CLOSURE MODULE FOR A CONTAINER

Abstract

A sealing module for sealing a container opening of a container by a lid, the lid has a lid flange and the container has a container flange in the region of the container opening. The sealing module has a supporting unit with a supporting surface and a pressing unit with a pressing surface for pressing the lid flange together with the container flange of the container opening. The supporting unit and the pressing unit are displaceable relative to one another in an axial direction in such a way, so that the lid flange and the container flange are capable of being pressed together between the supporting surface and the pressing surface by an axially acting force in the operating state.

Claims

1. A sealing module for sealing a container opening of a container by a lid, the lid having a lid flange and the container having a container flange in the region of the container opening, and the sealing module comprising: a supporting unit with a supporting surface; and a pressing unit with a pressing surface configured to press the lid flange together with the container flange of the container opening, the supporting unit and the pressing unit displaceable relative to one another in an axial direction, so that the lid flange and the container flange are capable of being pressed together between the supporting surface and the pressing surface by an axially acting force in an operating state.

2. The sealing module according to claim 1, wherein the supporting unit or the pressing unit is formed of several segments, so that the supporting surface or the pressing surface are composed segment by segment in the operating state.

3. The sealing module according to claim 2, wherein the segments of the supporting unit or of the pressing unit are movable.

4. The sealing module according to claim 1, wherein the supporting unit is fixedly arranged in the operating state and the pressing unit is movable in the axial direction relative to the supporting unit.

5. The sealing module according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit is fixedly arranged in the operating state and the supporting unit is movable in the axial direction relative to the pressing unit.

6. The sealing module according to claim 1, wherein the supporting unit is a holding unit configured to support the container flange, so that the container is capable of being fixed at the container flange relative to the axial direction of the holding unit.

7. The sealing module according to claim 1, wherein the supporting surface has a supporting surface profile and the pressing surface has a corresponding pressing surface profile, so that the container flange and the lid flange are capable of being pressed together in a form-locking way over the supporting surface profile and the pressing surface profile in the operating state.

8. The sealing module according to claim 1, wherein the sealing module has a centering device configured to center the container or the lid, so that the container is capable of being positioned in a radial direction relative to the supporting unit or the lid is capable of being positioned in a radial direction relative to the pressing unit.

9. The sealing module according to claim 1, wherein the sealing module comprises a movable radial pressing unit with a radial pressing surface, so that the lid flange and the container flange are capable of being pressed together between the supporting surface and the radial pressing surface or between the pressing surface and the radial pressing surface by a radially acting force in the operating state.

10. The sealing module according to claim 1, wherein the sealing module has an ejection element for to release the container in the sealing module.

11. The sealing module according to claim 10, wherein the ejection element is fixedly arranged in the sealing module.

12. The sealing module according to claim 10, wherein the ejection element is movably arranged in the sealing module.

13. A sealing device, comprising: a sealing module according to claim 1.

14. The sealing device according to claim 13, wherein the sealing device has a longitudinal axis, and the sealing module is arranged in a circumferential direction extending around the longitudinal axis.

15. The sealing device according to claim 13, wherein the sealing device has at least one vertical plane and the sealing module is arranged in the at least one vertical plane.

16. A method for sealing a container opening of a container by a lid, the lid having a lid flange and the container having a container flange in the region of the container opening, and the lid and the container assigned to a sealing module, the method comprising: providing a sealing module having a supporting unit with a supporting surface and a pressing unit with a pressing surface for pressing the lid flange together with the container flange of the container opening, the supporting unit and the pressing unit being displaceable relative to one another in an axial direction such that the lid flange and the container flange are capable of being pressed together between the supporting surface and the pressing surface by an axially acting force in an operating state. introducing the container and the lid into the sealing module; actuating the sealing module, such that the supporting unit and the pressing unit are moved relative to one another in the axial direction, so that the lid flange and the container flange are pressed together between the supporting surface and the pressing surface by an axially acting force.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the supporting unit or the pressing unit of the sealing module are rotated along a circumferential direction extending around a longitudinal axis.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the supporting unit or the pressing unit of the sealing module are moved linearly.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the container with the lid is released by an ejection element in the sealing module.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the ejection element is moved in the axial direction against the container or the container flange or the lid flange, so that the container is released by the ejection element in the sealing module.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the container or the container flange or the lid flange is moved in the axial direction against the ejection element, so that the container is released by the ejection element in the sealing module.

22. A lid for sealing a container opening of a container, the lid comprising: a cover element to cover the container opening and a lid flange surrounding the cover element configured to attach the lid to the container, the lid flange including a lid flange profile.

23. The lid according to claim 22, wherein the cover element is roundish or polygonal in shape.

24. The lid according to claim 22, wherein the cover element and the lid flange are made of different materials.

25. The lid according to claim 22, wherein the lid includes a sealing element in a region of the lid flange profile.

26. The lid according to claim 22, wherein the lid includes an adhesive film in a region of the lid flange profile.

27. The lid according to claim 22, wherein the lid flange is slit in an outer edge region of the lid flange.

28. A container for receiving a medium, the container comprising: a container opening; and a container flange surrounding the container opening in a region of the container opening to attach a lid to the container opening, the container flange including a container flange profile.

29. The container according to claim 28, wherein the container is cylindrical or prismatic or conical in shape.

30. The container according to anyone of the claim 28 or claim 28, wherein the container opening is roundish or polygonal in shape.

31. The container according to claim 28, wherein the container and the container flange are made of different materials.

32. The container according to claim 28, wherein the container includes a sealing element in the region of the container flange profile.

33. The container according to claim 28, wherein the container includes an adhesive film in a region of the container flange profile.

34. The container according to claim 28, wherein the container flange is slit in an outer edge region of the container flange.

35. A sealed vessel comprising: a container with a lid, the container being sealed by the lid by a sealing module according to claim 1.

36. The sealed vessel according to claim 35, wherein a sealing region and the lid of the sealed vessel have corresponding structures, such that a plurality of such sealed vessels can be stacked in a stable manner.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0060] FIG. 1A is a sealing module known from the state of the art before the sealing process,

[0061] FIG. 1B is the known sealing module according to FIG. 1A during the sealing process,

[0062] FIG. 2A is a cross-section through a first embodiment of a sealing module according to the invention before the sealing process,

[0063] FIG. 2B is the sealing module according to FIG. 2A during the sealing process,

[0064] FIG. 3A is a cross-section through a second embodiment of a sealing module according to the invention before the sealing process,

[0065] FIG. 3B is the sealing module according to FIG. 3A during the sealing process,

[0066] FIG. 4A is a cross-section through a third embodiment of a sealing module according to the invention before the sealing process,

[0067] FIG. 4B is the sealing module according to FIG. 4A during the sealing process,

[0068] FIG. 5A is a cross-section through a fourth embodiment of a sealing module according to the invention before the sealing process,

[0069] FIG. 5B is the sealing module according to FIG. 5A during the sealing process,

[0070] FIG. 6A is a first embodiment of a sealing device according to the invention with a plurality of sealing modules,

[0071] FIG. 6B is a second embodiment of a sealing device according to the invention with a plurality of sealing modules,

[0072] FIG. 7A is a first embodiment of a lid according to the invention,

[0073] FIG. 7B is a second embodiment of a lid according to the invention,

[0074] FIG. 7C is a third embodiment of a lid according to the invention,

[0075] FIG. 8A is a first embodiment of a container according to the invention,

[0076] FIG. 8B is a second embodiment of a container according to the invention,

[0077] FIG. 9A is a first embodiment of a sealed vessel according to the invention and

[0078] FIG. 9B is a second embodiment of a sealed vessel according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0079] As already mentioned, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show the state of the art and were already explained in detail at the beginning, so that a further discussion can be dispensed with here.

[0080] FIG. 2A shows a cross-section through a first embodiment of a sealing module according to the invention, which in the following is referred to as a whole with the reference sign 1. The reference signs used in FIG. 2A to FIG. 9B have no inverted comma, as these figures refer to embodiments of the present invention. As already mentioned above, only the reference signs of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B have an inverted comma, as these refer to the known state of the art.

[0081] According to FIG. 2A, the sealing module 1 comprises a supporting unit 8 with a supporting surface 8a and a pressing unit 9 with a pressing surface 9b. The supporting surface is designed as a supporting surface profile and the pressing surface is designed as a corresponding pressing surface profile. The supporting unit 8 is fixedly arranged in the sealing module 1 and the pressing unit 9 is movable in the axial direction relative to an axis A3 of the supporting unit 8. The supporting unit 8 is designed as a holding unit for supporting the container flange 6. The container 2 to be sealed is secured at the container flange 6 in the axial direction to the axis A3 by the holding unit 8. In addition, the container 2 is fixed in the radial direction to the axis A3 by the holding unit 8.

[0082] As FIG. 2B shows, the pressing unit 9 is moved in the axial direction to the support unit 8 during the sealing process. In doing so, the lid flange 7 and the container flange 6 are pressed together in a form-locking way between the supporting surface profile 8a and the pressing surface profile 9a by an axially acting force F.sub.A.

[0083] A variant of the embodiment described is that the pressing unit 9 is fixedly arranged in the sealing device 1 and the supporting unit 8 can be displaced axial to the axis A3 and relative to the pressing unit 9.

[0084] The sealing module 1 additionally comprises an ejection element 12 for releasing the container. In the embodiment shown, the ejection element 12 is movably arranged in the sealing module 1. Alternatively, however, it is also possible that the ejection element 12 is fixedly arranged in the sealing module 1. After the sealing process has been completed, the sealed container can be released from the supporting unit 8 via the ejection element 12. For this purpose, the ejection element 12 is moved in the axial direction against the bottom of the container 2, e.g. by a motor not shown. In doing so, the ejection element exerts an axial force on the container, whereby the container is released from the supporting unit 8. A second embodiment of the sealing module according to the invention shows substantially the same structure as the sealing module according to the first embodiment (FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B).

[0085] In contrast to the first embodiment, the second embodiment of the sealing module 1 additionally comprises a movable radial pressing unit 10 with a radial pressing surface 10a. Like the pressing unit 9, the radial pressing unit 10 is movable in the axial direction relative to the axis A3 of the supporting unit 8.

[0086] As FIG. 3B shows, both the pressing unit 9 and the radial pressing unit 10 are displaced in the axial direction to the supporting unit 8 during the sealing process. In doing so, as in the first embodiment, the lid flange 7 and the container flange 6 are pressed together in a form-locking way between the supporting surface profile 8a and the pressing surface profile 9a by an axially acting force F.sub.A. In addition, the lid flange 7 and the container flange 6 are pressed together by the radial pressing unit 10 also by a radially acting force F.sub.R.

[0087] A third embodiment of the sealing module according to the invention (FIG. 4A) substantially shows the same structure as the sealing module according to the second embodiment (FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B).

[0088] In contrast to the second embodiment, in this embodiment, the radial pressing unit 10 with the radial pressing surface 10a is not movable in the axial direction but in the radial direction relative to the axis A3 of the support unit 8.

[0089] As FIG. 4B shows, the pressing unit 9 is displaced in the axial direction to the support unit 8 and the radial pressing unit 10 is displaced in the radial direction to the support unit 8 during the sealing process. In doing so, as in the second embodiment, the lid flange 7 and the container flange 6 are pressed together in a form-locking way between the supporting surface profile 8b and the pressing surface profile 9b by an axially acting force FA. In addition, the lid flange 7 and the container flange 6 are pressed together by the radial pressing unit 10, also by a radially acting force F.sub.R.

[0090] A fourth embodiment of the sealing module according to the invention (FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B) substantially shows the same structure as the sealing module 1 according to the first embodiment (FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B). The sealing module 1 comprises a supporting unit 8 with a supporting surface 8a and a pressing unit 9 with a pressing surface 9b. The supporting unit 1 is fixedly arranged in the sealing module 1 and the pressing unit 9 is movable in the axial direction relative to an axis A3 of the supporting unit 8.

[0091] In contrast to the first embodiment, in this embodiment the supporting surface 8a is designed as a ring, which serves to support the container flange 6. The container to be sealed is secured at the container flange 6 in the axial direction to the axis A3 by the supporting surface 8a. In addition, the container 2 is fixed in the radial direction to the axis A3 by the supporting surface 8a.

[0092] Furthermore, in contrast to the first embodiment, the pressing surface 9a and the pressing unit 9 are designed in such a way that the lid flange 7 and the container flange 6 are pressed together in a form-locking way during the sealing process (FIG. 5B) both by an axially acting force F.sub.A and by a radially acting force F.sub.R.

[0093] FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B schematically show a first and a second embodiment of a sealing device 13 according to the invention. The sealing device 13 comprises a plurality of sealing modules 1 in each case. According to the first embodiment (FIG. 6A), the sealing device 13 has a longitudinal axis A4, which is designed as a rotation axis. The individual sealing modules 1 are arranged spaced apart in a circumferential direction U extending about the longitudinal axis A4. According to the second embodiment (FIG. 6B), the sealing device 13 has a vertical plane VE in which the individual sealing modules 1 are arranged spaced apart from each other.

[0094] FIGS. 7A to FIG. 7C show cross-sections of three different embodiments of a lid 3 according to the invention for sealing a container opening of a container. In all embodiments, the lid 3 comprises a cover element 3a for covering a container opening and a lid flange 7 surrounding the cover element 3a for attaching the lid 3 to a container. The lid flange 7 is provided with a lid flange profile 7a.

[0095] The embodiments shown differ in the design of the lid flange profile 7a. The lid flange profile 7a is corrugated in the embodiment according to FIG. 7A. The lid flange profile 7a is designed as an eyelet in the embodiment according to FIG. 7B. The lid flange profile 7a is also designed as an eyelet in the embodiment according to FIG. 7C. However, in contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 7B, a sealing element 14 is additionally arranged in the region of the lid flange profile 7a. The sealing element 14 is designed as a sealing ring. As an alternative to the sealing element 14, the lid 3 can also be provided with an adhesive film in the region of the lid flange profile 7a, which causes a sealing effect.

[0096] In all embodiments of FIG. 7A to 7C, the cover element 3a is roundish in shape. But it is also possible that the cover element 3a is polygonal in shape. In addition, it is possible that the lid flange 7 is slit in an outer edge region of the lid flange 7.

[0097] FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show cross-sections of two embodiments of a container 2 according to the invention for receiving a medium.

[0098] In both embodiments, the container 2 has a container flange 6 surrounding the container opening 5 in the region of the container opening 5 for attaching a lid 3 to the container opening. The container flange 6 is provided with a container flange profile 6a.

[0099] Both embodiments shown differ in the design of the container flange profile 6a. In the embodiment according to FIG. 8A, the container flange profile 6a is corrugated, whereas in the embodiment according to FIG. 8B the container flange profile 6a is designed as an eyelet.

[0100] In both embodiments of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the container 2 is cylindrical in shape and the container opening 5 is roundish in shape. But it is also possible that the container 2 is prismatic or conical in shape and the container opening 5 is polygonal in shape. In addition, it is possible that the container flange 6 is slit in an outer edge region of the container flange 6.

[0101] FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show cross-sections of two embodiments of a sealed vessel 15 according to the invention. In both embodiments, the sealed vessel 15 comprises a container 2 with a lid 3, wherein the container 2 is sealed by the lid 3 by a sealing module 1 according to the invention.

[0102] Both embodiments shown differ in the design of their folding bulges 16. In the embodiment according to FIG. 9A, the folding bulge 16 is corrugated, so that the container flange 6 and the lid flange 7 are parallel to each other. In the embodiment according to FIG. 9B, the folding bulge 16 is designed as an eyelet, so that the container flange 6 and the lid flange 7 engage with each other.