A cap and neck assembly for a food package

Abstract

A cap and neck assembly for closing an upper end of a package ( 10 ) is provided. The neck ( 20 ) is formed by a tubular member ( 110 ) being provided with external threads ( 22 ), and an upper tubular portion ( 120 ) extending from the tubular member ( 110 ) and being releasably attached to a membrane ( 150 ) closing an upper end of said upper portion ( 120 ). The cap has a lower portion the threads ( 22 ) of the neck ( 20 ), and an upper portion ( 33 ) being provided with at least one cutting element ( 50 ) configured to separate the membrane ( 150 ) from the neck ( 20 ). When the cap ( 30 ) is threaded onto the neck ( 20 ) to its axial end position for the first time prior to separating the membrane ( 150 ) from the neck ( 20 ), the axial distance between a cutting edge ( 54 ) of the cutting element ( 50 ) and the membrane flange ( 170 ) is less than 1 mm.

1 . A cap and neck assembly for closing an upper end of a package, said assembly comprising:
 a neck forming part of an upper end of a package, the neck comprising:
 a tubular member having external threads; and 
 an upper tubular portion extending from the tubular member and releasably attached to a membrane closing an upper end of said upper tubular portion, the membrane having a membrane flange protruding radially outside the tubular member; and 
   a cap having a tubular body, the cap comprising:
 a lower portion having internal threads configured to engage the external threads of the tubular member of the neck; and 
 an upper portion forming a closed upper end, the upper portion having at least one cutting element configured to separate the membrane from said tubular member of the neck; 
   wherein, when the cap is threaded onto the neck to an axial end position for a first time prior to separating the membrane from the neck, an axial distance between a cutting edge of the cutting element and the membrane flange is less than 1 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The cap and neck assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the axial distance between the cutting edge of the cutting element and the membrane flange is between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The cap and neck assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the axial distance between the cutting edge of the cutting element and the membrane flange is between 0.6 mm and 0.75 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The cap and neck assembly according to  claim 1 , preceding claims, wherein an axial length of the upper tubular portion of the neck is between 5 mm and 5.5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The cap and neck assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an axial length of the upper portion of the cap is between 5 mm and 6 mm, and wherein the at least one cutting element is located at a lower end of said upper portion. 
     
     
         6 . The cap and neck assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the external and internal threads are configured such that the axial end position of the cap at the first time prior to separating the membrane from the neck is reached after rotating the cap between 300° and 315°. 
     
     
         7 . The cap and neck assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the external and internal threads are configured such that upon decapping a first time, the cutting edge engages the neck after a rotational movement of the cap between 40° and 60°. 
     
     
         8 . The cap and neck assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the external and internal threads are configured such that upon decapping a first time, the membrane separates from the neck after a total rotational movement of the cap between 150° and 220°. 
     
     
         9 . A package comprising the cap and neck assembly according to  claim 1 .