Mouth plug

Abstract

To provide a plug exhibiting a tamper evidence property which enables high-speed capping.SOLUTION: This plug comprises: a spout having a cylindrical pouring-out cylindrical part; and a cap detachably fitted through engagement with the spout. The cap is provided with a cap body and a tamper band connected to the open end of the cap body via a plurality of bridges. A ratchet mechanism for permitting rotation of the tamper band in the closing direction of the cap while restricting rotation of the tamper band in the opening direction of the cap is formed in the tamper band and the pouring-out cylindrical part. Each of the bridges connects a part of the tamper band to a part of the cap body positioned farther in the closing direction of the cap than the part of the tamper band.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spout plug. [Background technology]

[0002] A plug provided with a tamper-evident band that enables the opening history of a packaging container to be confirmed is known (Patent Document 1).

[0003] FIG. 8 shows a front view illustrating the schematic configuration of a conventional stopper, and FIG. 9 shows a partially enlarged view of the stopper shown in FIG. 8. A stopper 300 according to the conventional technology includes a cap body 321 and a tamper band 323. As shown in FIG. 9(a), the cap body 321 and the tamper band 323 are partially connected by a bridge 322 extending in the axial direction of the cap body 321. A ratchet mechanism (not shown) is provided between the tamper band 323 and the spout, restricting rotation of the tamper band 323 in the opening direction. When the cap body 321 is opened, the bridge 322 is cut, and the tamper band 323 is separated from the cap body 321. Therefore, by checking the connection state between the cap body 321 and the tamper band 323, it is possible to determine whether the stopper 300 has been opened. 9(b), a trapezoidal convex portion 328 is provided on the end surface of tamper band 323 facing cap body 321, and convex portion 328 is housed in a concave portion 327 provided on the end surface of cap body 321 facing tamper band 323 when bridge 322 is not cut. When capping is performed in the manufacturing process of plug 300, the vertical surface of concave portion 327 abuts on the vertical surface of convex portion 328, allowing the rotational force applied to cap body 321 in the closing direction to be transmitted to tamper band 323. When cap body 321 is opened, the inclined surface of concave portion 327 abuts on the inclined surface of convex portion 328, converting the rotational force applied to cap body 321 in the opening direction into a force that breaks bridge 322. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-130608 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view for explaining the problems of the plug according to the prior art.

[0006] In the stopper 300 having the above-described configuration, a gap exists between the cap body 321 and the tamper band 323. During high-speed capping in the manufacturing process of the stopper 300, rotational resistance occurs in the tamper band 323 when the ratchet structure on the tamper band 323 overcomes the ratchet structure on the spout. Compared to the tamper band 323 where rotational resistance occurs, the cap body 321 threads more. However, because the bridge 322 is formed parallel to the axial direction of the cap body 321, the gap between the cap body 321 and the tamper band 323 does not narrow, and the rotational force of the cap body 321 acts in a direction that breaks the bridge 322. This poses a problem in that the bridge 322 is easily broken during high-speed capping. Furthermore, because the gap between the cap body 321 and the tamper band 323 does not narrow, as shown in Figure 10, the contact area between the vertical surfaces of the recessed portion 327 and the protruding portion 328 cannot be sufficiently secured, and the rotational force in the closing direction applied to the cap body 321 side cannot be sufficiently transmitted to the tamper band 323 side, which is also one of the causes of the breakage of the bridge 322 during high-speed capping.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tamper-evident closure that allows for high speed capping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The plug according to the present invention comprises a spout having a paper-tubular pouring tube portion, and a cap that is detachably attached to the spout by screwing, the cap comprising a cap body and a tamper band connected to the open end of the cap body via a plurality of bridges, and the tamper band and the pouring tube portion are formed with a ratchet mechanism that allows the tamper band to rotate in the cap closing direction and restricts the tamper band from rotating in the cap opening direction, The tamper band includes a plurality of band portions arranged in a circumferential direction of the cap, and thin portions that connect the ends of adjacent band portions and can be broken when the cap is opened, and bridges are provided near both ends of each of the band portions, Each bridge connects a portion of the tamper band to a portion of the cap body that is located in the closing direction of the cap relative to the portion of the tamper band. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, a tamper-evident plug that allows high-speed capping can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a plug according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] An end view of the stopper shown in Figure 1 taken along line II-II [Figure 3] Partially enlarged view of the plug according to the embodiment [Figure 4] Partially enlarged view of the plug according to the embodiment [Figure 5] Partially enlarged view of the plug according to the embodiment [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a plug according to a modified example. [Figure 7] An end view of the plug shown in Figure 6 taken along line VII-VII [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a plug according to a conventional technique. [Figure 9] Enlarged view of the plug shown in Figure 8 [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the problems with the plug according to the prior art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (Embodiment) Fig. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a stopper according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is an end view taken along line II-II of the stopper shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the stopper according to an embodiment. The stopper 100 shown in Fig. 1 is shown in a state before being attached to a container.

[0012] The plug 100 comprises a spout 10 and a cap 20 .

[0013] The spout 10 is attached to the container body and is a component for extracting contents, such as a liquid, contained in the container body to the outside. The spout 10 comprises a cylindrical dispensing tube portion 11 and a flange portion 12. The flange portion 12 is connected to one end of the dispensing tube portion 11 and is a flat portion extending outward from the dispensing tube portion 11. In this embodiment, the flange portion 12 is formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the dispensing tube portion 11. In this embodiment, the flange portion 12 is formed in an annular shape, but the shape of the flange portion 12 is not limited as long as it can be joined to the container body. The flange portion 12 and the container body are joined using a known method, for example, welding.

[0014] The spout 10 is molded from a material containing, for example, a thermoplastic resin. The molding method is not particularly limited, but existing molding methods such as injection molding, thermoforming such as vacuum forming or hot plate compression molding, and compression molding can be used.

[0015] A protrusion 14 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing tube portion 11. Protrusion 14 engages with a protrusion 24 formed on the inner peripheral surface of a tamper band 23 of cap 20, which will be described later, thereby restricting rotation of tamper band 23 in the opening direction of cap 20. On the other hand, rotation of tamper band 23 in the closing direction is permitted. In other words, a ratchet mechanism is formed by protrusions 14 and 24. The closing direction refers to the direction of rotation of cap 20 when screwing cap 20 onto spout 10, and corresponds to the leftward direction in FIG. 1 and the clockwise direction around the central axis of spout 10 in FIG. 2.

[0016] The cap 20 is a screw cap that is detachably attached by screwing onto the spout 10. The cap 20 includes a cap body 21 and a tamper band 23 that is connected to the open end of the cap body 21 via a plurality of bridges 22.

[0017] Cap body 21 includes a top plate portion 25 and a skirt portion 26 extending perpendicularly from the edge of top plate portion 25. End portion 22a of bridge 22 is connected to the end face of cap body 21 facing tamper band 23 (end face of skirt portion 22). The end face of cap body 21 facing tamper band 23 is provided with a recess 27 that accommodates a protrusion 28 formed on tamper band 23, which will be described later.

[0018] Tamper band 23 is connected to cap body 21 via multiple bridges 22. Protrusions 24 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of tamper band 23, and protrusions 24 and protrusions 14 formed on the outer peripheral surface of pouring tube portion 11 form a ratchet mechanism that restricts rotation of tamper band 23 in the direction of opening cap 20. Multiple recesses 29 are formed on the end surface of tamper band 23 facing cap body 21. Ends 22b of bridges 22 are connected to recesses 29.

[0019] Furthermore, the end face of tamper band 23 facing cap body 21 is provided with protrusion 28 having a right-angled trapezoidal shape, with the side facing the closing direction of cap 20 being an oblique side and the side facing cap body 21 being shorter than the side facing tamper band 23. After capping and in an unopened state, protrusion 28 is housed in recess 27 provided in cap body 21. A predetermined gap is formed between the end face of cap body 21 facing tamper band 23 and the end face of tamper band 23 facing cap body 21.

[0020] A plurality of bridges 22 are provided on the cap 20, and when the spout 100 is in an unopened state, each of the bridges 22 connects a part of the tamper band 23 to a part of the cap body 21 that is located in the closing direction of the cap 20 relative to the part in question; in other words, the bridges 22 are provided at an angle so as to lean in the closing direction of the cap 20.

[0021] 3(a), the end of bridge 22 on the cap body 21 side is referred to as end 22a, and the end on the tamper band 23 side is referred to as end 22b. End 22b of bridge 22 is connected to the bottom of each of recesses 29 of tamper band 23. Bridges 22 connected to the recesses 29 and the bottoms of the recesses 29 are provided, for example, at four locations on tamper band 23.

[0022] Each bridge 22 only needs to connect a portion of tamper band 23 to a portion of cap body 21 that is located in the closing direction of cap 20 relative to that portion, and may be provided without recess 29, for example. Bridge 22 may also be provided so that end 22a is connected to the side of protrusion 28 on the cap body 21 side, and end 22b is connected to the side of recess 27 that corresponds to the side to which end 22a is connected.

[0023] The capping and uncapping states of the plug 100 in this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 4 and 5. In these figures, the capping direction is to the left, and the uncapping direction is to the right.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the stopper 100 during capping. FIG. 4(a) shows the bridge 22 and its vicinity during capping, and FIG. 4(b) shows the recessed portion 27, the protruding portion 28, and their vicinity during capping. The bridge 22 is formed obliquely so as to extend in a direction inclined relative to the central axis of the cap body 21. When the protrusion 24 on the tamper band 23 rides over the protrusion 14 on the spout 10 during capping of the cap 20 (see FIG. 2), rotational resistance is generated in the tamper band 23. At this time, the screwing of the cap 21 progresses relatively faster than the tamper band 23, causing the gap between the cap body 21 and the tamper band 23 to shrink. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the bridge 22 is configured to tilt toward the capping direction before capping. Therefore, it does not interfere with the screwing of the cap body 21. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the bridge 22 tilts toward the capping direction during capping without breaking, as shown in FIG. 4(a). As a result, the gap formed between cap body 21 and tamper band 23 is reduced compared to the state before capping. Furthermore, by providing recess 29, bridge 22 is housed within recess 29, and the end face of cap body 21 facing tamper band 23 comes into contact with the end face of tamper band 23 facing cap body 21. As a result, resistance is generated at the contact surface between tamper band 23 and cap body 21, and the rotational force of cap body 21 can be transmitted to tamper band 23 via the contact surfaces of both.

[0025] Furthermore, by reducing the gap between cap body 21 and tamper band 23, it is possible to increase the contact area between the vertical surfaces of concave portion 27 and convex portion 28 on the opening direction side, as shown in Fig. 4(b). Therefore, when cap body 21 is rotated in the closing direction during capping, the rotational force of cap body 21 can be efficiently transmitted to tamper band 23.

[0026] In this way, by arranging bridge 22 so that it tilts in the closing direction before capping, the rotational force of cap body 21 in the closing direction can be more reliably transmitted to tamper band 23. Therefore, in plug 100 according to this embodiment, tamper band 23 has high followability with respect to the rotation of cap body 21 during capping, and even if rotational resistance is applied to tamper band 23, breakage of the bridge is suppressed, enabling high-speed capping.

[0027] Figure 5 is a partially enlarged view of the stopper 100 when opened. Figure 5(a) shows the bridge 22 and its vicinity when opened, and Figure 5(b) shows the recessed portion 27, the protruding portion 28, and their vicinity when opened. The bridge 22 is configured to lean in the closing direction when not broken, so when the cap body 21 is rotated in the opening direction, the bridge 22 significantly warps in the opening direction, as shown in Figure 5(a). Therefore, compared to a typical bridge formed in the axial direction of the cap body 21, the bridge is subjected to greater stress when opened, making it more likely to break.

[0028] 5(b), when the cap body 21 is rotated in the opening direction, the oblique side of the recess 27 comes into contact with the oblique side of the protrusion 28 from the closing direction side. By further rotating the cap body 21 from this state, part of the rotational force of the cap body 21 changes into a force that pulls the cap body 21 away from the tamper band 23 in the axial direction of the cap body 21, making it easier to open the plug 100.

[0029] As described above, in the plug 100 according to this embodiment, each bridge 22 connects a portion of the tamper band 23 to a portion of the cap body 21 that is located in the closing direction of the cap 20 relative to the portion of the tamper band 23. Therefore, the strength of the end portions 22a and 22b of the bridge 22 is superior to that of a conventional configuration in which a portion of the tamper band 23 and a portion of the cap body 21 are connected in the axial direction of the cap body. Furthermore, when the cap body 21 is rotated in the closing direction, the bridge 22 tilts in the closing direction, which prevents the bridge from breaking during capping. On the other hand, when the cap body 21 is rotated in the opening direction, the bridge 22 bends significantly, generating greater stress, making the bridge more likely to break.

[0030] Furthermore, end 22b of bridge 22 is connected to the bottom of recess 29, and bridge 22 is accommodated within recess 29 during capping of stopper 100. Therefore, the end face of cap body 21 facing tamper band 23 abuts against the end face of tamper band 23 facing cap body 21. This creates resistance at the abutting surfaces, allowing the rotational force of cap body 21 in the closing direction to be efficiently transmitted to tamper band 23. Furthermore, because recess 27 and protrusion 28 fit more deeply together, the rotational force of cap body 21 in the closing direction can be more efficiently transmitted to tamper band 23. Therefore, bridge breakage, which can occur when the screwing progress between cap body 21 and tamper band 23 is misaligned during capping, is suppressed, enabling high-speed capping.

[0031] (Variation) FIG. 6 is a front view showing the schematic configuration of a plug according to a modified example, and FIG. 7 is an end view of the plug shown in FIG. 6 taken along line VII-VII. As in the plug 200 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tamper band 23 may include multiple band portions 23a arranged in the circumferential direction of the cap 20 and thin-walled portions 23b that connect the ends of adjacent band portions 23a and are rupturable when the cap 20 is opened. The plug 300 shown in FIG. 6 shows a state before attachment to a container. Four bridges 22 are provided on the tamper band 23, specifically, near both ends of each band portion 23a. Furthermore, the recesses 29 may be omitted as appropriate, as in the plug 200 shown in FIG. 6.

[0032] The ratchet mechanism formed by the protrusions 14 and 24 restricts rotation of the tamper band 23 in the opening direction when the cap 20 is rotated in the opening direction during opening. Further rotation of the cap 20 in the opening direction from this state causes the bridges 22 and the thin-walled portions 23b to separate. Of the bridges 22 provided near both ends of each band portion 23a, the bridges 22 provided near the closing end are preferably weaker in breaking strength than the bridges 22 provided near the opening end. In this case, the bridges 22 and the thin-walled portions 23b provided on the closing side of each band portion 23a are preferentially separated, and each band portion 23a can be expanded outward (away from the axis of the cap body 21) using the bridges provided on the opening side of each band portion 23a as a fulcrum. This makes it easier to determine whether the cap 20 has been opened. At this time, the bridges 22 provided on the opening direction side of each band portion 23a do not break, so the tamper band 23 is connected to the cap body 21 via the unbroken bridges 22. Therefore, the cap 20 can be removed from the spout 10 with the cap body 21 and the tamper band 23 integrated together. The breaking strength of the bridges 22 can be adjusted by the cross-sectional area of ​​the connection between the bridges 22 and the cap body 21 and the tamper band 23, etc.

[0033] In this configuration in which the tamper band 23 splits when the cap is opened, the bridge 22 is configured to tilt in the closing direction before capping. Furthermore, a recess 27 is provided on the end surface of the cap body 21 facing the tamper band 23, and a protrusion 28 is provided on the end surface of the tamper band 23 facing the cap body 21. This provides the following effect: When the cap body 21 is rotated in the opening direction, the oblique side of the protrusion 28 and the oblique side of the recess 27 are in contact with each other. By applying a rotational force to the cap body 21 in the opening direction, the protrusion 28 shifts outward (outward) away from the axis of the cap body 21 relative to the recess 27. The combined effect of the bridge 22 warping in the opening direction also makes it easier for the band portion 23a, which is split into two by the thin-walled portion 23b, to spread outward. The number of divisions of the tamper band 23 is not limited to two; the number of thin-walled portions 23b may be one, three, or more. [Industrial Applicability]

[0034] The plug according to the present invention can be used as a plug that is attached to a container body such as a paper pack, a pouch, or a blown bottle and that requires tamper-evident properties. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 spout 11 Dispensing cylinder part 12 Flange 20 Caps 21 Cap body 22 Bridge 23 Tamper Band 24 Protrusion 25 Top plate part 26 Skirt Club 27 Recess 28 Convex part 29 Recess 100 stoppers 200 stoppers

Claims

1. A spout having a cylindrical pouring tube portion; a cap that is detachably attached to the spout by screwing, The cap A cap body, a tamper band connected to the open end of the cap body via a plurality of bridges; a ratchet mechanism is formed on the tamper band and the pouring tube portion to permit rotation of the tamper band in a direction in which the cap is closed and to restrict rotation of the tamper band in a direction in which the cap is opened, The tamper band includes a plurality of band portions arranged in a circumferential direction of the cap, and a thin-walled portion that connects ends of adjacent band portions and can be broken when the cap is opened, The bridges are provided near both ends of each of the band portions, Each of the bridges connects a portion of the tamper band to a portion of the cap body that is located in the closing direction of the cap relative to the portion of the tamper band.

2. a predetermined gap is formed between an end face of the cap body on the tamper band side and an end face of the tamper band on the cap body side, A plurality of recesses are formed on an end surface of the tamper band on the side of the cap body, Each of the bridges is connected to a bottom of each of the recesses; 2. The plug according to claim 1, wherein when the bridge is not broken, the bridge is accommodated in the recess when the end face of the cap body facing the tamper band and the end face of the tamper band facing the cap body abut each other.

3. The tamper band has a protrusion on the end surface of the cap body side, the protrusion having a shape of a right-angled trapezoid, the side of which is on the closing direction side of the cap being an oblique side, and the side of which is on the cap body side being shorter than the side of the tamper band side, 3. The plug according to claim 1, wherein a recess for accommodating said protrusion is provided on an end surface of said cap body on said tamper band side.