CH707788A1 - Packaging with two paired enantiomorphic compartments. - Google Patents

Abstract

A package comprising a compartment (10) closed by two closure edges (3, 5) extending between four distinct peaks (A-D) occupying the top positions of an irregular tetrahedron. It comprises a second enantiomorphous compartment (20), the two compartments (10, 20) being joined by two corresponding closure edges (3, 2). According to a method for manufacturing such a package, two envelopes are formed from two packing tapes and the formation of a closure edge (3, 2) is alternated with the filling of the envelope with a product to be packaged. The forming of the closing edge (3, 2) is controlled in inclination with respect to a driving direction of each envelope, coupled with a sectioning for separating a left compartment (10) and a right compartment (20) and followed by assembling the two compartments along the closing edges (3, 2).

Description

The invention relates to a package comprising a compartment closed by two closing edges extending between four distinct vertices occupying the top positions of an irregular tetrahedron.

A package of this type is known from documents FN 021 490 and US 3,347,363. According to the latter document, it is possible to stack six of these packages in a cube whose edge is determined by one or the other of the closing edges. It is necessary to combine four identical compartments and two enantiomorphic compartments. The four identical compartments fill two thirds of the cube's volume. The two enantiomorphic compartments fill the void left in the cube.

[0003] A stacking ratio of two enantiomorphic compartments for four identical compartments could pose a difficulty for automated packaging of packages. For example, it should be necessary to feed a packaging line at two different speeds, depending on whether the feed is for identical compartments or enantiomorphic compartments. It should also be noted that since the compartments are treated individually, it appears necessary to stack them in accordance with an order of introduction. In addition, the stack does not appear to be self-stable.

[0004] One of the aims of the invention is to modify the packaging which has just been presented in order to improve the stacking thereof.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to packaging comprising a compartment closed by two closing edges extending between four distinct vertices occupying the top positions of an irregular tetrahedron, characterized in that it comprises a second enantiomorphic compartment, the two compartments being joined by two closing edges which correspond in the first compartment and the second enantiomorphic compartment.

[0006] The junction of the two compartments by the two closing edges allows the pair of enantiomorphs to take two configurations, depending on the respective positions of the two compartments around this junction.

[0007] In the first configuration, the two compartments form a pyramid, the base of which is a square. In the second configuration, the two compartments form a pyramid whose base is an isosceles triangle. In either configuration, the pair of enantiomorphs allows for the construction of different compact stacks. Thus, three pairs taken in the first configuration make it possible to construct a compact cubic stack. A compact parallelepipedal stack is obtained with four pairs taken in the first configuration and two pairs taken in the second configuration.

[0008] The pair of enantiomorphs forms a pattern from which it is possible to fill any homothetic cubic or parallelepiped packing volume of the cubic or parallelepiped stack described above. In both cases, the stacking ratio between identical compartments and enantiomorphic compartments remains unitary and is favorable to the automation of packaging. In addition, stacking is facilitated and self-stabilized by the fact that the compartments are matched.

The invention extends to a method for manufacturing a packaging, during which two envelopes are formed from two packaging strips and the formation of a closing edge along each envelope is alternated with the filling of the envelope with a product to be packaged, so as to individualize in the envelope a closed and filled compartment, characterized in that the formation of the closing edge is controlled in inclination with respect to a driving direction of each envelope , coupled with a sectioning operation to separate a left compartment formed from the envelope resulting from the strip wound in a direction of rotation senestrorsum and a right compartment formed from the envelope resulting from the strip wound in one direction dextrorsum rotation and followed by an assembly operation of the two left and right compartments along the severed closing edges which correspond in the two enantiomorphic compartments.

[0010] The two operations of severing and joining the two closing edges make it possible to manufacture a package where two compartments form a pair of enantiomorphs which makes it possible to obtain the stacks indicated above.

[0011] Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of the embodiments illustrated by the drawings. Fig. 1 shows two compartments of a package according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a pair of enantiomorphs in a first square-based pyramid configuration. Fig. 3 shows a pair of enantiomorphs in a second pyramid configuration with an isosceles triangular base. Fig. 4 shows a cubic compact stack obtained from three pairs in the first configuration illustrated by FIG. 2. Fig. 5 is an unfolded view of the stack illustrated in FIG. 4. Fig. 6 shows a compact parallelepipedal stack obtained from four pairs in the first configuration illustrated by FIG. 2 and two pairs in the second configuration illustrated by FIG. 3. Figs. 7a to 7f make up an exploded view of the stack illustrated in FIG. 6. Figs. 8a to 8d schematically show a device for manufacturing a package according to the invention, taken at four different times. Fig. 9 schematically shows a drive means of the device illustrated in FIGS. 8a to 8d.

[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, a package according to the invention comprises two compartments, each closed by two closing edges. The compartment 10 thus comprises a first closing edge 3 which extends from the top A to the top B, and a second closing edge 5, which extends from the top C to the top D. Likewise, the compartment 20 comprises a first closing edge 2 which extends from top E to top F and a second closing edge 4 which extends from top G to top H.

[0013] For the two compartments, the four vertices A – D and E – H occupy the top positions of an irregular tetrahedron.

Referring to the first compartment 10, the faces BAD and ADC are two isosceles and rectangular triangles, respectively at A and D. The two closing edges AB and CD have the same length a, as is the side AD. Their BD or AC hypotenuse is worth. The faces BDC and BAC are two right triangles, respectively at D and A. The closing edges AB and CD form their short side, of length a. Their great BD or AC side is worth it. Their hypotenuse BC is worth.

Referring to the second compartment 20, the FEH and EHG faces are two isosceles and rectangular triangles, respectively in E and H. The two closing edges EF and GH have the same length a, as is the EH side. Their hypotenuse FH or EG is worth. The faces FHG and FEG are two right triangles, respectively in H and E. The closing edges EF and GH form their short side, of length a. Their large FH or EG side is worth. Their FG hypotenuse is worth.

The two compartments 10, 20 are mirrors of each other with respect to the plane of symmetry M and are joined by the two closing edges 2, 3 which correspond, that is to say which are symmetrical with respect to the mirror M. As indicated above, the junction of the two compartments by the two closing edges allows the pair of enantiomorphs to take two configurations, according to the respective positions of the two compartments around this junction.

Referring to FIG. 2, the two compartments 10, 20 have pivoted with respect to each other around the junction 3, 2 in order to have the faces in a non-isosceles right-angled triangle which correspond with respect to the plane of symmetry, that is that is to say the faces BAC and FEG. In this first configuration, the two compartments form a pyramid, the base of which is formed by the square AEHGCD, referenced 12. This square has the length a for side.

[0018] With reference to FIG. 3, the two compartments 10, 20 have pivoted with respect to each other around the junction formed by their closing edges 3, 2 in order to arrange in parallel the faces in an isosceles right triangle which correspond with respect to the plane of symmetry M, that is to say the BDA and FEH faces. In this second configuration, the two compartments form a pyramid whose base is formed by the triangle AEGHDC, referenced 13. This triangle is isosceles, it being observed that the sides AC and EG have the same length, equal to.

[0019] Figs. 4 to 7f illustrate two examples of compact stacks.

[0020] Figs. 4 and 5 show more particularly a compact cubic stack 22 obtained from three pairs 23, 25, 27 taken in the first configuration. The tops of each pair bear the same letters A-D for one of the compartments and E-H for the other compartment as those used for Figs. 1 to 3. The cube formed has as its edge the length has closing edges 3, 2.

Each compartment 10 or 20 represents the volume of the cube.

[0022] Figs. 6 and 7a to 7f show more particularly a compact parallelepipedal stack 14 obtained from four pairs taken in the first configuration and two pairs taken in the second configuration. The pairs are also visible in exploded view. The four pairs taken in the first configuration are referenced 15, 17, 19 and 21. The two pairs taken in the second configuration are referenced 16 and 18. The vertices of each pair have the same letters A – D for one of the compartments. and EH for the other compartment than those used for FIGS. 1 to 3. The height of the parallelepiped formed is the length has closing edges 3, 2. Each compartment 10 or 20 represents the volume of the parallelepiped.

In one and the other of the stacks described above, the junction of the two compartments of each packaging by the two closing edges on the one hand facilitates the stacking and on the other hand gives it a self-stable character .

[0024] Figs. 8a to 8d illustrate a device for manufacturing a package according to the invention taken at four different times.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 8a, two dies 30, 40 mirror each other with respect to the plane of symmetry M. Rollers 29 drive a wrapping tape 31 from a supply roll 33. A fixed sleeve 28 is equipped with a piston 32 with a helical downward movement to drive the packaging strip 31. The packaging strip 31 is guided by a slide 34 provided with flanges 35 towards a gluing or welding unit 36 which joins the overlapped edges 37 of the wrapping strip 31 during its helical winding to form a tubular envelope 38. Alternatively, a closing edge 3, 2 is formed in the envelope 38 by a pressing and gluing or welding unit 39 and a product to be conditioned is introduced into the tubular casing 38 by means of the fixed sleeve 28 and from a filling unit 41. At each alternation, a compartment 10, 20 which is closed and filled with the product to be conditioned is individualized.

The pressing and gluing or welding unit 39 comprises two jaws 42 whose press width determines the width of the closing edges 3, 2. It is coupled with a sectioning unit 43 provided with a blade 45 to cut the closing edge formed in the envelope 38. FIG. 8b, this operation releases in one of the dies, a left compartment 10 coming from the wrapping strip 31 wound up in a direction of rotation senestrorsum S and releases in the other die 40, a right compartment 20 coming from the strip packaging 31 wound in a direction of rotation dextrorsum D. The two left 10 and right 20 compartments are enantiomorphic with respect to the plane of symmetry M of the two dies 30, 40.

[0027] An assembly unit 44 supports them in order to assemble them by the closing edges 3, 2 which have just been cut. The assembly unit 44 comprises two ramps 46 provided with two pivoting hatches 47. The two compartments slide along the ramps 46 and the pivoting hatches 47 to place in contact the faces in a non-isosceles right-angled triangle which correspond with respect to the plane. of symmetry, that is to say the faces BAC and FEG according to the references in FIG. 2. In this configuration, the two compartments form a pyramid, the base of which is formed by the square AEHGCD.

[0028] FIG. 8c, the assembly unit 44 also comprises two jaws 48 to form the junction of the previously severed closing edges, by gluing an insert 8 or welding the closing edges. The packaging according to the invention results from the assembly of the two left 10 and right 20 compartments by the junction of their closing edges 3, 2 which correspond in the enantiomorphic compartments. A new manufacturing cycle begins with the helical downward movement of the pistons 32 in the two directions of rotation senestrorsum S and dextrorsum D to wind the two packaging strips 31 in these two directions of rotation. At the same time, fig. 8d, the hatches 47 pivot to drop the packaging produced on a conveyor belt 49.

[0029] FIG. 9, the piston 32 of one of the dies performs its helical downward movement in the direction of rotation senestrorsum S while the piston of the other die 40 performs it in the direction of dextrorsum rotation D to wind the two bands packaging 31 according to these two directions of rotation. The two pistons perform their upward movement while the pressing and gluing or welding unit 39 still holds the closure edges 3, 2 between its jaws 42 to keep the packaging strip 31 taut. Note that the piston can take a nominal diameter during the helical downward movement and take a smaller diameter during the ascent, so as to better free itself from the casing 38.

The driving direction T, parallel to the axial direction of the fixed sleeve 28, forms with the longitudinal direction L of the jaws 42 an angle of between 65 and 70 degrees, preferably equal to 67.5 degrees. This angle makes it possible to manufacture left or right compartments in accordance with the invention, that is to say closed by two closing edges 3, 5 or 2, 4 extending between four distinct vertices A – D or E – H occupying the top positions of the irregular tetrahedron described with reference to FIG. 1.

The gluing or welding unit 36 joins the overlapped edges 37 of the packaging strip 31 during its helical winding to advantageously match the gluing or welding line with the length edge of each compartment , references 7 and 9 of fig. 1 to 3. In this case, fig. 9, the angle β formed by the driving direction T, parallel to the axial direction of the fixed sleeve 28, and the longitudinal direction U of the packaging strip 31, parallel to the rim 35 of the slide 34, is equal to 22.5 degrees.

Advantageously, the fixed sleeve 28 is inclined relative to the vertical so that the jaws 42 of the pressing and gluing or welding unit 39 are horizontal so that the closing edges 3, 2 are formed parallel to the load plane of the product to be packaged, that is to say parallel to the free surface of the product inside the compartment. It should however be noted that the fixed sleeve 28 can take another inclination, for example vertical. In this case, the jaws 42 of the pressing and gluing or welding unit 39 are inclined relative to the horizontal and the closing edges 3, 2 are no longer parallel to the load plane of the product to be packaged.

The duration of the helical downward movement of the piston is calculated to wind, on each descent, a length of the wrapping strip 31 equal to where a, as indicated above, is the length of the closing edges 3, 2. This duration and that of the upward movement of the piston determine the production rate. This rate makes it possible to synchronize the filling unit 41 with product to be packaged, the unit for pressing and gluing or welding 39 of the tubular casing 38 when forming the closing edge 3, 2, the unit of sectioning 43 of this closing edge and the assembly unit 44 of the two left 10 and right 20 compartments.

The slide 34 upstream of the gluing or welding unit 36 can cooperate with a printing unit 50 of the packaging strip 31. It is thus possible to provide for forming marks on the faces of each compartment.

The packaging according to the invention is applicable to all kinds of materials which must be packaged in doses. These may be for example liquids, food or not, powders, grains, ground materials, etc.

Claims (10)

1. Packaging comprising a compartment (10) closed by two closure edges (3, 5) extending between four distinct peaks (AD) occupying the top positions of an irregular tetrahedron, characterized in that it comprises a second compartment (20) enantiomorphic, the two compartments (10, 20) being joined by two corresponding closure edges (3, 2) in the first compartment (10) and the second enantiomorphic compartment (20). 2. Cubic stack (22) of six compartments each closed by two edges (3, 5) extending between four distinct vertices (A-D) occupying the top positions of an irregular tetrahedron, characterized in that the six compartments are paired in three pairs (23, 25, 27), each of the pairs consisting of two enantiomorphic compartments (10, 20) joined by two closure edges (3, 2) which correspond in the first compartment (10) and the second compartment (20), the three pairs each forming a square-based pyramid (12). 3. A parallelepipedic stack (14) of twelve compartments each closed by two edges (3,5) extending between four distinct vertices (A-D) occupying the top positions of an irregular tetrahedron, characterized in that the twelve compartments are six pairs, each pair consisting of two enantiomorphic compartments (10, 20) joined by two closure edges (3, 2) which correspond in the first compartment (10) and the second compartment (20), four (15). , 17, 19, 21) of the six pairs each forming a square base pyramid (12) and two (16, 18) of the six pairs each forming an isosceles triangular base pyramid (13). 4. A method of manufacturing a package, wherein two envelopes (38) are formed from two packing tapes (31) and alternating the formation of a closure edge (3, 2) along each envelope (38) with the filling (41) of the casing by a product to be packaged, so as to individualize in the casing a closed and filled compartment (10, 20), characterized in that the formation of the closing edge (3 , 2) is tilt-controlled (a) with respect to a driving direction (T) of each envelope, coupled with a sectioning operation (45) for separating a left-hand compartment (10) formed from the envelope from the strip (31) wound in a direction of rotation senestrorsum (S) and a right compartment (20) formed from the envelope from the strip (31) wound in a direction of rotation dextrorsum (D) and followed of an assembly operation of the two compartments left and right along the sectional closing edges (3, 2) which correspond in the two enantiomorphic compartments (10, 20). A device for manufacturing a package, comprising two dies (30, 40) for forming two wraps (38) from two wrapping tapes (31) and forming a closure edge (3, 2) along each casing alternating with the filling (41) of the casing by a product to be packaged, so as to individualize in the casing a closed and filled compartment (10, 20), characterized in that it comprises a pressing unit and gluing or welding member (39) provided with jaws (42) inclined (a) with respect to a driving direction (T) of each envelope, coupled with a severing unit (43) for releasing a left compartment (10) formed from the envelope from the packaging web (31) wound in a direction of rotation senestrorsum (S) and a right compartment (20) formed from the envelope from the packaging web (31). ) wound in a direction of rotation dextrorsum (D) and an assembly unit (44) of the two left (10) and right (20) compartments along the sectioned closure edges (3, 2) which correspond in the two enantiomorphic compartments (10, 20). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the assembly unit (44) comprises two ramps (46) provided with two pivoting flaps (47) and two jaws (48) to form a junction of the closure edges ( 3, 2) previously sectioned. 7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a drive sleeve (28) comprises a piston (32) with helical downward movement in the driving direction (T) of each casing (38) driving the band in one direction of rotation (S) for a spinneret (30) and in a direction of rotation of the spinner (D) for the other spinneret (40). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that a gluing unit or welding (36) joins the overlapped edges (37) of the packaging strip (31) during its helical winding to form the envelope (38). 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the packing strip (31) has a longitudinal direction (U) controlled in inclination (P) with respect to the driving direction (T) of each envelope (38) . 10. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive sleeve (28) is inclined relative to the vertical so that the jaws (42) of the pressing unit and gluing or welding ( 39) are horizontal so that the closing edges (3, 2) are formed parallel to the free surface of the packaged product in each compartment (10, 20).