Automatic opening device for carton packages

Abstract

An automatic opening device for a carton package comprising a spout (3) and a cap (26), the device being provided with a plurality of protruding cutting elements (30) onto the internal face (29) of a cap element (27) thereof. The spout (3) is provided with a thread (2) having grooves (2c) and (2f) of opposite orientation and connected each other, within which pass internal screw thread segments (19) distributed equidistantly in the internal part of the elongate lateral wall (28) of the cap (26). The spout is applied in a carton package over a hole in the carton layer which exposes the aluminium layer. When the cap (26) is unscrewed from the spout (3) the first time it makes a downward axial movement and next the protruding cutting elements (30) are able to cut the aluminium layer of the carton package in order to open a passage for the content of the carton package.

Claims

1. An automatic opening device (1) for packages, said automatic opening device (1) comprising: an elongated cylindrical body (3); a cap (26); a base element (9) provided with an upper face (9s) and a lower face (9i), the outer surface of the elongated cylindrical body (3) being provided with a thread (2), the lower face (9i) of the base element (9) being able to be affixed to a pierceable portion of a package; wherein the cap (26) comprises a disc-like cap element (27) provided with an inner face (29) and an elongate side wall (28) extending vertically, a thread being provided onto the inner surface of the elongate side wall (28) allowing the cap (26) to screw onto the external thread (2) of the elongated cylindrical body (3); wherein the thread (2) comprises at least one first groove (2c) and at least one second groove (2f) of opposite orientation with respect to said at least one first groove (2c), said at least one second groove (2f) being a continuation of said at least one first groove (2c); and wherein the cap (26) is provided with a cutting means to cut said pierceable portion of the package.

2. The automatic opening device according to claim 1, wherein: each of said at least one first groove (2c) is formed between a first upper thread (2a), provided with an upper flank (10) and a lower flank (12), and a first lower thread (2b) provided with an upper flank (11) and a lower flank (13); an inlet (4a) is provided in each of said at least one first groove (2c); each of said at least one second groove (2f) is formed between a second upper thread (2d), provided with an upper flank (14) and a lower flank (16), and a second lower thread (2e), provided with an upper flank (15) and a lower flank (17), the second upper thread (2d) being a continuation of the first upper thread (2a) and the second lower thread (2e) being a continuation of to the first lower thread (2b); an end-stop (18) is provided at an end portion of each of said second groove (2f), the end-stop being provided with a lower flank (18a); the inner end of said lower flank (12) of the first upper thread (2a) connects to a first end of said lower flank (16) of the second upper thread (2d) at a first junction point (6), forming a lower concave angle between them, a transition occurring from a right-handed thread configuration of the first upper thread (2a) to a left-handed thread configuration of the second upper thread (2d); the inner end of said upper flank (11) of the first lower thread (2b) connects to a first end of said upper flank (15) of the second lower thread (2e) at a second junction point (7), forming an upper convex angle between them, a transition occurring from a right-handed thread configuration of the first lower thread (2b) to a left-handed thread configuration for the second lower thread (2e); a first end of said lower flank (18a) of the end-stop (18) connects to a second opposite end of said lower flank (16) of the second upper thread (2d) at a third junction point (33), forming an upper convex angle between them; a second opposite end of said lower flank (18a) of the end-stop (18) connects to a second opposite end of said upper flank (15) of the second lower thread (2e) at a fourth junction point (33), forming a lower convex angle between them.

3. The automatic opening device according to claim 2, in that said cap (26) is provided with a thread onto the inner surface of the elongate side wall (28) of the cap (26) comprising a plurality of segments of internal thread (19) designed to engage said external thread (2).

4. The automatic opening device according to claim 3, in that the cap (26) is provided with at least one protruding cutting element (30), extending from the inner face (29) of the top element (27).

5. The automatic opening device according to claim 4, in that said at least one protruding cutting member (30) is provided with a sharp end (30a).

6. The automatic opening device according to claim 5, in that said at least one protruding cutting element (30) comprises a plurality of protruding cutting elements distributed circularly onto the inner face (29) of the top member (27) of the cap (26).

7. The automatic opening device according to claim 6, in that said first groove (2c) comprises a right-hand thread and said second groove (2f) comprises a left-hand thread.

8. The automatic opening device according to claim 2, in that said cutting means comprises at least one protruding cutting element (30).

9. The automatic opening device according to claim 8, in that said at least one protruding cutting element (30) comprises a plurality of protruding cutting elements distributed circularly onto the inner face (29) of the top member (27) of the cap (26).

10. The automatic opening device according to claim 9, in that said first groove (2c) comprises a right-hand thread and said second groove (2f) comprises a left-hand thread.

11. A thread (2) of variable orientation for use in packages comprising a first groove (2c) followed by a second groove (2f) of opposite orientation wherein the thread (2) comprises: the first groove (2c) is formed between a first upper thread (2a), provided with an upper flank (10) and a lower flank (12), and a first lower thread (2b) provided with an upper flank (11) and a lower flank (13); an inlet (4a) is provided in the first groove (2c); the second groove (2f) is formed between a second upper thread (2d), provided with an upper flank (14) and a lower flank (16), and a second lower thread (2e), provided with an upper flank (15) and a lower flank (17), the second upper thread (2d) being a continuation of the first upper thread (2a) and the second lower thread (2e) being a continuation of to the first lower thread (2b); the inner end of said lower flank (12) of the first upper thread (2a) connects to a first end of said lower flank (16) of the second upper thread (2d) at a first junction point (6), forming a lower concave angle between them, a transition occurring from a right-handed thread configuration of the first upper thread (2a) to a left-handed thread configuration of the second upper thread (2d); the inner end of said upper flank (11) of the first lower thread (2b) connects to a first end of said upper flank (15) of the second lower thread (2e) at a second junction point (7), forming an upper convex angle between them, a transition occurring from a right-handed thread configuration of the first lower thread (2b) to a left-handed thread configuration for the second lower thread (2e); a first end of said lower flank (18a) of the end-stop (18) connects to a second opposite end of said lower flank (16) of the second upper thread (2d) at a third junction point (32), forming an upper convex angle between them; a second opposite end of said lower flank (18a) of the end-stop (18) connects to a second opposite end of said upper flank (15) of the second lower thread (2e) at a fourth junction point (33), forming a lower convex angle between them.

12. A thread (2) according to claim 11, in that said first groove (2c) comprises a right-hand thread and said second groove (2f) comprises a left-hand thread.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features of the present invention will be better appreciated from the detailed description which follow, by way of example, associated with the attached drawings referenced below which are an integral part of this specification.

(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of a spout provided with an outer thread which is part of the automatic opening device for carton packages object of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a cap provided with inner thread segments forming part of the automatic opening device for carton packages of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view showing the time when the inner thread segments of the cap begin to be inserted into the inner thread of the spout.

(5) FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing the moment when the inner threads of the cap are in a first position, partially inserted in the grooves of the inner thread of the spout.

(6) FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view showing the moment when the inner threads of the cap are in a second position, partially inserted in the grooves of the inner thread of the spout.

(7) FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view showing the moment when the inner threads of the cap are fully inserted into the grooves of the inner thread of the spout in their final mounting position.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIGS. 1 to 6 depict a device provided with a spout and a cap in which is employed a mechanism to open a carton package which uses the automatic opening device object of the present invention, with the purpose of obtaining longitudinal movements of advance and retreat to cause the opening of the package.

(9) In FIG. 1, according to the present embodiment it can be observed an automatic opening device 1 object of the present invention applied to an elongate cylindrical body 3. An outer screw thread 2 is provided in the outer surface of an elongated cylindrical body 3, which in the present case is a three-entries thread.

(10) The elongated cylindrical body 3 may, for example, be a spout of a package to which a cap 26, not shown in the Figure, may be screwed onto the upper face 9s of a base element 9, whose lower face 9i shall be affixed to a package, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

(11) Hereafter, the expression spout and the expression elongate cylindrical body will be used interchangeably, i.e., to indicate the same component.

(12) Each ridge of the outer thread 2 comprises a first downward upper thread 2a, provided with an upper flank 10 and a lower flank 12, and a first downward lower thread 2b, provided with an upper flank 11 and a lower flank 13.

(13) A downward groove 2c is formed between the first downward upper thread 2a and the first downward lower thread 2b, and is provided with an inlet 4a.

(14) The outer thread 2 also comprises a second downward upper thread 2d, adjacent to the first downward upper thread 2a, a second upward lower thread 2e, adjacent to the first downward lower thread 2b, and an end-stop 18.

(15) The second upward upper thread 2d is provided with an upper flank 14 and a lower flank 16, and the second upward lower thread 2e is provided with an upper flank 15 and a lower flank 17. The end-stop 18 is provided with a lower flank 18a.

(16) An upward groove 2f is formed between the second upward upper thread 2d, the second upward lower thread 2e and the end-stop 18.

(17) At a first junction point 6, there is a connection between each first downward-upper thread 2a and each second upward upper thread 2d, so that the transition from the lower flank 12 of the first downward upper thread 2a to the lower flank 16 of the second upward upper thread 2d is such that one flank is a continuity of the other and forms a concave angle there between.

(18) At the first junction point 6 a transition occurs from the right-handed thread configuration of the first downward upper thread 2a to a left-handed thread configuration of the second upward upper thread 2d.

(19) Thus, the angle of inclination of the first downward upper thread 2a relative to the thread generatrix and the inclination angle of the second upward upper thread 2d relative to the thread generatrix are chosen to form a right-handed thread and a left-handed-thread, respectively.

(20) At a second junction point 7 a union occurs between each first downward lower thread 2b and each second upward lower thread 2e, so that the transition from the upper flank 11 of the first downward lower thread 2b to the upper flank 15 of the second upward lower thread 2e is such that one flank is as an extension of the other and forms a convex angle between them.

(21) At the second junction point 7 a transition occurs from a right-handed thread configuration of the first downward lower thread 2b to a left-handed thread configuration for the second upward lower thread 2e.

(22) Thus, the inclination angle of the first downward lower thread 2b in relation to the thread generatrix and the inclination angle of the second upward lower thread 2e in relation to the thread generatrix are both chosen to form to a right-handed thread and a left-handed thread, respectively.

(23) The angle of inclination of the left-handed thread from the second upward lower thread 2e is substantially equal to the angle of inclination of the left-handed thread of the second upward upper thread 2d.

(24) The second upward upper thread 2d is attached to the end-stop 18 at a third junction point 32. The end-stop 18 has a right-handed thread configuration, having an angle of inclination substantially identical to the angle of the first downward upper thread 2a and the first downward lower thread 2b.

(25) As the second upward lower thread 2e is a left-handed thread, consequently the end-stop 18 will join the second upward lower thread 2e at a fourth junction point 33. The upward groove 2f is formed between the second upper thread 2d, the second lower thread 2e and the end-stop 18, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

(26) The cap 26, shown in FIG. 2, basically comprises a disc-shaped cap element 27 having an inner face 29 and an elongate side wall 28 in the shape of a straight cylinder trunk. Inner thread segments 19 are provided inside the elongated side wall 28. In the present case three segments are provided equidistant from each other and also equidistant of the inner face 29 of the disc-shaped cap element 27.

(27) The inner thread segments 19 are provided with a front end 20, and a rear end 21.

(28) In the present embodiment the inner thread segments 19 are, in fact, segments of an internal six-entries thread, which has the same characteristics as the thread 2 applied to the spout 3, wherein only three inner thread segments 19 were manufactured instead the six inner thread segments 19 that could have been manufactured. In other words, segments were manufactured in an alternate manner.

(29) It should be mentioned that the provision in the present embodiment of only three inner thread segments 19 is only a design option, and can in no way be considered a limitation of the invention. There would be no impediment for the cap 26 to be provided with all possible inner thread segments 19. In the case of the present embodiment there would be six inner thread segments 19.

(30) As can be seen in FIG. 2, the inner face 29 of the top element 27 is provided with multiple protruding cutting elements 30, distributed circumferentially and provided with sharp ends 30a, which in this embodiment form a rotating cutting element, intended to cut the package, as will be seen in the following.

(31) When the cap 26 is screwed on the thread 2 of the spout 3 for the first time, a factory-made operation, the front ends 20 of the inner thread segments 19 will pass through the entries 4a of the thread 2, and will engage the downward grooves 2c, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

(32) As the inner thread segments 19 are screwed onto the outer thread 2, they will effect a concomitant downward axial movement, and consequently, the same will occur with the cap 26. In other words, in addition to the rotational twisting movement, there will also occur a downward axial movement.

(33) With the continuity of the rotational screwing movement of the inner thread segments 19 on the grooves 2c of the thread 2 of the spout 3, the front ends 20 of the internal thread segments 19 will advance along the inside of the downward grooves 2c, as shown in FIG. 4.

(34) At a determined moment, the rear ends 21 of each inner thread segment 19 will pass by the first junction point 6 and the front ends 20 of the inner thread segments 19 will reach the second junction point 7 at the lower end of the first downward lower thread 2b, as shown in FIG. 5.

(35) Thereafter, the inner thread segments 19 will leave the downward groove 2c and will be directed to the upward groove 2f, and the front ends 20 of the inner thread segments 19 will be forced against the upper flanks 15 of the second upward lower threads 2e.

(36) Upon continuation of the screwing movement, the front ends 20 of the inner thread segments 19 will slide through the upper flanks 15 of the second upward lower threads 2e.

(37) As the second upward lower threads 2e have a left-handed upward thread configuration, this will cause the inner thread segments 19 to undergo a reversal of direction in their axial movement, which will then be an upward axial movement, as the inner thread segments 19 traverse the extension of the upper flanks 15 of the second lower upward threads 2e, within the upward groove 2f.

(38) Consequently, the cap 26 will start making a linear upward movement, which ends at the instant the entry ends 20 of the inner thread segments 19 reach the lower flank 18i of the end-stops 18.

(39) At this instant, the closure movement of the cap 26 on the spout 3 then ends.

(40) It is important to mention that the inner thread segments 19 are designed in such a way as to perfectly fit within the upward grooves 2f, so that no problems occur during the closing operation of the cap 26, and in particular at the moment the inner thread segments 19 undergo a change of direction in their axial movement to start their entry into the upward grooves 2f.

(41) When it is necessary to remove the cap 26 from its engagement to the spout 3 for the first time, a rotational movement of unscrewing of the cap 26 relative to the outer thread 2 of the spout 3 should be effected.

(42) At the start of this unscrewing movement, the rear ends 21 of the inner thread segments 19 will touch the lower flanks 16 of the second upward threads 2d, which will cause the inner thread segments 19 to start a downward axial movement, in addition to effecting an unscrewing rotating movement, to also start a downward axial movement as a result of the second upper threads 2d having a left-handed upward thread configuration.

(43) Concomitantly, the front ends 20 of the inner thread segments 19 will run through the upper flanks 15 of the second lower threads 2e as the unscrewing movement of the cap 26 is effected.

(44) This downward axial movement of the inner thread segments 19 ends when the rear ends 21 of the inner thread segments 19 fully passes by the first junction point 6 and the front ends 20 of the inner thread segments 19 reach the second junction point 7.

(45) At this moment the inner thread segments 19 will start their entry into the lower regions of the downward grooves 2c defined between the first downward upper threads 2a and the first downward lower threads 2b.

(46) From this moment on, and with the continued continuity of the unscrewing movement of the cap 26, the inner thread segments 19 will travel the first downward grooves 2c towards the entries 4a. After the inner thread segments 19 have passed entirely through the entries 4a the cap 26 is then completely unscrewed from the spout 3.

(47) The combination of the initial circular unscrewing movement of the cap 26 and the consequent downward axial movement described above will cause the sharp ends 30a of the protruding cutting elements 30 to project onto the package from their initial mounting position, thereby opening the package on which the cap 26 is mounted.

(48) The magnitude of the downward axial movement of the cap 26 will be dependent on the angles of inclination of the second upward upper thread 2d and the second upward lower thread 2e with respect to their generatrixes, which are substantially the same.

(49) Although the rotating cutting element shown in FIG. 2 has protruding cutting elements 30 nearly the entire perimeter thereof, to ensure that the package is cut by their sharp ends 30a when the cap is open, a lesser number of protruding cutting elements 30 may be provided to save material, as long as they are provided in sufficient number to ensure the cutting of the package during the initial downward unscrewing of the cap.

(50) For reasons of safety and hygiene, the cap 26 may be provided with an unscrewing prevention mechanism, not shown in the Figures. One of the functions of these cap screw unscrewing mechanisms is to provide the end user with a guarantee that the cap 26 has remained in the position in which it was assembled at the factory until the time when it will be unscrewed for removal of the content from the package.

(51) It is known in the art various types of tamper evident device to prevent unauthorised unscrewing of the cap, which, for this reason, are not described herein. In addition, they are not part of the present invention, and there is no impediment to them being used in conjunction therewith.

(52) Thus, as has been shown, the automatic opening device 1 object of the present invention provides an effective means of simple manufacture and use by providing components which cause a change in the direction of axial movement of the cap 26 at the initial moment when it is unscrewed from the spout 3.

(53) Further, the present invention obviates the use of additional components, requires less material and less manufacturing time, and simplifies the entire assembly operation in the factory thereby reducing manufacturing costs and offers significant economic advantages.

(54) While the present invention has been described with its application in threaded package spouts and applied to mechanisms driven by the unscrewing movement of caps or closures coupled to these spouts, it should be mentioned that the automatic opening device of the present invention may be employed in any case in which it is necessary to use a cap provided with a rotating cutting element which serves to cut the material located immediately below the cap when the cap starts to be unscrewed from the spout to which it is engaged.

(55) Thus, the present invention is not limited to the applications described in this specification and is only limited to the content of the claims that follow.