EP0162752A1 - Apparatus and method for the conditioning of liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A method of conditioning consumable liquids, in particular pressurised liquids, in discardable metal cans comprising two components, formed by a container (1) having lateral walls (7), a base (6) forming an integral part of the container (1) and joined to the lateral walls by a transitional peripheral flange (8) which in particular is curved or has the form of a truncated cone, and by a cover (2) integrally connected to the container (1) and projecting from the periphery thereof, wherein the containers (1) are filled where-upon they are closed applying covers (2), characterised in that the filled and closed containers (1) are inverted to direct their base (6) face upwards and the containers positioned in this direction are fitted with contractable jackets pre-printed with the information to be applied to the container, whereupon a thermal contraction process is carried out to bond the jackets and the containers.

Description

The present invention relates to an installation and a method for packaging liquid in receptacles in the form of a disposable metal box.

The packaging of liquids and in particular of beverages in disposable containers, such as so-called "canned" cans, has developed considerably in recent years. This development has multiple reasons, especially related to the practical aspect of these disposable containers, facilitating their transport, grouping, distribution in automatic dispensers, etc.

Unfortunately, the manufacture of such containers or "boxes" requires relatively complex facilities and the printing of a label, mark or other distinctive sign on the container, using a printing integrated into the box production line, which reduces the flexibility of using these containers for small series, pre-series or small quantities.

However, from a commercial point of view, it would often be advantageous to be able to diversify the distribution of drinks packaged in such packaging, that is to say to have only limited quantities of printed packaging produced for the desired product.

• - Les colles utilisées actuellement pour coller des étiquettes tiennent mal sur la surface très lisse des boites bien qu'elles se détachent sous l'effet de l'humidité par suite des condensations sur les parois des boites, etc...

It would be possible to stick labels on the walls of the boxes. However, this solution has a number of drawbacks:

• - The glues currently used to stick labels do not hold well on the very smooth surface of the boxes although they come off under the effect of humidity due to condensation on the walls of the boxes, etc.

• - De façon habituelle, une étiquette n'habille pas la totalité de la surface du corps d'une bouteille. Or, cela constituerait un inconvénient grave pour l'esthétique d'une boite. En effet, les boites, utilisées actuellement, sont pour être agréables au toucher et à la vue, peintes sur toute leur surface.

This drawback is all the more serious since the boxes are often intended for a use different from that of the bottles: the boxes, because of their solidity and their low weight, are used for products intended for export, as these boxes can be stored relatively long or be intended for vending machines, etc.,.

• - Usually, a label does not cover the entire surface of the body of a bottle. However, this would constitute a serious drawback for the aesthetics of a box. Indeed, the boxes, currently used, are to be pleasant to the touch and sight, painted on their entire surface.

It is also known to replace the labels of certain bottles or flasks with sleeves threaded onto the bottles or flasks.

These preprinted sleeves are cut pieces of a preprinted tube. This tube is wound flat on a reel and before being threaded on the bottle, each sleeve is open. In this position, it has a section of substantially square or rectangular shape. This shape does not cause any difficulty since it is threaded on the neck of the bottles then it slides on the body; the sleeve is re-shrunk in this position under the effect of heat, for example in a hot air tunnel.

Tests made to apply this technique to the dressing of cylindrical "boxes" containing liquids (beer, carbonated drinks, etc ...) showed the impossibility that there was to put sleeves on boxes because they clung to the curved edge towards the top of the cover.

However, it is not possible to increase the size of the sleeves beyond a certain limit compatible with thermotraction and the machines for fitting the sleeves.

The object of the present invention is to create an installation and a method making it possible to package, in packaging of the "tin can" type, liquids, in particular food liquids, such as drinks, in relatively small series and above all allowing rapid modification and flexible labeling according to packaged products.

To this end, the present invention relates to a process characterized in that the containers are filled and closed with their lid, then these containers are inverted to direct their bottom upwards and sleeves are fitted onto the containers thus positioned shrink, preprinted with the indication affixed to the container, then heat shrink the sleeve on the container to secure the sleeve of the container.

Thus, thanks to the reversal of the metal boxes so that their bottom is turned upwards, it is possible to thread the heat-shrinkable sleeve on the body of the box, without this installation presenting any difficulty since the threading of the sleeve is facilitated by the rounded or frustoconical part bordering the bottom of the container and connecting it to the side wall.

In addition, the sleeve descends to the bottom, that is to say to the cover (the metal box being in the inverted position), which prevents the heat-shrinkable sleeve, after retraction, partially overflowing on the bottom and does not interfere with the sliding and transfer of the boxes.

The sleeve covers the body of the box and gives it a pleasant appearance and feel.

It is particularly interesting that the length (height) of the sleeve is such that when it is placed on the container, it is at a certain distance from the bottom. This prevents the sleeve from tearing during handling of the box, because on a heat-shrinkable sleeve, under the effect of tensions, this tear could spread over the entire height of the sleeve.

The solution of the invention is particularly advantageous for the packaging of relatively small series of containers for pre-series, the launch of new products or even products which are released in relatively limited quantities. In fact, thanks to the invention, it is possible to diversify and to specialize the packaging without the need to order in production large quantities of pre-printed containers with the distinctive sign, the brand, etc. this or that product,

This sleeve being compressed on the body of the box, it cannot be detached during various treatments carried out on the box for example when the box is placed in a humid place or when it is immersed in cold water to cool the content, etc ... At no time does the box lose its distinctive sign, which has the double advantage on the one hand of keeping the mark on the product and on the other hand of making it possible to recognize the content of the box.

As the sleeves are pre-printed in small series and for a very precise use, it is possible to print at the same time on them a conservation date, which would not be possible on boxes printed in large series. In addition, the date printed on the sleeve has an inviolability character.

The invention also relates to an installation for implementing the above method.

This installation is characterized in that it consists of a filling station receiving the empty containers to fill them with the product to be packaged, a container closing station in which the containers receive their cover which is fixedly attached to the containers and tightly, from an inversion station which overturns the containers thus filled and closed in order to present their bottom upwards, a station for placing a heat-shrinkable sleeve on the containers thus turned over and a heat-shrinking station for ensuring the heat-shrinking of the sleeves on the containers.

The various stations constituting the installation as well as the transfer means are preferably chain conveyors, barrel stations, etc. .. preferably using the techniques of continuous kinematics allain efficiency to speed.

The box reversing station consists of a guide path twisted in a helix and making a U-turn. This guide path is preferably formed by stainless steel wires forming a helical cage. It is also possible to ensure the overturning by a non-continuous means, for example an arm which takes the arms one by one from the outlet conveyor of the filling station and fitting of the cover to tilt them and place them at upside down on another conveyor.

The position for installing the sleeves on the boxes in the inverted position is a station in which each sleeve is separated from a flat tube which is opened by guides, so that the two flat walls separate and form a sectioned sleeve more or less square or rectangular, this opening sufficient to allow threading of the sleeve on the metal box.

Finally, the invention relates to the packaging thus produced. These packages can be produced in very different doses ranging from a few tens of centilitres to half a liter.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique d'un récipient en forme de boite métallique jetable ;
• - la figure 2 est un schéma de principe d'une installation pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé permettant de conditionner des liquides notamment des liquides alimentaires dans des emballages de type boite métallique jetable.

The present invention will be described in more detail with the aid of the appended drawings, in which:

• - Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a container in the form of a disposable metal box;
• - Figure 2 is a block diagram of an installation for implementing the method for packaging liquids including food liquids in packaging type disposable canister.

According to FIG. 1, the disposable metal box used for the packaging, in particular of a liquid, consists of a container 1 closed by a cover 2, the edge 3 of which is fixed to the upper edge of the container 1 in an integral manner after filling the container. . The cover 2 generally comprises a tongue 5 making it possible to tear off a precut part of the cover, along a tongue in the form of a spiral to open the box.

The bottom 6 is integral with the container and joins the side walls 7 by a peripheral flange 8 of transition generally of curved shape or in truncated cone.

According to the invention, the packaging method using disposable metal boxes according to Figure 1 consists of filling such boxes 1, closing them with a cover 2, turning these boxes 1 so as to present their bottom 6 towards the top, then to put in place a tubular heat-shrinkable sleeve around each box, this sleeve being pre-printed with a label. Then the repicient is passed through a heat-shrinking tunnel in which the sleeve retracts on the side wall 7 of the box and is fixed therein securely.

Although the cut sleeve is only opened approximately and in a section in the shape of a square or rectangle, the edges of the sleeve can slide without difficulty over the rounded edge of the bottom of the filled and inverted box without risking s 'hang or fall back. This sleeve is printed beforehand with the appropriate indications such as a brand, instructions for use, expiration date, etc.

Figure 2 schematically shows an installation tion for the implementation of this process.

According to Figure 1, the installation consists of a packaging station 1 which receives on the one hand the receptacles 1 without cover, on the other hand, this station comprises reservoirs for liquid 11 to be dispensed which deliver the liquid to be conditioned in the receptacles 1. Then the receptacles pass into a closing station 12 in which the receptacles receive their cover 2 which is fixed integrally and in leaktight manner.

At the exit from the closure station 12, the containers 1, 2 are inverted so as to present their bottom 6 upwards, in an inversion station 13. The containers 1, 2 pass in this position into a station 14 in which is put in place the tubular sleeve 15 provided with the printing or that which replaces the label for the product contained in the container. This sleeve is placed on the bottom thanks to the frustoconical surface 8 of transition between the bottom 6 and the side wall 7. Then the containers 1, 2. pass in this inverted position with their sleeve, in a heat shrinking tunnel 16 in which under the effect of heat the sleeves are fixed on the boxes. At the outlet of the tunnel 16, the containers 1, 2 can again be returned to their normal position or be packaged in this position, the packages themselves being in the inverted position. It can also be grouped in heat-shrinkable packages.

As already indicated, the reversing means is a guide path of helical shape, describing a half-turn. This path is preferably in the form of a cage made of stainless steel wire. The boxes are pushed in this way to arrive in an inverted position in the sleeve fitting station. Other embodiments of the turning or reversing means can be envisaged, for example a reversing device operating non-continuously and very schematically comprising an arm tilting around a horizontal axis by taking one or more boxes at the outlet of the closure station 12 to deposit them after tilting, that is to say in the inverted position on a conveyor supplying the sleeve fitting station.

Claims (5)

1) Method for packaging liquids in particular such as edible liquids in disposable metal cans, formed by a container (1) and a cover (2) permanently fixed to the container (1) and provided with means opening (5), process characterized in that the containers are filled (1) and closed with their cover (2), then these containers are inverted to direct their bottom (6) upwards and are fitted onto the containers thus positioned retractable sleeves, preprinted with the indication affixed to the container, then heat shrinkage of the sleeve on the container to secure the sleeve of the container. 2) installation for implementing the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a filling station (10) receiving the empty containers (1) for filling them with the product to be packaged, a container closing station (12) in which the containers (1) receive their cover (2) which is fixedly secured to the containers and in a sealed manner, an inversion station (13) which overturns the containers thus filled and closed to present their bottom up, a station (14) for installing a heat-shrinkable sleeve (15) on the containers thus turned over and a heat-shrinking station (16) to ensure the heat-shrinkage of the sleeves on the containers. 3 °) Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the reversing station (13) is constituted by a helical guide path, extending over a half-turn. 4 °) Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide path is formed by stainless steel son. 5 °) Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the reversing station is constituted by an arm tilting about a horizontal axis, taking the boxes at the outlet of the closing station (12) to deposit them after tilting, in position overturned, on a conveyor feeding the station (14) for setting up the heat-shrinkable sleeves (15).

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