Re-closable pouring element for a cardboard / plastics composite packaging with an attached screw cap, and method for mounting a screw cap

Abstract

The invention relates to a re-closable pouring element for a composite packaging (P) comprising - a main body (3) with a flange (4) and a hollow-cylindrical spout (5) with at least one external thread (6), - an opening means guided movably in the spout (5) for opening the composite packaging (P), and - a re-closable screw cap (2), having an anchoring ring (13), wherein the screw cap (2), when the composite packaging (P) is first opened, serves to drive the opening means, and wherein the screw cap (2) and the anchoring ring (13) are connected by a plurality of breakable material bridges or at least by a metal anchoring for attachment to the main body (3), wherein the main body (3) has at least one peripheral protrusion (10A) on the spout (5) for securely holding the anchoring ring (13), and wherein the anchoring ring (13) has a peripheral holding protrusion (17) on its inner side, the holding protrusion being shaped so that it corresponds to the peripheral protrusion (10A). The invention also relates to a method for mounting the screw cap (2) for such a pouring element (1). In order to reliably rule out a canting of the anchoring ring (13) during the process of mounting the pouring element (1), the main body (3) has, on the spout (5), between the external thread (6) and the peripheral protrusion (10A), a plurality of vertical guide ribs (9) arranged distributed over the periphery for uniformly expanding the anchoring ring (13) when the screw cap (2) is applied during the mounting of the pouring element (1).

Description

[0001] Resealable pouring element for a cardboard / plastic composite package with a screw cap attached thereto and method for assembling a screw cap

[0002] The invention relates to a resealable pouring element for a cardboard / plastic composite package, comprising: a base body with a flange and a hollow cylindrical spout with at least one external thread, an opening means movably guided in the spout for opening the composite package, and a resealable screw cap having an anchor ring, wherein the screw cap serves to drive the opening means when the composite package is opened for the first time, and wherein the screw cap and the anchor ring are connected by a plurality of breakable material bridges or at least by a material anchor for connection to the base body, wherein the base body has at least one circumferential web on the spout for securely holding the anchor ring, and wherein the anchor ring has a circumferential retaining web on its inner side, which is shaped such that it corresponds to the circumferential web,and a method for assembling the screw cap for such a pouring element.,

[0003] A generic resealable pouring element is known from DE 20 2021 103 289 U1, which is attributable to the applicant.

[0004] Such pouring elements are integrated as part of the gable of the composite package to simplify handling when pouring and to enable resealing of the composite package. Another known pouring element is shown, for example, in EP 1 795 456 A1. In this case, a hollow cylindrical cutting element opens the previously gas-tight composite package for the first time, thus forming a pouring opening, whereby the screw cap enables the now opened composite package to be resealed. The cutting element, which is movably guided in the spout, is provided with force transfer elements and is driven by corresponding force transmission elements on the screw cap. During the initial opening process, the cutting element approaches the area of ​​the composite package to be opened, and after the two elements come into contact for the first time, at least one cutting tooth of the cutting element separates the composite package in the area of ​​a weakened zone.The path of movement covered by at least one cutting element corresponds to the weakening zone.

[0005] The opening process can be divided into the following sections, for example. The previously mentioned approach of the cutting element can also be omitted if the two elements are already touching in the assembled state. The cutting element then moves through the composite material, separating it with the cutting tooth along a cutting line. This separating process is a combination of separating, plastic deformation, and material displacement, whereby a uniform and controlled application of forces is advantageous. As soon as a large part of the circumference has been separated, the cutting element begins to fold the cut-free composite material or a closure part as part of the base body to the side, thus exposing the spout to the contents.The folding away occurs with the help of the remaining piece of the weakened zone that was not cut apart, acting as a pivot axis, with first the cutting tooth and then, as the folding process progresses, the outer side of the cutting element exerting force on the closure part, thereby pushing it into the interior of the package and to the side. After the pouring element has been fully opened, the piece of composite material or the closure part is approximately parallel to the vertical axis along the outer wall of the screwed-in cutting element. This reliably ensures free pouring of the product contained in the composite package. Pouring elements with this type of closure part are used primarily, but not exclusively, in aseptic packages. In this case, previously sterilized food is packaged under aseptic conditions in equally sterilized packaging to then produce so-called aseptic packages.Apart from the question of asepticity, there are various types of composite packages into which a pouring element according to the invention can be integrated.

[0006] In a first type, the pouring element is an integral component of the composite package, which is introduced during its manufacturing process. Usually, blanks made of composite material, which are first formed into package sleeves by sealing the longitudinal seam, are first connected to the pouring element in a so-called "form-fill-seal" (FFS) packaging machine. These semi-molds, which are open on one side, are then filled with the contents and then sealed. The first step can be designed in different ways: For example, the flange can be connected to one side of the package sleeve by another plastic element that is injection-molded directly in the packaging machine. The flange can also be welded or even glued directly to the package sleeve without the use of an additional plastic element.

[0007] In a second type, a completely sealed composite pack is initially produced. A punched hole is provided in the composite pack, usually in the gable area, into which a pouring element is inserted. The pouring element is usually inserted by welding the flange to at least one layer of the composite material. Alternatively, these parts can also be glued. This second type of composite pack is particularly characterized by the fact that the pouring element can be inserted independently of the production of the composite pack. The creation of the hole and the insertion of the pouring element can therefore take place before, during, or after the production of the composite pack itself. Both steps are preferably carried out before production in order to avoid unnecessarily complicating the packaging machines themselves.This arrangement of the production steps also represents the simplest way to insert the pouring element into the punched hole from the inside.

[0008] Another type concerns composite packs with a so-called overcoated hole (OCH). In this case, the punched hole is coated on one or both sides with liquid plastic and the barrier layer before folding and manufacturing the pack sleeve, thereby resealing the pack in the area of ​​the hole in a gas-tight manner. In such composite packs, the weakened zone is formed by the plastic layer(s), and the cutting occurs close to the edge of the overcoated hole when the pack is first opened.

[0009] Such composite packs are normally produced in one of two types of packaging machines. In the first alternative, a continuous web of sterilized composite material is formed into a tube and sealed, after which it is filled with the also sterilized contents and sealed and cut at regular intervals across the tube. The resulting "pack cushions" are then formed into parallelepiped packs along the pre-folded edges. The sealed seam created in the gable area during transverse sealing is usually referred to as the gable seam. The second alternative uses blanks of composite material, which are first formed into pack sleeves by sealing the longitudinal seam and then formed on mandrels into pack bodies that are open on one side, then sterilized, filled, and finally sealed and finally formed.

[0010] In general, the gable area can be designed in different ways, for example, as a surface parallel to the base (flat gable pack), as a surface at least partially inclined to the base (sloped gable pack), or even as a gable roof with two opposing, inclined surfaces (gable-top pack). It is also possible to design the gable in the shape of a truncated pyramid. In this case, the flange of the pouring element is square and has truncated pyramid-shaped sealing surfaces extending downwards along the edges. These are sealed with the composite material of the pack, creating four protruding ears that are folded over and sealed onto the gable sides.

[0011] The exact layer structure of the composite material can vary depending on requirements, but consists at least of a carrier layer made of cardboard and cover layers made of plastic. In addition, a barrier layer, for example aluminum (Al), polyamide (PA), or ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), may be necessary to ensure an increased barrier effect against gases, particularly oxygen, and in the case of aluminum, also against light, in aseptic filling materials. Therefore, such composite packages are also referred to as cardboard / plastic composite packages. If the pouring element is integrated as part of the composite package, it should have a barrier effect against gases and light similar to that of the composite material used. At the same time, of course, inexpensive materials that are easy to recycle together should be used. This also applies in particular to the materials of the pouring elements used.

[0012] The pouring elements explained in more detail above generally consist of three individual elements: the base body, the opening means, and the screw cap. Before sealing with the composite packaging, it is therefore necessary to assemble the pouring element consisting of the individual elements. To do this, the opening means is inserted into the base body from above and pushed in until the upper edge of the spout of the base body and the upper edge of the opening means are more or less in the same plane. The opening means is either screwed in or pressed in linearly. The screw cap is then pressed onto the base body from above in a predetermined orientation, whereby both the anchor ring and the screw cap with their hollow cylindrical threaded area are expanded so that they can be moved over the external thread of the hollow cylindrical spout. This process is also known as bouncing.

[0013] If the base body has a significantly smaller diameter on the outer circumference of its hollow cylindrical spout below the external thread than the outer diameter of the external thread, the anchor ring may become jammed during the bouncing process after passing the external thread of the spout. The screw cap of the pouring element slides in front of or behind a portion of the anchor ring, causing it to become wedged in a plane perpendicular to the flange of the base body. Such a pouring element can no longer perform its function and must be rejected and disposed of as scrap.

[0014] Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of designing and developing the pouring element mentioned at the outset and described in more detail above in such a way that tilting of the anchor ring is reliably excluded during the assembly process of the pouring element.

[0015] This object is achieved in a pouring element with the features of the preamble of patent claim 1 in that the base body on the spout, between the external thread and the circumferential web, has a plurality of vertical guide ribs distributed over the circumference for uniformly expanding the anchor ring when applying the screw cap during assembly of the pouring element. According to the invention, the anchor ring expands uniformly during the assembly process of the screw cap, wherein the anchor ring is centered during assembly. As a result, the anchor ring is expanded simultaneously with the screw cap. The anchor ring cannot deflect inwards. The anchor ring is also prevented from deflecting outwards by being clamped in the assembly tool. In this way, any offset between the anchor ring and the screw cap is reliably excluded.According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the overlap of the circumferential web and the circumferential retaining web, based on the respective radius, is 0.5 to 0.7 mm. This dimension has proven effective for reliably connecting the anchor ring to the base body without unnecessarily complicating assembly. Overlap is understood to be the difference between the inner radius of the circumferential retaining web and the outer radius of the circumferential web. The outer radius is measured outside any recesses that may be present.

[0016] The interaction of the circumferential rib and the circumferential retaining rib also allows the anchor ring to rotate freely. This freedom of rotation is not only necessary when unscrewing the screw cap, but also very helpful for freely rotating the screw cap in its opened position, so that the pouring stream of the product is not obstructed by the screw cap.

[0017] A further embodiment of the invention provides that the upper edges of all lateral guide surfaces of the vertical guide ribs lie on a common circular line that is as large as the outer circumference of the external thread. This reliably ensures uniform expansion of the anchor ring after it passes the external thread of the socket of the base body. It is advantageous to additionally provide support from the inside to prevent the anchor ring from (unevenly) deflecting inward during the assembly process when forces are applied from above.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the lateral guide surfaces extend purely axially below the circular line up to the circumferential web. This enables a smooth path during the axial assembly movement. Another preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the outer radius of the circumferential web is a maximum of 5%, particularly preferably a maximum of 4%, larger than the radius of the circular line.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the base body has at least six vertical guide ribs arranged evenly distributed over its circumference.

[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the base body has ten to twenty-four vertical guide ribs distributed over its circumference.

[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a slot without material bridges is provided between the anchor ring and the lid element, and the anchor ring has a tether integrally connected to the lid element as a material anchor. This design reliably ensures that the screw cap cannot detach from the pouring element and thus from the composite packaging after unscrewing.

[0022] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a hollow-cylindrical cutting element with at least one cutting tooth is provided as the opening means. This known design has proven effective in ensuring reliable initial opening of a composite package when the screw cap is first unscrewed. Preferably, the cutting element has an external thread on its outer circumference, which interacts with a corresponding internal thread in the hollow-cylindrical spout of the base body and enables a helical movement of the cutting tooth.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a circumferential band is provided below the anchor ring, which is connected to the anchor ring arranged above it via a plurality of breakable material bridges arranged distributed over the circumference and serves as an authenticity seal.

[0024] For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the circumferential band has on its inside a plurality of stop elements distributed over the circumference, which, when the screw cap is opened for the first time, hook into vertical locking elements arranged correspondingly over the circumference of the base body, so that the material bridges break and visually indicate that the composite package has already been opened.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the circumferential web of the base body has recesses distributed over its circumference, which, when the pouring element is assembled, are each located above the stop elements of the tamper-evident strip. This enables easier assembly of the pouring element and reliably prevents premature breakage of the material bridges during the assembly process.

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical locking elements are arranged as an extension of the vertical guide ribs. This is expedient for the production of the screw cap in the injection mold.

[0027] The invention further relates to a method for assembling the screw cap for a pouring element, which is characterized by the following steps: - grasping the screw cap around its circumference by means of a holding device to achieve support around the entire 360° of the circumference, - rotationally aligning the screw cap with respect to the base body and - relative axial movement of the clamped screw cap and base body until the end position is reached. The holding device preferably has a cavity, wherein the screw cap is moved axially into this cavity and clamped there before final assembly. In this way, the pouring element according to the invention is assembled with optimal support of the pouring element, so that tilting of the anchor ring during assembly is reliably excluded.A staggered process in which the screw cap is first moved to its final position and only then the holding device is closed reliably prevents damage to or displacement of the anchor ring.

[0028] Finally, it is preferred that the screw cap be clamped externally only in axial areas without screw threads or ribs. This allows the material of the screw cap to expand outward in the unsupported areas, i.e., those with screw threads or ribs, while remaining supported in the remaining areas.

[0029] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents a preferred embodiment.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a pouring element according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0031] Fig. 2 shows the pouring element according to the invention from Fig. 1 in plan view,

[0032] Fig. 3 a basic body of the pouring element according to the invention in a perspective view from above,

[0033] Fig. 4 the screw cap of the pouring element according to the invention in

[0034] vertical section,

[0035] Fig. 5A shows the pouring element according to the invention from Fig. 2 in vertical section along the line VA-VA at the beginning of the assembly, Fig. 5B shows a detailed view of the vertical section from Fig. 5A,

[0036] Fig. 6A shows the pouring element according to the invention from Fig. 2 in vertical section along the line VA-VA during assembly,

[0037] Fig. 6B is a detailed view of the vertical section from Fig. 6A,

[0038] Fig. 7A the pouring element according to the invention from Fig. 2 in vertical section along the line VA-VA after assembly and

[0039] Fig. 7B is a detailed view of the vertical section from Fig. 7A.

[0040] The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of a pouring element 1 according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a first pouring element 1 in the closed state with a vertical axis Z without a composite package P. A resealable screw cap 2, which serves for the initial opening and reclosure of the composite package P, is located on a base body 3, of which only a circumferential flange 4 is visible in Fig. 1. This flange serves for connection to and integration into the composite package (not shown). In the top view of Fig. 2, a section line VA-VA is also shown.

[0041] The base body 3 of the pouring element 1 according to the invention, which was concealed by the screw cap 2 in Figures 1 and 2, is shown individually in Fig. 3 in a perspective view from above. It essentially consists of a horizontal flange 4, the outer edge of which is sealed to the pack edge of a punched opening of the composite pack, as described in more detail below, and a hollow cylindrical spout 5, which has an external thread 6 and an internal thread 7. The internal thread 7 serves to accommodate a cutting element 8, which, however, can only be seen in Fig. 5A and is also described in more detail there. According to the invention, the spout 5 has on its outer circumference, below the external thread 6, a plurality of vertical guide ribs 9 distributed over the circumference. It can be seen that the depth of the vertical guide ribs 9 approximately corresponds to the depth of the external thread 6.The upper edges of all lateral guide surfaces of the vertical guide ribs 9 lie on a common circular line CL and, during the assembly process, ensure that the screw cap 2 is evenly expanded and centered during the bouncing process after passing the external thread 6 of the grommet 5. In addition to the vertical guide ribs 9, a circumferential web 10A can be seen in the area of ​​these guide ribs 9. This web is not rotationally symmetrical but has recesses in some areas (not further specified). Parallel to this circumferential web 10A and below it, web sections 10B can also be seen, which have the same outer contour as the circumferential web 10A.

[0042] Below the vertical guide ribs 9 and in extension thereto, as well as below the web sections 10B, a plurality of vertical webs can be seen, which serve as locking elements 11. The function of these locking elements 11 is explained in more detail below in connection with the description of Fig. 4. In the illustrated and thus preferred embodiment, the screw cap 2 has, in addition to the actual cover element 12, an underlying anchor ring 13 and a band 14 arranged below it, as is also clearly visible from the outside in the perspective view of Fig. 1.

[0043] In the illustrated and thus preferred embodiment, the cover element 12 is connected to the anchor ring 13 via a one-piece tether T, i.e. a "holding band". For this purpose, the screw cap 2 is provided with at least one slit S by a rotating slitting knife. In the illustrated and thus preferred embodiment, two slits S are present, as can be seen from Fig. 1. To produce them, two cuts are made in parallel planes. This connects the screw cap 2 via a tether T, with both tether arms being connected integrally to the anchor ring 13. However, only the front "end" of the tether T is visible in Fig. 1. It is also possible to provide only a single slit if only a connection to the anchor ring via a single end of the tether band is desired.In this case, one cut runs at least partially helically over the circumference, so that the two ends of this slot are at different heights with respect to the vertical axis Z.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows a vertical section through the screw cap 2 of the pouring element 2 according to the invention, wherein the cover element 12, the anchor ring 13, and the band 14 of the screw cap 2 are clearly visible. The two force transmission elements 15, which extend downward from the straight region of the cover element 12, are also particularly clearly visible. An internal thread 16 can also be seen inside the cover element 12, which corresponds to the external thread 6 of the spout 5 of the base body 3. Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows that the anchor ring 13 has a circumferential retaining web 17 in its lower region. This is described in more detail below.

[0045] Finally, it is also clearly evident from Fig. 4 that the band 14 serving as a tamper-evident seal has on its inner side a plurality of stop elements 18 distributed over the circumference, the arrangement of which is selected such that, in the assembled state of the pouring element 1 according to the invention, they lie in the region of the locking elements 11 and below the webs 10 of the base body 3 and hook into the locking elements 11 when the screw cap 2 is opened for the first time, so that rotation of the circumferential band 14 is reliably excluded. The locking elements 11 are distributed such that, as can be clearly seen in Fig. 3, they lie below the recesses of the webs 10A and 10B. The anchor ring 13 and band 14 are integrally connected to one another via small material bridges (not shown).During the first opening process, these material bridges break due to the locking hooking of the circumferential band 14 and thus signal to the consumer that the pouring element 1 has already been opened. An authenticity seal designed in this way is also referred to as a “tamper evident element”.

[0046] The remaining Figures 5A to 7B serve to illustrate the assembly process of the pouring element 1. Figure 5A shows the beginning of assembly with the screw cap 2 just attached, Figure 6A shows another intermediate position of the screw cap 2, and Figure 7A shows the fully assembled pouring element sealed into an opening of a composite package P.

[0047] Fig. 5A shows the entire pouring element 1 in vertical section along the section line VA-VA from Fig. 2. The base body 3, which is sealed with the flange 4 to the circumferential edge of an opening in the composite package P, further comprises a closure part 19 formed in the spout 5. The closure part 19 has a central region 20, which closes most of the pouring opening, and an annular weakened zone 21, which adjoins the spout 5, as well as a conical-ring-shaped intermediate region 22, which extends between the weakened zone 21 and the central region 20. The bevel of the intermediate region 22 compensates for the difference in thickness between the central region 20 and the weakened zone 21.

[0048] The area in the dash-dotted circle VB from Fig. 5A is shown enlarged in Fig. 5B. In Fig. 5A, the position of the screw cap 2 with respect to the base body 3 and the opening means incorporated therein, which in the illustrated and thus preferred embodiment is designed as a cutting element 8, is shown at the beginning of the assembly of the pouring element 1 (bouncing process). The internal thread 16 of the lid element 12 is still arranged above the base body 3 and the cutting element 8. However, it can be seen that the circumferential retaining web 17 of the anchor ring 13 has already partially passed the external thread 6 of the spout 5 and it can be clearly seen in the enlarged representation in Fig. 5B that the internal diameter of the retaining web 17 is smaller than the external diameter of the external thread 6. However, due to the plastic material used, a brief deformation of both elements is possible, whereby the circumferential retaining web 17 is expanded.However, due to the recesses in the web 10A, this widening does not occur evenly over the circumference of the retaining web 17.

[0049] Figures 6A and 6B show a further "snapshot" of the assembly process of the pouring element 1 according to the invention, in which the internal thread 16 of the lid element 12 has already come into contact with the external thread 6 of the spout 5. The anchor ring 13, with its circumferential retaining web 17, has already passed the thread 6, and it can be clearly seen in Fig. 6B that the geometric design of the vertical guide rib 9, which is rounded in the upper area, ensures that the circumferential retaining web 17 widens evenly in the area of ​​the vertical guide surface of the guide rib 9. This reliably ensures that tilting of the anchor ring 13 during the bouncing process is reliably excluded. It can also be seen that the stop element 18 of the circumferential band 14 has already passed the circumferential web 10A.However, the band 14 does not need to expand uniformly like the circumferential web 17 of the anchor ring 13, but only in the short sections where stop elements 18 are present (see Fig. 4). In addition, the previously mentioned recesses on the webs 10A and 10B (see Fig. 3) ensure that this expansion remains as small as possible, since the stop elements 18 are positioned accordingly.

[0050] 7A and 7B show the pouring element 1 according to the invention in its fully assembled position. Between the screw cap 2 and the outside of the spout 5 there is a first pair of threads 6 and 16, which enables the screw cap 2 to be screwed on and off. Arranged inside the base body 3 is the hollow cylindrical cutting element 8 with cutting teeth 23, which, when the pouring element 1 and thus the composite package P is opened for the first time, separates the closure part 19 by destroying a portion of the weakened zone 21. The vertical axis (not shown here) is defined by the concentrically arranged hollow cylindrical elements of the spout 5 and the cutting element 8. The cutting element 8 rotates around the vertical axis during the opening process and moves along this axis. This movement is defined by a second pair of threads 7 and 25, which are located between the inside of the spout 5 and the cutting element 8.In this movement, the cutting element 8 is driven by at least one force transfer element 24, which interacts with at least one corresponding force transmission element 15 of the screw cap 2.

[0051] 1 pouring element

[0052] 2 screw caps

[0053] 3 basic bodies

[0054] 4 Flange

[0055] 5 nozzle

[0056] 6 external threads

[0057] 7 internal threads

[0058] 8 Cutting element

[0059] 9 Vertical guide rib

[0060] 10A Circumferential bridge

[0061] 10B bridge section

[0062] 11 locking element

[0063] 12 cover element

[0064] 13 Anchor ring

[0065] 14 bands (authenticity seal)

[0066] 15 Power transmission element

[0067] 16 internal threads

[0068] 17 Stop bridge

[0069] 18 Stop element

[0070] 19 Locking part

[0071] 20 Central Area

[0072] 21 Ring-shaped weakening zone

[0073] 22 Conical ring-shaped intermediate area

[0074] 23 cutting tooth

[0075] 24 Power transmission element

[0076] 25 external threads

[0077] Z vertical axis

[0078] CL Circular line P Composite packing

[0079] S slot

[0080] T Tether

Claims

Patent Claims 1. Resealable pouring element (1) for a composite package (P) comprising - a base body (3) with a flange (4) and a hollow cylindrical spout (5) with at least one external thread (6), - an opening means movably guided in the spout (5) for opening the composite package (P) and - a resealable screw cap (2) having an anchor ring (13), wherein the screw cap (2) serves to drive the opening means when the composite package (P) is opened for the first time and wherein the screw cap (2) and the anchor ring (13) are connected by a plurality of breakable material bridges or at least by a material anchor for connection to the base body (3), wherein the base body (3) has at least one circumferential web (10A) on the spout (5) for securely holding the anchor ring (13) and wherein the anchor ring (13) has a circumferential holding web on its inner side (17) which is shaped sothat it corresponds to the circumferential web (10A), characterized in that the base body (3) on the spout (5) between the external thread (6) and the circumferential web (10A) has a plurality of vertical guide ribs (9) distributed over the circumference for uniformly expanding the anchor ring (13) when applying the screw cap (2) during assembly of the pouring element (1).

2. Pouring element according to claim 1, characterized in that, the overlap of the circumferential web (10A) and the circumferential holding web (17) is 0.5 to 0.7 mm with respect to the respective radius.

3. Pouring element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper edges of all lateral guide surfaces of the vertical guide ribs (9) lie on a common circular line (CL) which is as large as the outer circumference of the external thread (6).

4. Pouring element according to claim 3, characterized in that the lateral guide surfaces below the circular line (CL) extend purely axially up to the circumferential web (10A).

5. Pouring element according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the outer radius of the circumferential web (10A) is a maximum of 5% larger than the radius of the circular line (CL).

6. Pouring element according to claim 5, characterized in that the outer radius of the circumferential web (10A) is a maximum of 4% larger than the radius of the circular line (CL).

7. Pouring element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the base body (3) has at least six vertical guide ribs (9) arranged uniformly distributed over its circumference.

8. Pouring element according to claim 7, characterized in that the base body (3) has ten to twenty-four vertical guide ribs (9) distributed over its circumference.

9. Pouring element according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a slot without material bridges is provided between the anchor ring (13) and the lid element (12), and in that the anchor ring (13) has a tether (T) integrally connected to the lid element (12) as material anchorage.

10. Pouring element according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a circumferential band (14) is provided below the anchor ring (13), which is connected to the anchor ring (13) arranged above it via a plurality of breakable material bridges distributed over the circumference and serves as a tamper-evident seal.Pouring element according to claim 10, characterized in that the circumferential band (14) has on its inner side a plurality of stop elements (18) distributed over the circumference, which, when the screw cap (2) is opened for the first time, hook with vertical locking elements (11) arranged correspondingly over the circumference of the base body (3), so that the material bridges break and visually indicate that the composite package (P) has already been opened.

12. Pouring element according to claim 11, characterized in that the circumferential web (10A) has recesses distributed over its circumference, which, in the assembled state of the pouring element (1), each lie above the stop elements (18).

13. Pouring element according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the vertical locking elements (11) are arranged in extension of the vertical guide ribs (9).

14. Method for assembling the screw cap (2) for a pouring element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by the following steps: Gripping the screw cap around its circumference by means of a holding device to achieve support around the entire 360° of the circumference, Rotational alignment of the screw cap in relation to the base body and Relative axial movement of the clamped screw cap and base body until the final position is reached.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the holding device has a cavity, and that the screw cap is moved axially into this cavity before final assembly and clamped after reaching the final position.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the screw cap is clamped from the outside only in axial regions without screw threads or webs.

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