EP1397296B1 - Screw cap comprising a tamper-evident band - Google Patents

Abstract

At least one cutting element on a closure having a spout and a screw cap, which can be screwed thereon and which has a tamper-evident band. The tamper-evident band is joined to a lower edge of an outer wall of the screw cap via specified rupture location bridges. The at least one cutting element outwardly projects through an intermediate space. When the screw cap is unscrewed for the first time, the at least one cutting element cuts through the specified rupture location bridges. A distance between the tamper-evident band upper edge and the lower edge of the screw cap is provided with a measure whereby enabling the distance to be surmounted only occurs once all specified rupture location bridges are cut through.

Description

The present invention relates to a container with closure, consisting of a screw cap with internal thread and a fastened thereto, via predetermined breaking point bridges associated guarantee strip without tear tab, the Container has a cylindrical spout with external thread, on which the screw cap is held.

Screw caps of the type mentioned are for many Known years ago. Your design is not least of that depending on which material the container is made of, on which the closure is placed. For glass bottles is the spout. Normally standardized and accordingly must Turnbuckles comply with the standard. For containers Plastic, the spout can be varied much more freely. Also used in containers made of so-called soft material one attached to it plastic sinks, in turn can be made with great creative freedom. The invention relates to screw caps, with Containers made of plastic or soft material, whose spout is made of plastic and where the screw cap and the spout are matched to each other.

In the present case only interested in screw caps Guarantee tape, which alone by turning the screw cap can be opened, at the same time the guarantee strip is separated from the screw cap. embodiments Such closures go, for example, from DE-A-31 11 692, EP-B-0'149'496, EP-B-0'460'557, EP-B-0'593'396 or EP-B-0'625'950.

The production of such screw caps with guarantee band is problematic. In the manufacture of the core must be made of the Are screwed out of the screw cap without the Subsequent attacks in the area of the predetermined breaking point bridges lead that demolding already the guarantee bands of the screw caps are separated. In fact, though These fragile spots are relatively common during manufacture destroyed. This leads to production interruptions and rejects the closures produced. To the danger of To reduce destruction, relatively many predetermined breaking points be provided. The result is a difficult one Opening the screw cap. As is known in the Screw all predetermined breaking points evenly to tension loaded so that the forces add up and their resultant directly related to the number required breaking points is.

The predetermined breaking points are of course extraordinary thin designed. In their area therefore takes an alignment the molecular chains. These molecular chains, which are now in the Course of orientation of the predetermined breaking webs are oriented, have their highest resistance exactly in this direction. In other words, the occurring when screwing Forces are virtually axial to the spout and thus exactly in the direction of the predetermined breaking points. in addition comes the well-known effect that when screwing the Tensile forces are increased relatively slowly, with a material stretching which leads to a further alignment of the Molecular chains leads and an increased tensile strength causes.

To the danger of the destruction of the guarantee ring respectively reduce the guarantee band during demoulding, also injection molds with slide are used. This However, leads to extremely expensive tools.

To circumvent this problem is described in DE-A-31 00 629 proposed a screw cap with guarantee strip, in which the Guarantee tape initially molded on the screw cap is and only subsequently generated the predetermined breaking line is, by appropriate shedding, leaving to stand Frangible bridges. Such closures can be considerably open easier and can be virtually no waste to be produced. However, the production is already alone enormously expensive due to the two-stage production. Corresponding Such closures are hardly available on the market anymore.

From the above, it is clear that one advantageously the webs or bridges of the predetermined breaking points between the screw cap and the guarantee band Forces that act on shear can sever. This Principle is until today only with screw caps realized in which the guarantee strip by means of a tab can be demolished.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a To create screw cap of the type mentioned, which is unscrew with considerably less force, without the Disadvantages of the known embodiments to accept have to.

This object is achieved by the present invention with the Features of claim 1. Further advantageous Embodiments are based on the dependent claims and their effect and meaning is determined by the following description with reference to the appended Drawing explained.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht des erfindungsgemässen Schraubkappenverschlusses, bei dem der Ausguss ein mit einem Flansch versehenes separates Teil ist, das auf einem Behältnis aufsetzbar ist und

Figur 2

der auf ein Behältnis aufsetzbare Ausguss für sich alleine in der Ansicht von oben.

Figur 3

zeigt einen axialen Vertikalschnitt durch die Schraubkappe wie in Figur 1 gezeigt, unter Weglassung des Ausgusses. Und die

Figuren 4 bis 7

zeigen schematisch die verschiedenen, möglichen Anordnungen, der Schneideelemente und der Sollbruchstellenbrücken.

In the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment is shown. It shows:

FIG. 1

a side view of the inventive Schraubkappenverschlusses, wherein the spout is a provided with a flange separate part, which is placed on a container and

FIG. 2

the pourable on a container spout alone in the view from above.

FIG. 3

shows an axial vertical section through the screw cap as shown in Figure 1, omitting the spout. And the

FIGS. 4 to 7

schematically show the various possible arrangements, the cutting elements and the predetermined breaking points bridges.

The lock of interest here is a screw cap, where the spout on the container molded or attached, the closure consequently consists of a screw cap, provided with internal thread and a connected to the screw cap on predetermined breaking point bridges Guarantee tape, which has no pull tab.

The container B can, as shown in the figure 1, a Be plastic bottle or a container made of soft material, namely, a tubular bag made of a multilayer film made of different materials. Such multilayer, For example, laminated sheet materials consist of a paper or cardboard layer covered with plastic films and an aluminum foil layer multilayer laminated is designed. On such a container of soft material Then the spout is in the form of a cylindrical bung glued or welded on. Is it the container B to a plastic bottle, so this bung is through formed the bottleneck. The bung 1 has a flange 2 and a cylindrical spout 3, with a External thread 4 is provided. On the cylindrical spout 3 with the external thread 4 can be the screw 5 Fasten. The screw cap 5 has an upper cover surface 6, at the marginal, circumferentially a shell wall 7 connects. The cylindrically shaped at least on the inner surface Mantle wall 7 has on the inner surface an internal thread. 8 on. At the bottom of the screw cap 5, and am bottom edge of the shell wall 7, is over a variety of Predetermined breaking point bridges 10 a guarantee strip 11 is formed. The Warranty tape 11 has the shape of a conical ring. The Predetermined breaking point bridges 10 bridge the distance a between the lower edge 12 of the cap 5 and the upper edge 13 of the Warranty tape 11. Between each two adjacent breakpoint bridges 10 and the two edges mentioned Thus, in each case gaps 14 remain.

To improve the grip of the screw cap, the Mantle wall 7 on the outer surface a corresponding ribbing or ribbing 9 on.

With reference to FIG. 2, the specific design will now be described of the spout 1 or the neck of the bottle explained. While in Figure 1, the screw cap 5 clearly on a Container in the form of a plastic bottle attached is a bung 1 is shown in Figure 2, as he especially on soft packaging can be attached. The bung 1 consists of a cylindrical spout 3, on whose lower edge a circular flange 2 is formed is. With the appropriate shape of a container Plastic corresponds to the flange 2 a collar 2 '. While Flange 2 for the main thing fastening of a breech 1 serves on the soft packaging, the collar 2 'in particular make sure that the tamper-proof strap is not tampered with can be grasped by grasping under the guarantee tape can. In correctly assembled state is the guarantee strip 11th in the case of a plastic container, at least approximately the collar 2 ', while in the version of a soft packaging the guarantee strip 11 on the mentioned flange 2 for Resting comes. Above the flange 2 is on the cylindrical Spout 3, a retaining collar 15 is formed. Of the Diameter of the retaining collar 15 corresponds approximately to Inner diameter of the screw cap in the area of the lower Edge 12. At this retaining collar 15 is at least one Cutting element 20 integrally formed. The retaining collar 15 is with Support cam 16 provided in the mentioned spaces 14 reach into it. Likewise, the cutting elements 20 protrude through the gaps 14 radially outward. The cutting elements However, 20 protrude further outward than the support cams 16, which protrude only very slightly to the outside and during the Unscrewing movement of the screw cap 5 with the predetermined breaking point bridges 10 do not come into contact. The support cams 16 have, as their name implies, the function of the screw cap to be supported at the correct height during installation. The Screw cap 5 has an internal thread 8, which is the same as the External thread 4 of the cylindrical spout 3 as a fine thread is designed. This allows the screw cap 5 through easy to assemble, with the two Ratchet thread over each other. To ensure, that in this type of assembly not equal to the guarantee strip 11 on the flange 2 and the collar 2 ' imprints while the breaking point bridges already at the assembly are destroyed, the support cam 16 can this Intercept forces. The retaining collar 15 itself is in turn by means of support struts 17 with the flange 2 and the Collar 2 'connected. The collar 2 'can of course again be supported against the container B, this is but not shown in the drawing here. For the actual invention not directly essential, is on the flange an orientation mark 18, which is used to position the Spundes serves during assembly, attached. The mentioned Orientation mark allowed with corresponding machines, one Alignment of the bung, whereupon the screw cap 5, the also with orientation means, not shown here may be provided in a predetermined angular position can be put together relative to one another and then, as already mentioned, by pure pressing on each other can be mounted. This ensures, for example, that in such an assembly, the cutting elements exactly in the Gaps 14 arrive.

The shape of the cutting elements 20 and the possibly single cutting element 20 has advantageously the shape of a fin or a sawtooth. In the Unscrewing front edge 21, the following Front edge is called, runs to the radial direction in such a way inclined that when unscrewing the leading edge bridges the predetermined breaking points pulls from the outside to the center and severed. The front in the screwing edge 22, the also Rear edge can be called, runs approximately parallel to Leading edge 21. If one assembles the inventive Screw cap not as previously described by pure axial Collide, but by screwing, it works Rear edge 22 as a deflector and can break the predetermined breaking points 10 elastically deform to the outside without that while a separation takes place. The design of the Cutting elements 20 as a fin thus causes the possibility various assembly methods. For this correct is possible, the conical outward must Warranty tape 11 with its lower outwardly projecting Edge 19 so far outward that when screwing in fact, the fin-shaped cutting element 20 under the guarantee strip comes to running.

As already mentioned, should in the assembled state Advantageously, the cutting elements 20 and the Support cam 16 on the lower edge 12 of the jacket wall. 7 issue. Optimally, you will be the internal thread 8 and the External thread 4 provided with a slope that so small is that the underside of the cutting element 20 only to the Top edge 13 of the guarantee strip 11 comes to rest when already severed all predetermined breaking points bridges 10 are. In the example according to FIGS. 1 to 3 this is synonymous one revolution of the screw cap 5 by about 180 degrees. This angle is of course depending on how many cutting elements 20 are present and how their distribution is on the circumference. Also the distribution of Predetermined breaking point bridges 10 on the circumference determines the angle of rotation, the required for the transection of all predetermined breaking points is.

On these possibilities of arrangement of the cutting elements and the breaking point bridges 10 will now be discussed more become. Reference is made to FIGS. 4 to 7. In the simplest form, a single cutting element 20th be present and the predetermined breaking points in this case in the sense of rotation of the screw cap cut in succession, as the numbering shown here explains this. In contrast to this simplest embodiment according to the FIG. 4 shows a second variant in FIG. In this variant, two cutting elements 20 are present. As in FIG. 4, the predetermined breaking point bridges 10 are evenly distributed around the circumference. The two Finn-shaped cutting elements are not exactly diametrical here attached to each other but are slightly different an angle offset. This ensures that alternately always first one and then the other Cutting element comes into function, bringing by half Rotation thus cuts through all breakage bridges are. Thanks to the shifted arrangement of the cutting elements is to open in this variant practically the same effort required as in the execution according to the figure 4. It would be quite possible, however, the Cutting elements actually diametrically opposed to each other to arrange so that always two diametrically opposed opposite predetermined breaking points cut simultaneously would. In this case, the effort would be practical twice as high as in the embodiment according to here indicated solution.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, in turn two cutting elements available, but in contrast to the execution according to the figure 5 here are the predetermined breaking point bridges irregularly distributed around the circumference, leaving the bridges in the order shown here, for example, severed become.

Finally, a variant is shown in the figure 7, at the three cutting elements arranged at equal intervals are and in between three predetermined breaking points bridges at regular intervals between every two adjacent cutting elements are present. In this Trap can be the shutter already with a third turn from the guarantee strip. The effort is here However, about three times as high as in the variant in which only one bridge is cut at a time. Of course it would also be possible with this solution, to arrange the predetermined breaking point bridges irregularly or the Cutting elements each offset by a small angle form, so again that only one predetermined breaking point bridge is destroyed at the same time becomes.

List of reference numbers

1st bung

2. Flange

2 'collar

3. Spout, cylindrical

4. external thread

5. screw cap

6. upper deck area

7. Shell wall

8. internal thread

9. Corrugation

10. Predetermined breaking point bridges

11. Guarantee band

12. Lower edge of the screw cap

13th upper edge of the guarantee strip

14. Interspace

15. Retaining collar

16. Support cam

17. Support struts

18. Orientation mark

19. lower edge of the guarantee strip

20. Cutting element

21. leading edge

22. Back edge

Claims (13)

1. A receptacle (B) with a closure consisting of a screw cap (5) with an inner thread (8) and of a guarantee strip (11) without a tear-open tab, which is fastened to the screw cap and is connected via break-off bridge locations (10), wherein the receptacle comprises a cylindrical pour-out (3) with an outer thread (4) on which the screw cap (5) is held, characterised in that on the pour-out (3) there is integrally formed at least one cutting element (20) which in the virgin condition of the closure projects at least approximately radially outwards through and between two adjacent break-off bridge locations (10).
2. A receptacle with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer and inner thread (4, 8) are designed such that the height difference between the guarantee strip upper edge (13) and the screw cap lower edge (12) is only overcome after the at least one cutting element (20) has severed all break-off bridge locations (10).
3. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that at least two cutting elements are present, which are radially displaced in each case by a multiple plus a fraction of the distance (D) between neighbouring break-off bridge locations (10), so that on rotating the screw cap (5) always only one cutting element (20) is in contact with a break-off bridge location (10) to be separated, and as a result all break-off bridge locations (10) may be severed one after the other (Fig. 5).
4. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that there are present at least two cutting elements (20) distributed on the circumference at a regular distance to one another, whilst the break-off bridge locations (10) are irregularly distributed on the circumference, so that on rotating the screw cap always only one cutting element is in contact with a break-off bridge location (10) to be separated, and as a result all break-off bridge locations (10) may be severed one after the other (Fig. 6).
5. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that there are present more than two cutting elements (20) of which maximally two are simultaneously in contact with in each case one break-off bridge location (10).
6. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that three or more cutting elements (20) are present, of which maximally three are simultaneously in contact with in each case one break-off bridge location (10).
7. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the break-off bridge locations (10) taper from the guarantee strip upper edge (13) towards the screw cap lower edge (12) in a pointed manner.
8. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the one cutting element (20) or the cutting elements (20) in the assembled condition, before opening for the first time, bears or bear at least approximately on the lower edge (12) of the screw cap (5).
9. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that additionally to at least one cutting element (20) further radially outwardly directed support cams (16) are integrally formed on the pour-out (3), which serve for supporting the screw cap (5) on assembly.
10. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the guarantee strip (11) from the screw cap edge (12) is shaped conically outwards and widening downwards.
11. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 10, characterised in that the lower outwardly projecting edge (19) of the guarantee strip projects outwards at least equally as far as the at least one cutting element (20) projects outwards in the radial direction.
12. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one cutting element (20) has the shape of a fin or a saw-tooth, whose edge (21) lying at the front in the screwing-off direction runs inclined to the radial direction such that on screwing off, the edge pulls the break-off bridge locations (10) from the outside towards the centre and severs these, whilst the edge (22) which is at the front in the screwing-on direction is inclined to the radial direction such that on screwing on, the break-off bridge locations (10) are deformed elastically outwards without a separation being effected.
13. A receptacle (B) with a closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the screw cap (5) and the pour-out (3) in each case comprise a positioning means (18) which serve for determining the radial alignment of the two parts to one another and thus permit an assembly by axially abutting together the screw cap and pour-out, with which the threads (4, 8) may be knocked over one another.

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