METHOD FOR MAKING A CUSTOMISED CROWN CAP, CAPSULE

AND CAP THUS OBTAINED

Technical field

This invention relates to a method for making customised crown caps. This invention also relates to the production of a closing capsule of the crown type for containers, particularly for bottles.

This invention also relates to the production of a crown cap using the above-mentioned capsule and which will be customisable.

Background art

The term crown cap universally defines the closing cap, normally made of metal, shaped in the form of a shell/capsule with a circular shape from the periphery of which extends a series of teeth uniformly distributed.

In effect, the shell has an upper face with an extension greater than that from which the crown of teeth extends, defining, in that way, an inner space which is designed to receive the neck of the container to be capped. The upper face is flat or slightly convex towards the outside.

Patterns, colours and/or distinctive signs of the product contained in the coupled bottle are applied on the outer surface of the upper face (at least on this portion).

A sealing gasket is positioned inside the shell at an inner surface of the upper face.

The method which is currently used for making a crown cap is as follows: - sheets of material of considerable dimensions constituting the cap (steel) are generally fed in a line for painting several colours

many patterns, arranged according to a matrix, which normally cover both the upper surface of the above-mentioned face of the sheet and the portion designed to become the ring of teeth are printed on the sheet in this painting line;

the sheets are fed into punching presses which, with a single blow, punch the sheet thus creating the shell, separating it from the sheet and, at the same time, forming the crown of teeth;

lastly, a dose is extruded which is punched directly on the shell, completing the crown cap in its final appearance for sale pre-capping. This method is certainly advantageous in the production of batches of considerable quantity, that is, tens or hundreds of thousands of caps. This is because the machines designed for the painting operate according to the logic of rotary printing drums and are therefore designed for large production. The print change, during the passage from one batch to the next, requires a time for changing the drum together with the changing of colours which is particularly lengthy.

The drawbacks of the prior art therefore consist in the difficulty of rapid changing between different batches and diseconomy in dealing with this problem.

Disclosure of the invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a method for making a customised crown cap which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of the invention is to provide a method for making a crown cap which is suitable for the production of batches of personalised products even with a small numerical value.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a method for making a crown cap which does not require tools designed for customised printing which are complex and expensive and therefore easily adapted to the most diverse requirements.

A further aim of the invention is to make a capsule, configuring the crown cap, which is free from the personalisation required by the consumer of the crown cap.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a crown cap which is customisable in a step after the step of producing the shell defining the cap crown.

These aims are fully achieved by the method forming the object of this invention and as characterized in the appended claims. Brief description of drawings

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view from above of a system for making a crown cap according to the invention and for implementing the method according to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view from above of a crown cap, or rather a shell defining the same, made using the method according to the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a top view of a T cap comprising the shell of Figure 2 to which has been applied a personalising element;

Figure 4 illustrates only the shell of Figure 3 according to a diametric section along the section plane IV-IV;

- Figure 5 illustrates a cross-section of a detail K of Figure 4;

Figure 6 illustrates a cross-section of a die for the shape of part of the shell;

Figure 7 illustrates a detail J of Figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates a cross-section of a punch for shaping part of the shell, acting in conjunction with the die of Figure 6;

Figure 9 illustrates a detail H of Figure 8.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to Figures 1 -9, the method for making a customised crown cap according to the invention comprises the following steps:

making a shell 1 (also defined with the generic term of capsule) defining the body of the crown cap, which has the circular upper face 2 configured with a recessed portion 3 positioned and included inside the perimeter of the upper face 2;

making a personalising element 10 having dimensions corresponding to the recessed portion 3 which has, at its upper surface 1 1 , identification means 12 (identification and/or decorating element);

inserting the personalising element 10 inside the recessed portion 3 and relative association by locking means 20.

More in detail, the recessed portion 3 of the shell 1 defines, with the upper face 2, a connecting taper 4 defining an angle a sufficient to prevent the triggering of failure points on the same surface of the upper face 2 of the same shell 1 .

Now considering the layout of Figure 1 , it can be seen how the shell or capsule 1 is made in the first station SO, by punching from sheet 6. The sheet 6 is normally made of steel and, as in the prior art, several rows of shells may be punched by a single strike of the punching machine.

In the next station S1 , the individual shells 1 are introduced and arranged between a die P and a punch M which have corresponding shapes designed to make the recessed portion 3 defined above.

The recessed portion 3 is preferably made circular with diameter 3d of the base of the taper and centred relative to the upper face 2.

The recessed portion 3 is substantially continuous, that is, it extends from the axis of symmetry of the capsule 1 to a predetermined radial height. In the next station S2, a sealing gasket (not illustrated) is applied inside the shell 1 , at the lower surface 7, defining the seal of the crown cap being formed with the respective container/bottle.

It should be noted that the seal may be of any type and/or shape.

In a different station S3, personalised elements 30 are made in the form of small discs with diameter 3d.

These small discs 30 have a circular shape.

These small discs 30 may be derived from sheets 31 or strips using circular punches.

These small discs 30 may have, at their surface, the upper surface, colours, text or logos in such a way as to define the personalised elements.

Preferably, the small discs are derived preferably from plastic material, (for example, but not necessarily, PVC or the like).

Still more preferably, the small discs are formed from a thermoplastic material.

The personalising will occur upstream of the station S3 using printing apparatuses for (of known typ and therefore not described).

A subsequent station S4 will carry out the coupling of a single small disc 30 with the shell 1 , inside the recessed portion 3.

The final locking between the customised element 30 and the capsule/shell 1 will be carried out by the locking means 20 which, in the simplest form, will consist of adhesives.

At the outfeed of the station S4 there will therefore be a customised T crown cap, in which the personalising is carried out entirely by an auxiliary element (small disc 30) and not forming an integral part of the shell 1 .

The method according to the invention teaches:

- the production of a shell 1 (or capsule) made of metallic material without identifying elements;

the making of the identification elements in the form of small discs 30 made from independent sheets or strips;

the relative joining and locking between the shells 1 and the small discs 30.

In this way, it is possible to eliminate the expensive printing stations or painting machines, but, above all, "anonymous" capsules 1 are made which can be personalised after their production (even directly at the packaging factories).

It should also be noted that this method allows both the production of the cap personalised in this way directly by the manufacturer of the capsule, and the making of the cap in different places and at different times: for example, the capsule may be made by the manufacturer, whilst the personalised elements can also not be made by the manufacturer, the joining of the personalised elements to the capsules may be performed by the end user (in a factory for packaging liquids in bottles).

The considerable advantage is understandably due to the fact that the manufacturer of capsules will be solely responsible for the production thereof, as mentioned, in an anonymous fashion and therefore not dependent on the quantity of the individual batches.

In this way it is possible, advantageously, to satisfy the most diverse requirements of the end consumer, passing quickly from one batch to the next and being able to easily process even batches of limited extent.

For the production of the personalised elements use may be made of printing techniques which are different from the usual, such as, for example, digital printing.

According to another aspect of the method, the personalising element 10 has a circular shape.

According to another aspect, the method comprises the following steps: preparing a sheet of plastic material having a mainly planar extension;

printing a plurality of identification elements and/or decorations on the sheet;

cutting the sheet into a plurality of portions, at least at a part of the identification elements and/or decorations, to make a corresponding plurality of personalising elements 10 (that is, of small discs 30).

According to another aspect, the sheet of plastic material is a sheet of thermoplastic material.

According to another aspect, the step of inserting the personalising element 10 inside the recessed portion 3 comprises a step of gluing the personalising element 10 inside the recessed portion 3.

According to yet another aspect, the step of making a shell 1 comprises the following steps:

a) making a capsule equipped with a plurality of corrugations (46) defining teeth of the crown cap;

b) making a recessed portion (3) on the circular upper face (2) of the capsule.

According to another aspect, the step of making a capsule equipped with a plurality of corrugations 46 defining teeth of the crown cap is made, in terms of time, before the step of making a recessed portion 3 on the circular upper face 2 of the capsule.

According to another aspect, the making of a recessed portion 3 on the circular upper face 2 of the capsule 1 comprises a step of placing the capsule in contact with a die P, and subjecting it to the pressing action of a punch M.

According to another aspect, the punch M has an axially-symmetrical shape and has on a radially outer portion 40 a prominent edge 41 .

According to another aspect, the prominent edge 41 of the punch M is connected to a central face 42 by an inclined surface 43.

The inclined surface 43 is inclined relative to a surface 44 of the central face 42 at an angle (a) of between 15° and 50° (a more preferably between 20° and 40°).

According to another aspect, the prominent edge 41 of the punch M is connected to a central face 42 by an inclined surface 43.

The inclined surface 43 is inclined relative to a surface 44 of the central face 42 at an angle a of between 20° and 40°.

According to another aspect, the die P has on a radially external portion a perimetric cavity 45.

According to another aspect, a closure capsule is defined, comprising a shell 1 defining the body of the crown cap, provided with a plurality of corrugations 46 defining the teeth of the crown cap.

The shell 1 has a circular upper face 2 configured with a recessed portion

3 positioned and included inside the perimeter of the upper face 2, the recessed portion 3 being a continuous portion radially inside an axis of symmetry of the shell.

The recessed portion 3 comprises a first central surface 46 which terminates, at a radially outer edge, with a surface 47 inclined relative to the first central surface 46.

The inclined surface 47 is inclined relative to the first central surface 46 of at an angle a of between 15° and 50° (a more preferably between 20° and 40°).

Also defined by the invention is a closing cap, comprising a closing capsule of the type described above and a personalising element 10 coupled to the shell 1 and positioned inside the recessed portion 3.