Re-sealable pouring element with tamper-evident seal to indicate initial opening for paperboard / plastic composite packaging

Abstract

The invention relates to a resealable pouring element for paperboard / plastic composite packaging, in particular beverage packaging, comprising a base element (8) with a circumferential fastening flange (1) and an outer thread, an opening device arranged inside the base element (8) at least in the unopened state of the pouring element, and a screw cap (2) with an inner thread, wherein the opening device is designed such that, when the composite packaging is initially opened by unscrewing the screw cap (2), a pouring opening is formed inside the pouring element by breaking the composite material of the packaging or a barrier layer located in the base element, and at least one tamper-evident seal is arranged between the base element (8) and the screw cap (2). In order to reduce the assembly complexity of such a resealable pouring element, an anchor ring (3) is arranged below the screw cap (2) and is rotatably fixed to the screw cap by a hinge (9), and the tamper-evident seal consists of an indicator element (4), which is fixedly connected at one end to the anchor ring (3) or to the screw cap (2) and is connected at the other end to the anchor ring (3) by a predetermined breaking point (5), such that, when the screw cap (2) is unscrewed, the predetermined breaking point (5) is broken by at least one spindle element (6) arranged on the fastening flange (1), thereby indicating to the consumer that initial opening has taken place.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a resealable pouring element for cardboard / plastic composite packaging, particularly beverage packaging, comprising a base element with a circumferential fastening flange and external threads, an opening device disposed inside the base element at least in the unopened state of the pouring element, and a screw cap with internal threads, wherein the opening device is designed such that when the composite packaging is initially opened by unscrewing the screw cap, a pouring opening is formed inside the pouring element by disrupting the composite material of the packaging or a barrier layer located in the base element, and wherein at least one tamper-evident seal is provided between the base element and the screw cap. Background Technology

[0002] A general-purpose tipping element is known from the applicant's DE 10 2006 016 113 B3. For assembling this tipping element, a screw cap moves over a cutting element protruding from the tipping element and is pressed (pushed) together with it onto a base element. As a tamper-evident seal, a plate is integrally molded onto the screw cap, which is connected to the screw cap via a connecting bridge. For connection with the base element, the plate has pins on its underside that engage in corresponding recesses in the flange of the base element and are filled from below after assembly.

[0003] Therefore, in order to realize a tamper-evident seal, this known tipping element requires, on the one hand, a relatively large space to accommodate the plate on the fastening flange, and on the other hand, a filling step to enable a form-fit or material-bonded connection between the plate and the fastening flange.

[0004] Furthermore, a self-opening and resealable pouring element made of plastic, used in liquid packaging, is known from DE 10 2007 057 863 A1, wherein a screw cap is secured to the base element of the pouring element by a fastening flange. This fastening flange also serves as a tamper-evident seal and tears upon initial opening of the screw cap.

[0005] Such tipping elements are also known, which have a plate or flap inside the base element as a barrier layer, and when the composite package is initially opened by being driven by the screw cap, the tipping opening is enabled by removing or folding the plate or flap inside the package (DE 600 24 772 T2).

[0006] Furthermore, a tipping element (WO 2008 / 002249 A1) is known, wherein an indicator element for indicating that the screw cap has been opened for the first time is disposed directly in the lower region of the screw cap. This is also known from US 5,482,176 A, wherein a ring integrally formed with the screw cap serves as a tamper-evident seal, which is cut off when the screw cap is opened for the first time and remains as an indicator element on the base of the base element. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is now to design and further develop a resealable pouring element of the type described at the beginning, thereby reducing assembly work.

[0008] According to independent claim 1 of the invention, this objective is achieved by: placing an anchor ring below the screw cap and rotatably fixed to the screw cap via a hinge; and comprising an indicator element having one end fixedly connected to the anchor ring and the other end connected to the anchor ring or the screw cap via a predetermined break point, such that when the screw cap is unscrewed, at least one spindle element disposed on the fastening flange breaks at the predetermined break point, thereby indicating to the consumer that an initial opening has occurred.

[0009] The present invention has recognized that a fixed connection between the tamper-evident seal and the fastening flange is not absolutely necessary, because according to the present invention, the arrangement of the required elements of the tamper-evident seal reliably realizes the function of the tamper-evident seal, even if the indicator element is not connected to the fastening flange or the mandrel element disposed thereon by means of forced locking or material bonding.

[0010] Another teaching of the invention provides that the anchor ring is freely and radially rotatable about the base element and is connected to the base element in a tensile manner in the axial direction. This construction of the invention ensures that even after the screw cap is initially opened in the unscrewed state, it remains connected in a tensile manner to the anchor ring provided on the base element by a suitable element (e.g., a hinge). Therefore, loosening of the plastic parts can be reliably prevented even when the packaging is opened. The pouring element according to the invention can rotate freely with the screw cap open and folded. However, in order to enable the open screw cap to rotate in one direction during pouring, so as not to impede the pouring fluid, a certain amount of frictional resistance acting in the circumferential direction is required.

[0011] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the anchor ring has at least one cam on its upper side, which is disposed in the region of the indicating element, has an inclined surface, and engages in a corresponding recess in the lower edge of the screw cap. Because the surface of the cam extends obliquely in the circumferential direction, the anchor ring is pressed towards the fastening flange upon initial opening, thereby reliably breaking the predetermined break point between the anchor ring and the screw cap.

[0012] Another teaching of the invention provides that the predetermined break point of the indicator element is positioned in front of the fixed connection with the anchor ring along the unscrewing direction of the screw cap. This is advantageous if the size and arrangement of the indicator element are adapted to the mandrel element so that reliable failure of the predetermined break point is associated with unscrewing.

[0013] However, the predetermined break point of the indicator element can also be located behind the fixed connection with the anchor ring along the unscrewing direction of the screw cap. Alternatively, the indicator element can be constructed as a radially projecting ring with the predetermined break point located at the fixed connection with the anchor ring. In this configuration, the ring of the indicator element advantageously surrounds the spindle element on the fastening flange before the tilting element is initially opened.

[0014] According to another preferred teaching of the invention, a membrane is provided as a predetermined break point of the indicating element. In this configuration, the membrane is completely or mostly destroyed, such that the indicating element directly indicates to the consumer the initial opening of the pouring element.

[0015] According to another configuration of the invention, the mandrel element is radially disposed outside the anchor ring on the fixing flange. For this purpose, an inner bead can also be designed circumferentially on the anchor ring. This design increases the overall stability and tensile strength of the anchor ring structure. However, if a higher assembly height is not a problem, the mandrel element can alternatively be disposed below the anchor ring on the fastening flange.

[0016] Because, especially when the tipping element is equipped with a cutting element as an opening device, the cutting element cuts into the packaging material at a very steep angle during the initial opening. It is particularly advantageous that, in another configuration of the invention, the indicating element and the mandrel element are aligned with each other in the unopened position, such that when the screw cap is unscrewed, the predetermined breaking point of the mandrel element has already broken at a rotation angle of 3° to 10°, preferably at a rotation angle of 5° to 7°.

[0017] Different configurations of the present invention provide that the screw cap breaks at a predetermined fracture point when unscrewed with a torque >0.2 Nm.

[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, a predetermined break point is provided within the base element when the screw cap is unscrewed, before the composite packaging is actually opened for the first time or before the barrier layer breaks. This means that even the smallest operation on the screw cap can reliably indicate the break point.

[0019] Another teaching of the invention provides that the lower cut between the anchor ring and the screw cap is higher than the upper end of the indicating element. This cut represents the gap between the anchor ring and the screw cap, below the hinge.

[0020] Another preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the indicating element is disposed opposite to the hinge relative to the circumference of the screw cap. This configuration reliably ensures that the functions of the indicating element and the hinge do not interfere with each other.

[0021] Finally, the tipping element according to the invention, with its special construction of a tamper-evident seal, can also be used as a transport protection element. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the following figures.

[0023] The attached image shows:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the tilting element according to the invention in its assembled state (without cardboard / plastic composite packaging).

[0025] Figure 2 At the beginning of the screw cap unscrewing process Figure 1 The tilting element, and

[0026] Figure 3 Showing Figure 1 Another perspective view of the tilting element, in which the screw cap is further unscrewed. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 The circumferential fastening flange 1 and screw cap 2 of the (concealed) base element are clearly shown. The screw cap 2 is used for initial opening and resealing of the packaging (not shown) after its initial opening. An anchor ring 3 is disposed below the screw cap 2 and is rotatably fixed to it to reliably prevent the screw cap 2 from being removed from the pouring element or the beverage packaging containing it. For this purpose, the screw cap 2 and the anchor ring 3 are hinged together.

[0028] According to the invention, the indicating element 4 serves as a tamper-evident seal, one end of which is fixedly connected to the anchor ring 3, and the other end is connected to the anchor ring 3 via a predetermined break point 5, so that when the screw cap 2 is unscrewed, the predetermined break point 5 is broken by the spindle element 6 located on the fastening flange 1. According to... Figure 1 In the unopened assembly position, it can be seen that there is a certain distance between the predetermined break point 5 and the mandrel element 6.

[0029] Figure 2 The image now shows the result after a slight rotation during the unscrewing process. Figure 1 The tipping element in the middle. In this case, the predetermined break point 5 (no longer visible in the figure) has struck the mandrel element 6. Obviously, unscrewing the screw cap 2 further causes the mandrel element 6 to cut off the predetermined break point 5, thus loosening the front end of the indicator element 4 from the anchor ring 3.

[0030] As the screw cap 2 is further unscrewed, the screw cap 2 and the anchor ring 3 slowly rise together according to the pitch of the external thread (not shown) on the base element 8 or the corresponding internal thread of the screw cap 2, as... Figure 3 As shown. The strip-shaped indicator element 4 is integrated with the anchor ring 3 only at its fixed connection point.

[0031] According to Figure 3 In the illustration, in addition to the components already mentioned, the type of hinged connection between the screw cap 2 and the anchor ring 3 can also be seen, which is designed as a hinge 9 in the exemplary embodiment and is preferred in this respect. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the hinge 9 has a reinforcing element 9A or 9B on each side. This design ensures a secure connection between the screw cap 2 and the anchor ring 3, thereby reliably preventing the screw cap 2 from being torn off the anchor ring 3.

[0032] at last, Figure 3 It also shows that the indicator element 4 is positioned relative to the circumference of the screw cap 2 and the hinge 9.

[0033] The construction according to the invention allows for simpler assembly of the resealable pouring element without requiring the indicator element 4, which serves as a tamper-evident seal, to be connected to the fastening flange 1 by forced locking or material bonding.

Claims

1. A resealable tipping element for cardboard / plastic composite packaging, the tipping element comprising: a base element (8) having a circumferential fastening flange (1) and external threads; an opening device disposed inside the base element (8) at least in the unopened state of the tipping element; and a screw cap (2) having internal threads, wherein, The opening device is designed such that when the composite packaging is opened for the first time by unscrewing the screw cap (2), a pouring opening is formed inside the pouring element by breaking the composite material of the composite packaging or the barrier layer located in the base element, and wherein at least one tamper-evident seal is provided between the base element (8) and the screw cap (2), characterized in that an anchor ring (3) is provided below the screw cap (2) and is rotatably fixed to the screw cap by a hinge (9), and the tamper-evident seal consists of an indicator element (4), one end of which is fixedly connected to the anchor ring (3) or the screw cap (2), and the other end is connected to the anchor ring (3) through a predetermined break point (5) such that when the screw cap (2) is unscrewed, the predetermined break point (5) of at least one spindle element (6) provided on the circumferential fastening flange (1) breaks, thereby indicating to the consumer that an initial opening has occurred. The indicator element (4) is designed as a radially protruding ring and the predetermined break point (5) of the indicator element (4) is located at the fixed connection with the anchor ring (3).

2. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The anchor ring (3) is freely and radially rotatable around the base element (8) and is connected to the base element (8) in a tensile manner in the axial direction.

3. The tilting element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The anchor ring (3) has at least one cam (7) on its upper side, the cam (7) being disposed in the region of the indicating element (4), having an inclined surface and engaging in a corresponding recess in the lower edge of the screw cap (2).

4. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The predetermined break point (5) of the indicator element (4) is set before the fixed connection with the anchor ring (3) along the unscrewing direction of the screw cap (2).

5. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The predetermined break point of the indicator element is located after the fixed connection with the anchor ring along the unscrewing direction of the screw cap.

6. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ring surrounds the mandrel element on the circumferential fastening flange before it is first opened.

7. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, A membrane is provided as the predetermined break point of the indicating element.

8. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mandrel element (6) is radially disposed outside the anchor ring (3) on the circumferential fastening flange (1).

9. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, An inner bead is designed circumferentially on the anchor ring.

10. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mandrel element is positioned below the anchor ring on the circumferential fastening flange.

11. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The indicator element (4) and the spindle element (6) are aligned with each other in the unopened position such that when the screw cap (2) is unscrewed by a rotation angle of 3° to 10°, the predetermined break point (5) of the spindle element (6) breaks.

12. The tilting element according to claim 11, characterized in that, When the screw cap (2) is unscrewed by a rotation angle of 5° to 7°, the predetermined break point (5) of the spindle element (6) breaks.

13. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the screw cap (2) is unscrewed with a torque of >0.2 Nm, the predetermined fracture point (5) breaks.

14. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the screw cap (2) is unscrewed, the predetermined break point (5) breaks before the composite packaging is first opened or before the barrier layer breaks.

15. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower cut between the anchor ring (3) and the screw cap (2) is higher than the upper end of the indicator element (4).

16. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The indicator element (4) is positioned opposite the hinge (9) to the circumference of the screw cap (2).

17. The tilting element according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one tamper-evident seal is used as a transport protection element.

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