EP2502685A1 - Method for forming the wall of the opening of a metal container or packaging, device for said purpose and container or packaging obtained - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of forming the wall of the mouth of a container or metal package and the device for this purpose and the container or packaging obtained. Said method of forming the wall of the mouth of a container (1) or cylindrical metal packaging from a molded tubular shell or not to receive a closure cover (8) provided with an elastic seal (9) ) maintained by a vacuum created in the container is essentially characterized by the use of a single member, the head (12), which jointly and simultaneously performs the deformation of the internal diameter of the container by expansion to achieve a bead (5) and a contraction making a retreint (6) above the bead (5) of the mouth (4). The head (12) comprises an expandable fixed part (13) and a movable part (14) which rotates around the fixed part, said parts (13, 14) of the head being coaxial, which has the effect of tightening the metal and harden it by organizing the metal molecules under two simultaneous constraints, which hardens the packaging and allows it to resist the vacuum applied to it.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of forming the wall of the mouth of a container or metal package and the device for this purpose and the container or packaging obtained.
The packaging according to the invention is made from a tubular shell which may or may not be molded to improve the strength.

• n° 01.11155 / 2.829.106 du 28.08.2001 pour: "procédé et dispositif pour la fermeture sous vide d'un conteneur de denrées alimentaires" ;
• n° 09.00966 / 2.942.618 du 02.03.2009 pour : "procédé et installation pour le conditionnement sous vide en continu de produits alimentaires" ;
• n° 10.00602 du 12.02.2010 pour "tête d'injection vapeur et eau froide pour la réalisation de conditionnement sous vide en continu de produits alimentaires".

The package or container concerned is of the type to receive a lid with an elastic seal and held by the vacuum created in the container, previously filled, at the head of said container, said vacuum being obtainable according to the technology defined by the patents or patent applications previously filed by SODETECH:

• No. 01.11155 / 2829106 28.08.2001 for: "Process and apparatus for vacuum sealing a container of foodstuffs ";
• No. 09.00966 / 2942618 of 02.03.2009 for: "Process and installation for continuous vacuum packaging of food products ";
• No. 10.00602 from 12.02.2010 for "steam injection head and cold water for the realization of continuous vacuum packaging of food products".

These references are the illustration of research carried out by the Applicant Company in the use of a deep vacuum at a time to facilitate sterilization by preserving to the products the maximum of its natural organoleptic qualities and to facilitate sealing by the lid.
The notion of deep vacuum is variable in the order of 900 mb (nine hundred millibar) at the temperature of four degrees centigrade.

For this purpose, the present invention relates both to the method of forming the wall of the mouth of the container and the container obtained and the device for this purpose.

The method according to the invention for forming the wall of the mouth of a cylindrical metal container or packaging from a molded tubular shell or not to receive a closure cover with an elastic seal held by a vacuum created in the container, is essentially characterized by the use of a single member, the head jointly and simultaneously effecting the deformation of the internal diameter of the container by expansion to achieve a bead and a contraction forming a retreint above the bead of the mouthpiece, the head comprising an expandable fixed part and a movable part which rotates around the fixed part, said parts of the head being coaxial, which has the effect of tightening the metal and hardening it by organizing the metal molecules under two simultaneous constraints, which hardens the packaging and allows it to resist the vacuum applied to it.

• la figure 1 est une vue du récipient réalisé au terme de la mise en oeuvre du procédé selon l'invention,
• les figures 2, 3, 4, 5 et 6 sont des vues du dispositif utilisé pour réaliser la première phase de l'opération, à savoir l'expansion et conjointement le retreint de l'embouchure et le collet,
• la figure 7, plan page 6, est une vue du récipient ou emballage tel qu'obtenu au terme de la première phase,
• les figures 8, 9, 10 et 11 représentent le dispositif pour réaliser la deuxième phase de l'invention permettant d'obtenir le produit représenté en figure 1.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a view of the container made at the end of the implementation of the process according to the invention,
• the figures 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 are views of the device used to carry out the first phase of the operation, namely the expansion and jointly the retreint of the mouth and the collar,
• the figure 7 , page 6, is a view of the container or packaging as obtained at the end of the first phase,
• the figures 8 , 9, 10 and 11 represent the device for carrying out the second phase of the invention making it possible to obtain the product represented in FIG. figure 1 .

The container or packaging obtained at the end of the implementation of the process according to the invention as represented in figure 1 is made from a ductile metal ferrule or considered to be manipulable (simple metal rolling) which can be molded or not and which carries at its base a crimped lid 2 ( Fig. 1 ). The base of the shell may or may not have an expansion cone 3 ( Fig. 1 ).
The diameter of the extension cone 3 may be, for example, 157 millimeters.

The metal of the ferrule may for example be at the origin of a 57 Rockwel hardness and a thickness which may be for example 0.27 hundredths of a millimeter.

At the level of its opening or mouth 4 ( Fig. 1 ), the container has successively from bottom to top a bead or annular boss 5 ( Fig. 1 ) of reinforcement then an annular retreint 6 ( Fig. 1 ) and a rolled collar 7 ( Fig. 1 ) which receives a cover 8 ( Fig. 1 ) whose internal perimeter has a flexible gasket 9 ( Fig. 1 ) that sticks on the rolled collar 7 ( Fig. 1 ) under the action of the vacuum produced in the packaging according to any known technique and preferably according to the technology described in the previous patents of SODETECH Company on this subject.

The creation of the bead by expansion can for example bring the internal diameter at the bead to 157 millimeters. The annular retreint 6 may for example give an inner diameter of 145 millimeters from the opening of the box.

The figure 2 illustrates an overview of the device for carrying out the first operation to be performed on the package, that is to say a deformation by expansion of its internal diameter at the level of the opening or mouthpiece to create a flange under that and a simultaneous contraction operation of its upper diameter and the production of an overhanging peripheral collar.
For this purpose, the device comprises on a rotary element 10 ( Fig. 2 ) a magnetic plate 11 ( Fig. 2 ) mobile up and down by any known means.

The magnetic plate 11 ( Fig. 2 ) receives the package and rises it to the shaping head 12 ( Fig. 2 ) which is shown in more detail in Figures 3, 4 , 5 and 6 .
The head 12 ( Fig. 2 ) is a head which jointly and simultaneously deforms the internal diameter by expansion to form the annular bead or boss ( Fig. 1 ) and a contraction operation 6 ( Fig. 1 ) above the bead 5 ( Fig. 1 ) and at the mouth or opening 4 ( Fig. 1 ) of the box.

The head 12 ( Fig. 2 ) comprises two essential components, a fixed part 13 ( Fig. 3 ) and a moving part 14 ( Fig. 3 ) which revolves around part 13 ( Fig. 3 ). Part 13 ( Fig. 3 ) is illustrated in more detail in figure 5 .
It has a matrix 15 ( Fig. 3 ) crossed by a double axis, one 16 ( Fig. 3 ) being coaxial with the other 17 ( Fig. 3 ).
The axis movable from bottom to top and vice versa controls the setting in external position or the withdrawal of the bodies carrying out the expansion constituted by the bead 5 ( Fig. 1 ).
These organs consist of a disk divided into sectors 18 ( Fig. 6 ) carried by a plate 19 ( Fig. 6 ) on which they slide from the center to the periphery and thus outwards projecting.

To facilitate understanding, the figure 6 shows only one of the 20 expanding sectors but it is obvious that their expansion as illustrated in figure 5 is simultaneous after introduction of the package around the base of the matrix when in the retracted position on the plate 19 ( Fig. 5 ).

The expansion of the 18/20 sectors ( Fig. 6 ) holds the container in position together with the operation of retreint of its neck.

Each sector 18 ( Fig. 6 ) has a light 21 ( Fig. 6 ) oblong and axial cooperating with a guide 22 ( Fig. 6 ), which allows its extraction or retraction.

Axially to the fixed matrix 13 ( Fig. 5 ) and controlled in ascending and lowering movement by the internal axis 17 ( Fig. 3 ) is mounted a male cone 23 ( Fig. 5 ). This male cone 23 acts by lowering and pushing on an intermediate piece forming a female cone 24 ( Fig. 5 ), consisting of a plurality of sections, does as much as sector 20 ( Fig. 5 ), whose vertical back 24 ( Fig. 5 ) of each of said sections acts in thrust on a sector 20 ( Fig. 5 ) corresponding to put said sector in the extraction position so that all extraction sectors can expand the diameter of the package to achieve the annular bead or boss 5 ( Fig. 1 ).

Under the intermediate piece 24 ( Fig. 5 ) is arranged a female cone 25 ( Fig. 5 ) at the end of the movable axis 17 ( Fig. 3 ) whose inclined walls in contact with the corresponding and complementary walls of the part 24 ( Fig. 5 ) allow upward movement of the cone 25 ( Fig. 5 ) its withdrawal towards the central axis and the retraction of the sectors 20 ( Fig. 5 ).

Annually to Matrix 13 ( Fig. 3 ) is mounted above sectors 20 ( Fig. 5 ) a crown 26 ( Fig. 5 ) which during the extension of sectors 20 ( Fig. 5 ) is behind these. Said ring 26 ( figure 5 ) has a vertical lower portion 27 ( Fig. 5 ) which corresponds to the restraint 6 ( Fig. 1 ) of the neck or mouth of the container and an upper portion 28 ( Fig. 5 ) inclined outwards which corresponds to the realization of the annular collar 7 ( figure 7 ) which will later be rolled.

The moving part 14 ( Figures 3-4 ) which rotates around the fixed part 13 ( Fig. 3 ) comprises two rollers 29 ( Fig. 3 and 4 ) actuated towards the neck of the package and simultaneously with the expansion of the boss 5 ( Fig. 1 ) carry out in cooperation with Crown 26 ( Fig. 5 ) the reduced 6 ( Fig. 1 ) and collar 7 ( Fig. 7 ) device that will be folded and rolled. The packaging at the end of this first operation is represented in figure 7 .

In figure 3 , one of the pebbles 29 ( Fig. 3 and 4 ) is shown in position and the other in spacing as seen in the detail of the figure 4 . This representation is intended to facilitate understanding of the operation.

By withdrawal of sectors 20 ( Fig. 5 ), the packaging will be released and will be brought by the magnetic tray 11 ( Fig. 2 ) to the station for carrying out the second operation of the method according to the invention, that is to say the planning of the peripheral collar of the opening or neck of the package and its rolling which may as represented in FIG. figure 1 serve as a support for the lid.
The device making it possible to carry out this second operation is represented in figures 8 , 9, 10 and 11.

• des rouleaux radiaux 30 fig. 9 qui servent à la planification du collet du col de l'emballage qui tel que représenté 7 (fig. 7) est au sortir de la première opération en position inclinée ;
• des molettes 31 (fig. 9 et 10) mobiles vers le récipient et présentant chacune une gorge annulaire 32 (fig. 10) qui réalise le roulé du collet, comme représenté en détail aux figures 9 et 10, ce qui réalise au final le roulé 7 (fig. 1).

The essential organs of this rotary device are the following:

• radial rollers 30 Fig. 9 which are used to plan the neck collar of the package as shown 7 ( Fig. 7 ) is at the end of the first operation in an inclined position;
• wheels 31 ( Fig. 9 and 10 ) movable towards the container and each having an annular groove 32 ( Fig. 10 ) which carries the roll of the collar, as shown in detail at Figures 9 and 10 , which finally makes rolled 7 ( Fig. 1 ).

The result of these two operations is for the first, expansion - synchronized contraction, to tighten the metal and harden it by organizing the metal molecules under two simultaneous constraints by limiting the disorders that could result from a single operation of expansion and especially of a single contraction operation.
The second operation rolling the collar allows to receive the lid with its seal.

The reinforcement of the package or box by the work-hardening operation as explained allows the package to accept without deformation an extremely fast deep vacuum sterilization.
This allows to obtain a preserved product of better quality than frozen.

The product being under vacuum makes it possible to use in the packaging very little liquid, to increase the quantity of contained product, for example to go from 1.5 kilograms to 1.8 kilograms, without degradation of the product.

The tests carried out show that in the case of canning olives according to the technique of the invention, the result would give the equivalent of fresh olives, the amount of water contained in the packaging avoiding the organoleptic degradations of the product.

The deep vacuum in the package of the order of 900 mb (nine hundred millibar) virtually eliminates any oxidation of the product, and respects the vitamins and all natural components soluble in water of the product preserved.
The preserved product equals the fresh product steamed.
The difference obtained from the point of view of quality of the product is due to the fact that the invention allows us to reduce the liquid in the package (the box) to an extreme minimum; and that the deep vacuum allows the transmission of heat to effect sterilization, by the evaporation-condensation technique whose rapidity of exchange allows us to obtain sterilization by cooking very little product. This in contrast to the current system of heat transmission by conduction, which requires overcooling to sterilize.

Claims (5)

Method of forming the wall of the mouth of a container (1) or cylindrical metal packaging from a molded tubular shell or not to receive a closure cover (8) provided with an elastic seal (9) maintained by a vacuum created in the container characterized by the use of a single member, the head (12), which jointly and simultaneously performs the deformation of the inner diameter of the container by expansion to achieve a bead (5) and a contraction realizing a retreint (6) above the bead (5) of the mouth (4), the head (12) comprising a fixed part (13) expandable and a movable part (14) which rotates around the fixed part, the said parts (13, 14) of the head being coaxial, which has the effect of tightening the metal and hardening it by organizing the metal molecules under two simultaneous constraints, which hardens the package and allows it to withstand the vacuum which is applied to him. Device for implementing the method according to claim 1 characterized in that the expandable fixed part (13) of the head (12) comprises at its base a disc divided into sectors (18, 20) radial and expandable outwards for repelling the wall and a peripheral upper outer ring (26) which has a vertical bottom wall (27) which corresponds to the retreint (6) and an upper portion (28) inclined outwards which corresponds to the production of an annular collar. (7) of the mouth and that the movable part (14) of the head, coaxial with the fixed part, comprises rollers (29) cooperating with the vertical wall (27) and the portion (28) to make the retreint ( 6) and the collar (7). Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the expandable radial elements (18, 20, Fig. 6) are organized in a flat plate divided into sectors whose extraction and / or retraction together with the passage of the rollers (29, Fig. 3) is controlled for expansion by lowering an upper internal cone (23, Fig. 5) and for retreating by raising an outer cone (25, Fig. 5) whose inclined planes are in opposition and act successively on an intermediate piece (24, Fig. 5) of coaxial control having as many moving portions as sector. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that a second apparatus for folding the collar (7, Fig. 7) and rolling it to receive the cover is a rotary device having two radial rollers (30, Fig. 8) for planning the collar and the wheels (31, Fig. 8) movable towards the container which carry the rolling of the collar by an annular groove (32, Fig. 10) which said wheels are provided. Packaging or container obtained by carrying out the process according to Claim 1 and devices according to Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it is produced from a cylindrical metal shell (1) and at the level of its opening or mouth (4, Fig. 1), it presents successively from bottom to top an annular bead or boss (5, Fig. 1) and then an annular retreint (6, Fig. 1) and a rolled collar (7, Fig. 1) which receives the lid.

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