Container Closure Torque Control for Tamper-Evident Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container closure devices require high final torque to ensure tightness and tamper-proofing, making it inconvenient for users to open bottles due to the necessity of high screwing torque for tight-fitting guarantee bands.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that allow for a low final torque closure by measuring and controlling torque during the closure process, dividing it into sections with different permitted torques, and setting the final torque after the guarantee strip has been pushed over the ring, ensuring the container is sealed without excessive user effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tight-fitting guarantee bands are used to ensure tamper-proofing, then reliability of tamper-evident sealing is improved, but the screwing torque required to push the band over the ring increases, making it difficult for users to open the bottle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetamper-evident sealingVSAvoidopening convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The closure process is divided into two distinct phases: a first phase where high torque is applied to push the guarantee band over the ring, and a second phase where reduced torque is applied to screw the closure onto the container. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high tamper-evident sealing reliability and ease of opening by applying appropriate torque levels at different stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guarantee band is pushed over the ring first, before the closure is fully screwed onto the container. This preliminary action ensures that the tamper-evident sealing is established before final tightening, allowing the band to be seated properly while reducing the torque required in the final closing phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2203377B1Method and device for closing containers
Publication Date: 2016.02.24 KRONES AG
  • EP2203377B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2203377B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for closing containers (10) with closures by means of a closing device (1), wherein, for closing, the closures (10) are screwed onto openings (10a) of the containers (10). For closing the containers (10), the invention prescribes a final torque (Dend), with which the closing operation is completed, and this final torque (Dend) is less than a maximum torque (Dmax), which is applied at least once during the overall closing operation.