U.S. patent application number 10/531776 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-29 for container with snap-on closure.
Invention is credited to Majoor, Franciscus Augustinus, Verhaar, Fred.
Application Number | 20050284836 10/531776 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32103966 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050284836 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Majoor, Franciscus Augustinus ;
et al. |
December 29, 2005 |
Container with snap-on closure
Abstract
The invention relates to a container suitable for aseptic
packing of microbiologically sensitive food products comprising a
blow-moulded container body (1) and neck (2) and a closure (3),
characterised in that the closure (3) is a snap-on closure (3)
wherein the snap-on closure (3) comprises a peripheral skirt (4)
with a ridge (5), intended for engagement with the inner surface
(6) of the neck (2) wherein the free outer diameter of the ridge
(5) is slightly higher than the free inner diameter of the neck,
characterised in that the snap-on closure (3) and the neck comprise
means (7,8) for substantially fixing the ridge (5) in the axial
direction of the neck, when the container is closed.
Inventors: |
Majoor, Franciscus Augustinus;
(Vlaardingen, NL) ; Verhaar, Fred; (Brielle,
NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
UNILEVER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
700 SYLVAN AVENUE,
BLDG C2 SOUTH
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
NJ
07632-3100
US
|
Family ID: |
32103966 |
Appl. No.: |
10/531776 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
September 25, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP03/11063 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/254 ;
215/354; 220/276 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/485
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/254 ;
215/354; 220/276 |
International
Class: |
B65D 041/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 21, 2002 |
EP |
02079347.7 |
Claims
1. Plastic container suitable for aseptic packaging of
microbiologically sensitive food products comprising an injection
blowmoulded container body (1) and neck (2) and a closure (3),
wherein the closure (3) is a snap-on closure (3), characterized in
that the snap-on closure (3) comprises a peripheral skirt (4) with
a ridge (5), intended for engagement with the inner surface (6) of
the neck (2) wherein the free outer diameter of the ridge (5) is
slightly higher than the free inner diameter of the neck,
characterised in that the snap-on closure (3) and the neck comprise
means (7,8) for substantially fixing the ridge (5) in the axial
direction of the neck, when the container is closed.
2. Container according to claim 1, wherein the tolerance of
movement of the ridge (5) in the axial direction of the neck, when
the container is closed, is smaller than the height of the contact
surface between the ridge and the inner surface of the neck.
3. Container according to claim 1, wherein the neck has an inner
surface (6), having no grooves having a width of 0.5 .mu.m or
larger.
4. Container according to claim 1, wherein the Shore D hardness of
the material of the ridge (5) is lower than the Shore D hardness of
the material of the neck (2).
5. Container according to claim 4, wherein the Shore D hardness of
the material of the ridge (5) is 65 or smaller and the Shore D
hardness of the material of the neck (2) is 70 or higher.
6. Container according to claim 1, wherein the container is
provided with a foil around the bottle covering large part of the
body and the neck of the bottle, but not the cap.
7. Container according to claim 6, wherein the foil comprises
oriented polystyrene.
8. Container according to claim 1, wherein the snap-on closure has
a hinge (9).
9. Container according to claim 8, wherein the hinge (9) is a
click-hinge (9).
10. Container according to claim 1, wherein the snap-on closure
comprises a circumferential tear-off strip (10).
11. Container according to claim 1, wherein the material of the
ridge substantially consists of linear low-density polyethylene
(LLDPE).
12. Container according to claim 1, wherein the container is a
bottle.
13. Container according to claim 1 filled with a sterilised or
pasteurised microbiologically sensitive food product.
14. Container according to claim 14, wherein the microbiologically
sensitive food product has a pH between 6 and 8.
15. Use of a plastic container according to claim 1, for packing
sterilised or pasteurised microbiologically sensitive food product.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a container suitable for the
aseptic packing of microbiologically sensitive food products.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Many food products are prone to microbiological spoilage.
Such products are herein designated as microbiologically sensitive
food products. Microbiologically sensitive food products will have
a restricted shelf life when not properly preserved. Commonly such
products are treated to eliminate the relevant microbial load using
for instance pasteurisation or sterilisation. In order to prolong
the shelf life of pasteurised or sterilised products, methods of
hygienic or aseptic packaging the food products have been
developed.
[0003] For non-carbonated liquid or pourable microbiologically
sensitive food products, such as for instance milk products, fruit
juices etc. several ways of aseptic packaging are known.
[0004] J. Goursaud describes in Food Packaging Technology, Vol. 2,
Chapter 35, Editors G. Bureau and J.-L Multon, VCH Publishers Inc.
(1996) methods of aseptic packing of milk products. Some commercial
methods such as Tetra Brik, Aseptic Combiblock and Elopak use a
cardboard laminate structure to form a container, which is sealed
after filling with sterilised milk. Other methods, such as those
developed by Bottle-pack, Remy, Serac and Erca use plastic
containers. The plastic containers are closed using a heat sealed
aluminium foil (tin foil) or a screw cap. For yogurts, jars and
goblets may be used that are usually heat-sealed with (aluminium)
foil (tin foil).
[0005] One requirement for aseptic packaging is that the packaging
is tamper-proof or provides evidence of tampering as it may occur
in a shop. A heat-sealed foil shows that tampering has taken place,
since the foil is disturbed/damaged when tampered with Screw caps
may be provided with a ring or a break-lock that is torn off or
broken when the container is opened for the first time.
[0006] The known closures for the aseptic packages have a number of
disadvantages. Heat-sealed aluminium foils cannot be re-closed, so
therefore an additional screw cap is often added when reclosability
is desired. Moreover an aluminium foil (tin foil) is vulnerable.
The screw cap needs to be unscrewed to open the container and
re-applied after use, which may be difficult in use. Further a
screw cap will be separated from the container after opening and
may than get lost and is prone to fouling.
[0007] It is known to use blow-moulded containers for aseptic
packaging using injection moulded preforms. EP 1122168 describes a
method for moulding and filling aseptic containers. The method
comprises the steps of sterilising preforms, heating the sterilised
preforms to a temperature appropriate to orientation, moulding the
heated preforms into containers by an orientation blow moulding
process, filling the moulded containers with an aseptic liquid and
hermetically closing the filled containers each with an aseptic
closure. The containers are capped with sterilised caps, which are
not described in detail.
[0008] CH 595255 describes a sterile closable container with a
snap-on cap, suitable for packing liquid or solid pharmaceuticals.
The container is tamper-proof, see column 2, lines 25-31 and is
reclosable. The container is hermetically closed since tap 12 is
forced into the neck 9 of the container and the upper rim 8 of the
cylindrical upper part of the container is forced into the
ring-shaped recess 13. As a result of this construction, a
relatively high amount of material is used in the cap, further the
cap is only suitable for closing small diameter necks. The top of
the neck of the bottle has to be very accurately dimensioned
otherwise the bottle will not be aseptic. The press-on force for
snapping on the cap is also high. Further the described bottle is
preferably of glass, which will result in a container having a high
weight.
[0009] FR 2744100 describes a snap-on closure, comprising a
peripheral skirt with a ridge, intended for engagement with the
inner surface of the neck wherein the free outer diameter of the
ridge is slightly higher than the free inner diameter of the neck.
The closure shows tamper evidence, see the tear-off strip 4. It may
be opened using one hand after the tear-off strip has been removed.
No use for aseptic packaging has been described in FR 2744100.
[0010] WO 99/61337 describes a plastic bottle comprising an
extrusion blow-moulded body and an injection moulded neck and cap
assembly, wherein the cap is fitted to the neck in order to provide
a leak free resealable closure. The closure is sealed with a foil
(70). This bottle has the same disadvantages as described above for
other foil-sealed closures. Moreover according to WO99/61337 a
separate step to connect the neck and cap assembly to the container
body is needed.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,723 described a package for flowable
media having a snap-on lid, providing an aseptic closure. The
aseptic closure is realised with an annular sealing lip, which is
brought into sealing engagement with the inside surface of the edge
of the package. Since the sealing area is the inside surface of the
edge, the seal may easily be damaged when this inside surface is
damaged. Damage may easily occur in the handling the package or the
pre-forms (blanks), since the edge is always exposed, and therefore
the sealing surface is not protected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
container suitable for the aseptic packing of microbiologically
sensitive food products. Another object of the invention is to
provide a container with a closure that may reliably be reclosed
after initial opening. A further object of the invention is to
provide a container with closure that is tamper-proof or shows
tamper evidence. Another object of the invention is to provide a
container with closure that is light in weight. Other objects are
to provide a closure that has a low snap-on pressure, that is
easily recyclable and that has a simple construction, and to
provide a container in which the sealing surface is protected
against damage. Still another object of the invention is to provide
a container with closure that may be reliably opened and closed
after initial opening using one hand and remains connected to the
container after opening.
[0013] One or more of these objects are attained according to the
invention in that the container comprises an injection blow-moulded
container body (1) and neck (2) and a closure (3), characterised in
that the closure (3) is a snap-on closure (3) characterized in that
the snap-on closure (3) comprises a peripheral skirt (4) with a
ridge (5), intended for engagement with the inner surface (6) of
the neck (2) wherein the free outer diameter of the ridge (5) is
slightly higher than the free inner diameter of the neck,
characterised in that the snap-on closure (3) and the neck comprise
means (7,8) for substantially fixing the ridge (5) in the axial
direction of the neck, when the container is closed.
[0014] The invention further provides a plastic container
comprising an injection blowmoulded container body (1) and neck (2)
and a closure (3), wherein the closure (3) is a snap-on closure
(3), filled with a sterilised or pasteurised microbiologically
sensitive food product having a pH between 6 and 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The closure of the container according to the invention is a
snap-on closure. This means that the closure according to the
invention is to be pressed onto the neck of the container after the
container has been filled to achieve an aseptic seal. This is
opposed to sealing with foil, crown cork or turning on a screw cap
as disclosed in the prior art. According to the invention a
mechanically easy sealing of the container is achieved and the
weight of the container and closure is low. Cap and closure are
used herein as synonyms.
[0016] The details of the invention will be illustrated by the
following description of a preferred embodiment, by way of example
only, with reference to the accompanying figures.
[0017] FIG. 1: Vertical section of the top part of a container and
the snap-on closure according to the preferred embodiment
[0018] FIG. 2: Section of circumferential part of snap-on cap
showing web (8)
[0019] FIG. 3: Enlarged bottom plan view of the snap-on closure
[0020] Preferably the snap-on closure (3) comprises a peripheral
skirt (4) with a ridge (5), intended for engagement with the inner
surface (6) of the neck (2) wherein the free outer diameter of the
ridge (5) is slightly higher than the free inner diameter of the
neck (2), and the snap-on closure (3) and the neck (2) comprise
means (7,8,9,10) for substantially fixing the ridge (5) in the
axial direction of the neck (2), when the container is closed.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the length of the skirt (4) is
such that, when the snap-on closure (3) is snapped onto the neck
(2) and the ridge (5) is in engagement with the inner surface (6)
of the neck (2), the ridge (5) is at a depth of 0.2 D or more, more
preferably 0.3-0.5 D, wherein D is the inside diameter of the neck
(2) and the depth is measured from the top rim of the neck to the
middle of the ridge (5).
[0022] Preferably a number of webs (8) extending from the top of
the closure in the direction of the top rim of the neck fix the
ridge in the downward direction. These webs (8) have such a height
that the bottom touches the top rim of the neck when the snap-on
closure (3) is snapped onto the neck (2) of the container.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, a protrusion
(7) of the neck (2) lies against an inclined part (10) of the
bottom part of the closure (3), which prohibits a downward movement
of the ridge (5), whereas a web (8) lies against the upper ridge
(9) of the neck (2), which results in a fixation of the ridge (5)
in upward direction.
[0024] Closing a container filled with sterile product in the way
described above provides a commercially aseptic packed product.
[0025] Preferably the tolerance of movement of the ridge (5) in the
axial direction of the neck, when the container is closed, is
smaller than the height (H in FIG. 5) of the contact surface
between the ridge (5) and the inner surface (6) of the neck
(2).
[0026] Advantageously the neck (2) has an inner surface (6), having
no grooves having a width of 0.5 .mu.m or larger. These measures
will further reduce the risk of microbiological contamination.
[0027] The closure according to the invention is made from plastic
material that is injection moulded. The container is made
preferably in two steps. In the first step a preform is produced by
injection moulding, this assures a high accuracy in the neck of the
container. The preform is designed as such that the seal area
cannot be touched by other preforms during handling and transport
from preform injection to Blow moulding. In a subsequent step, the
container body is shaped by blow-moulding. The seal area inside of
the preform neck will not be touched by any object to avoid
scratches. The seal area is the part of the inner surface (6) of
the neck (2) that is in contact with the ridge (5), when the
container is sealed. The Blowing, Sterilisation, Filling and
Capping operation are to be executed preferably in one operation
avoiding any mechanical contact between the inner surface of the
neck and the equipment. The above-described process ensures an
accurate smooth inner surface without scratches from handling.
Preferably the Shore D hardness of the material of the ridge (5) is
lower than the Shore D hardness of the material of the neck (2).
This causes that the material of the ridge may easily fill any
grooves in or surface roughness of the inner surface of the neck,
resulting in an improved sealing of the container.
[0028] The Shore D hardness of the material of the ridge (5) is
preferably 65 or less, more preferably 60 or less and the Shore D
hardness of the material of the neck (2) is preferably 70 or more,
more preferably 80 or more. The Shore D hardness may be measured
with an apparatus known as a Durometer and consequently is also
known as `Durometer hardness`. The hardness value is determined by
the penetration of the Durometer indenter foot into the sample.
Because of the resilience of rubbers and plastics, the indentation
reading my change over time--so the indentation time is sometimes
reported along with the hardness number. The ASTM test method
designation is ASTM D2240 00, which is used herein. Related methods
include ISO 7619 and ISO 868; DIN 53505; and JIS K 6301, which was
discontinued and superseded by JIS K 6253.
[0029] Though the material of the ridge is most relevant for the
sealing and it may be different from rest of the material of the
snap-on closure, it is preferred that the whole snap-on closure,
including the ridge, is made of the same material, for reasons of
simplicity and recycleability.
[0030] Suitable materials for the container body are resilient
plastic materials that may be injection-blow-moulded, such as
Polyethylene terepthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC) or PEN, or
mixtures thereof.
[0031] Suitable materials for the snap-on closure are plastic
materials that may be injection moulded such as various types of
polyethylene, for example linear-low density polyethylene
(LLDPE).
[0032] Preferably the snap-on closure has a hinge (11). This allows
the container to be opened using one hand, after initial opening
and removal of the tear-strip. Advantageously the hinge (11) is a
click-hinge (11), which is even more comfortable in use, since it
fixes the closure in two positions, opened and closed.
[0033] Preferably the snap-on closure comprises a circumferential
tear-off strip (12). This tear-off strip provides evidence of
tampering. The tear-off strip may preferably be supplied with a
grip (13).
[0034] Preferably the container is a bottle, but the invention is
not limited to bottles. Other containers such as jars, goblet, etc.
may also benefit from the invention.
[0035] The invention is only related to food products, which are
not required to be packed under pressure, so that the packing of
e.g. carbonated beverages is excluded.
[0036] After the container and closure have been prepared, they are
preferably sterilized, e.g. by spraying with desinfectant liquid
(for example a 4.5 wt % Oxonia, Henkel Ecolab Germany) and
subsequent rinsing with sterilised water. Any other sterilising
method may also be used.
[0037] After sterilisation, the container is filled with a food
product and is sealed by pressing on the sterilised snap-on
closure.
[0038] The invention further relates to a container as described
herein filled with a sterilised or pasteurised microbiologically
sensitive food product. The container according to the invention is
especially suitable for microbiologically sensitive food product
has a pH between 6 and 8.
[0039] The microbiologically sensitive food product may have any
state or appearance: it may be a liquid, a pourable material, a
spoonable or spreadable material or solid paste or particles.
Preferably the food product is a liquid, squeezable or pourable
product.
EXAMPLE
[0040] Containers with snap-on closure having a volume of 250 ml
according to FIGS. 1-3 were made. The material of the container was
polyethylene terephtalate (PET) suitable for biaxial
blown-moulding, having a Shore D hardness of 83. The material of
the snap-on closure was linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)
having a Shore D hardness of 53.
[0041] Preforms were prepared by injection-blowmoulding. Snap-on
caps were injection moulded.
[0042] Preforms were fed into a Husky blow-moulding machine and the
preforms were blow-moulded whereby the neck of the preforms was
only held on the outside.
[0043] The resulting bottles and the snap-on caps were sterilised
by means of Gamma-irradiation. After desinfection they were kept in
a sterile environment until closure of the bottles with the snap-on
caps.
[0044] The bottles were filled with sterilised cream and were
closed with the snap-on caps in a high hygiene environment. A
sleeve (oriented polystyrene foil) was shrunk around the bottle
covering the body and the neck of the bottle, including the
fixation ring of the cap under the tear-off strip, but not the
cap.
[0045] The aseptic containers thus prepared were tested as
follows.
[0046] Test of the Aseptic Containers
[0047] The top of 32 bottles produced as described above, were
sprayed with a fresh culture of Serratia marescens using a
chromatography atomiser (approximately 2 ml of 10E9 bacteria/ml).
The spraying was repeated during 2 consecutive days. After each
treatment, the sprayed bottles were incubated at 30.degree. C., in
total for 6 days.
[0048] All samples were investigated microbiologically by
dissemination on Plate Count Agar and no Serratia marescens or any
other bacteria was found in any of the 32 containers. A repetition
of this test with another batch of 32 bottles resulted again in
that no spoilage was found in any of the 32 containers.
[0049] As a blank test 4 bottles were opened and inoculated with
the Serratia marescens culture. Strong growth occurred within 2
days at 30.degree. C. and resulted in visible deterioration of the
cream.
* * * * *