Tamper-proof container and production method thereof

Abstract

 Tamper-proof container (1) for food products, inexpensively manufactured, comprising: a bottle (2) with a threaded neck (20) that opens into a mouth (21); a dispensing unit (3) able to direct towards the exterior a liquid contained in said bottle (2) when operated by a user, said dispensing unit (3) comprising a portion that is internal to said bottle and a portion that is external to said bottle (2); a screw cap (4) made of a metal material that engages the threaded neck (20) of said bottle (2) closing the mouth (21), said screw cap (4) being joined to the dispensing unit (3) that passes through it, said screw cap (4) comprising a tamper-proof seal (40).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention refers to a tamper-proof container for food products, of the type with an integrated dispensing unit that is able to dispense, according to the user's wishes, a dose of its contents towards the outside.

[0002] The invention also refers to a production method for manufacturing said container.

[0003] The invention is useful for applications in the food packaging sector, in particular for vinegars and other condiments.

Prior art

[0004] Recently the food sector has seen the introduction of the use of packaging certain condiments, for instance vinegar, in containers that have a product pump dispenser integrated with the dispenser head.

[0005] The dispenser head may be in the form of a spray dispenser or as a dose dispenser. Manual pressure on an actuator located at the top of the element causes the activation of the pump and contextually the outflow of a dose of condiment: nebulized in the case of the spray dispenser, simply due to gravitational force in the case of the dose dispenser.

[0006] The end consumer who buys the product packaged in one of the containers described above, will benefit from the possibility of measuring out the condiment in a rational and homogeneous manner onto the food dish, avoiding the pointless waste of traditional pouring actions.

[0007] The dispensing systems mentioned above derive from the sectors of cosmetics and cleaning, in which a bottle is traditionally closed by a unit comprising a pump and a dispenser head screwed onto it by means of an internally threaded plastic flange.

[0008] The containers used for the packaging of condiments therefore consist of a bottle for food products with a threaded neck onto which a dispensing unit is attached that has its origins in cosmetics and that has a compatible diameter.

[0009] Although these containers substantially fulfill their purpose, they nevertheless present some drawbacks that so far have remained unresolved.

[0010] One main drawback is due to the specific requirements of the food industry, where a safety seal is needed to guarantee that the contents of the container put on the market have not been tampered with. However, the plastic threaded flange that determines the coupling between the dispensing unit of cosmetic origin and the food bottle, does not guarantee that the container is tamper-proof. Besides, the plastic flange cannot have a frangible safety seal coupled with the bottle without running into excessively high production costs.

[0011] It is therefore necessary to resort to an external seal, for instance an adhesive element or a plastic cover, which however requires an additional packaging step in order to be applied, which influences production costs.

[0012] Another drawback derives from the fact that there is an imperfect compatibility between threading of the GCMI type on the flange of the dispenser unit (which is due to its traditional use in the cosmetics industry), and the threading of the PFP type at the mouth of the food bottle.

[0013] The technical problem at the basis of the present invention is therefore that of devising a container for food products of the type with a dispensing unit that is both economical in production and that has a trustworthy tamper-proof seal.

Summary of the invention

[0014] The above-mentioned technical problem is resolved in particular by a container for food products, comprising: a bottle with a threaded neck that opens into a mouth; a dispensing unit able to dispense towards the exterior a fluid contained by said bottle, upon activation by a user, said dispensing unit comprising a portion that is internal to said bottle, and a portion that is external; and a screw cap made of a metallic material that engages the threaded neck of said bottle, thereby closing the mouth, said screw cap being constrained by the dispensing unit that passes through it, said screw cap comprising a tamper-proof seal.

[0015] The use of a screw cap made of a metallic material instead of the traditional flange integrated with the dispensing unit allows the obtainment of a tamper-proof seal through a simple step of cold-forming the lower edge of the cap, thereby creating the solution to the technical problem identified earlier.

[0016] Said dispenser unit may advantageously comprise a sealing disk that separates the internal portion from the external portion, said sealing disk being locked between the bottle mouth and the screw cap.

[0017] With this solution a simple and efficacious fastening of the dispenser unit to bottle by means of the screw cap is possible, without the need for any type of welding or gluing.

[0018] The dispenser unit can comprise an intake dip tube immersed into the bottle, a dispenser head external to the bottle and a pump body that connects the intake dip tube to the dispenser head, said sealing disk being integral with the pump body and extending peripherally to it.

[0019] The dispenser head can more in particular be a dispenser spray head, comprising in that case a nebulization nozzle.

[0020] Alternatively the dispenser head can be a dose dispenser, comprising in that case a dose measuring mouth.

[0021] The body can present at least a connecting tube to the dispenser head that passes through a hole in the screw cap, said hole having a diameter that is smaller than the one of the sealing disk.

[0022] The pump body can be at least partially housed in a sleeve above the screw cap.

[0023] The tamper-proof seal can be a frangible ring of said screw cap, comprising a crimped portion that is located below a counter-surface of the neck of the bottle, whereby the screwing of the screw cap provokes the rupture of said frangible ring.

[0024] The container can contain interiorly a food product, in particular balsamic vinegar,

[0025] The container described above can be obtained by production means comprising the following steps:

• preparing the bottle with a threaded neck with a bottle mouth;
• partially inserting the dispensing unit inside the bottle through said mouth;
• placing a deformable metal capsule above the neck; said metallic capsule comprising at least a cylindrical portion intended to encircle said neck and at least a connecting portion intended to retain the dispensing unit in its position;
• deforming said metal capsule to create the screw cap by roll forming the cylindrical portion to create threading that matches the threading of the neck and to crimp an end portion of the cylindrical portion to form the tamper-proof seal.

[0026] The step of inserting the dispensing unit can include preparing a sealing disk that forms part of said unit to close the mouth of the bottle, said sealing disk being blocked between the mouth and the screw cap in the following step.

[0027] The step of inserting the dispensing unit can moreover include the insertion, previous to the placement of the metal capsule, of a pump body that is connected to a dip tube, the method comprising furthermore a step, after the creation of the screw cap, of applying above the pump body a dispensing head that is external to the bottle.

[0028] The dispensing head can be applied by connecting a connecting tube of the pump body external to the bottle to the dispenser head.

[0029] The step of deforming the metal capsule can be performed by means of a machine with a cap-forming member, intended to keep the metal capsule in position, with at least a threading roller intended to create the threading and with at least a crimping roller intended to create the tamper-proof seal.

[0030] The cap-forming member can in that case comprise a hollow that is able to receive the connecting tube in the course of the deformation of the metal capsule.

[0031] Further characteristics and advantages will become clearer from the following detailed description, given of two preferred but not exclusive embodiments, of the present invention, with reference to the enclosed figures, included as examples but not limited to these.

Brief description of the drawings

[0032] 

Figure 1 is a schematic representation in cross section of the upper part of a container for food products according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 represents the container of figure 1 in the course of an intermediate step of the manufacturing method according to the present invention;

Figure 3 represents a detail of a container for food products according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 represents a shared detail of the food product containers of figures 1 and 3.

Detailed description

[0033] With reference to the enclosed figure 1 the reference number 1 generally refers to a container for food products according to the present invention.

[0034] In the specific embodiment described here, the container 1 contains a food condiment A, in particular balsamic vinegar; however a similar container may be used to contain any food product in liquid or semiliquid form.

[0035] The food container 1 comprises a bottle 2, preferably made of glass, with an upper neck 20 that finishes in a circular mouth 21. Below the mouth 21 the neck 20 presents a substantially cylindrical portion that has an external threading, for the attachment of a cap or other threaded member. The threaded cylindrical portion of the neck is thickened with respect to the external surface of the bottle, and it is connected to the latter by means of a slope that creates a lower counter-surface 201, visible in greater detail in figure 4 and intended to restrain a tamper-proof seal described below.

[0036] One should note that only the upper portion of the bottle 2 is illustrated in the enclosed figures, since form and features of the lower part are irrelevant to the definition of the present invention.

[0037] Into the mouth 21 of the bottle 2 a dispensing unit 3 is partially inserted, which permits the user of the container 1 to control the outflow of a predetermined dose of the condiment A contained.

[0038] The dispensing group 3 comprises an external dispensing head 92; 32', mounted above a pump body 31 that passes through the mouth 21. The pump body 31 is able to draw in liquid through the end of an intake dip tube 33 that reaches the bottom of the bottle 2, pressing it outside of the dispensing head 32; 32',

[0039] The pump body 31 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 311, extending along a vertical axis x, inside of which a coaxial connecting tube 310 is slidably inserted, whose upper end is fixedly attached to the dispensing head 32; 32', The cylindrical sleeve 311 is connected below to the intake dip tube 33, access to which is selectively closed off by means of a spherical stopper.

[0040] When an operator exerts pressure on the dispensing head 32; 32', the movement of the connecting tube 310 that is solidly attached to it creates, through the known configuration of elements inside the pump body 31, a push of the liquid contained in the cylindrical sleeve in the direction of the dispensing head and then outside. Releasing the dispensing head 32; 32' subsequently creates a depression inside the cylindrical sleeve, which causes the spherical stopper to open and the chamber to refill again.

[0041] In the described embodiment the cylindrical sleeve 311 is closed at the top by a cover 312 made of a plastic material and visible in detail in figure 1.

[0042] This cover 312 comprises a cylindrical cap that creates a connection above the cylindrical sleeve 311, thus defining its upper cover. The connection between the cylindrical sleeve 311 and the cap occurs through a an annular crest at the end of the sleeve that snaps itself into the inside of a corresponding groove in the cap (crest and groove are not visible in the enclosed figures).

[0043] The cover 312 further comprises an annular flange that extends radially from the lower end of said cap. In the present description said flange, which has a diameter that is equal to the external diameter of the mouth 21 of the bottle 2, is called sealing disk 30, given its main function within the overall whole of the container 1.

[0044] This sealing disk 30 is in fact advantageously placed to close the mouth 21 of the bottle. In this way the cover 312 rests above the bottle 2, whereas the lower part of the pump body 31 remains suspended inside it. The connecting tube 310, intended to be connected to the external dispensing head 32; 32', emerges through a central hole in the above-mentioned cap

[0045] In a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in figure 1, the dispensing head 32 is a spray dispensing head, and it comprises a nebulizing nozzle 320 that nebulizes the liquid taken up by the pump body 31 and ejected in a direction radial to the longitudinal axis x of the dispensing unit 3.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, visible in figure 3, the dispensing head 32' is instead of the dose dispenser type and therefore comprising a dose dispensing mouth 321 intended to let the product flow out simply by means of gravitational force.

[0047] The container 1 according to the present invention further comprises a screw cap 4 made of a metal material, preferably aluminum, with the function of sealing the mouth 21 of the bottle 2 and of blocking the pump body 31 described above in its position.

[0048] The screw cap 4 described above comprises a cylindrical threaded portion 43 that is engaged with the threaded neck 20 of the bottle 2 and a level portion 44 that covers the sealing disk 30, blocking it in its position against the mouth 21 of the neck 20.

[0049] The level portion 44 has a central hole 41 through which the cap of the cover 312 passes; this hole 41 is preferably made to measure for receiving the cap and in any case as having a diameter that is smaller than the sealing disk 30.

[0050] In the embodiments described here, the screw cap further comprises an upper sleeve 42 that wraps around the cap of the cover 312 of the pump body 31, which rises above the level portion 44 defining the hole 41. Nonetheless this upper sleeve 42 is not essential to the realization of the invention and the hole 41 can be obtained by means of simply perforating the metal foil that defines the level portion 44 of the screw cap 4.

[0051] The screw cap 4 further comprises a tamper-proof seal 40.

[0052] This tamper-proof seal 40, visible in detail in figure 4, is located at the lower end of the screw cap 4, It consists of a frangible ring comprising a crimped portion 401 below the counter-surface 201 that is defined by the thickening of the neck 20. Between the ring and the rest of the cap there is a tear line that, in case the screw cap 4 is screwed off the neck 20, determines the detachment of the ring from the rest of the cap, creating an opening of the container 1.

[0053] The container described above is manufactured according to a production method comprising the following steps.

[0054] In a first step the bottle 2, as yet without the dispensing unit 3 and screw cap 4, is filled with the food condiment A of choice.

[0055] Once filled the lower part of the dispensing unit 3 (i.e. the pump body 31 with the intake dip tube 33) is inserted into the bottle, taking care to place the sealing disk 30 on the mouth.

[0056] At this point above the neck 20 and the sealing disk 30 a metal capsule 4' (preferably made of aluminum) is placed, which will opportunely be cold-formed to create the screw cap 4.

[0057] In particular the metal capsule 4' comprises a cylindrical portion 43', applied around the neck 20 of the bottle 2 and intended to become the cylindrical threaded portion 43, and a connecting portion 44' intended to become the level portion 44 and the upper sleeve 42 (when present). To create the screw cap 4, then, a threading and sealing head is used. This machine comprises a cap-forming member 60, intended to define the level portion 44 of the screw cap 4 by means of pressing and keeping in position the metal capsule 4' during the subsequent operations of cold-molding, and of a plurality of threading rollers 61 and crimping rollers 62 connected to the appropriate arms.

[0058] The threading rollers 61 operate in the cylindrical portion 43' of the metal capsule 4', creating by roll-forming a threading that matches the threading behind it of the neck 20 of the bottle 2.

[0059] The crimping rollers 62 on the other hand create the crimping of the lower edge of the capsule 4', in that way defining the tamper-proof seal described previously.

[0060] One should note that although the threading and sealing head is a well-known type of machine, it will be necessary to apply appropriate modifications to existing machines to adapt them to the aims of present method. In particular it is necessary to equip the cap-forming member with a hollow 600 that is able to receive the connecting tube 310 in the course of the deformation operations of the metal capsule 4'; furthermore the length of the arms of the threading rollers 61 and crimping rollers 62 must be adapted to the dimensions of the refurbished cap-forming member.

[0061] Once the screw cap 4 has been made by means of cold-forming as described above, the method according to the present invention includes a last step in which the dispensing head 32; 32' of the chosen type (spray dispenser or dose dispenser) is placed above the connecting tube 310.

[0062] An advantage of the container according to the present invention results from the fact that it is guaranteed tamper-proof due to the presence of the frangible ring at the base of the screw cap.

[0063] Furthermore one will note that the frangible ring does not prohibit reuse of the container, since it is possible to screw the screw cap off and refill the container; in that case, however, the manufacturer is no longer responsible for the product contained, given the rupture of the seal.

[0064] A further advantage regards the production costs of the container according to the present invention, which are lower than those of other containers for food products known today.

[0065] An advantage of the method according to the present invention results from the fact that it can be applied to bottles of any type, as long as there is a threaded mouth.

[0066] Obviously numerous modifications and variations can be applied to the invention described above by a person skilled in the art in order to meet with contingent and specific demands; all of these however, fall within the scope of protection of the invention defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Container (1) for food products, comprising: a bottle (2) equipped with a threaded neck (20) that opens into a mouth (21); and a dispensing unit (3) able to direct towards the exterior a liquid contained in said bottle (2) when operated by a user, said dispensing unit (3) comprising a portion that is internal to said bottle and a portion that is external to said bottle (2), characterised in that it further comprises a screw cap (4) made of a metal material that engages the threaded neck (20) of said bottle (2) closing the mouth (21), said screw cap (4) being joined to the dispensing unit (3) that passes through it, said screw cap (4) comprising a tamper-proof seal (40).

2. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing unit (3) comprises a sealing disk (30) that separates the internal portion from the external portion, said sealing disk (30) being blocked between the mouth (21) of the bottle (2) and the screw cap (4).

3. Container (1) according to claim 2, wherein said dispensing unit (3) comprises an intake dip tube (33) immersed inside the bottle (2), a dispensing head (32; 32') external to the bottle (2) and a pump body (31) that connects the intake dip tube (33) to the dispensing head (32; 32'), said sealing disk (30) being joined to the pump body (31) and extending peripherally with respect to it.

4. Container (1) according to claim 3, wherein said dispensing head (32) comprises a nebulizing nozzle (320).

5. Container (1) according to claim 3, wherein said dispensing head (32') comprises a dose dispensing mouth (321).

6. Container (1) according to any of claims 3-5, wherein said pump body (31) presents at least a connecting tube (310) to the dispensing head (32; 32') that passes through a hole (41) in the screw cap (4), said hole (41) having a diameter that is smaller than the one of the sealing disk.

7. Container (1) according to any of claims 3-6, wherein the pump body (31) is at least partially housed in an upper sleeve (42) of the screw cap (4),

8. Container (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said tamper-proof seal (40) is a frangible ring of said screw cap (4), comprising a crimped portion (401) below a counter-surface (201) of the neck (20) of the bottle (2), the unscrewing of the screw cap (4) from the neck (20) determining the rupture of said frangible ring.

9. Container (1) according to any of the previous claims, containing inside a food condiment (A),

10. Method of production of a container (1) according to any of the previous claims, comprising the following steps:

- preparing the bottle (2) with a threaded neck (20) having a bottle mouth (21);

- partially inserting the dispensing unit (3) inside the bottle (2) through said mouth (21);

- placing a deformable metal capsule (4') above the neck (20); said metal capsule comprising at least a cylindrical portion (43') intended to encircle said neck (20) and at least a connecting portion (44') intended to retain the dispensing unit (3) in its position;

- deforming said metal capsule (4') to create the screw cap (3) by roll forming the cylindrical portion (43') to create a threading that matches the threading of the neck (20) and to crimp an end portion of the cylindrical portion (43') to form the tamper-proof seal (40),

11. Method of production according to claim 10, wherein said step of inserting the dispensing unit (3) includes the preparation of sealing disk (30) that forms part of said unit closing the mouth (21) of the bottle (2), said sealing disk (30) being blocked between said mouth (21) and the screw cap (4) in the following step.

12. Method of production according to claim 11, wherein said step of inserting the dispensing unit (3) includes the insertion, previous to the placement of the metal capsule (4'), of a pump body (31) that is connected to a dip tube (33), said method further comprising a step, subsequent to the step of creating the screw cap (4), of applying above the pump body (31) a dispensing head (32; 32') that is external to the bottle (2).

13. Method of production according to claim 12, wherein said dispensing head (32; 32') is applied connecting a connecting tube (310) of the pump body (31) that is external to the bottle (2) to the dispensing head (32; 32'),

14. Method of production according to any of claims 10-13, wherein said step of deforming the metal capsule (4') is performed by means of a machine equipped with a cap-forming member (60) intended to maintain in position the metal capsule (4'), with at least a threading roller (61) intended to create threading and at least a crimping roller (62) intended to create the tamper-proof seal (40).

15. Method of production according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 13, wherein said cap-forming member (60) comprises a hollow (600) intended to receive the connecting tube (310) in the course of the operations of deforming the metal capsule (4').

Drawing