Tube Head and Tube Comprising Said Tube Head

This application claims priority to French Application No. 2405948, filed Jun. 6, 2024, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The invention relates to a tube head as well as a tube comprising said tube head.

Flexible tubes are known comprising a tube head provided with a dispensing orifice, a cap mounted on the tube head and reversibly closing the dispensing orifice, and a flexible sleeve fixed to the tube head.

The invention relates to the orientation or alignment of the different components of the tube between them. The sleeve can be decorated and may comprise in particular a longitudinal weld. The orientation of the decoration, with or without the longitudinal weld, and therefore the orientation of the sleeve in relation to the tube head and cap, is an important aspect for the consumer. In fact, the correct orientation of the sleeve in relation to the tube head and cap allows the tube to be ergonomically designed, allowing the consumer to intuitively find the finger grip needed to lift the cap. In addition, a good orientation of the sleeve with respect to the head allows the tube to be aesthetically pleasing and of high quality.

The tube heads according to the prior art comprise a positioning tab on the outer diameter of the tube head cooperating with a complementary tab on the cap, said tabs cooperating with each other in order to position the cap in an appropriate manner, in particular with respect to the decoration and/or the longitudinal weld of the sleeve, during the manufacture of the tube. Such a solution requires a lot of separate components, and therefore a lot of plastic. In addition, this solution does not allow the tube head itself to be oriented in relation to the sleeve.

The invention proposes a tube comprising a tube head and a flexible sleeve, the head having a main axis intended to contain a liquid or pasty product, comprising an upper wall and an annular side wall, a free lower end edge of which defines a reference plane, said head comprising a dispensing orifice, the lower end edge comprising a single projecting or recessed mark for angular indexing about the axis, a portion of which is offset axially relative to the plane to enable the angular position of the head to be identified in a unique manner about its axis, the tube wherein a lower end portion of the tube head is inserted within the flexible sleeve such that the mark is concealed within the sleeve.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the mark is formed by a notch made in the lower end edge of the annular side wall, a bottom of the notch forming the portion which is offset axially upwards with respect to the reference plane.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the notch forming the mark has an axial height of the order of a millimetre.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the notch forming the mark has a width of the order of a millimetre.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the notch forming the mark has a generally rectangular shape.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, at least the mark is formed by a finger which extends the annular side wall axially downwards below the reference plane, the lower end of the finger forming the portion which is offset axially downwards with respect to the reference plane.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the finger forming the mark has an axial height of the order of a millimetre.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the finger forming the mark has a width of the order of a millimetre.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the finger forming the mark has a generally rectangular shape.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the diameter of the tube head is between 20 and 60 mm, in particular between 30 and 50 mm. According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, the sleeve is fixed directly to the tube head.

According to another feature of the tube according to the invention, said tube comprising at least 50% by mass of paper.

As illustrated in, the present invention relates to a headfor manufacturing a flexible tube intended to contain a liquid or pasty product. The tube generally has a main axis (X). The headaccording to the invention comprises an upper walland an annular side wall.

The upper wallhere extends in a radial plane which is orthogonal to the main axis (X). The annular side wallextends axially downwards from the periphery of the upper wall.

The free lower end edgeof the side walldefines a reference plane (A). Said reference plane (A) is shown in. The reference plane (A) here extends orthogonally to the main axis (X).

The side wallcan be of different shapes, in particular cylindrical or frustoconical. The side wallhere has, in a non-limiting manner, a surface of revolution about the main axis (X). The free lower end edgethen has a circular shape.

The headcomprises a dispensing orifice. Advantageously, the dispensing orificeis located on the upper wallof the head. In a non-limiting way, the dispensing orificeis arranged on the main axis (X) of the head.

The lower end edgeof the side wallcomprises a markfor angular indexing of the headabout the axis (X). The markprojects or is recessed into the lower end edgeso that a portionis axially offset from the reference plane (A). Preferably, the lower end edgecomprises a single markto allow unique identification of the angular position of the headaround its axis (X).

According to a first embodiment of the invention, shown in, the markis formed by a recessed notchA in the lower end edgeof the annular side wall. A bottom of the notch forms the portionwhich is offset axially upwards with respect to the reference plane (A).

The notchA has an axial height hof the order of a millimetre from the reference plane (A). Preferably, the height his between 1 and 2 mm, for example 1.16 mm. The notchA has a width l, taken in the circumferential direction of the lower end edgeat the reference plane (A), of the order of a millimetre. Preferably, the width lis between 1 and 3 mm, for example 2 mm.

The notchA here is generally rectangular in shape. The top corners of the rectangle are rounded here.

In a variant of the invention not shown, the notch can have other shapes, for example a triangular shape or the shape of an arc of a circle.

The notchA is intended to be used as an angular markduring a method of detecting the angular position of the head. The angular orientation around the main axis (X) is determined, for example, using an optical device emitting a light beam, for example an infrared beam, and an optical sensor. The infrared radiation is emitted at a lower section of the side wallwhile the headis rotated about its main axis (X). When the beam hits the solid side wall, it is reflected back to an optical sensor which determines that the side wallis solid. When the light beam passes through the notchA, the optical sensor detects that the beam is no longer reflected and the angular position of the headis determined.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, which is shown in, the markis made by a projecting fingerB which extends axially downwards from the annular side wallbelow the reference plane (A). The free lower end of the fingerB forms the portion, which is offset axially downwards with respect to the reference plane (A).

The fingerB has an axial height hof the order of a millimetre from the reference plane (A). Preferably, the height his between 1 and 2 mm, for example 1.16 mm. The fingerB has a width, taken in the circumferential direction of the lower end edgeat the reference plane (A), of the order of a millimetre. Preferably, the widthis between 1 and 3 mm, for example 2 mm.

The fingerB has a generally rectangular shape.

In a variant not shown, the finger can have other shapes, for example a triangular shape or an arc of a circle.

The fingerB is intended to be used as an angular markduring the method of detecting the angular position of the head. The angular orientation around the main axis (X) is determined, for example, using an optical device emitting a light beam, for example an infrared beam, and an optical sensor. The infrared radiation is emitted just below the lower end edgeof the side wallas the headis rotated about its main axis (X). When the beam does not meet the side wall, it is not reflected towards an optical sensor that does not detect the presence of any material. When the light beam is cut by the fingerB, the optical sensor detects that the beam is reflected and the angular position of the headis thus determined.

As an alternative to the method of detecting the angular position of the head, the fingerB is intended to be received between two converging rails from an opening as wide as the tube headto a portion having substantially the same width as the fingerB. This means that orientation takes place mechanically as the headmoves along a production path.

Whatever its embodiment, the markthus allows the tube headto be oriented in particular with respect to the decoration and/or a longitudinal weldof the sleeve during the tube manufacture, so that the sleeve is subsequently fixed in a suitable position.

Preferably, the entire tube headaccording to the invention is formed of a continuity of material. The headis thus made in one piece, i.e. a monolithic part. In the state of the art, a means of positioning a tube head portion cooperates with a complementary shape of another portion of the cap. As the headaccording to the invention is not divided into at least two separate parts but is instead made in a single part combining the functionalities of these two components, the way in which the headaccording to the invention is centered in relation to the sleeve is a completely different approach.

Advantageously, the tube head comprises a folding cover. Said coveris connected to the tube head by a hingeand is movable between an open position and a closed position. The markis arranged radially aligned with the hingewith respect to the main axis (X).

Advantageously, the tube head, the folding coverand the hingeare made in one piece. The whole tube headis advantageously formed by injection moulding, in particular of plastic. Preferably, the folding coverincludes a lug allowing the dispensing orificeto be closed in a sealed manner when said cover is in the closed position.

The folding coveris centered in relation to the central axis X. The hingeis eccentric.

Advantageously, the headhas a finger gripallowing the user to lift the coverby inserting a finger between the side walland the coverand pressing the coverupwards.

The finger gripis here a tab. Said tabfacilitates gripping of said coverwhen said cover is opened by a finger of a user.

Alternatively, not shown, the finger grip can also comprise a clearance formed in the annular side wall. Such a clearanceallows a user of the tube comprising the headaccording to the invention to insert his thumb in order to lift the cover.

Advantageously still,

The configuration of the headaccording to the present invention enables the formation of a tube headwith reduced dimensions.

The tube headhas a diameter d as shown in. Advantageously, the diameter d of the headis between 10 and 60 mm.

Advantageously, the diameter d of the head is between 20 and 60 mm.

Even more advantageously, the diameter d of the headis between 15 and 20 mm.

Advantageously, the diameter d of the headis between 30 and 50 mm.

Advantageously, the tube headaccording to the invention is made of plastic.

Advantageously also, said headis formed by injection moulding of plastic material.

According to another aspect of the invention, illustrated in particular in, the present invention also relates to a tubecomprising a tube headas described above and a flexible sleeve.