EP2679507B1 - Plastic container having rectilinear mouth portions - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a plastic container. Numerous plastic containers are known from the prior art. Usually, such plastic containers have a bottom region, an adjoining main body, a shoulder region and an orifice region. Furthermore, different methods and devices for filling these containers are known from the prior art.

In the known from the prior art containers, in particular PET containers or bottles, is usually located below the mouthpiece or the mouth of a cylindrical portion having a predetermined length. This cylindrical portion is usually followed by an inward, i. to the interior of the container towards curved area, which usually connects tangentially to this cylindrical part.

This area can in turn be followed by another curved area or a straight part. These areas can in turn go into several radii or straight lines, which have as limit the maximum container diameter. The diameter of the bottle neck is variable. For some drinks or products, it would be desirable if they do not meet directly when filling the bottom of the container, but drained via the side wall or inner wall of the container. In this way, excessive foaming of the product during the filling process can be avoided become. In the case of the contents, these may be still and / or hot drinks to be filled, the effect of the foaming described above also occurring especially in the case of carbonated contents and should be avoided.

However, the known from the prior art containers have the disadvantage that in particular in the mouth region of the containers, the filling product does not run off the wall, but the flow is disturbed by the interior design of the container and thereby can tear off.

US 5,971,184 discloses a plastic container having the features of the preamble of claim 1, wherein in particular between a mouth region and a shoulder region, a transition region is arranged, which has a widening in the direction of the shoulder region rectilinear portion and an adjoining curved portion.

Other plastic containers with rectilinear, widening sections in transition areas are made FR 1 594 446 and US 2004/195199 A known.

The present invention has for its object to provide a container which facilitates its filling with such products, which are filled through the inner wall of the container. This object is achieved by a container according to claim 1 and a filling method according to claim 6. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A plastic container according to the invention has a mouth region and a shoulder region adjoining this mouth region in a longitudinal direction of the plastic container. Furthermore, the container has a body adjoining the shoulder region in the longitudinal direction of the plastic container and furthermore a bottom region adjoining the base body in the longitudinal direction of the plastic container.

Furthermore, the shoulder region widens in the longitudinal direction of the plastic container from the mouth in the direction of the main body, and a transition region is provided between the mouth region and the shoulder region.

This transition region has a section which widens in the longitudinal direction of the plastic container from the mouth in the direction of the shoulder region and has a substantially rectilinear profile. In particular, the inner wall of the container in the said section has a straight course or extends in a straight direction and in particular in a straight direction, which lies with the longitudinal direction of the container in a common plane.

According to the invention, another section with a likewise rectilinear profile adjoins the widening section with the straight course, these two straight sections being angled relative to one another.

By connecting in the longitudinal direction, it is understood that the respective region follows the other region, which can be understood as an indirect consequence, but also as an immediate consequence of the respectively adjoining regions.

Preferably, this is at the widening portion to a frustoconically widening section. This section is thus advantageously obliquely to the above-mentioned longitudinal direction of the container. The Applicant has found that the wave usually present in prior art containers in the neck extension adversely affects the filling process. This area of the container has so far received little attention, as it is technically conditioned in a difficult to expand area. However, the said shaft often prevents the gentle entry of a liquid into the container. It partly has the effect of a ski jump and the flow of the product to be filled thereby breaks off. Due to the specified slope or the straight course in the mouth region of the container precisely just does not break the filling flow.

Another advantage of this approach is an improved material distribution of the plastic material. By this rectilinear region instead of an inwardly pointing radius of curvature more material can be pulled out of the mouth region of the container and thus material can be saved. If, for example, said rectilinear course is already specified on the mold wall, it is possible that the thinned and well-tempered (plastic) material will better fit against the mold wall and formally slide around the edges and thus thinn out cleanly. In the prior art, the material was fixed in this area and thus could not be distributed to other areas of the container.

Also, existing in the art material accumulation in the mouth area is unnecessary. It is therefore proposed at the same time to save material in this area and / or moved to another location of the container, so that less total material spent on the bottle or this material can be used to support the geometry to another location of the container.

A rectilinear or essentially straight course is understood to mean that a radius of curvature in this range is greater than 10 cm, preferably greater than 20 cm and particularly preferably greater than 40 cm. Preferably, no sections with radii of curvature less than 10 cm occur in said substantially rectilinear section.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the container has a support ring. This support ring can already be used in the production, to transport the container. Advantageously, said transition region lies with the flared portion in the longitudinal direction of the container below the support ring, i. between the floor area and the support ring. However, it would also be possible that the container is designed without a support ring. It would also be possible for the container, in addition to or instead of a support ring, to have a securing ring which serves, in particular, to open a securing closure.

In a further advantageous embodiment, said areas of the plastic container are integrally formed with each other.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the container is a blow-molded container and in particular a stretch-blow molded container. This means that for the production of this container, a blow molding process and in particular a stretch blow molding process is used.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the shoulder area widens in relation to the overlay area. In this case, this shoulder area can in turn widen conically, but it would also be here a curved example, concave or convex expansion possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the container has an external thread. Advantageously, the container also has a retaining ring which serves to tear open a closure seal when the container is opened.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the mouth region has a cylindrical section, to which the transition region adjoins. It is advantageous in this case cylindrical portion at least partially and preferably arranged completely below the support ring. Furthermore, the cylindrical section preferably has a length which is between 0.01 and 8 mm, preferably between 0.1 and 7 mm and particularly preferably between 1 mm and 6 mm and particularly preferably between 3 mm and 5 mm.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the widening portion extends with respect to the longitudinal direction of the container at an angle which is between 0.01 ° and 80 °, preferably between 0.1 ° and 80 °, preferably between 1 and 75 °. In particular, the specified angle are particularly well suited to achieve a uniform filling of the container on the inner wall. By the above sizes can be particularly efficient tearing off of the filling flow can be prevented within the container. In the course of experiments, sample bottles with different geometries in the area of the neck initial geometry were produced and filled with a blow mold. The plastic material is in particular PET, but other plastic materials may also be used.

In a further advantageous embodiment, said expanding rectilinear section has a length which is between 0.01 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.1 mm and 40 mm, particularly preferably between 1 mm and 20 mm and particularly preferably between 3 mm and 20 mm.

In a further advantageous embodiment, said rectilinear section immediately adjoins the cylindrical section. It is possible that an edge is formed between the rectilinear and the cylindrical portion, but it would also be a (short) tangential transition possible. In a further advantageous embodiment, the shoulder area expands starting from the transition area.

However, it would also be possible (not according to the invention) for a further curved course to follow the transition region with the straight-line course.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the plastic container is at least in the mouth region and the shoulder region and the transition region rotationally symmetrical. In a further advantageous embodiment, the plastic container has an internal volume which is between 0.11 and 51, preferably between 0.25l and 4l.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the shoulder region and / or the base body of the plastic container is formed edge-free in the circumferential direction, i. in particular here has no edges that extend in a longitudinal direction of the plastic container.

According to the invention, the transitional region has, in addition to the section with the straight course, at least one further section with a straight course. These two sections can connect directly to each other. However, it would also be conceivable that a curved section is provided between these two rectilinear sections. This curved region can have a radius of curvature which is between 0.1 mm and 4.0 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 3.0 mm.

Also, more than two rectilinear sections could connect directly or indirectly to each other.

The present invention is further directed to a method of filling a plastic container. Initially, a plastic container of the type described above is provided. Subsequently, the container is filled with a liquid. According to the invention, the liquid introduced into the plastic container is at least partially applied to an inner wall section of the plastic container which is at a distance from the bottom region of the plastic container. Advantageously, the liquid is applied to the inner wall region in the mouth region of the container.

In a further advantageous method, the liquid is applied in a direction to the inner wall of the container, which also has a component in the circumferential direction of the container. In other words, the liquid applied in this area also has a twist with respect to the longitudinal direction of the container.

Advantageously, a swirler is used to fill the container, which also just generates the component in the circumferential direction.

The container is advantageously produced by a blowing process and in particular a stretch blow molding process.

Preferably, the rectilinear portion of the plastic container is stretched at least slightly during the blow molding process.

Advantageously, in the manufacture of the container from the mouth region or the transition section (plastic) material withdrawn.

Further advantages and embodiments will be apparent from the attached drawings:

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht eines Behältnisses nach dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 2

eine Detailansicht des Bereiches B aus Figur 1 nach dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 3

eine Detailansicht des Bereiches B für ein Behältnis in einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform;

Fig. 4

eine Detailansicht des Bereiches B in einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Behältnisses;

Fig. 4a

eine Abwandlung der in Fig. 4 gezeigten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 5

eine Detailansicht des Bereiches B in einer dritten Ausführungsform eines nicht erfindungsgemäßen Behältnisses;

Fig. 6

eine Detailansicht des Bereiches B einer vierten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Behältnisses; und

Fig. 7

eine weitere Ansicht des Bereiches B.

Show:

Fig. 1

a side view of a container according to the prior art;

Fig. 2

a detailed view of the area B from FIG. 1 According to the state of the art;

Fig. 3

a detailed view of the area B for a container in a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4

a detailed view of the area B in a second embodiment of a container according to the invention;

Fig. 4a

a modification of the in Fig. 4 embodiment shown;

Fig. 5

a detailed view of the area B in a third embodiment of a container not according to the invention;

Fig. 6

a detailed view of the area B of a fourth embodiment of a container according to the invention; and

Fig. 7

another view of area B.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a container 1 according to the prior art. This container 1 has a mouth region 2, via which the container 1 z. B. liquid can be supplied or removed. At this mouth region 2, an external thread 24 is arranged. Furthermore, a support ring 26 and a retaining ring 28 are provided at this mouth area. Another (not shown) variant is the execution of the mouth region 2 without support ring 26 but with locking ring 28th

Below the support ring 26, a cylindrical portion 22 is formed. During an expansion process, preferably the area including the support ring 26 is not stretched.

A shoulder region 4 of the container adjoins the mouth region 2 and a main body 6 of the container 1 adjoins this shoulder region. This main body 6 encloses the largest part of the inner volume of the container 1. The reference numeral 8 relates to a bottom region, which in turn connects to the body.

The reference character B indicates a region between the mouth region 2 and the shoulder region 4, to which the invention relates, and which will be considered in more detail below.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of this area B. Here, below the support ring 26 turn the cylindrical portion 22 can be seen, and a curved portion 112, which forms the transition to the shoulder region 4. This transition region 112 has a predetermined curvature region R112. Reference D refers to the diameter of the container neck, which may be variable. The reference h 22 refers to a height or a length in the longitudinal direction L. At the transition region 112 in turn adjoins the shoulder region 4. In particular, the region 112 is particularly critical when the container or its inner wall is subjected to a liquid. In this area 112, the liquid film can break off and in this way no longer run on the inner wall but can reach the floor area directly (undesirably).

FIG. 3 shows the area B for a container according to the invention in a first embodiment. As mentioned above, an essential aspect of the invention is that, in particular, this region B is modified. In this way, in particular the filling is to be improved with a swirl filler. The above-mentioned radius R112 is determined by the in the Fig. 3 - 7 replaced variants shown. More specifically, the material distribution of the plastic material is improved to also save material in this area or to redistribute the material to another location in the bottle, where it improves other properties of the container.

At the in FIG. 3 In the embodiment shown in FIG FIG. 2 shown curved portion 112 replaced by a straight portion 14. This straight portion extends at an angle a14 with respect to the longitudinal direction and with respect to the vertically extending cylindrical portion 22. The length of this cylindrical portion 22 may be selected as in the prior art or be set to a value between 0.01 mm and 8.0 mm and preferably between 3.0 mm and 5.0 mm. Said angle α14 is preferably selected in a range between 2 ° and 65 ° as mentioned above. The length of the straight section 14 may be between 0.01 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, long, but does not close tangentially to the cylindrical section Part 22 on. Preferably, however, the portion 14 is shorter than the height h22 of the cylindrical portion 22. Advantageously, the height h22 of the cylindrical portion 22 is at least twice as large as the length of the straight portion 14.

At this straight section 14 closes at the in FIG. 3 shown embodiment, a second straight section 16 at. At the in FIG. 3 In the embodiment shown, the second section 16 does not tangentially follow the first section 14. The section 16 closes as in FIG. 1 shown the shoulder portion 4 of the container. It would also be possible to regard area 16 already as a section of the shoulder area.

The reference numeral 12 refers to the transition region between the mouth region 2 and the shoulder region 4, which also contains the two sections 14, 16 here. This transition region is preferably formed between the cylindrical part 22 and the shoulder region.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of a container according to the invention. In this embodiment, the curved portion 112 is replaced by two straight portions 14 and 16 which are arranged at the illustrated angles a14 and a16 with respect to the longitudinal direction L, respectively. The diameter D of the container neck can be selected as in the prior art. Also, the height h22 of the cylindrical portion 22 may be selected as in the prior art or set to a value between 0.01 mm and 8.0 mm, and preferably between 3.0 mm and 5.0 mm. The length l14 of the first straight section 14 may be selected, for example, between 0.01 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, and in turn does not adjoin the cylindrical section 22 tangentially. Also, the length 116 of the second rectilinear portion may be between 0.01mm and 50mm, preferably between 0.5mm and 20mm, and also is not tangent to the first straight portion 14.

Thus, the angle a16 is preferably greater than the angle a14. Advantageously, the length of the second straight section 16 is greater than the length of the first straight section. Preferably, a difference between the angles a16 and a14 is less than 60 °, preferably less than 50 °, preferably less than 40 °, particularly preferably less than 30 °, especially preferably less than 20 °, more preferably less than 10 ° and particularly preferably less than 5 °. The advantage of this relatively small angle is that this only very small folds are formed, where a crack of a liquid film is very unlikely.

The angles a are in each case relative to the longitudinal direction L or to the section 22 extending parallel thereto. These angles thus preferably also represent the truncated cone angles of the truncated cone formed by the section 14.

The straight section 16 may be adjoined by another section 18, which may be both straight and may have a convex radius. If this third section 18 is curved, a tangential connection to the section 16 would also be possible.

The angle a14 can also be between 0.01 ° and 80 °, preferably between 2 ° and 65 °. The angle a16 is between 0.01 ° and 80 °, preferably between 5 ° and 65 °. Also at the in FIG. 4 In the embodiment shown, the container geometry known per se may again be connected to the section 18.

Fig. 4a shows a modification of the in Fig. 4 shown embodiment. Here also two rectilinear sections 14 and 16 are provided, wherein between these rectilinear portions 14, 16 a curved portion is arranged and the two rectilinear portions 14 and 16 interconnects. Additionally or alternatively, between the sections 16 and 18 still a curved portion 17 may be provided. Advantageously, at least one of the two curved sections 15, 17 is shorter than the respective rectilinear sections 14 and 16. The radii of curvature of these curved sections are advantageously between 0.1 mm and 4.0 mm and preferably between 0.5 mm and 3.0 mm.

In the Fig. 4a embodiment shown, ie in particular the provision of at least one curved portion between the respective rectilinear portions causes in these areas stress cracking or delaminations of the material are prevented or prevented.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a container. Also in this embodiment, the in FIG. 1 shown curved portion 112 replaced by the straight portion 14 which extends at the angle a14 with respect to the longitudinal direction. The diameter D of the bottle neck also corresponds to the diameters customary in the prior art. The height h22 of the cylindrical part is also chosen as in the embodiment shown above. The length 114 of the straight section 14 can again be between 0.01 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, and does not adjoin the cylindrical section 22 tangentially. The first section 14 is followed by a curved section 16, this connection being tangential here. The reference character R16 indicates a radius of curvature of this curved portion 16.

This is also at the in FIG. 5 illustrated embodiment of the designated in its entirety by 12 transition region containing the sections 14 and 16, here formed at least in two parts. The connection of the second section 16 to the further section 18 takes place here again tangentially. This means that the curvature of the second section 16 in FIG. 5 increases from top to bottom. The section 18 may in turn be straight or curved. The section 18 is then followed again by the known container geometry.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a container according to the invention. In this embodiment, the in Fig. 1 shown curved portion 112 replaced by two straight sections 14, 16 and a spline S16 extending at angles a14 and a16 with respect to the longitudinal direction. The diameter D is again chosen as in the containers shown above and also the height h22 of the cylindrical portion remains the same.

FIG. 7 shows as well FIG. 6 an illustration of the geometries, where in FIG. 7 However, the container itself has been omitted for clarity. The first section 14 may in turn have a length between 0.01 mm and 50 mm and in turn does not connect tangentially or parallel to the cylindrical part 22. The point M1 indicates the transition point between the cylindrical portion 22 and the first portion 14. The second portion 16 may be both parallel (not according to the invention) and obliquely with respect to first section 14 may be arranged. The point M2 indicates the transition point between the first section 14 and the second section 16.

Reference M3 denotes a transition point between the second section 16 and the spline S16. This transition from the section 16 in the spline S16 can be curvature continuous, but it is preferably at least tangent-continuous. The reference symbol M4 denotes a further transition point from the spline S16 into the region 18. This transition in the transition point M4 to the continuation of the container contour, which may for example consist of a concave or a convex radius or a straight line in the point M4, can be curvature-continuous, however, it is preferably tangent-continuous and is preferably described by an n-th degree polynomial.

Such a polynomial or a spline nth degree is a function which is piecewise composed of polynomials with the maximum degree n. In this case, n is preferably an integer which is greater than or equal to 2 and preferably less than or equal to 7. Preferred degrees of this function are in particular 2, 3, 5 or 7. The measure of the angle a14 is preferably between 0.01 ° and 80 °, in particular between 2 ° and 65 °. The measure of the angle a16 is advantageously between 0.01 ° and 80 ° and particularly preferably between 3 ° and 65 °. In the FIGS. 6 and 7 transition areas shown can again be connected to the existing bottle geometries.

The reference numeral 12 refers to the transition region between the mouth region 2 and the shoulder region 4, which here also contains the two sections 14, 16 and the spline S16. This transition region is preferably formed between the cylindrical part 22 and the shoulder region.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Plastic container

2

mouth area

4

shoulders

6

body

8th

floor area

12

Transition area

14

rectilinear section

15

curved section

16

at the section 14 subsequent section

17

curved section

18

at the section 16 subsequent section

22

cylindrical section

24

external thread

26

support ring

28

circlip

112

Section (prior art)

R112

Radius of section 112 (prior art)

L

Longitudinal direction of the plastic container

a14

Angle of the section 14 relative to the longitudinal direction of the container

l14

Length of section 14

a16

Angle of the section 16 relative to the longitudinal direction of the container

l16

Length of section 16

h22

Height of the cylindrical portion 22nd

M1 - M4

Transition points

B

Area

D

diameter

R16

Radius of curvature of the area 16

S16

Spline or polynomial nth grade of region 16

Claims (8)

1. A plastics material container (1) with an aperture area (2), a shoulder area (4) adjoining the aperture area in a longitudinal direction (L) of the plastics material container (1), a main body (6) adjoining this shoulder area (4) in the longitudinal direction of the plastics material container (1) and a base area (8) adjoining the main body (6) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the plastics material container (1), wherein the shoulder area (4) is widened in the longitudinal direction (L) of the plastics material container (1) from the aperture area (2) in the direction of the main body (6), and wherein a transition area (12) is provided between the aperture area (2) and the shoulder area (4), wherein the transition area (12) has a portion (14) widening in the longitudinal direction (L) of the plastics material container from the aperture (2) in the direction of the shoulder area (4) and having a straight course, the portion (14) widening extending at an angle between 2° and 65° with respect to the longitudinal direction (L), characterized in that the transition area (12) besides the portion (14) having a straight course comprises a further portion (16) adjoining this portion (14) which has a straight course at an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction (L) and that both portions (14, 16) are angled with respect to each other.
2. A plastics material container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the aperture area (2) has a cylindrical portion (22) which is adjoined by the transition area (12).
3. A plastics material container according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the widening portion (14) is of a length in the direction of the straight course which is between 0.01 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.1 mm and 40 mm, and in a particularly preferred manner between 1 mm and 20 mm.
4. A plastics material container according to at least one of the claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the straight portion (14) directly adjoins the cylindrical portion (22).
5. A plastics material container according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoulder area (4) widens starting from the transition area (12).
6. A method of filling a plastics material container (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims with the steps:

   - making available a plastics material container (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

   - filling the container (1) with a liquid,

   characterized in that
   the liquid poured into the plastics material container (1) is applied at least in part to a portion - at a distance from the base area of the plastics material container - of the inner wall of the plastics material container.
7. A method according to claim 6,
   characterized in that the liquid poured into the plastics material container (1) is applied at least in part to a portion of the inner wall of the aperture area (2) of the plastics material container (1).
8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the liquid is applied to the inner wall of the container in a direction which also has a component in the peripheral direction of the container (1).

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