Screw Cap Neck Segmentation for Sealing Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current screw cap designs fail to maintain tightness during the opening process until the tamper-proof band or ring is torn off, leading to leaks and quality issues due to inadequate sealing and deformation of the neck during the cooling and solidification process.
Innovation Solution
The screw cap design includes a neck with a section of reduced diameter, allowing for a predefined contact surface and a sealing ring that extends into this section, creating a receiving space and preventing direct contact with the end wall, ensuring an all-round sealing arrangement even if the cap is not fully screwed on, and maintaining tightness until the tamper-proof band is torn.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing ring is positioned close to the end wall of the closure cap, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the neck material deformation during cooling causes leaks and the cap cannot be properly seated
Solution Approach 1:
The neck is divided into multiple sections with different diameters: a first section with larger diameter for cap seating, a second section with reduced diameter for the sealing ring to engage, and a third section with intermediate diameter. This segmentation allows the sealing ring to be positioned effectively without interfering with cap seating or opening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A support ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the closure cap and the neck. This support ring provides structural support to the neck material during the cooling and solidification process, preventing deformation that would cause leaks, while allowing the sealing ring to maintain its position for effective sealing.
2Reliability
If the support ring is designed with a steep inlet bevel to achieve tightness, then the sealing pressure is improved, but the unscrewing forces become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet bevel of the support ring is designed with a gentle slope rather than a steep angle. This parameter change reduces the friction between the support ring and the neck material during unscrewing operations, thereby reducing the unscrewing forces required while still maintaining adequate sealing pressure through the distributed contact area.
3Reliability
If the sealing ring is positioned to engage the neck directly, then the seal is improved, but the neck material shrinks and causes only partial tightness during cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring acts as a mediator between the closure cap and the neck material. It provides stable support to the neck during the cooling and solidification process, compensating for the shrinkage of the neck material and maintaining consistent seal tightness throughout the cooling phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The support ring is positioned to provide preliminary support to the neck material before the sealing ring engages. This preliminary action prevents excessive shrinkage and deformation of the neck material during cooling, ensuring that the sealing surface remains stable and maintains proper contact with the sealing ring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design prevents leaks and deformation of the neck, ensuring the contents remain sealed until the tamper-proof band is removed, maintaining product quality and ease of opening without excessive unscrewing forces.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing bead rests against the cylindrical inner wall of the neck, the sealing ring being deformed radially inward and being supported with its inner surface closer to a longitudinal axis on support members which are arranged on the end wall and protrude from it. The sealing ring with its sealing bead rests against the neck under radial pretension.
Implementation Method 2
Due to the shrinkage process of the material of the neck, which was not yet completed, there was only a partial tightness.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a package (1) that has a screw closure (2) comprising a neck (7) and a closing cap (9) with a side wall (10). The neck (7) has a first section (14) with a first diameter (15) and a second section (17) with a second diameter (18), the first diameter (15) being smaller than the second diameter (18). The second section (17) is closer than the first section (14) to a packing volume. The closing cap (9) has a sealing ring (23) which runs circumferentially, approximately parallel to and at a spacing from said side wall (10), and in an inwardly offset manner, said ring comprising a sealing bead (26). When the screw closure (2) is closed, this sealing ring (23) extends beyond the first section (14) of the neck (7), in the direction of the packing volume, such that it at least partially reaches into the second section (17) of the neck (7). The invention additionally relates to a screw closure (2), a closing cap (9), and to a method for producing such a screw closure (2).