EP4613665A1

EP4613665A1 - Pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packages

Info

Publication number: EP4613665A1
Application number: EP24162455.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Koller; Thomas Menzel
Original assignee: SIG Services AG
Current assignee: SIG Services AG
Priority date: 2024-03-08
Filing date: 2024-03-08
Publication date: 2025-09-10

Abstract

The invention relates to a pouring element (1,40) for cardboard/plastic composite packages (33) comprising a spout body (2,49), a cutting element (14,53) and a screw cap (3,41), wherein the spout body (2,49) has a circumferential fastening flange (4,50) for fastening the spout body (2,49) to the composite package (33) and a pouring tube (13,48), wherein the pouring tube (13,48) comprises at least one outer thread element (28,54) and at least one inner guiding element (18), wherein the cutting element (14,53) is designed for cutting open a closing layer (25) and comprises at least one outer guiding element (17) interacting with the at least one inner guiding element (18) of the pouring tube (13,48) and comprises at least one drive element (20), wherein the screw cap (3,41) comprises at least one inner thread element (27) screwed onto the at least one outer thread element (28,54) of the pouring tube (13,48) and at least one driving cam (23) for engaging with the at least one drive element to move the cutting element (14,53) towards the closing layer (25) when initially unscrewing the screw cap (3,41) from the pouring tube (13,48). To avoid premature opening of the packages by unintentionally turning the screw cap, it is provided that, the at least one outer thread element (28,54) of the pouring tube (13,48) comprises a recess (31,55) close to an end of the at least one thread element (28,54) and the screw cap (3,41) comprises at least one closure cam (30,56) engaging in the recess (31,55) when the screw cap (3,41) is in a screwed-on position and/or that the at least one inner thread element (27) of the screw cap (3,41) comprises a recess (31,55) close to an end of the at least one thread element (27) (28,54) and the pouring tube (13,48) comprises at least one closure cam (30,56) engaging in the recess (31,55) when the screw cap (3,41) is in a screwed-on position.

Description

The invention relates to a pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packages comprising a spout body, a cutting element and a screw cap, wherein the spout body has a circumferential fastening flange for fastening the spout body to the composite package and a pouring tube, wherein the pouring tube comprises at least one outer thread element and at least one inner guiding element, wherein the cutting element is designed for cutting open a closing layer and comprises at least one outer guiding element interacting with the at least one inner guiding element of the pouring tube and comprises at least one drive element, wherein the screw cap comprises at least one inner thread element screwed onto the at least one outer thread element of the pouring tube and at least one driving cam for engaging with the at least one drive element to move the cutting element towards the closure layer when initially unscrewing the screw cap from the pouring tube.
Cardboard/plastic composite packages have long been used for packaging beverages and other foodstuff and consist of different package materials in the form of a packaging laminate comprising a cardboard layer and outer, in particular thermoplastic, plastic layers, for example polyethylene (PE). The cardboard gives the package material sufficient stability to form packages that can be easily handled and stacked, for example. The plastic layers protect the cardboard from moisture and the products, especially food, from taking up undesirable substances from the package material. In addition, further layers, such as diffusion protection layers, if necessary, an aluminum layer, can be provided to prevent diffusion of oxygen and other gases through the package material.
The cardboard/plastic composite packages are preferably formed from package sleeves which are open at opposing longitudinal ends and have been produced from package material blanks, in particular by sealing the longitudinal edges of the package material blanks to one another. The package sleeves are folded and sealed at a longitudinal bottom end. This results in a semifinished package body open on one side, which is then filled with a product such as foodstuff. Thereafter, the filled package body is folded and sealed at an upper end.
Prior to filling the package body or after closing the package a pouring element can be attached to the package material so that pourable products can easily and conveniently be poured out of the package. By doing so, cumbersome opening of the packages can be avoided. Pouring elements comprise generally a spout body with a circumferential fastening flange for fastening the spout body to a composite package and a pouring tube for pouring pourable content out of the composite package. The fastening flange is arranged perpendicular to the pouring tube and extends outwardly from the pouring tube, which is closed by a screw cap at the upper end of the pouring tube. The screw cap can be unscrewed from the pouring tube to enable pouring out the product. To this end the screw cap comprises an inner thread which is threaded onto an outer thread of the pouring tube.
The screw cap can further have driving cams for positively engaging with drive elements of a cutting element arranged in the pouring tube. The cutting element is threaded with an outer thread into an inner thread of the pouring tube. Alternatively, the cutting element and/or pouring tube comprise a number of cams as guidance elements. When the screw cap is unscrewed from the pouring tube, the driving cams of the screw cap positively engage with corresponding drive elements and turn the cutting element around the central axis of the cutting element and the pouring tube respectively. Because of the engagement of the driving cams of the screw cap with drive elements of the cutting element the cutting element is moved out of the pouring tube while the screw cap is unscrewed from the pouring tube. Cutting blades of the cutting element cut through a closing layer, allowing the product to be poured out through a central pouring channel. The closing layer can be part of the pouring element which is then applied together with the pouring element. However, the closing layer can also be formed by the package material or a barrier layer sealed in an opening in the package material. In case the closing layer is provided by the pouring element, the pouring element is preferably applied into an opening of the package material. The closing layer cut open by the cutting element is arranged beneath the pouring tube prior to initially opening of the pouring element.
In practice, the packages are sometimes opened prematurely due to unintentional turning of the screw cap, which can result in product leakage and compromise sterility of the filled product. In almost all of these cases, the screw cap is not inadvertently twisted by the end customer, but during transportation or corresponding handling of the packaging before it is even sold to the end customer.
Therefore, the present invention is based on the object of designing and further developing the pouring element of the type mentioned at the beginning and explained in more detail above in such a way that premature opening of the packages by unintentionally turning the screw cap can be avoided.
Said object is achieved by a pouring element according to the preamble of claim 1 in that the at least one outer thread element of the pouring tube comprises a recess close to an end of the at least one thread element and the screw cap comprises at least one closure cam engaging in the recess when the screw cap is in a screwed-on position and/or in that the at least one inner thread element of the screw cap comprises a recess close to an end of the at least one thread element and the pouring tube comprises at least one closure cam engaging in the recess when the screw cap is in a screwed-on position.
If low to medium forces are applied to the screw cap in the opening direction, the screw cap does not engage with the cutting element in a way that the cutting element damages the closing layer, because the closure cam engages in corresponding recess of corresponding thread element. When a consumer applies proper force to the screw cap in the opening direction, the closure cam disengages the recess and the closing layer can be opened normally. The closing layer can be part of the pouring element which is then applied together with the pouring element. However, the closing layer can also be formed by the package material or a barrier layer sealed in an opening in the package material. In case the closing layer is provided by the pouring element, the pouring element is preferably applied into an opening of the package material. The closing layer cut open by the cutting element can be arranged beneath or within the pouring tube prior to the initial opening of the pouring element.
In this respect it is preferrable in most cases that the recess is formed in the outer thread element of the pouring tube and the closure cam is provided at the screw cap. However, it would be also possible, that as an alternative or in addition the recess is formed in the inner thread element of the screw cap and that the corresponding closure cam is formed on the outside of the pouring tube.
Because the recess is positioned next to an end of at least one thread element, unscrewing of the screw cap is only impaired at the very beginning of the unscrewing of the screw cap and screwing on of the screw cap is only impaired at the very end of the screwing on of the screw cap. This even adds the further benefit that there is clear feedback to the consumer that the screw cap is closed completely when the closure cam reengages the recess. To this end, it is preferred when the recess that is provided in the outer thread element of the pouring tube is located next to the upper end of the thread element. In case the recess is formed in the inner thread element of the screw cap the recess is preferably provided next to the lower end of the thread element. The same is true for corresponding closure cam of the pouring tube, since the closure cam must engage in the corresponding recess in a closed state of the pouring element with screwed on screw cap.
It can be sufficient if only one of corresponding thread elements, e.g. at least one inner thread element of the screw cap or only at least one outer thread element of the pouring tube is formed as rather short guide elements interacting with the at least one corresponding thread element. In this case thread elements do not need to extend at least once around the entire circumference. It is also possible that a thread of the pouring element, the screw cap and/or the cutting element is formed by more than one thread element, which together form a thread with multiple starts. If the screw cap and/or the pouring element form such a thread with multiple starts, either just one, several or all of the thread elements can comprise a recess. For example, a pouring element with a triple-threaded outer thread could have a recess at the end of either one, two or all three of its thread elements. The same stays true for the corresponding closure cams. Preferably, one closure cam is assigned to each recess.
The closure cam is formed in a way that allows easy opening of the pouring element, i.e. unscrewing of the screw cap with concurrent opening of the closing layer. It is not object of the invention to prevent the user from unscrewing the screw cap or to hinder unscrewing. However, a certain amount of resistance is provided to prevent accidental activation of the cutting element during normal handling of the package by way of partially unscrewing of the screw cap.
Further, the pouring element is preferably designed for reclosing the package to which the pouring element is applied. To this end the screw cap can be unscrewed to pour out product and screwed on again onto the pouring tube of the spout body. This can be advantageous in case foodstuff is to be poured out in small amounts over a longer period of time.
In a first particularly preferred embodiment, the pouring element is configured such that the cutting element cannot engage with the closing layer without the closure cam disengaging with the recess when initially opening the screw cap. In consequence, accidental activation of the cutting element, which may lead to an unintended opening of the closing layer can be avoided. However, to intentionally open the closing layer the screw cap must be rotated from an initially screwed-on position about a certain angle, which is large enough that the closure cam disengages from the recess. While the closure cam still engages with the recess an activation of the cutting element is excluded. Disengagement from the recess simply means that the closure cam is turned further than an outer boundary of the recess. The closure cam can disengage from the recess in opposite directions, depending on the direction of rotation of the screw cap. In each case the closure cam is turned further than one of two opposite outer boundary of the recess. In contrast the closure cam is arranged within these boundaries during engagement. In case of a pouring element where the closing layer is supplied by the package itself, the pouring element can preferably be configured such that the cutting element cannot leave the pouring tube without the closure cam disengaging with the recess when initially opening the screw cap.
In order to avoid an accidental activation of the cutting element even further, the pouring element can be configured such that the cutting element cannot engage with the closing layer without the closure cam being rotated for additional 5° or more, preferably for additional 10°, in the circumferential direction after disengaging with the recess when initially opening the screw cap. As a result, activation of the cutting element does not occur already in parallel to disengaging of the closure cam from the recess. The screw cap, which is in an initially screwed-on position must be turned at least 5° further than to bring the closure cam out of engagement with the recess.
As an alternative or in addition the at least one driving cam of the screw cap is spaced apart from the at least one drive element of the cutting element, when the screw cap is in a closed position in which the closure cam engages in the corresponding recess of the corresponding thread element. This position can be regarded as the initial screwed-on position of the screw cap. Therefore, the cutting element is not activated in case the screw cap is slightly unscrewed, which can happen accidentally. Even in this case the package is still closed and sterility of the product, for example foodstuff, contained by the package is ensured. With the closure cam engaging in the recess in an initially closed position the at least one driving cam can be spaced apart from the at least one drive element by an angle of at least 2°, preferably at least 4°, in particular at least 6°, in a circumferential direction.
Alternatively or in combination, blade members of the cutting element can be arranged at a distance to the closing layer in an axial direction. This distance is equivalent to rotating the screw cap by at least a few degrees since the cutting element is only moved via the screw cap in proper use. Combining these factors, the total cap rotation before the cutting element starts damaging the closing layer is most preferably in the range of 10° to 25°, but can even be as low as for example 5°.Therefore, pouring element can be configured such that the cutting element cannot engage with the closing layer without the closure cam being rotated for additional 5° or more, preferably for additional 10°, in the circumferential direction after disengaging with the recess when initially opening the screw cap. As an alternative or in addition, the pouring element can be configured such that the so called idle rotation of the screw cap while the closure cam is initially engaging in the recess, cannot actuate the cutting element to engage with or touch the closing layer. In general, the cutting element can be activated by the screw cap by engagement of at least one driving cam of the screw cap with the at least one drive element of the cutting element, wherein, preferably, the at least one driving cam engages positively with the at least one drive element.
To ensure that the unscrewing and screwing of the screw cap is only impaired by the cam at the beginning of unscrewing the screw cap and at the end of screwing the screw cap onto the pouring tube, the inner end of the recess facing away from the corresponding end of the corresponding thread element is located within an angle of 60° of the corresponding thread element in a circumferential direction. Respective impairment is further reduced in case the inner end of the recess facing away from the corresponding end of the corresponding thread element is located within an angle of, preferably 50°, in particular 40°, from the corresponding end of the corresponding thread element in a circumferential direction. In this case the recess is even closer to the end of the thread element.
Because of the same reason the end of the recess facing towards the corresponding end of the corresponding thread element is located within an angle of 30°, preferably 20°, in particular 10°, from the corresponding end of the corresponding thread element in a circumferential direction. In consequence, the closure cam engages with the corresponding recess and respective thread element only over a very short distance.
The pouring elements can be manufactured easily and with lower costs in case the closure cam engages in the corresponding recess with a large amount of play. In this case manufacturing tolerances are not an issue, and the screw cap can be slightly turned relative to the pouring element without causing any damage to the pouring element or the package. Therefore, it is preferred when the recess is at least 1,5 times, preferably at least two times, in particular even at least three or four times, as wide as the closure cam. Respective widths are measured in a circumferential direction in each case. However, respective widths can also be measured in the direction of the corresponding thread element, which extends essentially in the circumferential direction.
It has been found to be advantageous if the recess extends over an angle of at least 6° in a circumferential direction. This is even more the case if the recess extends over an angle of at least 10°, in particular of at least 18°, in a circumferential direction. Said circumferential direction can be understood also as the direction of the corresponding thread element being essentially a circumferential direction. As an alternative or in addition the dept of the recess is preferably at least 0,5 mm, more preferably at least 0,7 mm, in particular at least 0,9 mm. This makes it possible to reliably accommodate the closure cam in the recess. However, it is also preferred if the depth of the at least one recess is at most 1,8 mm in a radial direction in order to allow for a compact pouring element. This is even more the case, if the depth of the at least one recess is at most 1,5 mm, in particular at most 1,2 mm, in a radial direction.
As an alternative or in addition, the closure cam can extend over an angle of at least 1° and up to 6° in a circumferential direction. In this case at least part of the closure cam can be appropriately accommodated in the recess. However, independent of the actual values of the angles mentioned before, it is in general preferable, that the recess extends over an angle in the circumferential direction, which exceeds the angle over which the closure cam extends in the same direction by between 1° and 12°, preferably by between 6° and 10°. This difference approximates the amount of idle rotation, during which the closure cam engages in the corresponding recess, that the screw cap has available in its initial configuration. As such, if there are multiple closure cams arranged side by side in the same recess, the angle between the outermost faces of the two or more closure cams can be regarded to represent the angle of extension of the closure cam in the sense described above.
To ensure that an appropriate resistance is generated when the closure cam disengages from the recess while initially unscrewing the screw cap, the closure cam engages in the recess in a radial direction towards a central longitudinal axis between 0,2 mm and 0,4 mm, preferably between 0,25 mm and 0,35 mm. In this case, a radial overlap between an inner end of the closure cam and an outer end of the outer thread between 0,2 mm and 0,4 mm, preferably between 0,25 mm and 0,35 mm is provided. Comparative tests have shown that these value ranges produce the optimal results irrespective of the size of the pouring elements. As an alternative or in addition, the advantages mentioned before are particularly beneficial, in case the radius of the at least one outer thread element of the pouring tube is about 9,5 mm, about 11 mm, about 13 mm or about 16 mm.
The closure cam can reliably fit into the recess, in particular with a certain amount of play, and can at the same time absorb sufficient forces, in case the closure cam extends over an angle of at least 1°, preferably of at least 2°, in particular of at least 3°, in a circumferential direction. Here again the direction of the corresponding thread element can be regarded as a circumferential direction. Due to the same reasons the height of the closure cam can be at least 0,25 mm, preferably at least 0,35 mm, in particular at least 0,45 mm. Because of the space required the height of the closure cam may be restricted to at most 0,75 mm, preferably at most 0,65 mm, in particular at most 0,55 mm, in a radial direction. Therefore, the dimensions of the closure cam and the dimensions of the corresponding recess can be attuned to each other.
The at least one recess comprises opposing flank portions both facing in opposing directions of the corresponding thread element. The flank of the recess active when unscrewing the screw cap, i.e. the flank facing in the opening direction, can be steeper than the flank of the recess active when screwing the screw cap back onto the pouring tube, i.e. the flank facing in the closing direction. In other words, the flank of the recess closer to the corresponding end of the thread element is steeper than the flank of the recess further away from the corresponding end of the thread element onto the pouring tube. This is especially relevant in case the screw cap can be screwed on the pouring tube to such an extent that the closure cam leaves corresponding recess and thereby exerts a certain resistance when sliding along the flank of the recess facing in the closing direction. This resistance should preferably be rather low, so that the user does not incorrectly interpret respective resistance as a limit stop, which could prevent the user from properly closing the cap. However, larger resistance forces can occur when the screw cap is unscrewed, and the closure cam leaves the corresponding recess in opening direction. These larger resistance forces ensure that the package is not unintentionally cut open but never prevent the user from opening the package.
Thus, as an alternative or in addition the flank of the recess active when unscrewing the screw cap can have an angle of at least 20°, preferably at least 25°, in particular at least 30°, to the circumferential direction. To ensure that the screw cap can be easily and conveniently unscrewed from the pouring tube the flank of the recess active when unscrewing the screw cap can have an angle of at most 45°, preferably at most 40°, in particular at most 35°, to the circumferential direction. In other words, the flank of the recess closer to the corresponding end of the thread element can have an angle between 20° to 45° to the circumferential direction.
Due to the reasons mentioned before, the flank of the recess active when screwing the screw cap onto the pouring tube can have a rather shallow angle of for example at least 5°, preferably at least 8°, in particular at least 12°. To ensure that the resistance to overcome when the closure cam engages with the flank facing in the closing direction is appropriate said flank of the recess can have an angle of at most 30°, preferably at most 25°, in particular at most 20°, to the circumferential direction. In other words, the flank of the recess further away from the corresponding end of the thread element can have an angle of at least 5° and at most 30° to the circumferential direction.
As an alternative or in addition to the form of the recess described above the flank of the closure cam active when unscrewing the screw cap can be steeper than the flank of the closure cam active when screwing the screw cap onto the pouring tube. This can be preferred to provide higher resistance forces when unscrewing the screw cap than when screwing the screw cap back onto the pouring tube.
To this end the flank of the closure cam active when unscrewing the screw cap can have an angle of at least 60°, preferably at least 70°, in particular at least 80°, to the circumferential direction. As an alternative or in addition it has been found to be preferable, if the closure cam active when unscrewing the screw cap has an angle of at most 120°, more preferably at most 110°, in particular at most 100°, to the circumferential direction.
In order to appropriately attune the resistance provided by engagement of the closure cam with the flank of the recess active when screwing the screw cap onto the pouring tube, said flank can have an angle of at least 30°, preferably at least 35°, in particular at least 40°, to the circumferential direction. Due to the same reason the flank of the recess active when screwing the screw cap onto the pouring tube can have an angle of at most 60°, preferably at most 55°, in particular at most 50°, to the circumferential direction.
In order to allow for an appropriate handling and for securely reclosing the pouring element after initial unscrewing of the screw cap, the pouring element can be configured such that screw cap can be screwed on so far that the closure cam disengages from the recess and is rotated by at least another 5° after disengagement of the closure cam with the recess.
To avoid the risk that the screw cap gets lost after unscrewing from the pouring tube, an anchor ring can be positively held at the pouring tube in an axial direction towards the upper end of the pouring tube, which can be closed by the screw cap in the screwed-on position. For holding the screw cap in an unscrewed position securely to the anchor ring, the anchor ring can be connected to the screw cap via at least one hinge element. The hinge element can allow for swiveling the screw cap to one side of the pouring tube in order to not interfere with pouring out the product from the package.
An even more convenient use of the screw cap can be provided, if the anchor ring is connected to the screw cap via two hinge elements, in particular arranged at essentially opposing sides with respect to the pouring tube. In this case one hinge element connects holding members of the anchor ring to the screw cap. With the screw cap in the screwed-on position the holding members extend at least essentially in a circumferential direction and are connected to the rest of the anchor ring by another hinge element. As a result, the holding members can pivot about one hinge element with respect to the rest of the anchor ring, while the screw cap in an unscrewed position can pivot about another hinge element with respect to the holding members, so that the screw cap is securely spaced apart from the pouring opening of the pouring tube. Hinge elements with a wider extension in a circumferential direction, for example wider than 90° or 120°, can provide at their outer edges separate hinge means.
The screw cap can be easily and reliably attached to the pouring tube with the anchor ring by a weakening line extending essentially in the circumferential direction. The weakening line can have for example a reduced wall thickness, a perforation or at least one slit. Another weakening line can be provided between the holding member and the rest of the anchor ring. When the screw cap is unscrewed the at least one weakening line is torn apart, allowing the screw cap to be swiveled about at least one hinge member and/or at least one holding element.
The pouring element can be in an initial configuration with the screw cap in an initially screwed-on position and in an open configuration with the closing layer opened and the screw cap fully unscrewed and removed from the pouring element allowing product to be poured out of the package. Further the pouring element can be in a first intermediate configuration with the screw cap partly unscrewed to such an extent that the closure cam is located exactly at the edge of the recess. In essence, this is the moment the closure cam disengages the recess. In a second intermediate configuration the cutting element first engages with the closing layer. If the closing layer is part of the composite package, the second intermediate configuration can be established when the lower end of the cutting element and the lower end of the pouring tube are located at the same height. Before the lower end of the cutting element arrives at the lower end of the pouring tube, the cutting element typically cannot touch the closing layer. If the closing layer is part of the pouring element however, the second intermediate configuration is defined as the moment during the opening process where cutting element and closing layer first touch. The closure layer can be positioned at the lower end of the pouring tube or further into the pouring tube.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing showing examples of embodiments. The drawing shows

Fig. 1A-C: a first pouring element according to the invention in a perspective view, in a top view, and in a side view,
Fig. 2A-D: the screw cap, the spout body, and the cutting element of the pouring element of Fig. 1 separately in different perspective views,
Fig. 3A-C: the pouring element of Fig. 1 in a sectional view along a plane extending through the central longitudinal axis of the pouring element and enlarged detailed sectional views of the pouring element of Fig. 1,
Fig. 4A-B: the pouring element of Fig. 1 in a sectional view along the plane IVA-IVA of Fig. 1C perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pouring element and in an enlarged detailed view and
Fig. 5A-B: a second pouring element according to the invention in a perspective view and a sectional view similar to Fig. 4B.

In Fig. 1A-C a pouring element 1 for cardboard/plastic composite packages containing pourable foodstuff such as beverages is shown. The pouring element 1 comprises a spout body 2 on top of which a screw cap 3 is screwed on. The spout body 2 comprises a circumferential fastening flange 4 for fastening the spout body 2 to the cardboard/plastic composite package, wherein the fastening flange 4 extends essentially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis A of the pouring element 1. The fastening flange 4 of the pouring element 1 shown in Fig. 1 for example has flange surfaces 5 facing to four different sides of the fastening flange 4 essentially in the form of a square seen from above. In addition, the flange surfaces 5 are conically tilted with respect to the central longitudinal axis A, essentially creating a truncated pyramid shape. However, in an alternative embodiment the fastening flange 4 of the spout body 2 can also consist of only the part extending essentially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis A of the pouring element 1 and be applied to a similarly flat part of the package.
The spout body 2 and the screw cap 3 as shown are made from a thermoplastic material by way of injection molding. The screw cap 3 is injection molded together with an anchor ring 6 and two holding members 7. Each holding member 7 is separated from the screw cap 3 as well as from the rest of the anchor ring 6 partly by a hinge element 8,9 and partly by a weakening line 10,11 in each case. The anchor ring 6 is positively held at the spout body 2, so that the weakening lines 10,11 adjacent to the holding member 7 are torn apart when the screw cap 3 is unscrewed from the spout body 2.
The weakening lines 10,11 could be defined by a reduced thickness of the circumferential wall or a perforation. However, the weakening lines 10,11 of the pouring element 1 shown in Fig. 1 are defined by slits interrupted or bridged by at least one bridge member 12 connecting the holding member 7 to the screw cap 3 or to the rest of the anchor ring 6. Even if the weakening lines 10,11 are torn apart by unscrewing the screw cap 3 from the spout body 2 and eventually breaking the bridge members 12, the screw cap 3 is still connected to the anchor ring 6 via the hinge element 9 connecting the screw cap 3 to the holding member 7 and via the hinge element 8 connecting the holding member 7 to the anchor ring 6. The hinge element 8 connecting the holding member 7 to the remaining part of the anchor ring 6 is relatively wide in the circumferential direction, so that the hinge element 8 can provide hinge means at each of the outer ends of the hinge element 8.
The screw cap 3, shown separately in Fig. 2A-B in different perspective views, operates together with a pouring tube 13 of the spout body 2 extending upwards from the fastening flange 4, shown in Fig. 2C, and with a cutting element 14 for cutting open a bottom part of the spout body 2 beneath the pouring tube 13, shown in Fig. 2D. The cutting element 14 shown comprises two blade members 15 on roughly opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis A of the pouring element 1. These blade members 15 are arranged at the lower end of the cutting element 14 protruding downwards from a circumferential ring member 16 of the cutting element 14 on the outside of which outer guiding elements 17 in the form of thread elements are provided forming a thread with several starts. The outer guiding elements 17 of the cutting element 14 correspond to inner guiding elements 18 of the pouring tube 13 formed as thread elements form a thread with several starts.
The cutting element 14 further comprises two drive elements 20 on opposing sides of the central longitudinal axis A of the pouring element 1 connected to the upper part of ring member 16 and protruding inwards. Each drive element 20 has face members 21 for engaging with corresponding face members 22 of driving cams 23 that are attached to the lid part 24 of the screw cap 3 and are protruding downwards. The driving cams 23 are arranged on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis A of the pouring element 1. The face members 22 of the driving cams 23 engage with the corresponding face members 21 of the drive elements 20 of the cutting element 14 when the screw cap 3 is unscrewed from the pouring tube 13.
The rotation of the screw cap 3 when unscrewing the screw cap 3 from the pouring tube 13 forces the cutting element 14 to rotate relative to the pouring tube 13, so that the cutting element 14 is screwed downwards and at least partly out of the pouring tube 13. The rotation of the cutting element 14 translates to a rotation of the opposing blade members 15 of the cutting element 14 which cut the composite package, in particular a closing layer 25 of the spout body 2 open. The cutting element 14 and the pouring tube 13 are essentially formed as hollow cylinders so that the product contained in the composite package can be poured out once the closing layer 25 of the spout body 2 is cut open.
The screw cap 3 further comprises, at the inner face 26 of its circumferential wall, an inner thread element 27 which corresponds to an outer thread element 28 of the pouring tube 13. Thus, the screw cap 3 can be screwed on the pouring tube 13 in order to close the pouring tube opening at the upper end of the pouring tube 13. A closure cam 30 which protrudes inwards is provided on the inner face 26 of the circumferential wall of the screw cap 3. The closure cam 30 is located a short distance from the upper end 29 of the inner thread element 27 of the screw cap 3, as well as between the inner thread element 27 and the lid part 24. The corresponding outer thread element 28 of the pouring tube 13 has a recess 31 a short distance away from the upper end 32 of the outer thread element 28. The recess 31 is designed to accommodate the closure cam 30 of the screw cap 3 when the screw cap 3 is screwed on the pouring tube 13 and is in the initial screwed-on position.
In the embodiment shown the end of the recess 31 facing away from the corresponding end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 is located within an angle of about 60° from the corresponding end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 in a circumferential direction. In addition, the end of the recess 31 facing towards the corresponding end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 is located within an angle of about 30° from the corresponding end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 in a circumferential direction. Thus, the distance between the end of the recess 31 facing away from the corresponding end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 and the corresponding end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 is greater than the distance between the end of the recess 31 facing towards the corresponding end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 and the corresponding end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28.
In the embodiment shown the guiding elements 17,18 of the pouring tube 13 and the cutting element 14 as well as the thread elements 27,28 of the pouring tube 13 and the screw cap 3 extend in each case at least a good portion around the entire circumference of the corresponding part and are helically shaped. The helices of the guiding elements 17 of the cutting element 14 and of the inner guiding elements 18 of the pouring tube 13 form a steeper gradient than the helices of the inner thread element 27 of the screw cap 3 and the outer thread element 28 of the pouring tube 13. This allows the cutting element 14 to open the package with comparatively fewer turns of the screw cap 3.
In Fig. 3A the pouring element 1 is shown in an assembled state and fastened to a composite package 33 with flange surfaces 5 facing outwards. In Fig. 3B-C enlarged details of the pouring element 1 are shown in a slightly different sectional view compared to Fig. 3A. Since the pouring element 1 is arranged as part of the gable of the package 33, the package 33 is thus closed by the closing layer 25 of the spout body 2. The cutting element 14 is arranged in the pouring tube 13 and the screw cap 3 is fully screwed on the pouring tube 13 of the spout body 2. In this fully assembled position, an inwardly extending protrusion 34 of the anchor ring 6 positively engages under a retaining edge 35 of the pouring tube 13. Thus, the anchor ring 6 is held in place even if the screw cap 3 is unscrewed from the pouring tube 13. The anchor ring 6 comprises holding members 7 connected to the screw cap 3. Below the screw cap 3 and below the holding members 7 are weakening lines 10,11 provided by slits extending circumferentially. Between or bridging the slits bridge members 12 and the hinge elements 8,9 are provided, whereby the bridge members 12 are torn apart when the screw cap 3 is initially unscrewed. Then the screw cap 3 is still securely held on the pouring tube 13 and can be swiveled away from the pouring tube 13 because of hinge elements 8,9.
In the initial state of the pouring element 1, i.e. in the initial screwed-on position of the screw cap 3, shown in Fig. 3A-C, the face members 22 of the driving cams 23 of the screw cap 3 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction from the corresponding face members 21 of the drive elements 20 of the cutting element 14, for example by 6°. Further, the blade members 15 of the cutting element 14 are spaced apart from the closing layer 25 of the spout body 2. The central longitudinal axis A of the pouring element 1 is at least essentially identical to the central longitudinal axes A of the screw cap 3, the spout body 2, the pouring tube 13 and the cutting element 14.
In Fig. 4A a sectional view of the pouring element 1 is shown in a plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis A. Fig. 4B is an enlarged detail of Fig. 4A showing the closure cam 30 of the screw cap 3 engaging with the recess 31 of the outer thread element 28 of the pouring tube 13. In the embodiment shown the recess is about 5 times as wide as the closure cam 30 seen in a circumferential direction. Further, the recess 31 extends over an angle α of about 20° in a circumferential and has a depth which is about twice as large as the height of the closure cam 30 in the radial direction.
In the embodiments shown the closure cam 30 extends over an angle β of about 3° in the circumferential direction. The recess comprises opposing flanks 36,37, one facing towards the upper end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 and one facing toward the lower end of the corresponding thread element 28. The flank 36 facing towards the upper end 32 of the corresponding thread element 28 is substantially steeper than the flank 37 facing toward the lower end of the corresponding thread element 28. In the embodiment shown the upper flank 36 comprises an angle γ1 of about 40° to the circumferential direction, whereas the lower flank 37 has an angle γ2 of about 15° to the circumferential direction.
Further, in the embodiment shown, the closure cam 30 has two opposing flanks 38,39, one of which is steeper than the other. The flank 38 of the closure cam 30 active when unscrewing the screw cap 3, which is the flank 38 facing towards the upper end 32 of the thread element 28, is steeper than the flank 39 of the closure cam 30 active when screwing the screw cap 3 onto the pouring tube 13, which is the flank 39 facing towards the lower end of the thread element 28. The flank 38 of the closure cam 30 facing in the direction in which the screw cap 3 is unscrewed, comprises an angle δ1 of about 90° to the circumferential direction, whereas the flank 39 of the closure cam facing 30 in the direction in which the screw cap 3 is screwed on comprises an angle δ2 of about 45°.
The closure cam 30 and the recess 31 do overlap to a certain extent in the radial direction. The radial overlap between an inner end of the closure cam 30 and an outer end of the outer thread 28 of the pouring tube 13 is between 0,2 mm and 0,4 mm, preferably between 0,25 mm and 0,35mm is provided. In other words, radius R1 of the inner face of the wall of the screw cap 3 minus the height of the closure cam H exceeds radius R2 of the outer face of the outer thread of the pouring tube preferably by about 0,3 mm. $(R1 - H) - R2 = - 0,3 mm$
Fig. 5A shows another embodiment of a pouring element 40 in a perspective view, having a screw cap 41 with two wings 42 on opposing sides. The screw cap 41 is attached to a holding member 43 by a hinge element 44 and separated from the holding member 43 by a weakening line 45 in form of a gap. The holding member 43 is further connected to an anchor ring 46 via another hinge element 47 and separated from the anchor ring 46 by a weakening line 51 in form of a gap. The anchor ring 46 is positively held at a pouring tube 48 of a spout body 49 onto which the screw cap 41 has been screwed on. At the lower end of the spout body 49 a circumferentially extending fastening flange 50 is provided to attach the pouring element 40 with its bottom side to a part of a cardboard/plastic composite package which is flat and at least essentially parallel to the fastening flange 50 and which comprises a closing layer. The pouring element 40 shown in Fig. 5A is otherwise comparable with the pouring element 1 shown in Fig. 1-4 in terms of function and design.
Fig. 5B shows a sectional view of the pouring element 40 similar to Fig. 4A. The screw cap 41 provides driving cams 52 to engage with a cutting element 53 to open a closing layer by unscrewing the screw cap 41. In an outer thread element 54 of the pouring tube 48 a recess 55 is provided to accommodate a closure cam 56 of the screw cap 41 in the initially screwed-on position of the screw cap 41. The closure cam 56 is held positively in the recess 55 but disengages from the recess 55 when a sufficient force for unscrewing the screw cap 41 is applied to the screw cap 41. Then the resistance provided by the closure cam 56 disengaging from the recess 55 will be overcome.

List of reference numerals

1	pouring element	29	upper end thread element
2	spout body	30	closure cam
3	screw cap	31	recess
4	fastening flange	32	upper end thread element
5	flange surface	33	composite package
6	anchor ring	34	protrusion
7	holding member	35	retaining edge
8,9	hinge element	36,37	flanks recess
10,11	weakening lines	38,39	flanks closure cam
12	bridge member	40	pouring element
13	pouring tube	41	screw cap
14	cutting element	42	wing
15	blade member	43	holding member
16	ring member	44	hinge element
17	outer guiding element cutting element	45	weakening line
17	outer guiding element cutting element	46	anchor ring
18	inner guiding element pouring tube	47	hinge element
18	inner guiding element pouring tube	48	pouring tube
20	drive element	49	spout body
21,22	face member	50	fastening flange
23	driving cam	51	weakening line
24	lid part	52	driving cams
25	closing layer	53	cutting element
26	inner face	54	thread element
27	inner thread element screw cap	55	recess
28	outer thread element pouring tube	56	closure cam

Claims

Pouring element (1,40) for cardboard/plastic composite packages (33) comprising a spout body (2,49), a cutting element (14,53) and a screw cap (3,41);
- wherein the spout body (2,49) has a circumferential fastening flange (4,50) for fastening the spout body (2,49) to the composite package (33) and a pouring tube (13,48);

- wherein the pouring tube (13,48) comprises at least one outer thread element (28,54) and at least one inner guiding element (18);

- wherein the cutting element (14,53) is designed for cutting open a closing layer (25) and comprises at least one outer guiding element (17) interacting with the at least one inner guiding element (18) of the pouring tube (13,48) and comprises at least one drive element (20);

- wherein the screw cap (3,41) comprises at least one inner thread element (27) screwed onto the at least one outer thread element (28,54) of the pouring tube (13,48) and at least one driving cam (23) for engaging with the at least one drive element to move the cutting element (14,53) towards the closing layer (25) when initially unscrewing the screw cap (3,41) from the pouring tube (13,48),
characterized in that,
the at least one outer thread element (28,54) of the pouring tube (13,48) comprises a recess (31,55) close to an end of the at least one thread element (28,54) and the screw cap (3,41) comprises at least one closure cam (30,56) engaging in the recess (31,55) when the screw cap (3,41) is in a screwed-on position and/or

in that the at least one inner thread element (27) of the screw cap (3,41) comprises a recess (31,55) close to an end of the at least one thread element (27) (28,54) and the pouring tube (13,48) comprises at least one closure cam (30,56) engaging in the recess (31,55) when the screw cap (3,41) is in a screwed-on position.
Pouring element according to claim 1,
characterized in that,
the pouring element (1,40) is configured such that the cutting element (14,53) cannot engage with the closing layer (25) and/or leave the pouring tube without the closure cam (30,56) disengaging with the recess (31,55) when initially opening the screw cap (3,41).
Pouring element according to claim 2,
characterized in that,
pouring element (1,40) is configured such that the cutting element (14,53) cannot engage with the closing layer (25) without the closure cam (30,56) being rotated for an additional 5° or more, preferably for an additional 10° or more, in the circumferential direction, after disengaging with the recess (31,55) when initially opening the screw cap (3,41).
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that,
the end of the recess (31,55) facing towards the corresponding end of the thread element (28,54) is located within an angle of 30° from the corresponding end of the corresponding thread element (28,54) in a circumferential direction.
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that,
the recess (31,55) is at least between 1,5 and 2 times, as wide as the closure cam (30,56) in a circumferential direction.
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that,
in a circumferential direction, the recess (31,55) extends over an angle of at least 6° and up to 18° and the closure cam (30,56) extends over an angle of at least 1° and up to 6°, whereby the difference between said angles is between 1° and 12°, preferably between 6° and 10°.
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that,
the closure cam (30,56) engages in the recess (31,55) in a radial direction towards a central longitudinal axis (A) between 0,2 mm and 0,4 mm, preferably between 0,25 mm and 0,35 mm.
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that,
the flank (36) of the recess (31,55) closer to the corresponding end of the thread element (28,54) is steeper than the flank (37) of the recess (31,55) further away from the corresponding end of the thread element (28,54).
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that,
the flank (36) of the recess (30,55) closer to the corresponding end of the thread element (28,54) has an angle between 20° to 45° to the circumferential direction.
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that,
the flank (37) of the recess (30,55) further away from the corresponding end of the thread element (28,54) has an angle of at least 5° and at most 30° to the circumferential direction.
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized in that,
the flank (38) of the closure cam (30,56) active when unscrewing the screw cap (3,41) is steeper than the flank (39) of the closure cam (30,56) active when screwing the screw cap (3,41) onto the pouring tube (13,48).
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
characterized in that,
the flank (38) of the closure cam (3,41) active when unscrewing the screw cap (3,41) has an angle of at least 60° and at most 120° to the circumferential direction.
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
characterized in that,
the pouring element (1,40) is configured such that screw cap (3,41) can be screwed on so far that the closure cam (30,56) disengages from the recess (31,55) and is preferably rotatable by at least another 5° after disengagement of the closure cam (30,56) from the recess (31,55).
Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
characterized in that,
an anchor ring (6) is held at the pouring tube (13,48), in an axial direction towards the upper end of the pouring tube (13,48) closed by the screw cap (3,41), wherein the anchor ring (6) is securely connected to the screw cap (3,41) via at least one holding member (7) and/or hinge element (8,9).
Pouring element according to claim 14,
characterized in that,
the anchor ring (6) and the screw cap (3,41) are also connected via a weakening line (10,11), extending essentially in the circumferential direction, wherein the weakening line (10,11) is designed to be torn apart when unscrewing the screw cap (3,41) from the pouring tube (13,48), but only after the closure cam (30,56) disengages from the recess (31,55).