U.S. patent application number 12/741284 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-25 for container of the type comprising a receptacle and a hinged lid.
This patent application is currently assigned to PONT EMBALLAGE. Invention is credited to Frederic Catteau, Richard Menard.
Application Number | 20100294767 12/741284 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39385099 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100294767 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Catteau; Frederic ; et
al. |
November 25, 2010 |
CONTAINER OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE AND A HINGED LID
Abstract
The invention relates to a container comprising: a receptacle
comprising an internal cavity designed to accommodate contents, and
an opening; a lid capable of closing the opening; means for
connecting the lid to the receptacle in such a way as to allow the
lid to pivot with respect to the receptacle; and a capsule arranged
between the receptacle and the lid, which capsule hermetically
seals the opening; in which the capsule is held against an edge of
the opening by negative pressure inside the cavity.
Inventors: |
Catteau; Frederic; (Paris,
FR) ; Menard; Richard; (L'Union, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG,;KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK
600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST
WESTFIELD
NJ
07090
US
|
Assignee: |
PONT EMBALLAGE
Rungis
FR
|
Family ID: |
39385099 |
Appl. No.: |
12/741284 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
November 6, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP08/65087 |
371 Date: |
May 4, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/231 ;
220/810; 53/432 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/009 20130101;
B65D 51/20 20130101; B65D 2251/0018 20130101; B65D 2251/0093
20130101; B65D 51/1677 20130101; B65B 25/001 20130101; B65B 31/04
20130101; B65D 81/2015 20130101; B65D 2205/025 20130101; B65D 45/24
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/231 ;
220/810; 53/432 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16; B65D 51/04 20060101 B65D051/04; B65B 31/02 20060101
B65B031/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 6, 2007 |
FR |
0758820 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a receptacle comprising an internal
cavity designed to accommodate contents, and an opening, a lid
capable of closing the opening, means for connecting the lid to the
receptacle in such a way as to allow the lid to pivot with respect
to the receptacle, a capsule arranged between the receptacle and
the lid, said capsule hermetically sealing the opening, wherein the
capsule is held bearing on an edge of the opening due to a vacuum
prevailing inside the cavity.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the capsule
comprises means for causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the
cavity, resulting in the capsule separating from the
receptacle.
3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the means for
causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the cavity comprise an
area of reduced resistance of the capsule so as to facilitate
incipient tearing of the capsule.
4. The container according to claim 2, wherein the means for
causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the cavity comprise an
orifice made through the capsule and a pelable or tearable membrane
sealing the orifice, which membrane can be peeled or torn off so as
to release the orifice.
5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the membrane is made
of food-grade plastic.
6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the capsule
comprises at least one metal foil and a layer of food-grade
plastic.
7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the capsule
comprises a flowed-in gasket extending on a periphery of the
capsule, the capsule being held bearing on an edge of the opening
via the gasket.
8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the capsule
comprises a skirt extending around a wall of the receptacle
limiting the opening, the flowed-in gasket also extending along the
skirt.
9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the means for
connecting the lid to the receptacle comprise a wire frame.
10. The container according to claim 1, comprising means for
locking the lid to the receptacle so as to lock the lid in position
when the lid is closing the opening.
11. A method for assembling a container according to claim 1,
comprising: a--filling the internal cavity of the receptacle with
contents, b--arranging the capsule on the opening, c--creating a
vacuum inside the internal cavity so that the capsule is held
bearing on the edge of the opening due to this vacuum and
hermetically seals the opening, d--closing the receptacle with the
lid by pivoting the lid with respect to the receptacle, so that the
capsule is arranged between the receptacle and the lid.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein steps b and c are
performed simultaneously.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein step c is performed
by injecting vapor between the capsule and the receptacle.
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein step d is performed
at a surrounding pressure.
15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a
sterilizing or pasteurizing step.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of containers of the
kind comprising a receptacle and a hinged lid.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Containers (generally called "cans") are known which
comprise a receptacle and a lid provided with a flat gasket. The
receptacle comprises a wall defining an internal cavity designed to
accommodate contents, and an edge (or lip) defining an opening
capable of being closed by the lid.
[0003] Such containers generally comprise means for connecting the
lid to the receptacle in such a way as to allow the lid to pivot
with respect to the receptacle.
[0004] The container is generally made of glass and the connecting
means comprise an electroplated wire frame.
[0005] Such containers are typically used to contain food products
exposed to a sterilizing or pasteurizing treatment, such as
terrines, pates, or foies gras.
[0006] At the time of closing the receptacle, a vacuum is created
in the cavity in that closing of the lid is performed in a vacuum
(in a vacuum bell) or in that gas purging is caused during heat
treatment (in an autoclave). Due to this vacuum, the lid is held
bearing on the lip of the receptacle via the gasket. The gasket
ensures sealing of the assembly and maintains the vacuum inside the
receptacle.
[0007] Due to the gasket being compressed between the receptacle
and the lid, the gasket tends to deform thus forming a bead
protruding with respect to the lid and the receptacle.
[0008] Furthermore, conventionally, the gasket may have a tab
extending toward the outside of the receptacle. The tab may be
gripped by a user for moving the gasket and causing a disruption of
the vacuum inside the receptacle, so as to facilitate the opening
of the receptacle.
[0009] A disadvantage of this kind of container is that the gasket
can be in contact with the contents of the receptacle, which might
lead to contamination of the contents.
[0010] E.g., in case the contents are food products, contact of the
product with the gasket may lead to migration of certain components
of the gasket to the product. Such migration can modify the
organoleptic (or taste) characteristics of the product.
[0011] Another disadvantage is that opening of this kind of
container is sometimes difficult for the user as it requires a
displacement of the gasket.
[0012] The document EP 1 733 977 A1 suggests a container wherein,
when the receptacle is closed, the gasket is separated from the
cavity by a portion of the receptacle or the lid. Thus, the gasket
is not likely to come in contact with the contents of the
receptacle.
[0013] Furthermore, the document EP 1 733 977 A1 provides specific
means for facilitating this opening.
[0014] Finally, the method for assembling such containers is
relatively complicated, because the closing of the lid is performed
under a vacuum bell or in an autoclave in order to create a vacuum.
Therefore, these operations are performed at relatively slow
rates.
[0015] The final operation of locking the lid on the receptacle is
generally done in a manual or semi-automatic way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] One aim of the invention is to facilitate opening of the
container by a user.
[0017] Another aim of the invention is to simplify the assembly of
the container and to allow automation thereof.
[0018] This problem is solved by the present invention by means of
a container comprising: [0019] a receptacle comprising an internal
cavity designed to accommodate contents, and an opening, [0020] a
lid capable of closing the opening, means for connecting the lid to
the receptacle in such a way as to allow the lid to pivot with
respect to the receptacle, [0021] a capsule arranged between the
receptacle and the lid, said capsule hermetically sealing the
opening,
[0022] wherein the capsule is held bearing on an edge of the
opening due to a vacuum prevailing inside the cavity.
[0023] Thanks to the presence of the capsule, closing the lid may
be performed after the passage of the receptacle inside a vacuum
bell or an autoclave.
[0024] The operation of placing the capsule may be performed
automatically and at high rates. Thereby it is possible in
particular to reduce the time of contact of the contents with the
surrounding atmosphere. Oxidation of certain food products in
contact with the surrounding air may indeed have a significant
impact on the visual and organoleptic aspect of the product,
especially for foies gras and certain pates.
[0025] Thanks to the capsule, the presence of a gasket between the
receptacle and the lid is no longer required. Therefore, the risks
of the contents being contaminated by the gasket are
eliminated.
[0026] Furthermore, due to the capsule being protected by the lid
when it is in the closed position, the lid will guarantee that the
capsule or the information appearing on the capsule is not
affected.
[0027] After first-time use, once the capsule has been removed, the
receptacle can be easily closed again by means of the lid.
[0028] The container can advantageously have the following
characteristics: [0029] the capsule comprises means for causing a
disruption of vacuum inside the cavity, which results in the
capsule separating from the receptacle, [0030] the means for
causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the cavity comprise an
area of reduced resistance of the capsule so as to facilitate
incipient tearing of the capsule, [0031] the means for causing a
disruption of the vacuum inside the cavity comprise an orifice made
through the capsule and a pelable or tearable membrane sealing the
orifice, which membrane may be peeled or torn off so as to release
the orifice, [0032] the membrane is made of food-grade plastic,
[0033] the capsule comprises at least one metal foil and layer of
food-grade plastic, [0034] the capsule comprises a flowed-in gasket
extending on a periphery of the capsule, the capsule being held
bearing on an edge of the opening via the gasket, [0035] the
capsule comprises a skirt extending around a wall of the receptacle
limiting the opening, the flowed-in gasket also extending along the
skirt, [0036] the means for connecting the lid to the receptacle
comprise a wire frame, [0037] the container comprises means for
locking the lid to the receptacle in order to lock the lid in
position when the lid is closing the opening.
[0038] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a
container as defined previously, comprising the steps of:
[0039] a--filling the internal cavity of the receptacle with
contents,
[0040] b--arranging the capsule on the opening,
[0041] c--creating a vacuum inside the cavity so that the capsule
is held bearing on an edge of the opening due to this vacuum and
hermetically seals the opening,
[0042] d--closing the receptacle with the lid by pivoting the lid
(3) with respect to the receptacle, so that the capsule is arranged
between the receptacle and the lid.
[0043] In one embodiment of the method, steps b and c are performed
simultaneously.
[0044] Furthermore, step c is performed by injecting vapor between
the capsule and the receptacle.
[0045] Step d is performed at surrounding pressure.
[0046] The method can furthermore comprise a sterilizing or
pasteurizing step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0047] Further characteristics and advantages will be apparent from
the following description, which is purely illustrative and not
limiting, and is to be read with reference to the figures attached,
of which:
[0048] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in a perspective view a
container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,
[0049] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates, in a partial sectional
view, the container of FIG. 1,
[0050] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates steps of a method for
assembling a container in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
[0051] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated container 1 comprises a
receptacle 2, a lid 3, a capsule 4, and means 5 for connecting the
lid to the receptacle.
[0052] The receptacle 2 is a glass jar comprising a wall having a
generally cylindrical shape defining an internal cavity 22 designed
to accommodate contents, such as a food product for instance.
[0053] The receptacle 2 also comprises an opening 23 limited by an
edge 24 of the wall 21 and a ring 25 protruding from the wall 21 in
a radial direction with respect thereto, near the opening 23.
[0054] The lid 3 is formed of glass or any other transparent
material. The lid 3 is hinged on the receptacle 2 via connecting
means 5. In FIG. 1, the lid 23 is illustrated in the open position.
The lid 3 can be transferred by rotation into a closed position in
which it closes the opening 23.
[0055] As usual, the connecting means 5 comprise frames made of
metal wires. The connecting means 5 comprise a first wire frame 51
fastened to the receptacle 2 and a second wire frame 52 fastened to
the lid 3. Wire frames 51 and 52 are connected together in a known
manner via loops so as to form a hinge.
[0056] The connecting means 5 also comprise a third wire frame 53
forming means for locking the lid 3 to the receptacle 2 in order to
lock the lid in the closed position.
[0057] The capsule 4 has an internal side turned towards the cavity
22 and an external side opposite the internal side. The capsule 4
comprises an external metal foil 41, an internal metal foil 42
covered by a layer of food-grade plastic (such as a food-grade
epoxy phenolic resin for instance) and a flowed-in gasket 43
extending on a periphery of the capsule 5. The metal foils 41 and
42 are for instance made of tinplate.
[0058] More specifically, the capsule has a disc-shaped planar
center part 44 and a cylindrical peripheral part forming a skirt
around the center part 44. The capsule 4 is arranged on the
receptacle 2 so that the center part 44 blocks the opening 23, and
the peripheral part 45 extends around part of the wall 21 limiting
the opening 23. The flowed-in gasket 43 extends both on an area of
the center part 44 and on an area of the peripheral part 45.
[0059] The capsule 4 is held bearing on the edge 24 of the opening
only by due to the vacuum prevailing inside the cavity 22. In other
words, the pressure prevailing inside the cavity 22 is lower than
the surrounding pressure. The pressure differential is sufficiently
high for the capsule 4 to be held on the receptacle 2.
[0060] More specifically, the capsule 4 is bearing on the edge 24
of the receptacle 2 via the flowed-in gasket 43, so that the
capsule 4 will hermetically seal the opening 23.
[0061] The capsule 4 also comprises an orifice 46 made through the
foils 41 and 42, and a pelable or tearable membrane 47 of
food-grade plastic sealing the orifice 46. The membrane 47 can be
peeled or torn off to release the orifice 46 and thus cause a
disruption of the vacuum inside the cavity 22, with the result of
separating the capsule 4 from the receptacle 2.
[0062] Thereby, a user can remove the capsule 4 from the receptacle
2 in order to gain access to the contents inside the container 1.
The user then has the possibility to close the lid 3 again in order
to preserve the contents of the container 1.
[0063] The external side of the capsule 4 may be printed with
information regarding the product contained inside the container 1.
Due to the lid 3 being made of transparent material, the
information is visible through the lid 3 when the lid 3 is in the
closed position.
[0064] Consequently, the capsule 4 offers an additional surface for
marking information.
[0065] Furthermore, due to the capsule 4 being protected by the lid
3 in the closed position, the lid will guarantee that the capsule
or the information 25 marked have not been impaired.
[0066] In an alternative (not shown) of the embodiment which has
been described, the orifice 46 and the membrane 47 can be replaced
by other means for causing a disruption of the vacuum inside the
cavity, such as an area of reduced resistance formed in the capsule
4 so as to facilitate incipient tearing of the capsule.
[0067] The area of reduced resistance may for instance comprise an
incision made in the metal foils 41 and 42, but not in the plastic
layer covering the internal foil 42. In this case, the opening can
be made by tearing up the plastic layer using a tool (e.g. a
knife).
[0068] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates different steps of a method
300 for assembling a container in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention.
[0069] The receptacle 2 is feed-driven on a conveyor 61 through a
container assembly line.
[0070] According to a first step 301, the receptacle 2 is filled
with contents 62. The contents 62 are deposited inside the internal
cavity 22 of the receptacle through the opening 23 (e.g. using
automatic filling means 63).
[0071] According to a second step 302, the capsule 4 is deposited
on the receptacle 2 and simultaneously vapor 64 is injected between
the capsule 4 and the receptacle 2 for purging the air contained
inside the receptacle 2.
[0072] More specifically, the capsule 4 is held in a slanting
position with respect to the feed direction of the receptacle 2.
When the receptacle 2 passes by, the capsule 4 is deposited
naturally on the receptacle 2 under the effect of gravity and is
positioned on the edge of the receptacle. Simultaneously with the
capsule 4 being deposited on the receptacle 2, the air is purged
from the internal cavity 22 by the vapor, resulting in a vacuum
being created inside the internal cavity 22.
[0073] Step 302 may be performed by means of a fully automated
high-speed capping machine.
[0074] At the end of step 302, the receptacle 2 is hermetically
sealed by the capsule 4, the capsule being held bearing on the edge
of the opening of the receptacle only by the vacuum prevailing
inside the cavity.
[0075] According to a third step 303, the sealed receptacle 2 is
introduced inside a sterilizer or a pasteurizer 65 so as to be
exposed to heat treatment.
[0076] According to a fourth step 304, the lid 3 is mounted on the
receptacle 2.
[0077] According to a fifth step 305, the lid 3 is closed and then
locked on the receptacle 2.
[0078] The container thus produced is ready for storage.
[0079] It is to be noted that in the embodiment which has been
described, the step of depositing the capsule on the receptacle may
be performed automatically and rapidly. Therefore, the method
allows for an increase in the container production rates and a
reduction of the contact time of the contents with the surrounding
atmosphere. Oxidation of certain food products in contact with
surrounding air may indeed have a significant impact on the visual
and organoleptic aspect of the product, especially in the case of
foies gras and certain pates.
[0080] Furthermore, the steps of mounting and closing the lid are
performed after the step of sterilizing or pasteurizing the
receptacle.
[0081] This has the advantage of making the closing step less
complicated.
[0082] Furthermore, due to the receptacle being introduced inside
the sterilizer or pasteurizer without the lid, it has a compact
size. This allows for the introduction of a larger number of
receptacles inside the same sterilizer or pasteurizer, and
contributes to an increase of the container production rate.
[0083] Finally, as the lid is not exposed to heat treatment, it is
up to the manufacturer to make the lid from a material which is not
necessarily chosen for its characteristics of temperature
resistance.
[0084] The method can be fully automated, which allows for an
increase of the container production rates.
* * * * *