Package closure and a device and a method for producing a package closure and use of such a device

Abstract

A method for producing a package closure ( 10 ) having a neck ( 18 ) and a cap ( 19 ), comprising the steps of by means of movable jaws ( 11, 12 ) and an outer tool core ( 16 ) forming the neck ( 18 ) and the cap ( 19 ) in one single integrated piece, wherein the neck ( 18 ) is connected to the cap ( 19 ) through a notch ( 23 ), by means of an inner tool core ( 17 ) forming a flexible projection ( 28 ) on an inner side of the cap ( 19 ) for interaction with the inner tool core ( 17 ), displacing the outer tool core ( 16 ) in relation to the package closure ( 10 ) and the inner tool core ( 17 ) to at least partially disengage the package closure ( 10 ) from the outer tool core ( 16 ), by means of the inner tool core ( 17 ) retaining the cap ( 19 ) by the projection ( 28 ) formed on the interior side of the cap ( 19 ) and simultaneously, by means of an ejector ( 15 ), displacing the neck ( 18 ) in relation to the cap ( 19 ) and breaking the notch ( 23 ) to form a package closure having a cap ( 19 ) mounted on the neck ( 18 ), by means of the ejector ( 15 ) displacing the package closure ( 10 ) in relation to the inner tool core ( 17 ), so that the projection ( 28 ) by its flexibility is disengaged from the inner tool core ( 17 ). The invention is also related to a package closure and a device for production thereof and use of such a device.

1 . A method for producing a package closure having a neck and a cap, comprising the steps of
 a) by means of movable jaws and an outer tool core forming the neck and the cap in one single integrated piece, wherein the neck is connected to the cap through a notch, and forming a thread on the cap and a thread on the neck,   b) by means of an inner tool core forming a flexible projection on an inner side of the cap for interaction with the inner tool core,   c) removing the jaws from the formed package closure,   d) displacing the outer tool core in relation to the package closure and the inner tool core to at least partially disengage the package closure from the outer tool core,   e) by means of the inner tool core retaining the cap by the projection formed on the interior side of the cap and simultaneously, by means of an ejector, displacing the neck axially in relation to the cap and thereby breaking the notch and bringing the thread of the cap into engagement with the thread of the neck through an inherent flexibility of the threads to form a package closure having a cap mounted on the neck,   f) by means of the ejector displacing the package closure in relation to the inner tool core, so that the projection by its flexibility is disengaged from the inner tool core.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of forming, in step a, a tamper-evident ring between the cap and the notch by means of the jaws and the outer tool core. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of displacing, in step e, the neck into the cap. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of forming, in step b, the projection projecting in the axial direction from a top portion of the cap and with a radially projecting flange for interaction with a corresponding recess in the inner tool core. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising performing step a and step b simultaneously and then the steps c-f in the mentioned order. 
     
     
         6 . A package closure comprising a neck provided with an opening and a cap for closing the opening, wherein the cap comprises a top portion extending across the opening and extending radially in relation to a centre axis (X) of the package closure, and a tubular portion extending axially and being provided with a thread, wherein an interior side of the top portion of the cap is provided with a flexible projection for interaction with an inner tool core in a device for producing the package closure, so that the cap is connected to the inner tool core during production thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A package closure according to  claim 6 , wherein the thread of the cap is an inner thread, and wherein the neck is arranged with an outer thread for interaction with the thread of the cap. 
     
     
         8 . A package closure according to  claim 6 , wherein the tubular portion of the cap is provided with a tamper-evident ring. 
     
     
         9 . A package closure according to  claim 6 , wherein the projection projects substantially axially and is provided with a radially projecting flange. 
     
     
         10 . A package closure according to  claim 9 , wherein the projection with the flange is more rigid than a folding portion of the package closure. 
     
     
         11 . A package closure according to  claim 6 , wherein the top portion of the cap is arranged with radially extending stiffening ribs for enforcement in the radial direction. 
     
     
         12 . A device for producing a package closure having a neck and a cap, comprising a movable first jaw, a movable second jaw and a tool core interacting with the jaws to form a mould for the package closure, and an ejector for ejecting the produced package closure, wherein the tool core comprises an outer tool core and an inner tool core being movable in relation to the outer tool core, wherein the outer tool core is arranged for forming, together with the jaws, a notch between the neck and the cap, and that the inner tool core comprises a portion for forming and interaction with a projection on the interior side of the cap. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the outer tool core is arranged with an end portion for forming the cap, and a portion for forming the neck or at least a portion thereof, wherein the end portion is arranged with larger diameter than the portion for forming the neck. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 13 , wherein the end portion of the outer tool core is displaceable to a position beyond the neck or a portion of the neck for receiving the cap. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the outer tool core is arranged for forming, together with the jaws an interior thread of the cap and an exterior thread of the neck. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the outer tool core is arranged for forming the projection stronger than the notch, so that the neck by means of the ejector is displaceable in relation to the cap while breaking the notch when the cap is connected to the inner tool core through the projection 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the jaws and the tool core are arranged for forming the neck and the cap as a single integrated piece. 
     
     
         18 . Use of a device according to  claim 12  for producing a package closure according to  claim 8 .