UNIT FOR BONDING A CONTAINER, ESPECIALLY A PRESSURISED BEVERAGE CONTAINER, WITH THE LID, AND A PREFORM FOR PRODUCING THE CONTAINER

Abstract

A unit for bonding the container with the lid, made of plastic, designated especially for pressurised beverages, having a profiled rim of the container opening and a profiled rim of the lid, characterised in that the profiled rim of the opening (2) of the container (1) comprises a flange (3) formed around the said opening (2), extending outwards away from the side wall of the container, where the flange (3) has a top surface (4), side surface (5) and bottom surface (6) bonded to the external side surface of the container (1), and where formed on the top surface (4) around the opening (2) of the container (1) there is a rib (7) protruding above the surface (4), while the profiled rim of the lid (8) comprises a groove (9) formed on the bottom surface (10) of the lid (8) around its bottom edge, the groove (9) accommodating the said rib (7) which supports the lid (8) without touching on the top surface (4) of the flange (3), where there is an energy director (12, 13) formed on the bottom of the groove (9) or the top surface of the rib (7), which focuses ultrasonic energy in the process of ultrasonic welding of the rib (7) and the lid (8).

Claims

1. A unit for bonding a container with the lid, made of plastic, designated especially for pressurised beverages, comprising a profiled rim of the container opening and a profiled rim of the lid, characterised in that the profiled rim of the opening (2) of the container (1) comprises a flange (3) formed around the said opening (2), extending outwards away from the side wall of the container, where the flange (3) has a top surface (4), side surface (5) and bottom surface (6) connected to the external side surface of the container (1), and where formed on the top surface (4) around the opening (2) of the container (1) there is a rib (7) protruding above the surface (4), while the profiled rim of the lid (8) comprises a groove (9) formed on the bottom surface (10) of the lid (8) around its bottom edge, the groove (9) accommodating the said rib (7) which supports the lid (8) without touching on the top surface (4) of the flange (3), where there is at least one energy director (12, 13) formed on the bottom of the groove (9) and/or the top surface of the rib (7), which focuses ultrasonic energy in the process of ultrasonic welding of the rib (7) and the lid (8).

2. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the energy director (12, 13) is triangular in cross section.

3. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that there are slits (14, 15) between the side walls of the rib (7) and the side walls of the groove (9).

4. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the bottom surface (6) of the flange (3) around the edge of the opening (2) of the container (1) is basically perpendicular to the side surface of the container (1) at their convergence.

5. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the flange (3) around the edge of the opening (2) of the container (1) has a peripheral groove (16) formed on its side surface.

6. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that there is a peripheral groove (17) formed on the side surface (11) of the lid (8).

7. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that there are transverse grooves (18) formed on the side surface (11) of the lid (8).

8. The unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the container (1) and the lid (8) are made of the same plastic material.

9. A preform of a plastic container designated especially for pressurised beverages, having a body ended with a bottom on one side, and with a an opening with a profiled rim designed to be bonded with the lid on the other side, characterised in that the profiled rim of the opening (102) of the preform (101) has a flange (103) formed around the opening, where the flange (103) has the top surface (104), side surface (105) and bottom surface (106) bonded to the external side surface of the preform (101), while formed around the opening (102) on the top surface (104) of the flange (103) there is a rib (107) protruding above that surface (104).

10. The preform according to claim 9, characterised in that the bottom surface (106) of the flange (103) is basically perpendicular to the side surface of the preform (101) at their convergence.

11. The preform according to claim 9, characterised in that the rib (107) of the flange (103) ends with an energy director (113) which focuses ultrasonic energy in the process of ultrasonic welding of the rib (107) and the lid.

12. The preform according to claim 11, characterised in that the energy director (113) is triangular in cross section.

13. The preform according to claim 9, characterized in that there is a peripheral groove (116) formed on the side surface (105) of the flange (103) around the rim of the opening (102) of the preform (101).

Description

[0030] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1shows the top part of the container and the lid provided with the energy director, in their position to each other prior to their assembly for ultrasonic welding, all in cross section;

[0033] FIG. 2presents the top part of the container and the lid as in FIG. 1, assembled together for ultrasonic welding, in cross section;

[0034] FIG. 3depicts a zoomed-in view of the unit for bonding the container with the lid, as in FIG. 2, prior to ultrasonic welding, in cross section;

[0035] FIG. 4shows the top part of the container provided with the energy director and the lid, in their position towards each other prior to their assembly for ultrasonic welding, all in cross section;

[0036] FIG. 5presents the top part of the container and the lid, as in FIG. 3, assembled together for ultrasonic welding, in cross section;

[0037] FIG. 6depicts a zoomed-in view of the unit for bonding the container with the lid, as in FIG. 5, prior to ultrasonic welding, in cross section;

[0038] FIG. 7shows the bond between the container and the lid following ultrasonic welding of the unit as in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, in cross section;

[0039] FIG. 8presents a zoomed-in view of the bond between the container and the lid following ultrasonic welding of the unit as in FIG. 7, in cross-section;

[0040] FIG. 9shows the top part of the container with the energy director as a single-piece element, and with the peripheral groove in the side surface of the flange, in a perspective view;

[0041] FIG. 10shows the top part of the container with the energy director which is made up of segments, in a perspective view;

[0042] FIG. 11presents the lid with the energy director as a single-piece element, in a bottom view;

[0043] FIG. 12presents the lid with the energy director which is made up of segments, on a bottom view;

[0044] FIG. 13presents the lid with peripheral groove in the side surface, in a perspective view;

[0045] FIG. 14depicts the lid with transverse grooves in the side surface, in a perspective view;

[0046] FIG. 15shows the preform without the energy director and without the peripheral groove in the side surface of the flange, in cross section;

[0047] FIG. 16shows the preform with the energy director and without the peripheral groove in the side surface of the flange, in cross section;

[0048] FIG. 17presents the preform provided with the energy director as a single-piece element, and with the peripheral groove in the side surface of the flange, in a perspective view;

[0049] FIG. 18shows the preform with the energy director which is made up of segments, and with the peripheral groove in the side surface of the flange, in a perspective view.

[0050] In exemplary embodiments of the invention a unit for bonding the container with the lid, made of plastic, designated especially for pressurised beverages comprises a profiled rim of the opening of the container 1 and profiled rim of the lid 8. The profiled rim of the opening 2 of the container 1 comprises a flange 3 formed around the said opening 2. Opening 2 can be given e.g. the circular shape. The flange 3 extends outwards away from the side surface of the container and has the top surface 4, side surface 5 and bottom surface 6. Formed around the opening 2 of the container 1, on the top surface 4 of the flange 3 there is a rib 7 protruding above the surface 4, while the profiled rim of the lid 8 comprises a groove 9 formed on the bottom surface 10 of the lid 8 around its bottom edge. The groove 9 accommodates the said rib 7 which supports the lid 8 without touching on the top surface 4 of the flange 3. The bottom surface 6 of the flange 3 formed around the edge of the opening 2 of the container 1 is basically perpendicular to the side surface of the container 1 at their convergence.

[0051] In the first exemplary embodiment shown on FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, formed on the bottom of the groove 9 there is an energy director 12, triangular in cross-section with the apex pointing towards the rib 7, which focuses ultrasonic energy in the process of ultrasonic welding of the rib 7 and the lid 8, while the top surface of the rib 7 is flat.

[0052] In the second exemplary embodiment shown on FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, formed on top of rib 7 is the energy director 13 triangular in cross section, with the apex pointing towards the groove 9, where the energy director focuses the ultrasonic energy in the process of ultrasonic welding of the rib 7 and the lid 8, while the bottom of the groove 9 is flat.

[0053] In both examples of the embodiment the energy director 12 or 13 is a single-piece element which shows on FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 accordingly, or is made up of segments which shows on FIG. 10 and FIG. 12 accordingly.

[0054] In both examples of the embodiment the bottom surface 10 of the lid 8 does not contact the top surface 4 of the flange 3, and the distance between the bottom surface 10 of the lid 8 and the top surface 4 of the flange 3 corresponds to the height of the energy director 12 or 13, or is slightly larger (FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6).

[0055] In both exemplary embodiments there are slits 14, 15 between the side walls of the rib 7 and the side walls of the groove 9 (FIG. 3, FIG. 6).

[0056] Formed on the side surface 5 of the flange 3 of the container 1 may be a peripheral groove 16, as shown on FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, which facilitates positioning of the container in the process of ultrasonic welding with the lid rim.

[0057] Formed on the side surface 11 of the lid 8 may be a peripheral groove 17, as shown on FIG. 13, or transverse grooves 18, as shown on FIG. 14, which facilitate its transport to the welding stand, as well as its positioning and keeping in place in the process of ultrasonic welding with the rim of the container body.

[0058] The lid 8 is provided with an opening for discharging the contents of the container, sealed prior to the first opening, not shown on the drawing.

[0059] In order to bond the lid 8 with the container 1, the lid 8 is placed on the rim of the container 1 so that the rib 7 gets into the groove 9 (FIG. 2, FIG. 5). The bottom surface 6 of the flange 3 of the container 1 serves as the support for the flange 3 on the sonotrode anvil in the process of ultrasonic welding. In the course of the ultrasonic welding process the lid 8 gets pressed towards the top surface 4 of the flange 3 of the container 1 and is permanently bonded with the container 1 with the weld 19 formed of the energy director 12 or 13, which binds the bottom of the groove 9 with the top of the rib 7 and the side surfaces of the rib 7 with the side surfaces of the groove 9 by filling in the slits 14, 15, as shown on FIG. 8, thus increasing the strength and tightness of the bond.

[0060] An exemplary preform 101 of the container 1, made of plastic, has a conical body ended with a bottom on the one side, and with an opening 102 with a profiled rim designed to be bonded with the lid on the other side. The opening 102 can be given e.g. the circular shape. The profiled rim of the opening 102 of the preform 101 has a flange 103 formed around the opening, extending outwards away from the side wall of the preform. The flange 103 has the top surface 104, side surface 105, and bottom surface 106, which is basically perpendicular to the side surface of the preform 101 at their convergence. The bottom surface 106 of the flange 103 serves as the retaining surface in the process of producing the container of the preform, for example in the blow moulding process.

[0061] Formed on the top surface 104 of the flange 103 around the opening 102 there is a rib 107 protruding above the surface 104.

[0062] In the first exemplary embodiment shown on FIG. 15 the top surface of the rib 107 is flat.

[0063] In the second exemplary embodiment shown on FIG. 16 the rib 107 of the flange 103 ends with the energy director 113 which is as a single-piece element which shows on FIG. 17, or is made up of segments which shows on FIG. 18, triangular in cross section, where the energy director focuses ultrasonic energy in the process of ultrasonic welding of the rib 107 to the lid.

[0064] In both exemplary embodiments the flange 103 around the rim of the opening 102 of the preform 101, can have a peripheral groove 116 formed on its side surface 105 (as shown on FIG. 17 and FIG. 18), which facilitates transport of the preform to the container moulding stand and its correct positioning on the stand.

LIST OF NUMERICAL IDENTIFIERS

[0065] 1container [0066] 2container opening [0067] 3flange around container opening [0068] 4top surface of container flange [0069] 5side surface of container flange [0070] 6bottom surface of container flange [0071] 7rib on container flange [0072] 8lid [0073] 9groove in the bottom surface of the lid [0074] 10bottom surface of the lid [0075] 11side surface of the lid [0076] 12energy director formed on the lid [0077] 13energy director formed on the rib ridge [0078] 14, 15slits between the side walls of the container flange rib and the side walls of the lid grooves [0079] 16peripheral groove on the side surface of the container flange [0080] 17peripheral groove on the side surface of the lid [0081] 18transverse groove on the side surface of the lid [0082] 19weld [0083] 101preform [0084] 102preform opening [0085] 103preform flange [0086] 104top surface of the preform flange [0087] 105side surface of the preform flange [0088] 106bottom surface of the preform flange [0089] 107preform flange rib [0090] 113energy director on the preform flange rib [0091] 116peripheral groove on the side surface of preform flange