Cover unit with adapter, cover, and sealing film for a container

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover unit ( 10 ) for closing and sealing a container ( 1 ). The opening ( 9 ) is surrounded by a sealing edge ( 8 ). The cover unit has an adapter ( 11 ), a cover ( 12 ), and a sealing film ( 13 ). The adapter can be arranged on the container in the opening thereof or around said opening so as to leave the sealing edge exposed, and the adapter has a through-opening ( 22 ). The cover is removably arranged on the adapter. The sealing film is clamped between the cover and the adapter so as to cover the through-opening. The invention also relates to a container with such a cover unit and to a method for sealingly closing a container.

1 . Cover unit ( 10 ) for closing and sealing an opening ( 9 ) of a container ( 1 ), the opening being surrounded by a sealing edge ( 8 ), the container such as a can, barrel or the like, wherein the cover unit ( 10 ) has an adapter ( 11 ), a cover ( 12 ), and a sealing film ( 13 ),
 the adapter ( 11 ) is configured for arrangement the container ( 1 ) in the opening ( 9 ) thereof or around the opening ( 9 ) so as to leave the sealing edge ( 8 ) exposed, and has a through-opening ( 22 ),   the cover ( 12 ) is removably arranged on the adapter ( 11 ) and the sealing film ( 13 ) is clamped between the cover ( 12 ) and the adapter ( 11 ) so as to cover the through-opening ( 22 ) thereof.   
     
     
         2 . Cover unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the adapter ( 11 ) and the cover ( 12 ) are interconnected using a thread ( 15 ) or a bayonet joint. 
     
     
         3 . Cover unit according to either  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the adapter ( 11 ) comprises catch elements ( 19 ), which hook together with a counter structure ( 7 ) of the container ( 1 ) when said adapter ( 11 ) is arranged correctly on the container ( 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . Cover unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter ( 11 ) comprises a ramp ( 23 ), preferably in the form of a shoulder extending in the radial and axial directions. 
     
     
         5 . Cover unit according to either  claim 3  or  claim 4 , wherein the catch elements ( 19 ) are arranged on the adapter ( 11 ) using a resilient web ( 18 ). 
     
     
         6 . Cover unit according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a resilient intermediate layer ( 14 ), which is arranged between the cover ( 12 ) and the sealing film ( 13 ). 
     
     
         7 . Container, dosed using a cover unit according to any one of the preceding claims and having an opening ( 9 ) surrounded hy a sealing edge ( 8 ), wherein the sealing film ( 13 ) is positioned circumferentially on the sealing edge ( 8 ) of the container ( 1 ), closing the opening ( 9 ) thereof and is sealed to the sealing edge ( 8 ). 
     
     
         8 . Container according to  claim 7 , comprising a flanged edge ( 7 ), which cooperates with catch elements ( 19 ) of the adapter ( 11 ) and fixes it to the container ( 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . Container according to  claim 8 , comprising an oblique shoulder ( 5 ) at a distance from the flanged edge ( 7 ), the distance between the oblique shoulder ( 5 ) and the flanged edge ( 7 ) being equal to or slightly less than the distance between a ramp ( 23 ) of the adapter ( 11 ) and the upper edge ( 20 ,  21 ) thereof. 
     
     
         10 . Container according to any one of  claims 7  to  9 , wherein the sealing edge ( 8 ) and sealing film ( 13 ) are thermally fused together. 
     
     
         11 . Container according to any one of  claims 7  to  10 , wherein the cover unit ( 10 ) is secured against twisting with respect to the container ( 1 ), in particular by positive fit, non-positive fit and/or adhesion. 
     
     
         12 . Container according to  claim 11 , wherein catch elements ( 19 ) cooperate in a positive fit with a catch structure, which is in particular in the form of a cam profile or weld seam, projects radially outwards, and is arranged between the flanged edge ( 7 ) and the shoulder ( 5 ) of the container ( 1 ) in the axial direction of the container. 
     
     
         13 . Container according to either  claim 11  or  claim 12 , wherein the adapter ( 17 ), in particular an annular wall ( 17 ) of the adapter ( 11 ), is arranged on a container wall ( 3 ) of the container ( 1 ) by means of a press fit. 
     
     
         14 . Method for sealingly closing a container ( 1 ), such as a can, barrel or the like, wherein a cover unit ( 10 ) according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  is arranged on a container ( 1 ), in particular according to any one of  claims 8  to  13 , having an opening ( 9 ) and a sealing edge ( 8 ) surrounding the opening, in the opening ( 9 ) or around the opening ( 9 ) in such a way that the sealing film ( 13 ) is positioned circumferentially on the sealing edge ( 8 ),
 and the sealing film ( 13 ) is sealed to the sealing edge ( 8 ) by thermal action. 
 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein the cover unit ( 10 ) is fully pre-assembled and is arranged on the container ( 1 ) as a pre-assembled unit of this type. 
     
     
         16 . Method according to either  claim 14  or  claim 15 , wherein when the adapter ( 11 ) is slid onto the container ( 1 ) latch elements ( 19 ) thereof yield resiliently over a catch counter element, preferably in the form of a flanged edge ( 7 ), and spring back into the original position thereof when the correct axial end position of the adapter ( 11 ) on the container ( 1 ) is reached, and hook onto the catch counter element, preferably the flanged edge ( 7 ). 
     
     
         17 . Method according to any one of  claims 14  to  16 , wherein the sealing edge ( 8 ) and sealing film ( 13 ) are heated and sealed by induction, preferably by passing under a surface induction coil. 
     
     
         18 . Method according to any one of  claims 14  to  17 , wherein a hot adhesive is applied at least to parts of the sealing edge ( 8 ) and/or the sealing film ( 13 ), in particular in that the cover unit ( 10 ) passes through a hot adhesive application as a pre-assembled unit.