Device for Opening and Re-Closing Food-Containing Packages

Abstract

A device for opening and re-closing food-containing packages includes a pouring element with a circumferential flange for fastening to the package and a neck for pouring, as well as a cutting element, which is arranged inside the neck and has a plurality of teeth, which are arranged around the circumference and directed towards the package, and a screw cap, the cutting element cutting a pouring opening into the composite film material as a result of a rotational movement of the screw cap when the package is opened for the first time. The teeth of the cutting element have a steep gradient at the tip thereof, a shallower gradient at the flanks thereof and a steep gradient again at the bases thereof.

Claims

1. Device for opening and re-closing food-containing packages (P), in particular composite cardboard/plastic packages, having a pouring element (1) with a circumferential flange (2) for fastening to the package (P) and a neck (3) for pouring, as well as a cutting element (4), which is arranged inside the neck (3) and has a plurality of teeth (6), which are arranged around the circumference and directed towards the package, and a screw cap (5), the cutting element (4) cutting a pouring opening into the composite film material as a result of a rotational movement of the screw cap (5) when the package (P) is opened for the first time, characterised in that the teeth (6) of the cutting element (4) have a steep gradient at the tip thereof, a shallower gradient at the flanks thereof, and again a steep gradient at the base thereof.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the teeth (6) of the cutting element (4) are arranged directly adjacently to each other, so that the cutting edges thereof touch.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the number of teeth (6) of a cutting element (4) is between 10 and 20, preferably between 15 and 20.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the tooth flanks are formed sharpened (6A, 6B).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the contour of the tooth flanks (6A, 6B) has arcs in the region of the shallow gradient.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the cutting element (4) has a region (7) without teeth.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the tooth flanks (6A, 6B) of each tooth (6) are formed symmetrically.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the tooth flanks (6A, 6B) of each tooth (6) are formed inclined.

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the teeth (6) have a low thickness.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the teeth are provided with longitudinal ribs for reinforcement.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that all the teeth (6) have the same height.

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that all the teeth (6) have the same geometry.

13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that guiding means are present between the neck (3) and the cutting element (4) in order to guide the cutting element (4).

14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that the guiding means are formed as corresponding webs or cams.

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the guiding means are formed as corresponding threaded sections.

16. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that a functional connection between the cutting element (4) and the screw cap (5) is provided by actuation elements (8, 9, 10).

Description

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing showing only one preferred exemplary embodiment. In the drawing,

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention in the applied state, in a perspective view from below,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a single cutting element of the device in a perspective view,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows two teeth of the cutting element in an enlarged diagram, and

[0032] FIGS. 4a-4e show a schematic diagram of the opening process of the cutting element through the composite film.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention in the applied state. A pouring element 1 is provided with a circumferential flange 2, which is applied to a drink package by its visible underside when the pouring element 1 is applied over a “prelaminated hole”. The pouring element has an upwardly extending tube-shaped neck 3, which cannot be seen in FIG. 1, since it is covered by the inside cutting element 4, which is formed as a cutting ring, and by a screw cap 5, which is placed on top.

[0034] For a better overview, the cutting ring of the cutting element 4 is shown by itself in FIG. 2. Here, a plurality of teeth 6 can be seen, which are arranged around the circumference of the cutting ring, point downwards and are all identical in the preferred exemplary embodiment shown. FIG. 3 shows another enlargement of two teeth 6, in which it can be seen that the respective tooth flanks 6A and 6B of each individual tooth 6 first have a very steep gradient, that is, a steep slope, at the tooth tip, then a shallower gradient and again a steep gradient in the region of the tooth base. It can be seen that, owing to the immediately adjacently arranged teeth 6, the adjacent flanks 6A and 6B run as far as the tooth base, in order in this manner to achieve an even better cutting effect.

[0035] It is further apparent from FIG. 2 that the cutting element 4 has a region 7 without teeth. This configuration ensures that the piece of film cut away from the pouring opening is not completely detached from the composite package, but remains connected to the composite package by means of a sufficient “bridge”, so that it does not obstruct the pouring opening and thus hinder the pouring process.

[0036] FIG. 2 further shows that a drive element 8 inside the cutting element projects radially inwards in order to achieve a functional connection to the screw cap 5 together with drive elements 9 and 10 provided inside the screw cap 5. The flank 11 of the curtain of the drive element 9 projecting from the interior of the screw cap 5 provides for an opening movement of the cutting element 4 when the screw cap 5 is unscrewed. The drive elements 9 and 10, which are formed as “fins”, further serve to clear the pouring opening by shifting the film material into the toothless region 7 of the cutting element 4. When the screw cap 5 is screwed on again, the cutting element 4 is pushed down again as far as an end position, in which stops 12, which are arranged around the outer circumference of the cutting element 4, interact with corresponding projections 13 inside the flange 2 and fix the cutting element 4.

[0037] The entire opening process is then shown schematically in FIGS. 4a to 4e. An opening device can be seen, which is sealed onto a package P, only part of which is shown and which is provided with a film membrane M in the region of a prelaminated hole, of which opening device only the flange 2 and the neck 3 can be seen in the cutting sequence shown.

[0038] In the applied position (FIG. 4a), the cutting element 4, which is mounted by guide means (not shown) between the cutting element 4 and the neck 3, is situated inside the neck 3.

[0039] Unscrewing of the screw cap causes the teeth 6 to pierce into the film membrane M in a defined manner, as shown in FIG. 4b, which corresponds to Phase I.

[0040] After the first piercing movement, a cutting-open takes place, as shown in FIG. 4c, in which, as mentioned, the uniform introduction of force is improved by a changed cutting drag owing to the particular shape of the tooth geometry (Phase II).

[0041] Finally, it can be seen in FIG. 4d that the cutting element 4 has now penetrated so far into the package interior that the teeth have almost completely cut through the membrane. After the membrane has been cut through (Phase III) over approximately 300° of the circumference, the pouring opening is exposed and the film residue 14 can be clamped to the side by further penetration of the cutting element 4, in order to achieve reliable pouring through a free pouring opening.

[0042] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown, but can be extended to various configurations without departing from the fundamental concept of the invention. To this end, further preferred configurations are provided in the subclaims.