over its function. As can be seen both left and right of the central axis, this second feed mechanism 60, consisting of the external thread 27 at the second annular wall 26 with the internal thread 492 on the cylinder wall 40 of the cutting member 4 in engagement. In this position, the first feed mechanism 50, as described in FIG. 10, has already moved the cutting member 4 downwards in the direction of the flange 31 so far that the perforating teeth 43 lie below the plane defined by the flange. In the event that the self-opening plastic closure is welded onto a packaging film, the perforating teeth 43 have already perforated this sealing film.

If the screw cap 2 is moved by a further complete revolution, then the cutting member 4 is moved further in the direction of the flange 31 and not only the perforating tooth with its Perforierkanten 44, but also the adjacent cutting edges 45 as well as the Umfaltkante 46 are now below the of circumferential flange spanned plane and the packaging on which the inventive self-opening KunstStoffverschluss 1 is attached, is now completely cut and only in the Umfaltkante 46 still connected to the packaging. The cut-open packaging film is folded over outside the region of the spout 30. In the position shown, both the internal thread 23 with the external thread 33 of the spout in combination, as well as the external thread 27 on the second annular wall 26 with the internal thread 492 of the cutting member 4 is still engaged. If you now screw the screw cap 2 again by half a turn, you reach the position as shown in Figure 13. Now, the internal thread 492 with the external thread 27 on the second annular wall 26 is no longer engaged. At the same time, however, it can be seen in this figure on the left side, that the circumferential collar 47 is engaged on the cutting member 4 with the latching cam 35 on the inside of the spout 30. This now leaves the cutting member 4 in this position even if the screw cap 2 is still completely unscrewed from the spout 3. After having taken a portion of the contents of the package and the screw cap 2 has screwed again, now moves at each opening and closing only the screw cap 2 while the cutting member 4 remains in the same position.

As already mentioned, only a preferred embodiment is shown in the drawing. Other embodiments not described here are, of course, possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, of course, all 3 components of the self-opening art fabric closure 1, namely the screw cap 2, the spout 3 and the cutting member 4 can all be made separately. Of course, the sequence of the first and second feed mechanisms 50, 60 described here can of course also be changed. In other words, the first Annular wall may be designed as a normal cylindrical annular wall and be provided with corresponding threads, while then the second annular wall is designed as a ramp-shaped annular wall. This second annular wall would then have to interact with the ramp-shaped end wall of the cutting member. Although this solution is of course conceivable has been omitted here on the presentation of this solution, this variant is less preferred over the illustrated embodiment, since such a variant reduces the diameter of the cutting member and, accordingly, to achieve a same opening, the entire self-opening KunstStoffverschluss would have to be designed larger, which would be associated with a higher material consumption. In addition to the solution described in detail and the above variants, it is also possible to implement both the first and the second feed mechanism both threaded or both with Zustellrampen. These need only be arranged in height so that both Zustellmechanismen can not be engaged simultaneously.

Furthermore, the first feed mechanism 50 may be configured, instead of as shown, over 360 °, also only of two ramp-shaped sections extending over 180 °. This leads to a symmetrical power transmission, but then the ratio of delivery path per Rotation increases, as well as the required effort in the Erstöffnung.

Instead of the variant with three perforating teeth shown here, only one or two perforating teeth or even more than three perforating teeth may be present. This will be made dependent on the diameter of the self-opening KunstStoffverschlusses 1. If only one perforation tooth 43 is provided, the adjoining cutting edges 45 extend without gaps by at least two thirds of the circumference. The perforating tooth 43 diametrically opposite then the Umfaltkante 46th

Reference signIiste:

1 self-opening synthetic material

2 screw cap

3 spouts

4 cutting member

20 jacket wall

21 deck area

22 Guarantee band

23 internal thread in the shell wall

24 first ring wall ramped

25 sliding surface of the ramp

26 second ring wall

27 external thread on the second ring wall

28 sealing olive

29 grip ribs

30 cylindrical spout

31 flange

32 power-conducting rib

33 external thread

34 axial guide rib

35 snap-in cams

36 separate breakpoint bridge

37 stop ribs for guarantee band

38 orientation notch

39 upper edge of the spout 30 Cylinder wall of the cutting element ramp-shaped end wall

Sliding surface of 41

perforating

Perforierkanten

cutting edges

Fold-over edge (see Fig. 13)

circumferential collar

separate breakpoint bridge

Guide recess for 34

first feed mechanism from 24, 25 and 41, 42 second feed mechanism from 27 and 492 one-piece assembly from 3, 4

reinforcing rib

inner thread

highest point of the ramp-shaped end wall

Claims

Patent claims

Self-opening plastic connection (1) consisting of a pouring spout (3) with a flange (31) for connection to a single or multi-layer packaging film of a closed package, with a cylindrical cutting element (4) movably guided within the pouring spout (3), and a Screw cap (2) with a jacket wall (20) with an internal thread (23) and a top surface (21), the screw cap (2) being screw-connected to the pouring spout (3) with an external thread (33) and the screw cap (2) and that Cutting element (4) has means which causes the screwing movement of the screw cap (2) into a purely translational relative movement of the cutting element (4) to the pouring nozzle (3), characterized in that the means are a first (50) and a second (60) one after the other engaging delivery mechanism (50, 60), which cause different axial delivery paths per revolution.

Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the first delivery mechanism (50) consists of a first, ramp-shaped annular wall (24) formed on the inside of the top surface (21) of the screw cap

(2) and an opposite, ramp-shaped one extending end wall (41) on the cylindrical cutting element (4).

3. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the second delivery mechanism (60) consists of an internal thread (492) on the cylindrical cutting element (4) and an external thread (27) on a second annular wall arranged on the inside of the top surface (21). (26) in the screw cap (2).

4. Self-opening plastic closure according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the second annular wall (26) is arranged concentrically within the first annular wall (24).

5. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the gradient of the first delivery mechanism (50) is less than the gradient of the second delivery mechanism (60).

6. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 2, characterized in that the cutting element (4) has at least one perforating tooth (43) at its end opposite the ramp-shaped end wall (41), which is connected on both sides in the circumferential direction by a cutting edge (45) and outside the There is a folding edge (46) in the area of the cutting edges and the at least one perforating tooth.

7. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 6, characterized in that only one perforating tooth (43) with adjoining cutting edges (45) is present and the cutting edges (45) extend without gaps around at least two thirds of the circumference and are diametrically opposite the perforating tooth (43). Folding edge (46) is arranged.

8. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 6, characterized in that at least two perforating teeth (43) are present and the cutting edges extend without gaps over at least two thirds of the circumference and the folding edge (46) is arranged in the remaining area free of cutting edges.

9. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 6, characterized in that the cutting edges (46) adjacent to the same perforating tooth (43) enclose an obtuse angle.

10. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 6, characterized in that the axial feed path of the first feed mechanism (50) covers the cutting element (4). can deliver until the transition of the at least one cutting tooth (43) to the adjacent cutting edges (46) is at least approximately in the plane of the flange (31) of the pouring nozzle (3).

11. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 10, characterized in that the delivery path of the second delivery mechanism (60) is able to advance the cutting element (4) until the folded edge (46) is at least approximately in the plane of the flange (31) of the pouring nozzle (3). lies.

12. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the purely translational movement of the cutting element (4) relative to the pouring spout (3) by means of at least one axially extending guide rib (34) on the inside of a cylindrical spout (30) of the pouring spout (3) and a guide recess (49) is realized in a circumferential collar (47) arranged on the outside of the cutting element (4).

13. Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 12, characterized in that on the inner surface of the spout (30), at a height close to the flange (31), there are latching cams (35), in the lowest delivery position of the cutting element (4). circumferential collar (47) engages, this position being equal to the end of the delivery path of the second delivery mechanism (60).

Self-opening plastic closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouring nozzle (3) and the cutting element (4) are manufactured in one piece and can be separated as a component (70).