WO2015154113A1

WO2015154113A1 - Rotary closure with liner for a container

Info

Publication number: WO2015154113A1
Application number: PCT/AT2015/050081
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Revell; Peter Kerkhofs
Original assignee: Constantia Flexibles International Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-04-10
Filing date: 2015-03-27
Publication date: 2015-10-15
Also published as: EP2930122A1; US20170029180A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a rotary closure especially for medication bottles, which has a rotary cap, in which a liner that closes the opening is provided. The liner has at least two layers, which contact each other along a contact surface; the upper layer initially lies in the rotary cap and is joined to it at least in the central part of the face and the lower layer is firmly joined to the annular face of the opening and the liner has a weakening line (4). In order to achieve simple and clean opening, it is prescribed that the weakening line (4) is closed and leads around the central part (3) of the face and that in the area of the contact surface within the weakening line (4) joining of the two layers is strong and outside the weakening line (4) it is not present or only weak.

Description

ROTARY CLOSURE WITH LINER FOR A CONTAINER

The invention concerns a ro ary closure for a c make , a bottle, especially a medication bottle or the like accordin to the preamble of claim 1 and the EP 40 797.

The EP 40 797 discloses rotary closure for a container wits screwed on cap and a plurality of layers, the lowest being sealed or glued to the rim of the opening of the container. One of the inner layers becomes accessible hen the cap is removed. This layer is provided, oa its lower sisrf&ee, with a layer of glue and may be detached from its lower neighbor layer, to which it is gloed. This neighbor layer is provided with an opening, not to confuse with the opening of the container, which becomes accessible and/or usable when the apper layert^'s) are removed,

The FR 2 943 321 discloses a moitiiayer film, where some of the layer(s) may be peeled off from the other(s). The firm is provided in form of a plate or liner which is sealed to the rim of an opening of a container and has a flap where one may have a good grip to start with the peeling action. Upon peeling the film In two layers, openings are provided in the lower part, which remains o the container.

There is a major demand to close containers and especially the bottles or vials mentioned in the introdaotion so that it is possible for the nser to make a predefined opening within the closure accessible in the simplest possible manner in order to permit, on the one hand, simple filling through a large opening of the actaal. closure and, on the other hand, to enable the user to remove the contained product in as controlled a manner as possible. The prodnct can then be a liquid, a pasty material, but especially articaiate product, subseqnent!y referred to simply and in all-encompassing fashion as tablets,

A. group of publications are mentioned as fundamental bat not generic prior art, which include, among many others, CA 2,179,840, DE 37 06 962, EP 1 046 595 and EP 1 278 630. Ail these documents disclose the use of plates or liners with which removal openings of any container are sealed, the liners being designed multilayered and it being possible to separate them along a predetermined contact surface between two generally multilayered layers. For this purpose the upper layer has a tab for grasping and weakening lines are provided in the lower layer, which are generally closed so that during the peeling off 5 process along the contact surface the material of the lower layer remains on the upper layer in this closed area and the removal opening defined by the weakening line is formed. in principle, these technologies is also applicable to bottles and vials with screw caps, as shown In WO 2012/07997 L but entails the drawback that the tab must be suitably stowed in some way and not interfere with the tightening process during closure of the vlai after it 10 filling and to at least survive the first opening of the vial Moreover, it is generally sought that during opening of such containers no additional objects are present, as in the peeled-οίτ upper layer and the small area of the lower layer in the closures explained in the mentioned documents,

EP 1 462 381 pursues a different strategy: it also uses a two-layered liner within a screw I S cover, which after lightening of the screw cover and liner is sealed on the vessel edge by induction or heat transfer. The upper layer of the liner is then firmly joined to die screw can; the lower layer already has finished openings and therefore fails completely as a barrier layer or the like. During first opening the two layers are separated and the layers sealed to the vial r container together with its opening already produced in the factory is 20 available for removal of the product. The making of holes befbre mounting of the liner in the screw closure can be mentioned as an essential shortcoming here, since this must occur with corresponding position accuracy. Perforation must even occur before joining the two layers to the endless material of die liner material.

One variant of this strategy according to die basic idea mentioned In the Introduction is 25 described in EP 1 582 477: here a two-layered liner is peeled off by the user as in d e first a i nt but the lower layer has no weakening lines, but already finished openings as in the last ment on d variant irs which case a combination of drawbacks without noticeable advantage occurs here,

US 2,646,1 , going back to t e year 1950, uses a two-layered hner in which die two layers to be separated are only weakly joined to each other (glued), in which case the lower layer was glued (according to the technique at that time during first screwing on of the screw cap together with liner) to the container edge. Since the upper layer was very strongly glued to the screw cap, the weak glue joint between the two layers rupture during first opening but the layers thai bave neither a weakening line not an opening remaining on the container had to be perforated by hand or by means of a spoon, kobh or the like. The lower layer was therefore included in producing the harrier effect hut because of the forced destruction daring first opening the result was not a defined removal opening for the corresponding product but do facto a crack, a spl t or the like and. during the compistest possible removal of the lower layers op to the filling opening, residues of the layers generally remained glued to the container edge, which is optically ondesired, especially in medications, A type of further development of this principle, bu t also a back development of the advantageous principle of two separable layers is known from US 4,719,740 in which a n oitiiayered hut not separable liner i firmly sealed on the container edge and sealed in areas on the screw cap and during opening, initiated by weakening lines, tears off in fully uncontrolled fashion which cannot be influenced. The advantage relative to the previously mentioned US 2,646,1 S3 lies essentially in that tearing off of the lower layer occurs simultaneously with opening.

As follows form this prior art, there Is still a demand tor a closure with the properties mentioned in the Introduction_; through which, on first opening, a defined and clean removal opening is created without additional parts occurring as waste and without opening of the closure being complicated or unusual to perform. These objectives are achieved according to the i nti n through the measures stated in the characterizing part of claim k in other words_> firm joining, for example, gluing, of the upper layer of a nmitlisyered separable liner with the inner face of the screw cap occurs, the lower layer is firmly sealed to the container edge or bottle neck edge, the lower layer has a closed weakening line preferaMy running i a circle concentric to the rotational axis of the screw cap and the two layers are strongly jomed to each other in the area within the closed weakening Hoc, for example, glued or sealed, and in the other areas they are not joined or only weakly joined to each other. The contact surface, in which holding fo ces, cluing forces, etc, can occur between d e layers being separated, can then be positioned on

0 different locations of the nmltilayered overall structure and the design of the weakening line must take this into account as explained further below.

It should he pointed to the fact, that, the BP 40 797 does not disclose any connection between the cap and the upper layer of the line a.o.d that, the FR. 2 943 321 discloses no cap at all, S The term "closed weakening line" means that, the weakening line encircle an area in form of a circle, a triangle, a pentagram or any similar regular or Irregular shape, ft is of importance to mention that, the weakening line known from the already mentioned US 4,719,740 is not closed.

The adhesive can then preferably be applied by a printing method so that precise

0 adjustment of the glue sites and therefore precise geometric coordination occurs with

application of the weakening line. The adhesive force can also be adjusted by dve printing method over broad limits precisely to predetermined values.

An additional line, namely a separation line essentially passing through the liner material, is preferred, corresponding to the outline of the interior of the screw cap in order for the liner can be provided in almost arbitrary fashion without adversely affecting the invention, serving there for holding die two ers together with precise position.

The invention is farther described below by means of a practical example. The only figure shows a schematic top view of a section from an endless material that already has the two layers in joined form.

The areas pro vided with adhesive between the two layers are drawn in this example with a dark color in the purely schematic (as stated) top view. Two areas are Involved, which serve as markings 1 for positioning of the liner material 2 during production and assembly,

A central glue site 3 Is arranged within a closed weakening line. The weakening, line 4, as is preferred, has a. circular shape, the center of the circle is as congruent as possible wit the screw axis of the screw cap into widen die he or is inserted. In this way imdesired shear forces are avoided, daring first opening,

A separation line 5 is provided concentric to weakening line 4, which need not actually entad complete separation of the lower and/or upper layer, but which restricts the mechanical stability of the liner material 2 as a whole so that doting introduction into the screw can fail separation of both layers occurs along this line and the liner broken out or punched oat from the liner material 2 conies to lie on the interio of the screw cap and with the outer layer comes to He on the inner face of the screw cap, covering its surface as much as possible, and is firmly and reliably glued or welded to it, The area outside the se aration line 5 does not enter the closure cap and does not belong to die closure and this part of die liner material 2 after introduction, of the litter Into the screw cap i disposed of. The large-area annular glue site 6 outside the separation line 5 serves for precise fixation of the two layers relative to each other to obtain geometric correlation. Since no effect on the later liner occurs from areas outside the separation line 5, the glue surface here 6 can be modified in a variety of ways, for example, in several rings or a number of glue points and d is also possible to create additional glue sites In the areas thai are the corner areas of the d ier material 2 present as endless material in the figure.

It is likewise possible to conduct gluing of both layers to be separated in the annular area between the weakening Hne 4 and the separation line 5, which, however, must be a such weaker titan the central glue surface 3, lor example, In order not o compromise separation of the two layers during first opening.

The following can be mentioned as an example for the structure of such a closure, stated f om tire cap side (usually "top") to the container side (usually "boho "), in which this example of the structure is essentially simple arul much more complex systems are known for the liner material in the prior art. The joint can be produced both by lamination arid by extrusion or coextroslon and the adhesives, film materials and basis weights to be employed are then modified in ways known to one skilled in the art and with knowledge of the invention he therefore has no problems.

(Jap inside Example for thle!mess/basis weight

·% } FET (oobethylene terenhthalate 5-50 pro

B) Adhesive see below

C) CPP film (mistretched polypropylene) 70-140 am (preferably around 100)

D) Adhesive see below

£) Aluminum foil 6-50 prn (preferably around 30)

F) Adhesive, optionally colored see below

6} Sealing film 15400 am

Container edge

Instead of CPP, blown PP or orientated PP may be used with good results, too.

The glue is, for example, one- or two-component glne based ou polyarethane and other peelable glues can also be used, The employed amounts, as known to one skilled in the art, can vary over a broad range and lie between 0.001 g/ni ami 5 g/md i hin akening line 4 gluing of th layers must occur strongly from the cap to the sealing film G, since ail these layers A--G niasi remain In this area on the cap. Outside the weakening line 4 gluing between the layers being separated, i. ., either ghre layer F or D_s i provided weakl or not at all In order to permi separation along this contact surface.

S As already mentioned above, it is possible to provide separation of the layers being

separated in the area of glue layer D and glue in the area outside the weakening line 4 is then applied so sparsely thai loosening can occur and not only tbe sealing film G bat also die aluminum toil E in the area of weakening line 4 (preferably flash with Kj need only be weakened so that during first opening tbe area within the weakening line 4 remains firmly 0 joined to the eap and the weakening inie tears off In tbe aluminum foil E.

Ibis weakening line is to be applied from the side of the sealing film G which mnst be separated anyway and tbe aluminum foil on the one hand, must also be mechanically weakened in this ease but, on tbe ot er hand, must completely fulfil] its barrier property reliably m the area of the weakening line, :3 One thus obtains a partial joint remaining on the container, which contains In the surface outside the weakening line 4 (and the weakening line in the ahtmbmtn foil) the sealing film G and aluminum foil E, and therefore still has excellent barrier properties and high mechanical stability but entails some demands for this purpose in toons of accuracy of the weakening line, whicb must be formed through die seali g film G up to but in no case0 through too aluminum foil E, if simpler production of tbe weakening line is a primary concern, this is to be created from tbe later container side so tirat it causes tbe sealing film G to reliably nrpture during first opening and can reach up to the aluminum fob E but not into It or only scarcely so; separation of fire layers occurs in tbe area of glue layer !^;, which therefore is or contains the5 contact surface. In a weakening line 4 designed in this way th akaninurn foil E remains joined in its entirety to the c p and daring first opening carries along the material of sealing film G placed within the weakening line. For this purpose the glue joint between the sealing layer and aluminum toil is designed strongly within the weakening line 4 but is weak or not present at all outside of it.

The weakening line may be ere ed by arsy way known in the prior an. preferred by use of a laser beany or a high energ ion beam, or by using a mechanical tool, e.g. a cubing took The man skilled in the art know which technology to use when he or she takes into account the kind of container and the kind of goods. The sealing of the liner to the container, namely the rim of the opening of the container, would in many cases be achieved by the use of indnetlon sealing, with the heating of the aluminum foil by electro-magnetic waves, as It is known for such caps. Of course, the use of heat, provided by conductive heat transmission, without induction, and of pressure, as it is known since long time for ail kinds of sealing purposes, may be used, too, To sia m ri e_; one can state that the invention concerns a rotary closure for a container, like a bottle, especially a medication botbe or the like, which in the original closed state has a rotary eap that is screwed onto the opening of the container, in which case a. liner okas: closes the opening Is provided between the circular face of the inside of the rotary cap and the annular face of the opening, which has at least two multilayers independent of each other, which are in surface contact with each other along a contact surface, which optionally contains glue, in which ease the ripper layer Initially lies in the rotary cap and is joined to it at least in the central are of the face and In which me lower layer is firmly joined to the annular face of the opening and in which the liner has a weakening line 4, characterized by the fact that the weakening line 4 is closed and leads around the central part of the face id that in the area of the contact surface wi thin the weakening line 4 joining of the two layers Is strong and it is not present or only weak outside of the weakening line , For jurisdictions, wher it is possible, the contents of the CA 2a 7 ,840, he DE 37 1⁾6 962_} the EP 40 797, she EP 1 046 595, the EP 1 278 630, the EP 1 462 381, the EP ! 582 477, the FR 2 943 321, the US 2,646,183, the US 4,719,740, the WO 2012/079971, c, independently from each other, incorporated imo the disclosure of this description by reference,

Lis! of reference numbers:

Marking 04 eakening line

Liner material 05 Separation line

Cesun.4 glue site 06 Annniar glae site

Claims

Rotary closure for a co tainer, like a bottle, especially a medication bottle or the like, whi h in the original closed state has a rotary can that is screw d onto the opening of the container, in which a liner that closes the opening is provided between the circular face of the inside of the rotary cap and the annular face of the o eni g which has at least two multilayers opiionaliy independent of each other, which are joined to eac other along a contact surface that optionally contains adhesive, in which the upper layer imdally lies in the rotary cap and is joined to it at least in the central part of the face and in which the lower layer is firmly joked to the annular fa.ee of the opening and in which the liner has weakening line (4), characterized by the fact th i, the weakening line (4) is closed and leads around the central part (3) of the face and that in the area of the contact surface within the weakening line (4) connection of the two layers Is strong and outside the weakening line (4) it is not present or only weak.

Rotary closure according to claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the liner, from the cap inside to the container edge, has the following structure:

Cap inside

A) PET (polyethylene terepimhalaie)

B) Glue

( ) CPP film (unstretehed polypropylene)

1» Glue

E) Aluminum foil

P) Glue, optionally colored

G) Sealing film

Container edge

Rotary closure according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the weakening line (4) weakens the sealing film PG), Rotary closure according to claim X characterized by the fact that the contact surface lies in the area of glue (F).

Rotary closure according to claim 3, characterized by the fact d al the weakening line (4) also weakens the aluminum foil and that the contact surface ties in the ansa of glue (D).

Rotary closure according to one of th e preceding claims, characterized by the foot that a separation line (5) concentric to the weakening line (4j Is provided, whose diameter essentiall corresponds to the inside diameter of the rotary cap.

Rotary closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thai the sealing of the liner to the container is achieved by induction sealing.

Rotary closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the weakening line (4) is created by the use of a laser beam.