METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CAPSULE MADE OF ALUMINUM FOR SMALL TUBES WITH OPEN HOLE AND PRODUCT SO OBTAINED

Abstract

Capsule made of aluminum, suited to seal small tubes with open hole by using a capsule made of the same metallic material as the tube, the capsule being useful in the recycling of its materials after their end use; the capsule including: a cylindrical body made of aluminum, derived from the pressure received from the punch during cavity formation; a thread, imparted within the wall of the capsule, in turn imparting a thread on the outlet of the present small tube with open hole; at least a seal, installed on the internal side of the upper face of the capsule, isolating the product contained within the small tube and to increase the sealing properties of the package; and at least a lower band, adapted to represent a security seal so as to distinguish the capsules that have already been unscrewed from those that are still new.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum, for small tubes with open hole, adapted to seal a common small tube by using the same construction material employed in making the small tube, so as to render the entire package eco-sustainable, of the method comprising: studying the physical properties of treated aluminum, by means of analysis of elasticity and heat and deformation resistance; extending an aluminum sheet, engaged within a die adapted to maintain said aluminum sheet in position during pressing; deforming the aluminum sheet by means of a punch, adapted to impart a cavity, creating said aluminum capsule; carrying out quality control randomly on one of the manufactured capsules; inserting a food membrane seal, which is adherent with the upper internal part of the capsule, adapted to isolate the packaged product within the small tube from the outside environment; said seal, even if made of non-metal material, is adapted to be recycled together with the entire small aluminum tube since the seal constitutes less than 0.4% of the entire package; installing a lower band, adapted to represent the security seal, so as to identify the small tubes that are still new and those already opened.

2. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 1, wherein said punch is adapted to impart a round and flat shape to the upper face of the capsule.

3. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 1, wherein said capsule is attained by means of pressure of a punch, adapted to make a capsule with conical shape, improving the sealing capacity thereof.

4. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 1, wherein during the step of deformation of the aluminum sheet, the thread is imparted within the capsule, for the purpose of subsequently imparting the thread to the outlet of the small tube by means of impression, when said capsule is screwed for sealing the package the first time.

5. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 1, wherein said seal is made of food silicone material.

6. Capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, said capsule being manufactured using the manufacturing method of claim 1, in order to seal the small tubes with open hole, using a capsule made of the same metal material, useful in recycling materials at the end of use; said capsule comprising: a cylindrical body made of aluminum, derived from the pressure received from the punch during cavity formation; a thread, imparted within the wall of said capsule, in turn adapted to impart a thread on the outlet of the present small tube with open hole; at least a seal, installed on the internal side of the upper face of the capsule, adapted to isolate the product contained within the small tube and to increase the sealing properties of the package; at least a lower band, adapted to represent a security seal so as to distinguish the capsules that have already been unscrewed from those that are still new.

7. The capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 6, wherein the capsule requires a thickness of the hole on the outlet of the small tube up to 4 millimeters greater, with respect to the aluminum small tubes with capsule made of plastic; said increase is adapted to increase the adherence of the seal and hence to increase the package seal.

8. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 2, wherein said capsule is attained by means of pressure of a punch, adapted to make a capsule with conical shape, improving the sealing capacity thereof.

9. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 2, wherein during the step of deformation of the aluminum sheet, the thread is imparted within the capsule, for the purpose of subsequently imparting the thread to the outlet of the small tube by means of impression, when said capsule is screwed for sealing the package the first time.

10. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 3, wherein during the step of deformation of the aluminum sheet, the thread is imparted within the capsule, for the purpose of subsequently imparting the thread to the outlet of the small tube by means of impression, when said capsule is screwed for sealing the package the first time.

11. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 8, wherein during the step of deformation of the aluminum sheet, the thread is imparted within the capsule, for the purpose of subsequently imparting the thread to the outlet of the small tube by means of impression, when said capsule is screwed for sealing the package the first time.

12. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 2, wherein said seal is made of food silicone material.

13. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 3, wherein said seal is made of food silicone material.

14. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 4, wherein said seal is made of food silicone material.

15. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 8, wherein said seal is made of food silicone material.

16. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 9, wherein said seal is made of food silicone material.

17. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 10, wherein said seal is made of food silicone material.

18. The method for manufacturing a capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, according to claim 11, wherein said seal is made of food silicone material.

19. Capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, said capsule being manufactured using the manufacturing method of claim 2, in order to seal the small tubes with open hole, using a capsule made of the same metal material, useful in recycling materials at the end of use; said capsule comprising: a cylindrical body made of aluminum, derived from the pressure received from the punch during cavity formation; a thread, imparted within the wall of said capsule, in turn adapted to impart a thread on the outlet of the present small tube with open hole; at least a seal, installed on the internal side of the upper face of the capsule, adapted to isolate the product contained within the small tube and to increase the sealing properties of the package; at least a lower band, adapted to represent a security seal so as to distinguish the capsules that have already been unscrewed from those that are still new.

20. Capsule made of aluminum for small tubes with open hole, said capsule being manufactured using the manufacturing method of claim 3, in order to seal the small tubes with open hole, using a capsule made of the same metal material, useful in recycling materials at the end of use; said capsule comprising: a cylindrical body made of aluminum, derived from the pressure received from the punch during cavity formation; a thread, imparted within the wall of said capsule, in turn adapted to impart a thread on the outlet of the present small tube with open hole; at least a seal, installed on the internal side of the upper face of the capsule, adapted to isolate the product contained within the small tube and to increase the sealing properties of the package; at least a lower band, adapted to represent a security seal so as to distinguish the capsules that have already been unscrewed from those that are still new.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention will be described in at least one preferred embodiment, for illustrative and non-limitative purposes, with reference to the annexed Figures, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows the details of a small tube 15 with open hole 22 sealed by a capsule 10 made of aluminum. This capsule 10 comprises a cylindrical body made of aluminum, suited to facilitate the recycling of the entire package after use of the product. This small tube 15 comprises a nozzle or outlet 14 on which a plurality of threads 23 are indicated, which are engraved/etched by the capsule 10 during the first screwing operation.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows in greater detail the configuration of the capsule 10 made of aluminum, suited to seal a common small tube of aluminum 15 with open hole 22. This capsule 15 includes in its interior a seal 20, that is a membrane for food products, suited to seal with greater effectiveness/reliability the content of the small tube 15. A thread 17 is imparted during the drawing steps in which a punch forms the capsule 10 starting from a common aluminum sheet. A band 21 is mounted inferiorly on said capsule 10 in order to distinguish a new capsule 10 from one which has been already opened, thereby representing the security seal of the package.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the flowchart embodying the method of the present invention which is linked to the product obtained therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The present invention will now be described only for illustrative, but non-limitative or binding purposes, with reference to the accompanying drawings which show some embodiments of the present inventive concept.

[0034] Turning attention to FIG. 1 it shows a schematical representation of a typical use of a capsule 10 made of aluminum.

[0035] The capsule 10 is used to seal small tubes 15 which have an open hole 22 on their nozzle/outlet 14.

[0036] The cylindrical body 12 of the capsule 10 is suited to impart/engrave a thread 23 on this outlet 14 during the first screwing operation.

[0037] Due to the fact that the capsule 10 is entirely made of aluminum, the whole package assembly is eco-sustainable since it is easily recyclable. Aluminum is in fact one among the most recyclable materials due to its physical properties.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, it shows an internal view of the aluminum capsule 10.

[0039] The thread 17 is suited to engrave/impart the first thread 23 on the nozzle or outlet 14 of the small tube 15.

[0040] A seal 20, preferably made of a food grade membrane, is inserted within the capsule 10 in order to increase its sealing properties with regard to the product packaged in the small tube 15. Said seal 20, even if non-metallic, can be recycled together with the whole of the small aluminum tube 15 because it amounts to less than 0.4% of the entire package.

[0041] On its lower side, the capsule 10 has a visible lower band 21 which functions as a warranty seal to identify a new capsule 10 and distinguish it from an opened one upon unscrewing.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a representation of a flowchart of the method allowing to obtain said capsule 10 made of aluminum, for small tubes 15 with open hole 22, which includes the following steps: [0043] study 100 of the physical properties of treated aluminum, by means of analysis of elasticity and heat and deformation resistance; [0044] extending 200 an aluminum sheet, engaged within a die adapted to maintain said aluminum sheet in position during pressing; [0045] deformation 300 of the aluminum sheet by means of a punch, adapted to impart a cavity, creating said aluminum capsule 10; [0046] quality control 400 carried out randomly on one of the manufactured capsules 10; [0047] insertion 500 of a food membrane seal 20, which is adherent with the upper internal part of the capsule 10, adapted to isolate the packaged product within the small tube 15 from the outside environment; said seal 20, even if made of non-metal material, is adapted to be recycled together with the entire small aluminum tube 15 since it constitutes less than 0.4% of the entire package; [0048] installation 600 of a lower band 21, adapted to represent the security seal, so as to identify the small tubes 15 that are still new and those already opened.

[0049] Lastly, it is clear that changes may be made to the invention, as described so far, and even additions or variants obvious for a skilled person are possible, without in this way departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.