Flexible tube comprising an electronic component

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible tube head ( 40, 40 ′) comprising a dispensing port which is defined by an edge ( 41, 41 ′) and a shoulder ( 42, 42 ′), the shoulder connecting the edge to the flexible skirt ( 30 ) of the tube. The invention is characterized in that it comprises an electronic component ( 20 ) which can be used for the electrically contactless exchange of information with a read or read/write device, normally a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) type component.

1 . Flexible tube head ( 40 ,  40 ′) formed of a plastic material, the head including an opening defined by an edge ( 41 ,  41 ′) and a shoulder ( 42 ,  42 ′) connecting the edge to a flexible skirt of a flexible tube for packaging a product, the tube head comprising an electronic component ( 20 ,  20 ′) intended to exchange information about the tube and/or its contents with a read or read/write device outside of the tube without any electrical contact, the electronic component being set within the plastic material forming the tube head such that there is no adhesive material in contact with the packaged product.  
   
   
       2 . Tube head according to  claim 1  including a pivoting cap formed of a plastic material for closing the opening and in which the electronic component is set within the plastic material forming the cap.  
   
   
       3 . Tube head according to  claim 1 , in which the electronic component is placed at the level of the shoulder of the tube within the plastic material forming the head.  
   
   
       4 . Tube head according to  claim 1 , in which the total thickness of the electronic component is less than 400 microns.  
   
   
       5 . Tube head according to  claim 1 , in which the electronic component includes a support ( 21 ,  21 ′) having a periphery, the periphery of the support ( 21 ,  21 ′) enclosed by the plastic material forming the head.  
   
   
       6 . Tube head according to  claim 1 , in which the support ( 21 ,  21 ′) of the component comprises a material that is melt-compatible with the plastic material forming the head.  
   
   
       7 . Tube head according to  claim 6 , in which the support of the component is made of polyethylene or polypropylene.  
   
   
       8 . Tube head according to  claim 6 , in which the material that is melt-compatible with the plastic material of the head is an external layer that forms part of an inner wall of the shoulder of the tube.  
   
   
       9 . Method for manufacturing a flexible tube head characterized in that it uses an electronic component ( 20 ,  20 ′) capable of exchanging information with a read or read/write device with no electrical contact comprising: (a) depositing the electronic component inside a cavity ( 17 ) of a mold for forming the head, the electronic component being held inside the cavity of the mold for forming the head without use of adhesive material, and (b) molding the head, the plastic material flowing so as to embed the electronic component within the plastic material.  
   
   
       10 . Method according to  claim 9  in which the head is molded by injection molding.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . Method according to  claim 9 , in which the electronic component is deposited on a convex conical surface ( 11 ) of a mandrel ( 10 ) of the mold, the mold being arranged such that the mandrel ( 10 ) is underneath the die ( 16 ).  
   
   
       13 . Method according to  claim 9 , in which the electronic component ( 20 ,  20 ′) has a support ( 21 ,  21 ′) comprising an external layer made of a plastic material that is melt-compatible with the plastic material of the head and in which the electronic component is deposited on the convex conical surface ( 11 ) of the head of the mandrel ( 10 ) with the external layer opposite the convex conical surface of the mandrel.  
   
   
       14 . Method according to  claim 9 , in which the electronic component ( 20 ′) has a support in the shape of a disk with a hole at its center and in that the electronic component is placed around the projection ( 14 ) of the mandrel used to shape an inner surface of a neck.  
   
   
       15 . Flexible tube including a head and a flexible skirt, comprising the tube head of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       16 . Method for manufacturing a flexible tube provided with a head ( 40 ) and a skirt ( 30 ) in which the head is overmolded on an end ( 31 ) of the skirt comprising (a) fitting the skirt around a mandrel of a mold, and (b) operating the mold so that the end ( 31 ) of the skirt overflows and is contained in a mold cavity ( 17 ) delimited by a head ( 11 ) of a mandrel ( 10 ) and a cavity of a die ( 16 ), characterized in that an electronic component ( 20 ) for exchanging, without electrical contact, information with a read or read/write device is deposited on the head ( 11 ) of the mandrel ( 10 ) in contact with the end ( 31 ) of the skirt ( 30 ) that overflows into the mold cavity ( 17 ).  
   
   
       17 . Tube head according to  claim 1  in which the electronic component is an RFID-type electronic component.  
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 9  in which the electronic component is an RFID-type electronic component.  
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 16  in which the electronic component is an RFID-type electronic component.