Cap assembly and method for capping same
09862528 ยท 2018-01-09
Assignee
Inventors
- Takamitsu Isogai (Tokyo, JP)
- Keita Iwamizu (Tokyo, JP)
- Takeshi Isobe (Tokyo, JP)
- Hideyuki Muroi (Tokyo, JP)
- Souma Takamiya (Tokyo, JP)
Cpc classification
B65D47/106
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D47/36
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65B7/2835
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D51/228
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B65D47/36
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65B7/28
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
The present invention is related to a cap assembly which is put over a mouth of a bottle and a method for capping of capping the cap assembly to a bottle, and includes a function that makes it possible to open an inner stopper only by operating a cap when removing the cap initially, and makes attaching thereof to the bottle easy. There are included an inner stopper 40 and a cap 50, which respectively include a male screw thread 411c and a female screw thread 541, and the inner stopper 40 and the cap 50 while a state in which they are assembled is maintained are capped to a bottle 60, and when the cap 50 is removed initially, the cap 50 is firstly rotated in a direction of closing to have a junction section 52 broken, and then the cap 50 is rotated in a direction of opening so that the lid body 42 of the inner stopper 40 is removed together with cap 50, thereby causing the inner stopper 40 also to be in a state of being opened.
Claims
1. A cap assembly comprising: an inner stopper that is put over a mouth of a bottle to close the mouth; and a cap that is put over the mouth of the bottle such that the cap covers the inner stopper, wherein the inner stopper comprises: a main body that includes a hollow section which has a hollow shape having an upper opening and a lower opening and communicating with the mouth of the bottle, and whose lower end section is inserted to the mouth of the bottle, a holding section which holds an upper end section of the bottle in cooperation with the lower end section of the hollow section after the insertion has been executed, and a first screw thread for screwing to the cap; and a lid body that includes a lid section which spreads above the hollow section such that the lid section covers that hollow section, a junction section which is circumferentially junctioned to an upper end edge of the hollow section and closes the upper opening on an upper end of the hollow section together with the lid section, and that is a component integral with the main body, closes the mouth of the bottle together with the main body, and receives pressing from above to have the junction section broken so as to become a part separate from the main body, the cap comprises: a shell section that is formed to be hollow while opening downward and is put over the mouth of the bottle while covering the inner stopper; a receiving section that protrudes in a cylindrical shape and downward from an inner side upper surface of the shell section, has a lower opening section, and receives the lid section in an inside to surround an edge of the lid section; a protrusion section that protrudes inward from an inner circumference surface of the receiving section, interferes with the edge of the lid section to cause the lid section to expand the receiving section when the lid section goes up from below relatively to the cap, causes the receiving section to return to an original shape so as to be positioned below the lid section when the lid section comes to a side of an upper surface of the shell section, and supports the lid section after the junction section is broken; and a second screw thread that is screwed to the first screw thread, and the first screw thread and the second screw thread are screwed to each other, and the cap is coupled with the inner stopper in a state in which the cap receives the lid section in the receiving section, wherein the receiving section includes a hook which protrudes inward on a side above the protrusion section on the inner circumference surface of the receiving section and is for preventing a rotation of the cap, the lid section includes plural rotation preventing protrusions which are arranged in a circumferential direction on a circumference surface of the lid section which circumference surface facing the inner circumference surface of the receiving section and engage with the hook, and the cap and the inner stopper are coupled with each other in a state in which the first screw thread and the second screw thread are screwed to each other, the lid section is received in the receiving section, the protrusion section is positioned below the lid section, and the rotation preventing protrusions engage with the hook.
2. The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first screw thread is a screw thread which circles helically on an outer circumference surface of the hollow section, and the cap includes a screwing section which protrudes in a cylindrical shape and downward from the inner side upper surface of the shell section and opens downward, and on whose inner circumference surface a screw thread to be screwed to the male screw thread is formed, and the second screw thread is formed on an inner circumference surface of the screwing section.
3. A cap assembly comprising: an inner stopper that is put over a mouth of a bottle to close the mouth; and a cap that is put over the mouth of the bottle such that the cap covers the inner stopper, wherein the inner stopper comprises: a main body that includes a hollow section which has a hollow shape having an upper opening and a lower opening and communicating with the mouth of the bottle, and whose lower end section is inserted to the mouth of the bottle, a holding section which holds an upper end section of the bottle in cooperation with the lower end section of the hollow section after the insertion has been executed, and a first screw thread for screwing to the cap; and a lid body that includes a lid section which spreads above the hollow section such that the lid section covers that hollow section, a junction section which is circumferentially junctioned to an upper end edge of the hollow section and closes the upper opening on an upper end of the hollow section together with the lid section, and that is a component integral with the main body, closes the mouth of the bottle together with the main body, and receives pressing from above to have the junction section broken so as to become a part separate from the main body, the cap comprises: a shell section that is formed to be hollow while opening downward and is put over the mouth of the bottle while covering the inner stopper; a receiving section that protrudes in a cylindrical shape and downward from an inner side upper surface of the shell section, has a lower opening section, and receives the lid section in an inside to surround an edge of the lid section; a protrusion section that protrudes inward from an inner circumference surface of the receiving section, interferes with the edge of the lid section to cause the lid section to expand the receiving section when the lid section goes up from below relatively to the cap, causes the receiving section to return to an original shape so as to be positioned below the lid section when the lid section comes to a side of an upper surface of the shell section, and supports the lid section after the junction section is broken; and a second screw thread that is screwed to the first screw thread, and the first screw thread and the second screw thread are screwed to each other, and the cap is coupled with the inner stopper in a state in which the cap receives the lid section in the receiving section, wherein the receiving section includes a hook which protrudes inward on a side below the protrusion section on the inner circumference surface of the receiving section and is for preventing rotating of the cap, the lid section includes plural rotation preventing protrusions which are arranged in a circumferential direction on a circumference surface of the lid section which circumference surface facing the inner circumference surface of the receiving section and engage with the hook, and the cap and the inner stopper are coupled with each other in a state in which the first screw thread and the second screw thread are screwed to each other, the lid section is received in the receiving section, the protrusion section is positioned above the lid section, and the rotation preventing protrusions engage with the hook.
4. The cap assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first screw thread is a screw thread which circles helically on an outer circumference surface of the hollow section, and the cap includes a screwing section which protrudes in a cylindrical shape and downward from the inner side upper surface of the shell section and opens downward, and on whose inner circumference surface a screw thread to be screwed to the male screw thread is formed, and the second screw thread is formed on an inner circumference surface of the screwing section.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(24) In the following, a comparative example which is compared to the present invention will be explained firstly, and next, embodiments according to the present invention will be explained.
(25)
(26) A cap assembly 1A of the comparative example illustrated in this
(27) The inner stopper 10 is a component which is put over a mouth 31 of a bottle 30 to close the mouth 31. In addition, the cap 20 is a component which is put over the mouth 31 of the bottle 30 upon the inner stopper 10 such that the cap 20 covers the inner stopper 10.
(28) This
(29) The inner stopper 10 includes a main body 11 and a lid body 12.
(30) The main body 11 includes a hollow section 111 and a holding section 112. Of them, the hollow section 111 has a hollow shape which has an upper opening and a lower opening, and communicates with the mouth 31 of the bottle 30, and a lower end section 111a of the hollow section 111 is inserted to the mouth 31 of the bottle 30.
(31) In addition, the holding section 112 included in the main body 11 plays a role of receiving an insertion of an upper end section 32 of the bottle 30 to hold the upper send section 32 of the bottle 30 in cooperation with the lower end section 111a of the hollow section 111 which lower end section 111a is inserted to the mouth 31 of the bottle 30. The holding section 112 has a configuration in which a rib 112a is formed to protrude inward in the holding section 112, and the rib 112a enters a depressed section 33 of the bottle 30 so that the holding section 112 firmly holds the upper end section 32 of the bottle 30 and is not removed from the mouth 31 of the bottle 30.
(32) In addition, the lid body 12 included in the inner stopper 10 includes a lid section 121 and a junction section 122. Of them, the lid section 121 is a portion which spreads in a plate shape and above the hollow section 111 such that the lid section 121 covers the hollow section 111. In addition, the junction section 122 is junctioned circumferentially to an upper end edge 111b of the hollow section 111, and closes an opening on an upper end of the hollow section 111 together with the lid section 121. The main body 11 and the lid body 12 which are included in the inner stopper 10 are integrally formed as a single component, and however, the junction section 122 is considerably easily broken when the lid section 121 is pressed from above, and when the junction section 122 is broken, the lid body 12 becomes a part separate from the main body 11. This point will be described later.
(33) In order to secure a safety margin ratio as large as possible such that the junction section 122 is not inadvertently broken, it is devised such that a recess 121a is formed on an upper surface of the lid section 121 so that the lid section 121 is made to have a shape of being away as much as possible from an upper surface of the cap 20, and even if a force is applied to the upper surface of the cap 20 and the upper surface is depressed, the force is not applied to the lid section 121.
(34) In addition, the cap 20 included in the cap assembly 1A of the comparative example includes a shell section 21, a receiving section 22 and a protrusion section 23.
(35) The shell section 21 is a portion which is formed to be hollow while opening downward, and is put over the mouth 31 of the bottle 30 upon the inner stopper 10 while covering the inner stopper 10. A female screw thread 211 which is screwed to a male screw thread 34 provided in the bottle 30 is formed on an inner circumference surface of the shell section 21, and the cap 20 is rotated to be attached or removed.
(36) In addition, the receiving section 22 is a portion which protrudes in a cylindrical shape and downward from an inner side upper surface of the shell section 22, has a lower opening section, and receives the lid section 121 of the main body 11 in an inside thereof to surround an edge 121b of the lid section 121.
(37) Further, the protrusion section 23 is a portion which has a shape of rib protruding inward from an inner circumference surface of the receiving section 22. As described later, the protrusion section 23 protrudes up to a position in which the protrusion section 23 interferes with the edge 121b of the lid section 121.
(38) In the case of the cap assembly lA of the configuration illustrated in this
(39)
(40) After delivered to a consumer in the state illustrated in
(41) When the cap 20 is further rotated in the direction of closing so that the cap 20 is further moved in the direction of arrow A, the cap 20 presses the lid section 121, and the junction section 122 is broken, as illustrated in
(42) In the case of the comparative example illustrated in these
(43) However, in the case of this comparative example, it is required that the inner stopper 10 and the cap 20 are separately managed, and a process of capping the inner stopper 10 to the bottle 30 and a process of closing with the cap are required to be provided separately. Further, in a series of the processes of filling the bottle 30 with a content and sealing, such a control that the cap 20 is closed until the protrusion section 23 is positioned immediately above the lid section 121 as illustrated in
(44) Based on the above explanations of the comparative example, embodiments according to the present invention will be explained next.
(45)
(46) A cap assembly 1B of the first embodiment illustrated in this
(47) The inner stopper 40 is a component which is put over a mouth 61 of a bottle 60 to close the mouth 61 (see
(48) The inner stopper 40 includes a main body 41 and a lid body 42.
(49) The main body 41 includes a hollow section 411 and a holding section 412. Of them, the hollow section 411 has a hollow shape which has an upper opening and a lower opening and communicates with the mouth 61 of the bottle 60, and at the time of capping, a lower end section 411a thereof is inserted to the mouth 61 of the bottle 60 (see
(50) In addition, a male screw thread 411c which circles helically on an outer circumference surface of the hollow section 411 and is screwed to a female screw thread 541 of the cap 50 is formed on the outer circumference surface in the hollow section 411.
(51) In addition, the holding section 412 included in the main body 41 plays a role of receiving an insertion of an upper end section 62 of the bottle 60 to hold the upper end section 62 of the bottle 60 in cooperation with the lower end section 411a of the hollow section 411 which lower end section 411a is inserted to the mouth 61 of the bottle 60. The holding section 412 has a configuration in which a rib 412a is formed in the holding section 412, and the rib 412a enters a depressed section 63 (see
(52) In addition, the lid body 42 included in the inner stopper 40 includes a lid section 421 and a junction section 422. Of them, the lid section 421 is a portion which spreads in a plate shape above the hollow section 411 such that the lid section 421 covers the hollow section 411. In addition, the junction section 422 is junctioned circumferentially to an upper end edge 411b of the hollow section 411, and closes an opening on an upper end of the hollow section 411 together with the lid section 421. The main body 41 and the lid body 42 which are included in the hollow section 40 are integrally formed as a single component, and however, the junction section 422 is considerably easily broken when the lid section 421 is pressed from above. When the junction section 422 is broken, the lid body 42 becomes a part separate from the main body 41.
(53) In order to secure a safety margin ratio as large as possible such that the junction section 422 is not broken inadvertently, it is devised such that a recess 421a is formed on an upper surface of the lid section 421 so that the lid section 421 is made to be away as much as possible from an upper surface of the cap 50, and thus, even if a force is applied to the upper surface of the cap 50 and the upper surface is depressed, the force is not applied to the lid section 421.
(54) The cap 50 includes a shell section 51, a receiving section 52, a protrusion section 53, a screwing section 54 which are illustrated in
(55) The shell section 51 is a portion which is formed to be hollow while opening downward, and is put over the mouth 61 of the bottle 60 (see
(56) In addition, the receiving section 52 is a portion which protrudes in a cylindrical shape and downward from an inner side upper surface of the shell section 51, has a lower opening section, and receives the lid section 421 of the main body 41 in an inside thereof to surround an edge 421b of the lid section 421.
(57) Further, the protrusion section 53 is a portion which has a rib shape protruding inward from an inner circumference surface of the receiving section 52. This protrusion section 53 protrudes up to a position in which the protrusion section 53 interferes with the edge 421b of the lid section 421 when the lid section 421 passes up from below relatively to the cap 50.
(58) In addition, the screwing section 54 has a shape which protrudes in a cylindrical shape and downward from an inner side upper surface of the shell section 51 and opens downward. The female screw thread 541 which is screwed to the male screw thread 411c formed on the outer circumference surface of the hollow section 411 of the inner stopper 40 is formed on an inner circumference surface of the screwing section 54. In other words, in the above-described comparative example, the cap 20 is opened or closed with respect to the bottle 30, and in contrast, in the case of the cap assembly 1B of the first embodiment, it is configured such that the cap 50 is opened or closed with respect to the inner stopper 40 in terms of directly.
(59)
(60) In addition,
(61) In the case of the cap assembly 1B of the first embodiment, as illustrated in
(62) In addition, as illustrated in
(63)
(64) As illustrated in this
(65)
(66) At first, as illustrated in
(67) Next, as illustrated in
(68) When the lid section 421 rides on the protrusion section 53, the receiving section 52 is expanded and the torque to rotate the jig 70 increases, and when the lid section 421 goes beyond the protrusion section 53, the torque quickly decreases. Accordingly, by monitoring the torque, it is possible to detect that the lid section 421 has gone beyond the protrusion section 53. Or, instead of monitoring the torque, by using a rotation angle in the direction of arrow R1 or a movement amount in the direction of arrow U of the jig 70, it may be detected that the lid section 421 has gone beyond the protrusion section 53.
(69) Here, only by rotating the jig 70 and the inner stopper 40 in the direction of arrow R1 illustrated in
(70) Then next, as illustrated in
(71) In the state in which the lid section 421 is immediately above the protrusion section 53, as illustrated in
(72) Incidentally, as illustrated in
(73) The example in which the jig 70 and the inner stopper 40 are rotated and moved vertically has been explained in here, and however, a jig (not illustrated in the drawings) to hold the cap 50 may be rotated or moved vertically with the inner stopper 40 being fixed.
(74) Next, a scene in which the cap assembly is capped to a bottle will be explained.
(75)
(76) The bottle 60 is filled with a content, and, as illustrated in
(77) After the cap assembly 1B is capped to the bottle 60, shrink wrap packaging is performed.
(78)
(79) A product is delivered to a consumer, in the state illustrated in
(80) After the consumer opens the shrink wrap, the consumer temporarily rotates the cap 50 in the direction of closing. Then, as illustrated in
(81) Incidentally, the upper end surface 411d on an edge surrounding the upper opening of the inner stopper 40 which upper end surface 411d is oriented upward is formed to be a surface which has a gradient rising outward, as illustrated in
(82) Next, a cap assembly of a second embodiment according to the present invention will be explained. As to the cap assembly of the second embodiment, elements respectively corresponding to those of the cap assembly 1B according to the first embodiment which have been explained above will be illustrated while denoted with reference signs same as those denoted in the drawings of the above-described cap assembly 1B according to the first embodiment even if there are differences in shape and the like, and only differences will be explained.
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(84) In a case of a cap assembly 1C, a cap 50 is coupled with an inner stopper 40 such that a lid section 421 of the inner stopper 40 is positioned immediately below a protrusion section 53 of the cap 50.
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(86) In the case of the second embodiment, the lid section 421 of the inner stopper 40 is positioned immediately below the protrusion section 53 of the cap 50, and in relation to this, hooks 55 are formed immediately below the protrusion section 53.
(87)
(88) As explained with reference to
(89) In other words, compared to the above-described first embodiment, the second embodiment is different in a position in which the rotation of the cap 50 with respect to the inner stopper 40 is stopped. In order to assemble the inner stopper 40 and the cap 50 as described, it may be stopped based on that the lid section 42 of the inner stopper 40 abuts against the protrusion section 53 of the cap from below and the torque begins to increase.
(90)
(91) Also in the second embodiment, similarly to the above-described first embodiment, as illustrated in this
(92) The cap assembly 1C of the second embodiment is handled in a state illustrated in
(93) Next, as to the second embodiment, a scene in which the cap is initially opened will be explained.
(94)
(95) The cap assembly after capped to the bottle and being in the state illustrated in
(96) Then, after removing the shrink wrap, the cap is temporarily rotated in the direction of closing. Thus, as illustrated in
(97) As explained, in the present invention, the stop position of the lid section 421 may be either above or below the protrusion section 53.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
(98) 1A, 1B, 1C Cap assembly
(99) 10, 40 Inner stopper
(100) 11, 41 Main body
(101) 12, 42 Lid body
(102) 20, 50 Cap
(103) 21, 51 Shell section
(104) 22, 52 Receiving section
(105) 23, 53 Protrusion section
(106) 30, 60 Bottle
(107) 31, 61 Mouth
(108) 32, 62 Upper end section
(109) 34, 411c Male screw thread
(110) 112a, 412a, 411e Rib
(111) 54 Screwing section
(112) 55 Hook
(113) 63 Depressed section
(114) 70 Jig
(115) 80 Plate
(116) 111, 411 Hollow section
(117) 112, 412 Holding section
(118) 111a, 411a Lower end section
(119) 111b, 411b Upper end section
(120) 121, 421 Lid section
(121) 121b, 421b Edge
(122) 122, 422 Junction section
(123) 121a, 421a Recess
(124) 411d Upper end surface
(125) 421b Junction section
(126) 421c Circumference surface
(127) 421d Rotation preventing protrusion
(128) 541 Female screw thread