CAPPING DEVICE

Abstract

 The capping device comprises an inner cover connected with a pouring sleeve, formed with means for fixing to a bottle, a base, which is fixed in the pouring sleeve, a cap that is mounted on an outer casing and is connected with the inner cover, wherein the device additionally comprises an indicator ring, which is arranged between the pouring sleeve and the outer casing before the first opening, and which becomes visible on the bottle after first opening.

Description

[0001] The technical solution relates to compact capping devices for containers, especially for bottles containing quality alcoholic beverages, in particular to such devices which have opening indicating means, able to indicate that the capping device has been already opened at least once.

[0002] Recently, there is an increasing demand for compact capping systems with indication of tampering, which clearly indicate to the consumer, whether the container was opened by someone earlier, for example, in order to replace its content with a product, which is different from the original one.

[0003] Widely described in national and foreign information sources capping devices with tamper-evident means, which indicate that the bottle has been illegally opened, are known.

[0004] There are systems, among known analogues, in which the capping device is initially located in a first position, but being once removed, it can only be returned to a second position which is visually clearly distinguished from the first position.

[0005] For example, U.S. Patent N° 5738231, NMP B65D55/02, publ. 14.04.1998, describes a screw cap with tamper-evident where one part is moved during the opening so that after opening it can not go back to its initial position due to an obstruction in the form of a projection on the container neck. As a result, this capping plug can return only to a position in which it is axially displaced relative to its initial position.

[0006] "Safety cap for a container" is also known from the application WO2005049443, IPC B65D41/04; B65D41/34, publ. 02.06.2005, wherein there is an annular girdle with a predetermined tear line for connection of the cap to the neck of the bottle before its first opening. Having such a girdle allows to find out whether the bottle was opened earlier.

[0007] In the above mentioned two documents relating to prior art, there is a lack of reliability of tamper-evident, namely the stopping element is easily accessible and can be removed, for example, torn off to create the visibility of pristine integrity of the capping.

[0008] A "Capping device" according to RF patent for useful model N° 107776, IPC B65D 49/00, publ. 27.08.11 is the closest one in the technical essence.

[0009] Capping device comprises a screw cap with sealing means and opening indicating means, threadedly engaged with the pouring sleeve, made with means for fixing to a bottle, decorative casing divided into two parts, wherein the tamper-evident means is made in the form of annular indicating area connected by means of loose connection to the screw cap, and between the screw cap and the upper part of the decorative casing there is a cap, wherein said cap and the screw cap are provided with movement blocking means in axial and radial directions of the upper part of the casing simultaneously with the cap relative to the screw cap in an initial stage of opening by some distance to form a visible indicating area, as well as being capable of transmitting torque to the screw cap during further continuation of the opening process.

[0010] In this technical solution tamper-evident reliability is insufficient because of imperfection of realization of blocking means that causes return latching of the external sleeve under certain force with a possibility of closing of the visible indicating area.

[0011] Improvement of the visual opening indicating means is the technical result of the claimed invention.

[0012] Said technical result is achieved by the capping device comprising an inner cover with sealing and fixing elements, which is connected to pouring sleeve, made with means for fixing to a bottle, an outer casing with a cap positioned in it, mounted on the inner cover, as well as the opening indicating means, wherein the opening indicating means is made in the form of a separate indicator ring, arranged between the pouring sleeve and outer casing before opening and which becomes visible on the bottle after the first opening, and the inner cover is provided with at least one outer shoulder to prevent closing of the indicator ring during repeated capping.

[0013] Realization of the indicator ring in the form of a separate part increases technological opportunities of the product allowing its manufacturing from the required material, providing thereby application by various methods of the identification means, for example, by laser engraving. Furthermore such embodiment allows the ring to stay always visible on the bottle after the first opening.

[0014] Realization of the inner sleeve with eternal shoulders does not allow closing of the indicator ring during repeated capping, because the shoulder always abuts against the upper end surface of the indicator element.

[0015] The possibility of implementation of the invention characterized by the disclosed above combination of features, as well as the possibility of its realization can be confirmed by description of the design of the capping device in accordance with the present technical solution. The description of the construction is explained in drawings whereon the following is represented:

Fig. 1: general section view of the capping device before opening.

Fig. 2: general view with partial section after preliminary opening.

Fig. 3: general view with partial section after repeated capping.

Fig. 4: pouring sleeve.

Fig. 5: inner sleeve.

Fig. 6: cap.

[0016] The capping device comprises an inner cover 1, a pouring sleeve 2, connected with the inner cover 1, a cap 3, an outer casing 4, a base 5 and an indicator ring 6.

[0017] The inner cover 1 is fixed by means of thread on the pouring sleeve 2, on the inner end surface of the cover there is sealing means 7 in the form of ring-shaped protrusion which is extended in order to provide sealing during the repeated capping. There are outer shoulders 8 and 9 on the outer sidewall surface of the cover 1. There is a thread 10 on the inner surface of the cover 1, wherein a thrust surface 11 is formed on the lower turn of the thread (Fig. 5). Abutment surfaces 12 with axial ribs 13 are made on the outer surface (Fig. 5), and there is a circular groove 14 in the upper part.

[0018] The pouring sleeve 2 is provided with outer thread 15 that interacts with the thread 10 of the inner cover 1. Said sleeve 2 has fixing means 16 to the bottle, which interacts with ribs of the neck of the bottle preventing the device from turning-through. Vertical protrusions 17 are made in the lower part of the outer surface of the sleeve 2, wherein said protrusions have rounded surface 18 on one side for easier and comfortable unscrewing, and on the other side they have thrust surface 19 (Fig. 4) for controlled torquing of threaded joint during capping. On the inner surface of the pouring sleeve 2 there are also vertical ribs 20 for axial fixing of the base 5.

[0019] The cap 3 is mounted in the outer casing 4 and is connected with the inner cover 1 by means of axial protrusions 21, made on the inner surface and which interact with the axial ribs 13 forming a splined joint with possibility of fixation in radial direction. Said axial protrusions 21 abut against the thrust surfaces 12 of the inner sleeve 1, providing at the same time fixation of these elements in axial direction. On the inner surface of the cap 3 there is a ring-shaped shoulder 22, which participates in the axial fixation on the inner cover 1 interacting with the circular groove 14. There are also protrusions 23 on the outer surface of the cap 3 (Fig.6), which provide uniform distribution of adhesive during the assembling of the product, enhancing the reliability of joints of the elements with the outer casing 4, as well as providing firmness of said casing 4.

[0020] The base 5 is made having an upper sealing element 24 for airtight assembly in the pouring sleeve 2 and a lower sealing element 25 for fitting on the bottle locking ring correspondingly, wherein the sealing element 24 is fixed additionally in axial direction by the ribs 20 of the pouring sleeve 2.

[0021] The indicator ring 6 is made as a separate part and is positioned between the pouring sleeve 2 and the outer casing 4 and is made as separate part that provides for manufacturing it of different materials, which allows to apply different indicating means on its surface: decorative patterns, writings and other means of individualization with the help of different methods, for example, by means of laser engraving techniques.

[0022] The indicator ring 6 can be made of metal or polymer material in various colour combinations that differ from the colour of the outer casing 4.

[0023] The outer casing 4 is mounted and held on outer surfaces by means of mechanical seat or adhesively. In addition folded edges 26 of the casing 4 can be formed on the lower outer end surface of the cap 3.

[0024] During the first opening of the container the casing 4 together with the cap 3 and inner cover 1 are unscrewed from the pouring sleeve 2, wherein the outer shoulder 8 of the cover 1 comes out from under beneath the indicator ring 6 forming a visible area h preventing the possibility of taking the original position by the casing 4, pointing out at previous tamper-evident.

[0025] During further opening the shoulder 9 fully goes out from under the indicator ring 6 that becomes fully visible on the bottle and during repeated closing of the capping device the outer shoulder 9 contacts the upper end surface of the indicator ring 6 forming visible area h1.

[0026] Proposed technical solution provides dual opening indication: pre-indication during opening, when the indicator ring 6 is partially visible (h) and final indication stage during repeated closing, when said ring becomes maximally visible and no longer closes (h1).

[0027] Proposed capping device is made having all details as one unit, can be transported separately and is intended to be used on a bottle.

[0028] Capping of the bottle is done by pressing from the top downwards using a capping machine.

Claims

1. A capping device comprising an inner cover 1 with sealing and fixing elements, connected with a pouring sleeve 2 provided with a fixing means 16 to a bottle, an outer casing 4 with a cap 3 positioned in it, mounted on the inner cover 1, as well as an opening indicating means, characterized by that the opening indicating means is made in the form of a separate indicator ring 6, which is arranged between the pouring sleeve 2 and the outer casing 4 before opening, and which becomes visible on the bottle after the first opening, and the inner cover is provided with at least one outer shoulder 9 to prevent closing of the indicator ring during repeated capping.

Drawing