EP0509179B1 - Method for the vacuum packaging of products, in particular cosmetic or pharmaceutical products, in containers with variable capacity, closed by a dispensing means without air exhaust - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vacuum packaging process for liquid to pasty products such as milks and creams used in cosmetology or in pharmacy. It makes it possible in particular to offer them in distributors formed by a variable capacity reservoir closed by an "airless" distribution pump, that is to say, according to the term used in the profession, without air intake. Means for varying the capacity of the reservoir are inter alia provided for fear that, when full, its envelope exerts relative pressure on the enclosed product, thus ensuring good emission of the product from the first actuation of the pump. These same means also ensure, while the dispensers are running out, that product can be pumped despite the absence of a concomitant air intake. The resulting liquid to pasty product dispensers are particularly convenient. They also form part of the invention as well as a device useful for implementing the present method.

Until now, the only types of distributors of liquid to pasty products in which the air vacuum has been created, have included a rigid reservoir (such as a glass vial or a metal container) associated with a distribution member. The latter is in this case of the valve type. However, the corresponding conditioning process includes a phase during which the air remaining in the filled reservoir is sucked between the neck of the latter and the valve arranged thereon without being yet attached to it. This then has the effect of vacuuming the interior of the tank while the valve is applied hermetically to the neck. A later phase consisting in permanently fixing the valve to the neck (by crimping, swaging, etc.) can then take place at any time after the end of the aspiration. This process is mainly used for distributors kept under pressure thanks to a propellant gas. The temporary creation of a vacuum in the tank makes it possible to offer the space necessary for this gas without ultimately leading to a significant overpressure. The propellant is then introduced through the valve attached to the tank.

With variable capacity tanks associated with pumps without air intake or airless, this process of the prior art is no longer practicable. For example, in the case of a flexible envelope, the suction would indeed have the consequence, with the evacuation of part of the product, to deform the reservoir. And, while its content would therefore remain at atmospheric pressure, the dispensing member would not be applied in a particularly sealed manner to the neck. Thus, shortly after the end of the suction, air would not fail to return to the tank which would resume its shape.

Assuming however that the fixing of the dispensing member occurs very quickly after the evacuation of the air, the methods of the prior art can certainly be used. But then, the initial content of the dispenser thus produced is not equal to the maximum capacity of their reservoir. Because, in practice, the product is always evacuated with air to the extent that one cannot finely adjust the duration of the maintenance of the vacuum. In other words, the reservoir is oversized, resulting in an increased cost price for the dispenser. The economic loss thus caused is all the more significant since it is generally mass production.

Thus the object of the present invention is to propose a method for creating an air vacuum in a variable capacity tank filled with a liquid to pasty product and attaching a dispensing member thereto without air being is introduced again into the tank during the corresponding operation and keeping its maximum capacity.

This is achieved by a process for vacuum packaging a product of consistency ranging from that of a liquid to that of a paste in a tank of variable capacity closed by a distribution member without air intake, said process comprising at at least one phase of tight fixing of said member on said tank filled with said product, characterized in that the tight fixing of said member is carried out while said tank is in an enclosure where an air vacuum is maintained.

Variants of this process are specified in claims 2 to 12.

• 1/ d'assujettissement dudit réservoir dans un godet ayant un dessus ouvert de sorte que ledit col se présente sur ledit dessus,
• 2/ de remplissage dudit réservoir avec ledit produit par ledit col à l'issue duquel ledit organe est disposé sur ledit col,

caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif comporte une couronne adaptée à s'appliquer inférieurement et de façon étanche audit dessus dudit godet afin de constituer ladite enceinte, des moyens pour aspirer l'air de ladite enceinte étant prévus et en ce que ledit dispositif est muni de moyens de fixation de ladite pompe disposés au centre de ladite couronne.The present invention also provides a device making it possible to implement this method, said reservoir comprising a neck on which said dispensing member is adapted to be fixed in a sealed manner and said sealed fixing phase of said member being preceded at least by phases:

• 1 / for securing said reservoir in a cup having an open top so that said neck is present on said top,
• 2 / filling said reservoir with said product by said neck at the end of which said member is disposed on said neck,

characterized in that said device comprises a crown adapted to be applied lower and in a sealed manner to said top of said cup in order to constitute said enclosure, means for sucking the air from said enclosure being provided and in that said device is provided with means for fixing said pump arranged in the center of said crown.

Different embodiments of this device are described in claims 14 to 25.

The advantages of the present invention are not so much at the level of the process or of the device that it implements, but are rather rather linked to the distributors obtained. First of all, the product they contain remains sheltered from the air. It therefore does not risk oxidizing, becoming contaminated or hardening by drying ..., all things undesirable both from the point of view of the quality of the product distributed and that of the distribution by itself.

In the case of tanks which can be deformed even before filling them so that their capacity is increased, the distributors obtained according to the present process are also particularly advantageous. In fact, when the dispensing member is tightly fixed thereto, the disappearance of the prior deformation causes the product contained in the reservoir to be pressurized since its capacity tends to decrease suddenly. This pressurization is further reinforced by the internal vacuum created which causes atmospheric pressure to compress the walls of the tank a little more. Therefore, the priming of the distribution member is greatly facilitated. This is particularly valuable in the case of pasty products, since the air bubbles are almost all eliminated. It follows that the present process allows the development of distributors whose numerous performances could not be otherwise exploited.

• les figures 1 à 4 montrent un réservoir déformable avantageusement utilisé pour former un distributeur selon l'invention. Il est dessiné en vue de face et en vue de côté respectivement sur les figures 1 et 2 qui en présentent également des coupes partielles. En vue de dessus sur la figure 3, le même réservoir est reporté sur la figure 4 en coupe selon le plan III-III de la figure 1;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un premier distributeur selon l'invention comprenant entre autres le réservoir des figures précédentes;
• la figure 6 est une coupe axiale d'une pompe à précompression sans reprise d'air avantageusement utilisée en association avec le réservoir des figures 1 à 4 pour former un distributeur selon l'invention;
• les figures 7 et 8 montrent la coupe longitudinale d'un godet avantageusement utilisé dans le procédé de l'invention en vue d'assujettir un réservoir tel que celui des figures 1 à 4. L'étau que contient ce godet est représenté mâchoires ouvertes sur la figure 7 et mâchoires fermées sur la figure 8;
• la figure 9 est une vue de dessus d'un carrousel avantageusement utilisé dans le procédé de l'invention;
• la figure 10 est une coupe longitudinale du godet des figures 7 et 8, le réservoir qu'il maintient étant en cours de remplissage;
• la figure 11 montre une coupe similaire à celle de la figure 10, le réservoir étant toutefois plein. Au-dessus du godet est en outre visible une coupe axiale d'un dispositif selon l'invention;
• les figures 12 à 14 montrent le dispositif de la figure 11 à différents moments de la fixation d'une pompe de distribution sur un réservoir selon l'invention. Respectivement sont illustrés : la création d'un vide dans une enceinte renfermant le réservoir, la mise en butée de la pompe et enfin le sertissage de cette dernière;
• les figures 15 et 16 montrent des détails de l'ensemble de sertissage de la pompe que comporte le dispositif selon l'invention des figures 11 à 14. En coupe axiale sur la figure 16, les pinces de cet ensemble sont dessinées en vue de dessous sur la figure 15;
• la figure 17 montre un détail d'une autre forme de réalisation de l'ensemble de sertissage d'un dispositif selon l'invention;
• la figure 18 montre, en coupe axiale, des détails d'un ensemble de dudgeonnage d'une pompe selon l'invention;
• la figure 19 est une coupe axiale d'une pompe encliquetable pouvant former un distributeur selon l'invention;
• la figure 20 est une coupe axiale d'un deuxième distributeur selon l'invention;
• la figure 21 est une coupe axiale d'un troisième distributeur selon la présente invention;
• les figures 22 et 23 sont des coupes axiales du distributeur de la figure 21 représentées respectivement au début et en cours de remplissage du réservoir;
• la figure 24 est une coupe axiale d'une pompe sans reprise d'air avantageusement utilisée pour former un quatrième distributeur selon la présente invention. Celle-ci est représentée au repos; et
• la figure 25 est une coupe partielle de la pompe de la figure 24, mais représentée cette fois en position basse d'introduction d'un gaz propulseur.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows and on examining the appended drawings which represent, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of the invention. In these drawings:

• Figures 1 to 4 show a deformable reservoir advantageously used to form a dispenser according to the invention. It is drawn in front view and in side view respectively in Figures 1 and 2 which also show partial sections. In top view in Figure 3, the same tank is shown in Figure 4 in section along the plane III-III of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a first dispenser according to the invention comprising inter alia the reservoir of the preceding figures;
• Figure 6 is an axial section of a precompression pump without air intake advantageously used in association with the reservoir of Figures 1 to 4 to form a distributor according to the invention;
• Figures 7 and 8 show the longitudinal section of a bucket advantageously used in the method of the invention for securing a tank such as that of Figures 1 to 4. The vice that contains this bucket is shown with jaws open on Figure 7 and jaws closed in Figure 8;
• Figure 9 is a top view of a carousel advantageously used in the method of the invention;
• Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of the cup of Figures 7 and 8, the tank it maintains being filled;
• Figure 11 shows a section similar to that of Figure 10, the tank is however full. Above the bucket is also visible an axial section of a device according to the invention;
• Figures 12 to 14 show the device of Figure 11 at different times of the fixing of a distribution pump on a tank according to the invention. Respectively, the following are illustrated: the creation of a vacuum in an enclosure containing the reservoir, the abutment of the pump and finally the crimping of the latter;
• Figures 15 and 16 show details of the pump crimping assembly that comprises the device according to the invention of Figures 11 to 14. In axial section in Figure 16, the pliers of this assembly are drawn from below in Figure 15;
• Figure 17 shows a detail of another embodiment of the crimping assembly of a device according to the invention;
• Figure 18 shows, in axial section, details of a set of expansion of a pump according to the invention;
• Figure 19 is an axial section of a snap-on pump capable of forming a distributor according to the invention;
• Figure 20 is an axial section of a second distributor according to the invention;
• Figure 21 is an axial section of a third distributor according to the present invention;
• Figures 22 and 23 are axial sections of the dispenser of Figure 21 shown respectively at the beginning and during filling of the tank;
• Figure 24 is an axial section of a pump without air intake advantageously used to form a fourth distributor according to the present invention. This is represented at rest; and
• Figure 25 is a partial section of the pump of Figure 24, but this time shown in the low position of introduction of a propellant.

Whenever possible, identical reference numbers are used to designate elements of the same function on the various distributors.

Figures 1 to 4 show respectively in front view, side view, from above and in cross section a reservoir of variable capacity advantageously used in the context of the present process for packaging a liquid to pasty product. A tank of comparable type has in fact already been disclosed, inter alia, in European patent application no. 0 324 289 deposited on October 24, 1988 by the company S.T.E.P .. Typically, it comprises an envelope 10 of essentially flat shape at rest with a throttle 11 more or less elliptical which ends in a cylindrical neck 15. In this case, the envelope and the neck are made in one piece, for example in a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. While throat 11 and neck 15 then have a thickness of material sufficient to be relatively rigid, the wall of the envelope 10 on the contrary admits on the whole a small thickness. However, the lateral folds 12 and the bottom 13 of the envelope 10 are reinforced like the constriction 11. This appears better in FIGS. 1 and 2 where the reservoir is shown partly in section (respectively according to the plane II-II of figure 2 and plan II of figure 1).

This structure then gives the reservoir particular deformability properties. As soon as, in fact, a force F is exerted to bring the lateral folds 12 closer to one another (as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4 showing the reservoir in section according to the plane III-III of FIG. 1), each of the thin sides of the envelope bends and widens outwards (cf. the deformed contour shown in dotted lines). This then results in an appreciable increase in the internal volume of the tank, in other words in its capacity.

It is advantageous to fill this reservoir while it is kept deformed. And it is in the same state that it is preferably hermetically closed by a distribution pump P. When the external force is released, a distributor having the appearance of the assembly shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. On one side, the constriction 11, thanks to its relative rigidity, retains a shape adapted to receive for example a cover which would engage on the base 16. On the other hand, the cover 10 remains deformed, the product trapped inside preventing it from resuming its flat form of rest. In reaction, the envelope 10 keeps the product under pressure.

The existence of this pressure is precious for a good emission of the product by the distribution pump P. This is usually obtained by pushing the hollow rod 40 of the pump P within the spinner 30. The pressure prevailing inside the tank is not so much used for the emission of the product (it is the role of the pump) than to facilitate the priming of the dispensing member.

Although a pump without precompression may be suitable, it is advantageous to rather use a pump of the type shown in axial section in FIG. 6. The latter is the subject of French patent FR 2 343 137 filed in 1976 by the company VALOIS. It conventionally consists of a pump body 50, one end of which (at the bottom in the figure) is located in the product tank and communicates with it through an opening 54. This body 50 does not have a setting orifice. air as is sometimes the case when it is planned to replace in the tank the dose of product emitted by an amount of air. In the profession, the corresponding type of pump, without air intake, is called "airless". Similarly, it is not envisaged to use a dip tube to bring the product from the bottom of the reservoir to the opening 54 of the pump body 50, the thin thickness of the reservoir preventing the presence therein. of such a tube. A seal 52 partly held by a crown 51 wedged at the bottom of the pump body 50 is able to close the opening 54, thus playing the role of inlet valve within the pump chamber 55.

The other end 53 (above in the figure) of the pump body 50 is open. It receives a piston 60 which slides in leaktight manner inside the body 50 so as to isolate the pump chamber 55 from the outside. A return spring 75 is disposed between the crown 51 and the piston 60 and opposes the reduction in volume of the pump chamber 55. To form the outlet valve of the chamber 55, the pump of FIG. 6 provides for collaboration between the hollow rod 40 used for actuation, the piston 60 and a ring 70 held against the piston 60 by means of the return spring 75. In this collaboration, another spring 64, less flexible than the previous one, also opposes the relative displacement of the hollow rod 40 and the piston 60.

Thus, when the pump chamber 55 is filled with product, the depression of the rod 40 firstly causes that of the piston 60 and of the ring 70. With its reduction in volume, the chamber 55 sees its pressure increase, the inlet valve thus remaining closed. Very quickly, the pressure reaches a value called "precompression" from which the depression of the rod 40 stops driving the piston 60, and it is rather the spring 64 which is compressed. Consequently, the lateral channel 42 of the rod 40 emerges from the piston 60 so that its internal channel 41 is placed in communication with the pump chamber 55. The content of the latter is then forcefully emitted outside until the ring 70 meets the crown 51.

As soon as the hollow rod 40 ceases to be actuated, the spring 64 expands. The outlet valve of the pump chamber 55 therefore closes since the lateral channel 42 is found opposite the piston 60 and the ring 70 reinforces the sealed application of the latter on the rod 40. Then the return spring 75 is in turn relaxes. It follows the increase in the volume of the pump chamber 55. And the depression that this could cause with respect to the content of the reservoir, is therefore compensated by the admission of product through the opening 54.

To operate according to the principle which has just been described, a tower 30 is also provided in order to offer the necessary stop. It also allows the open end 53 of the pump body 50 to be isolated from the outside. A seal 34 is arranged for this purpose between the spinner 30 and the pump body 50 while the hollow rod 40 passes through it with a certain clearance. Thus the depression of the rod and of the piston is made possible by the admission of air into the pump body 50 without this air being able to penetrate into the tank.

Finally, in the version of the precompression pump of FIG. 6, a crimping collar 20 is arranged to pass over a base 31 of the turner 30. This collar 20 is intended to come over the neck 15 of a reservoir, the seal 23 then being applied to the latter. It will be explained later how this flange 20 can allow the precompression pump of FIG. 6 to be fixed on a reservoir or, more generally, a distribution pump P without air intake, and this in a sufficiently hermetic manner so that it there is no significant exchange between the ambient air and the interior of the tank during the life of the dispenser thus produced.

In practice, the tanks of variable capacity which have just been described are rather manufactured by blowing. This results in dimensions which can vary from one tank to another. In addition, they are generally filled using a metering cylinder, the content of which also varies from one dose delivered to another. All this makes it impossible to fill the tanks close to their necks and provision is usually made for not filling them completely.

If, therefore, a pump such as the one uncovered above is fixed to the tank without any other precaution, air inevitably surrounds the pump body. And it is not the pressure which the envelope of the reservoir exerts on its pasty content which is able to repress it sufficiently. It only succeeds in making a small amount of it penetrate inside the pump chamber 55 through the intake valve. This quantity is therefore limited to increasing the quantity of air initially found in the chamber.

In this situation where the latter does not contain any product at all, experience teaches that priming the pump is almost impossible as soon as the product has a somewhat pasty consistency. In fact, during the first actuation of the rod 40, the initial air in the chamber 55 is compressed while the corresponding volume decreases. However, due to the high compressibility of this gas, its pressure does not rise enough to oppose the spring 64. The outlet valve of the pump therefore remains closed. And, while the pump chamber regains its maximum volume, there is not created any depression capable of conditioning the opening of the intake valve. In other words, the pump chamber remains desperately empty of any product and the corresponding distributor is unable to give satisfaction to its user.

Thus the distributor mentioned so far and which consists of a precompression pump and a specific variable capacity tank, is viable only if, during its realization, any air remaining in the tank filled with product is driven out. It is precisely this result that the present vacuum packaging process achieves. It will now be described in detail. On this occasion, it will be seen that this process applies to many other kinds of distribution members and tanks. However, initially, only the preferred distributor from the previous pages will be presented to illustrate the present process.

The first phase of the process of the invention consists in mechanically deforming the reservoir R. For this purpose, it is possible, for example, to have recourse to the small device shown in longitudinal section in FIGS. 7 and 8. It is in reality a question of a vice 1 composed in this case of two adjoining parts. The first of these parts is a bucket 110, open on the top, consisting for example of an aluminum alloy. In FIG. 7 in particular, we recognize the two opposite vertical sides 111 as well as a bottom 112, the sides 111 being subject to the bottom 112 by dowels 114 for assembly. Inside the bucket 110, two jaws are arranged against the two vertical sides 111. One of these jaws (bearing the reference 120) is fixed to the bucket 110 for example by an anchor 121 for assembly. The other (bearing the reference 130) is mobile and can be translated inside the bucket 110 parallel to its bottom 112. For this, the jaw 130 has on one of its faces needles 139 adapted to engage in holes piercing perpendicularly the side 111 of the bucket against which the jaw 130 is disposed.

A cylindrical rod 131 is likewise made integral with the jaw 130 and passes through the side 111. It extends outside the bucket 110 to end in a head 132 of larger diameter. The latter holds captive a roller 133 embedded so that it partially emerges at the end of the head 132. Finally, a spring 134 surrounds the rod 131. It rests, on the one hand, on the outer surface of the side 111 and, on the other hand, on the shoulder formed by the head 132. The spring 134 therefore always tends to bring out the rod 131 of the bucket 110, that is to say to apply the movable jaw 130 against the side 111 as shown in FIG. 7.

In order to cause the jaw 130 to move from this latter position to that shown in FIG. 8, jaws close together, the vice 1 may comprise a second part constituted by a block 140 fixed to the side 111 from which the rod 131 projects (using dowels 141 as drawn in dotted lines). The block 140 is then pierced right through a recess 142. A first section of the recess 142 is adapted to receive internally the part of the rod 131 projecting from the bucket 110 as well as its head 132. A cylindrical protection 143 is then advantageously interposed in order to ensure good sliding of the rod 131. Beyond the head 132, the recess 142 widens to receive this time a cylindrical cam 144 in the assembly. The cam 144 however has a notch in which the part of the roller 133 emerging from the head 132 can be received. Thus, depending on whether the roller 133 enters the notch of the cam 144 (FIG. 7) or is simply in contact with the cylindrical surface of the cam 144 (FIG. 8), the rod 131 is more or less pressed into the bucket 110 With a view to manual actuation of the cam 144, a lever 146 is advantageously attached to it (by forcibly interlocking) and protrudes outside the block 140. It optionally includes a handle 145.

However, the block 140 as well as the cam 144 and its lever 146 are essentially advantageous in the context of an implementation of the vice 1 in the laboratory. When it comes to industrial use, different buckets 110 find it advantageous to be arranged radially on a carousel 100 as shown in FIG. 9 gives a schematic illustration from above. The buckets then no longer have a block 140 so that the rod 131 with its spring 134 and its roller 133 are completely uncovered outside the side 111 of the bucket. It is then possible to provide a ramp 101 disposed at the height of the various rollers 133. It must also be placed at a distance from the axis of rotation of the carousel such that the rollers 133, by leaning thereon, cause the sinking of the rods 131 within the buckets and consequently the approximation of the jaws of the corresponding vices 1.

In this case, the ramp 101 preferably occupies only part of the periphery of the carousel. Thus, during its journey outside the ramp 101, a bucket 110 keeps its jaws 120 and 130 with the maximum spacing. This spacing is actually calculated so that a reservoir R such as that described above can be introduced into the bucket 110 by its open top. Its lateral folds 12 are then placed against the jaws which, optionally, have for this purpose guide grooves 128 and 138. Similarly, its bottom 13 is advantageously brought into a channel 113 to keep it in place (cf. FIG. 7).

Thus, when the bucket is in front of the ramp 101, the reservoir R is then deformed as was said at the start. In FIG. 8 which shows, in side view, the shape then taken by the reservoir R, it is noted that only the middle region of the folds 12 is stressed (by suitable reliefs of the jaws inside the grooves 128 and 138) . The lower region of these folds 12 is in fact cut at a bevel in order to facilitate the introduction of the reservoir into the bucket. It is not expected that the corresponding zone 14 of the envelope 10 participates significantly in the overall deformation.

After this first phase of deformation of the reservoir (which occurs for example when the associated bucket reaches the mark 1 in FIG. 9), a second phase of the present process takes place. This is the phase of filling the reservoir with product. It is advantageously carried out by means of a filling head of which only the injector pipe 2 is shown in FIG. 10. This head could for example be placed above the carousel of FIG. 9 opposite reference 2. In other words, the reservoir which then appears under it is deformed, its bucket passing in front of the ramp 101. Advantageously, the injector 2 is first lowered to the bottom of the reservoir via its neck 15 open. Then, while the product 80 is flowing therefrom, the injector 2 is raised so that its end 210 always remains above the surface 81 of the product. If necessary, it is rather the bucket 110 which is lowered relative to a fixed injector 2. Anyway, keeping the injector 2 out of the product 80 prevents trapping of air bubbles. And finally, a mass of product 80 occupies almost the entire deformed reservoir, only a small volume of air remaining near the neck 11 in the space 82 shown in FIG. 11.

It is then that a dispensing member is disposed on the reservoir R. When it is a pump like that of FIG. 6 also reproduced in FIG. 11, its pump body 50 is engaged in the inside the neck 15 of the reservoir while its crimping collar 20 simply rests around this neck. Then, the bucket 110 is for example brought in front of the reference 3 in FIG. 9 to undergo the third and last phase of the present process. It is found for this in line with a device 3 for final conditioning. An example of this device 3 is shown in axial section in FIGS. 11 to 14 in different positions. In the following lines, will be explained according to which principle such a device operates in accordance with the present invention. Without going into detail of all the parts that compose it, its main groups of elements will therefore be presented from a rather functional point of view as the implementation of the present device will be described. And we will limit ourselves to pointing out that the various elements of each group have the main role of facilitating the assembly of the device, unless they are made necessary for its proper functioning. At the same time will be exposed the course of the third phase of this process that this device 3 performs.

After the bucket 110 as well as its deformed reservoir R, full of product 80 and provided with its pump P not yet crimped, have therefore been presented below the device 3 as shown in FIG. 11, the device 3 and the bucket 110 are moved relative to each other until the relative position of Figure 12 is reached. For this, a first cylinder 310 allows for example to lower all of the elements bearing reference numbers ranging from 311 to 319 and forming the head of the device 3. Such a cylinder is advantageously part of a machine traditionally used for l assembly of distributors.

The head of the device 3 then drives the elements bearing the references 300 to 308 and forming a sort of lower crown. For this, pressurized air is introduced through line 314 (see arrow B). Possibly a part of this air is evacuated through the duct 314 '(see arrow B') arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of the device 3. But, in total, care is taken to maintain the pressure at a value sufficient to that the head of the device (elements 310 to 319) and its lower crown (elements 300 to 308) are well kept away from each other.

This is how the lower ring ends up meeting the top of the cup 110. The contact is preferably established at a damping joint 306 while the cup 110 is advantageously provided with an annular part 115. Although present in the previous phases of the process of the invention, this part 115 which we have not yet talked about, allows the cup 110 to offer a circular rim against which the sealing lip 307 carried below by the device 3 may come to apply. The air pressure maintained between the head and the crown below the level of the conduits 314 and 314 ′ then guarantees that the crown 300 is applied to the bucket 110 with a force greater than that developed by the jack 310.

Consequently, an interior space is isolated from the outside both at the bucket 110 and at the device 3. Immediately, a vacuum is created in the corresponding enclosure thanks to the application of a suction through the conduits. 308 (see arrow A near the base of the lower crown) and 318 (see arrow A 'near the head of the device 3). The interior space thus placed under vacuum thus includes not only the periphery of the reservoir R, but also the space 82 inside this reservoir R and which communicates with its periphery around the pump P not yet crimped (cf. Figure 11). Given the structure of the preferably envisaged pump, the communication is of course established between the neck 15 and the crimping collar 20 since the mechanical and hydraulic conditions combined preclude a priori the opening of its outlet valve. In any case, the unwanted air is therefore expelled from space 82.

While the suction through the conduits 308 and 318 remains maintained, the head of the device 3 is lowered a little deeper on the bucket 110 by stopping the supply of pressurized air through the conduit 314 (see figure 13 where arrow B is no longer shown). The air initially introduced between the head of the device and its lower crown in order to keep these two groups of elements apart is therefore evacuated through the duct 314 '. The system then works like a leak absorber. In order to increase its damping effect, a flow control valve (not shown) can also be arranged at the outlet of the duct 314 'in order to control the exhaust of air.

In this way, the central element 317 of the device 3 or centering device is it brought to the pump P of the dispenser with all the precautions required to avoid jamming of the latter. When the leakage damper reaches the end of the stroke, the pump P is thus brought into abutment against the neck 15, the periphery of the centralizer 317 pressing on the crimping flange 20. The bearing force is also chosen so that the seal 23 disposed between the flange and the neck (see Figure 6) is slightly compressed for optimal sealing.

• une tige 329 centrale enfilée dans l'axe de la tête du dispositif. Elle est adaptée à y coulisser de sorte qu'elle peut être descendue par rapport à la tête. Pour cela, un second vérin (non représenté) solidaire de la machine traditionnelle évoquée ci-dessus peut être utilisé de façon comparable au premier vérin actionnant la tête;
• un manchon 325 cylindrique, encore appelé cône de fermeture, de même axe que le dispositif et lié rigidement à la tige 329 de sorte que la descente de cette dernière entraîne celle du manchon;
• des pinces 320 de sertissage. Celles-ci, qui vont à présent être détaillées à l'aide des figures 15 et 16, sont cette fois solidaires de la tête du dispositif.

It is from this moment that a third group of elements, referred to below as a crimping assembly, intervenes in the operation of the device 3 according to the present invention. In FIG. 14, these elements bear reference numbers ranging from 320 to 329. They are found essentially around the axis of revolution of the device. When we compare their relative positions in Figure 14 with those in Figure 13, we manage to distinguish:

• a central rod 329 threaded in the axis of the head of the device. It is adapted to slide there so that it can be lowered relative to the head. For this, a second cylinder (not shown) integral with the traditional machine mentioned above can be used in a manner comparable to the first cylinder actuating the head;
• a cylindrical sleeve 325, also called closing cone, of the same axis as the device and rigidly connected to the rod 329 so that the descent of the latter causes that of the sleeve;
• crimping pliers 320. These, which will now be detailed with the aid of Figures 15 and 16, are this time secured to the head of the device.

In a perfectly known manner, these clamps 320 are in fact in the form of a thin metal cylinder, a good end section of which has radial cuts made at equal distance from each other around the cylinder. The notches thus dissociate tongues 321 of sufficiently small thickness to be radially flexible. For example, the pliers shown in bottom view in Figure 15 have ten tabs dissociated by ten notches. The free end of the tongues is also more massive. Externally, they together form a widening cone of cone. Internally, each tongue has a tooth-shaped section.

Thus, at the end of the total insertion of the leakage damper formed by the head of the device and its lower crown, the toothed end of the tongues 321 occurs all around the pump P for distribution to the level of the edge of the crimping collar 20. This is shown in Figure 13. Then, the second cylinder causes the descent of the rod 329 and the sleeve 325. The latter then forces the various tongues 321 of the clamp 320 to come closer to each other. And while the notches separating them close, the outside diameter of the cylinder formed by the union of the tongues decreases. The small teeth end up being applied to the edge of the collar. Provided that the height separating the lower periphery of the centering device 317 serving as a support and the tip of the teeth is suitably chosen, the flange is thus folded over the bulge of the neck of the reservoir as shown in more detail in FIG. 16. Now , by its crimping, it isolates the interior of the reservoir from the atmosphere and the aspiration of air by the conduits 308 and 318 can be stopped without risking seeing the space 82 fill up again of air. From this moment, the product contained in the reservoir is already pressurized by the ambient air which compresses the deformable walls of the reservoir. This contributes to the decrease in space 82.

From there, it is necessary to raise the sleeve 325 and the rod 329 in order to free the dispenser from the grip of the clamp 320. Then, the whole of the head of the device and its lower crown can be reassembled. The bucket 110 continues for example its course on the carousel to finally disengage from the ramp 101 so that its jaws 120 and 130 loosen. Then, the envelope of the tank no longer being kept deformed, reinforces the pressure of the product which it contains. Henceforth, the space 82 has completely disappeared and the product is automatically admitted into the pump chamber by its intake valve. In other words, the problem of priming precompression pumps such as that shown in FIG. 6 is solved.

However, there are cases where this preliminary automatic filling of the pump chamber is undesirable. This applies in particular when a pusher must then be secured to the rod 40 for actuating the pump. The corresponding operation is in fact accompanied by a depression of the rod 40. It therefore follows the emission of the contents of the pump chamber. It is therefore conceivable that an initial gaseous content is sought in order to avoid contaminating the pusher with dough and to keep the packaging lines clean.

In these cases, another embodiment of the present device is preferred. This is in no way different from the previous one as regards the groups of elements 300 to 308 forming its lower crown and 310 to 318 forming its head proper. Only the crimping assembly and more precisely the centering device 317 is modified. Figure 17 of details shows how.

Thus, in this version of the present device, the centering device 317 actually consists of two coaxial cylindrical parts, the upper part 337 being fitted in a sealed manner around the lower part (which retains the effective role of centering device 317) . The centralizer 317 is also hollow so that it internally accommodates a piston 332 having a piston rod 331 of the same axis as the axis of the centralizer 317 and of diameter comparable to that of the rods 40 for actuating the pumps P. L the recess of the centralizer 317 is finally produced so that the piston 332 conventionally separates therein an upper chamber 373 and a lower chamber 371, the insulation of the two chambers being guaranteed by a seal 335 placed around the piston 332.

The latter then circulates in the recess of the centralizer 317 under the combined effect first of all of a pressure, of air in particular, injected into the upper chamber 373 by the conduit 334 of the piston rod 331 and then of a return spring 336 disposed around the rod 331 in the lower chamber 371. In FIG. 17, the latter pushes the piston 332 completely upwards, which abuts against the upper part 337 at a shoulder 330 of its rod 331 provided for this purpose. By pressurizing the upper chamber 373, the piston 332 can descend against the spring 336, the air contained in the lower chamber being evacuated by the venting 372.

It follows the application of the free end of the piston rod 331 against the rod 40 for actuating the pump P, then the depression of the latter driven by the rod 331. In particular for the type of pump P described above, this has the effect of putting the pump chamber 55 into communication with the outside of the distributor (cf. FIG. 6). It is then that a gas can be introduced into this chamber 55 through an internal channel 333 passing through the entire rod 331 and its piston 332. Seals 338 and 339 disposed respectively around the piston rod 331 and at the base of the centralizer 317 prevent the gas injected through the channel 333 from escaping.

The implementation of the piston 332 as has just been described, intervenes in truth at the end of the third phase of the present conditioning process and more precisely at the end of the fixing of the pump P on the tank R while than the enclosure formed by the sealed application of the device 3 on the cup 1 is always under vacuum. The gas which is thus injected into the pump chamber can be air at atmospheric pressure, nitrogen at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure (for example 2 bar) or any other gas at a pressure suitable for goal pursued. The latter consists in effect in establishing in the pump chamber a pressure such that after the removal of the vacuum around the distributor, the product which it contains does not penetrate into the pump chamber. In other words, the gas must be introduced with sufficient pressure so that once the initial volume of the pump chamber has been restored, there prevails a pressure greater than the pressure prevailing in the distributor tank at the end of its conditioning.

This addition to the third phase of the present process, which therefore responds to practical contingencies, however, is not imperative in the context of the present invention. The reader will even notice that it is perfectly useless with pumps whose admission into the pump chamber is not controlled by a non-return valve (ball or seal). Not only would this not eliminate the risk of product penetration into the pump chamber after opening the enclosure, but it would result in the annihilation of the result of the present vacuum packaging process, in particular in the event of injection of through channel 333.

Apart from the dispenser formed from the deformable envelope and from the particular precompression pump which have been mentioned so far, it can be understood that the present packaging process has a much wider field of application. First of all, the types of distribution member can be very diverse. This applies not only to their very nature, but also to their method of attachment to the tank. The crimping envisaged above is certainly a very widespread method of fixing, but the expansion is just as much. However, it is generally reserved for securing distribution members of relatively large sizes (diameter greater than 1 "). Crimping cups 20 such as that shown in section in FIG. 18 are then used. Like the flange described above, the cup partially covers, for example, the pump and its extreme edge must, as a result of the expansion, enclose the tank R, in this case a metal can 10e protecting a deformable internal envelope 10 i. these two support points, the cup has an annular groove. And it is inside this groove that the teeth of the clamp 320 are inserted to push the cup under the edge of the reservoir while the centering device 317 applies its abutment force on this edge. The fixing principle therefore remains the same, the centralizer 317 being however arranged around the gripper 320. Those skilled in the art will understand that a device similar to that described for carrying out the vacuum crimping according to the present invention can be developed with a view, this time, to vacuum expansion (thanks to example to a cam causing their displacement around the clamps their spacing).

In the same way, the present method applies to the fixing of the dispensing member by snap-fastening. As is for example shown in FIG. 19, the pump P then comprises, instead of a flange or a crimping cup, a ring provided internally with a relief 22. The latter is for example adapted to s 'snap on the bulge of the neck of a tank. The device 3 useful for the implementation of the third phase of the process is in this case like that of FIGS. 11 to 14 except that the crimping assembly is absent. The fixing is then carried out simply while the centering device 317 gently comes into abutment on the ring 20 by means of the leakage damper.

As far as R tanks are concerned, the same diversity remains, provided that they are provided with means for varying their capacity. Among these, we can first mention a tank comprising a double envelope 10 like that shown in section in Figure 20. The outer envelope 10e is for example rigid while the inner envelope 10i or pocket is flexible. They can be formed in one piece by coextrusion, their only connection point being the periphery of the neck 15. Then a vent hole 17 makes it possible to maintain the intermediate space between the two envelopes at the same pressure as the periphery of the tank.

Thus it is possible to expel the air from the filled inner envelope 10i by implementing the second and third phases of the present process. For this, it is however advisable that, during the first phase, the jacketed tank was placed in a bucket similar to that of FIGS. 7 and 8 even if its jaws are tightened only in order to properly hold the tank (and no longer to give it a prior deformation). After conditioning, this reservoir will see its inner envelope gradually deform as the product is emitted. However, its rigid outer shell will keep it easy to handle.

Another tank R which can be used in the context of the present invention is then visible in axial section in FIG. 21. It has a rigid casing 10 of cylindrical shape. This has at one end a neck-shaped narrowing 15. A collar 20 allows, for example as shown in the figure, to crimp a pump P on the neck 15. A seal 23 seals the fixing . As an accessory, the rod 40 of the pump P is engaged in a push button 90 comprising a dispensing nozzle 91. A guide cylinder 92, for example taking support around the neck 15 of the tank, moreover guarantees a correct relative movement of the push-button 90 relative to the pump P. Finally, a cap 11 'fitted on the tank protects the distribution organ.

The other end of the envelope 10 is open. It is closed off from the ambient air by a scraper piston 100 ′. The latter in fact comprises peripheral sealing lips 101 ′ intended to apply in a sealed manner to the interior wall of the envelope 10. The piston 100 ′ also has reliefs 102 ′ and 103 ′ in the form of a crown. of the same axis as the axis of the reservoir R. A relief 103 ′ is arranged on the side of the product 80. In this way, the internal volume remaining when the distributor is empty is minimized (cf. FIG. 22). The other relief 102 'projects from the opposite side. It determines, when the distributor is full, the end of stroke of the piston 100 'by its abutment against a cover 16'. In the embodiment of Figure 21, this cover 16 'is wedged between the free end of the casing 10 and a sleeve 12' engaged around the latter. The cover 16 ′ finally has a vent hole 17 in order to allow the scraper piston 100 ′ to rise within the casing 10.

Figures 22 and 23 show the same tank as that of Figure 21, but this time devoid not only of its cap 11 ', but also of its pump.

However, it already includes the cover 16 'and the sleeve 12' which will have been assembled beforehand at the tank manufacturer. This is because he is now at the home of the producer of the product to be packaged, the pharmacist or the cosmetologist for example, who wishes to subject him to a prior filling operation, which has just started in FIG. 22 and being in progress in FIG. 23. For this, a plug 202 is for example brought into contact with the neck 15 'and pressed against it. Through this plug 202 passes an injector 200. The product 80 is introduced under pressure by this injector 200. It firstly fills the space within the ring 103 'of the scraper piston 100' (cf. FIG. 22) and thus succeeds in pushing the piston 100 'towards the free end of the envelope 10 (cf. FIG. 23). This method makes it possible to fill almost all of the envelope 10 without risking the trapping of air bubbles (with the exception of the space 82 corresponding to the initial interior volume of the neck 15 as well as of the crown 103 ′).

Following this filling and after removal of the plug 202 and the injector 200, a pump for example is crimped onto the reservoir according to the vacuum conditioning method described above. It follows a distributor according to Figure 21 described above. The product 80 which it contains is thus protected from air. Emissions from the pump P of distribution are made possible by the scraper piston 100 'which moves in the casing 10 and adapts the capacity of the reservoir R to the quantity of product remaining.

Yet another way of obtaining a variable-capacity dispenser finally consists in filling a reservoir R of the bottle or canister type with a propellant gas intended to overcome, for example, a liquid product to be emitted. To form such a distributor, the rigid reservoir is firstly filled. This is for example carried out using an injector which rises in the reservoir as the product is introduced. In this way, in fact, the nozzle of the injector remains at the level of the surface of the product, which minimizes the trapping of air bubbles. Then, a pump of the type of that of FIGS. 24 and 25 is crimped according to the vacuum packaging method described above. Once the product thus sealed in the distributor, propellant gas can be introduced through such a pump into the tank.

Indeed, it is a metering pump P with precompression of a known type such as that described in French patent application no. 88-08653 filed by the plaintiff. It comprises two movable pistons 40 ′ and 60 ′ housed one on the other within a pump body 50 ′ having a first open end and a second end choked in the form of a tube and intended to be placed within the tank R. The external piston 40 ′ is hollow with an internal emission channel 41 ′ and also acts as a piston while the peripheral sealing lips 42 ′ adapt tightly to the internal wall of the body 50 ′ pump. The internal piston 60 ′ is differential and participates in both outlet and inlet valves. For this, it comprises on one side a needle 61 'engaging in the transmission channel 41' to apply against a terminal narrowing of the latter and, on the other, a skirt 62 'adapted to s' tightly engage on a sleeve 52 'projecting from the bottom of the pump body 50' and communicating with the reservoir R.

These two pistons 40 'and 60' collaborate with each other thanks, on the one hand, to a spring 70 'arranged between the pump body 50' and the differential piston 60 'and, on the other hand, to a ferrule 30' subject for example at the open end of the pump body 50 ′ by means of a crimping flange 20 ′. The depression of the hollow piston 40 'first determines the descent of the differential piston 6' so that its skirt 62 'comes into contact with the sleeve 52' and closes the intake valve. From there, the product trapped in the annular space between the pump body 50 'and the sleeve 52' as well as the skirt 62 ', space which is none other than the pump chamber, sees its pressure increase. When it reaches a value sufficient to determine the descent of the piston 60 'differential with respect to the piston 40' hollow against the force of the spring 70 ', the product can be evacuated with a precompression effect by the passage offered between the needle 61' and the terminal narrowing of the channel 41 ' Release.

The emission continues in this way as long as the piston 40 'continues its descent. Once the latter has reached the end of its travel, the user releases his effort so that the spring 70 'can relax and cause the pistons 40' and 60 'to rise. The pump chamber defined above increases in volume and a vacuum is soon created. When finally, the skirt 62 'leaves the sleeve 52', thereby opening the intake valve, the vacuum is such that product is sucked from the reservoir R into the chamber.

• * le sommet du pointeau 61' est creusé d'une petite encoche 66' pour accueillir l'extrémité d'une aiguille. Celle-ci fait par exemple partie d'une machine de remplissage en gaz propulseur. Elle est alors introduite dans le canal 41' d'émission pour repousser le pointeau 61' par rapport au piston 40' creux. Sur la figure 25, l'aiguille (qui n'est pas représentée) a fait descendre le piston 60' différentiel à fond sur le manchon 52';
• * à la base de son pointeau 61', le piston 6' différentiel comporte des entretoises 65' qui maintiennent un écartement minimum entre les deux pistons;
• * la paroi interne du corps 50' de pompe est munie d'un épaulement 51' annulaire orienté du côté de son extrémité ouverte. Comme le précise la figure 5, il est prévu pour offrir une butée aux lèvres 42' d'étanchéité du piston 40' creux et cela après une course telle que le piston 60' différentiel peut encore descendre plus profondément au sein du corps 50' de pompe;
• * à la racine extérieure du manchon 52' saillent enfin des nervures 53' qui remontent en partie le long du manchon 52'. Ainsi la lèvre 63' d'étanchéité de la jupe 62' peut-elle remonter sur les nervures 53' dès lors que le piston 60' différentiel est descendu à fond. Le cas échéant, des créneaux 54' au sommet du manchon 52' évitent que le dessous de la jupe 62' ne s'applique de façon trop étanche au manchon 52'. De la sorte, un passage reste ménagé pour faire communiquer la chambre de pompe et l'intérieur du réservoir.

In addition, in order to authorize the filling of the reservoir R with propellant gas through the pump P, the parts which have just been mentioned in their arrangement and their function include the following particularities:

• * the top of the needle 61 'is hollowed out with a small notch 66' to accommodate the end of a needle. This is for example part of a propellant filling machine. It is then introduced into the transmission channel 41 'to push the needle 61' relative to the hollow piston 40 '. In FIG. 25, the needle (which is not shown) has lowered the differential piston 60 'fully onto the sleeve 52';
• * at the base of its needle 61 ', the differential piston 6' has spacers 65 'which maintain a minimum spacing between the two pistons;
• * the internal wall of the pump body 50 ′ is provided with an annular shoulder 51 ′ oriented towards the side of its open end. As shown in FIG. 5, it is provided to provide a stop for the lips 42 ′ for sealing the hollow piston 40 ′ and this after a stroke such that the differential piston 60 ′ can still descend more deeply within the body 50 ′ of pump;
• * at the outer root of the sleeve 52 ′ finally project ribs 53 ′ which rise partly along the sleeve 52 ′. Thus the lip 63 ′ for sealing the skirt 62 ′ can rise up on the ribs 53 ′ as soon as the differential piston 60 ′ has come down to the bottom. Where appropriate, slots 54 'at the top of the sleeve 52' prevent the underside of the skirt 62 'from being applied too tightly to the sleeve 52'. In this way, a passage remains provided to communicate the pump chamber and the interior of the tank.

The filling with propellant gas is therefore carried out by pushing the differential piston 6 'by means of a needle bearing in the notch 66' and this until that the skirt 62 'goes up on the ribs 53'. At the same time, the hollow piston 40 ′ may not be moved at all or may also be brought into abutment against the shoulder 51 ′. In all cases, the outlet valve is thus kept open. In other words, a passage now exists from outside to the tank, the pump chamber communicating with the tank through the recesses remaining between the ribs 53 'as well as between the slots 54'.

Once the propellant is in the tank, it not only ensures the pressurization of the product to be dispensed, but it is able to relax as the product is emitted. Thus, the dispenser provided with such a pump may include a rigid reservoir.

Such dispensers with vacuum packaging are essentially useful for the preservation of products which fear contact with the ambient air. They have in common the use of a variable capacity reservoir. Filled while its capacity is maximum, the present process allows any air to be evacuated before the tight fixing of a distribution member without air intake. This is further achieved here within an enclosure so that a vacuum is created both inside the tank and outside. This therefore prevents the evacuation of product from the tank during packaging. And it is indeed the entire maximum capacity of the tank that remains occupied by the product when the packaged distributor is finally delivered to the market.

Claims (25)

1. A method of vacuum packaging a substance having consistency lying in the range liquid to semi-solid inside a variable capacity container (R) closed by a dispenser member that prevents ingress of air, said method including at least a stage during which said member is fixed in sealed manner on said container (R) filled with said substance (80), the method being characterized in that said member is fixed in sealed manner while said container (R) is inside an enclosure (1, 3) where an air vacuum is maintained.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which said dispenser member is a pump (P) having a hollow actuator rod (40) which communicates with a pump chamber (55) when depressed, admission into the chamber (55) being governed by a non-return valve (52), the method being characterized in that after said pump (3) has been fixed in sealed manner, the hollow rod (40) is depressed and a gas is injected into said hollow rod (40) while the container with its pump (3) fixed thereon are still in said enclosure (1, 3) maintained under vacuum, said gas being injected at a pressure which is sufficient to ensure that after atmospheric pressure has been re-established around the container (R) the pressure inside the container is less than the pressure inside the pump chamber (55), thereby preventing the substance from penetrating into the pump chamber.
3. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the gas is air injected at atmospheric pressure.
4. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the gas is nitrogen injected at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.
5. A method according to claim 1, in which the container (R) includes a deformable pouch (10), the method being characterized in that prior to fixing said member within said evacuated enclosure, the container (R) is filled at atmospheric pressure, while the pouch (10) is kept deformed in such a manner that the container presents its maximum capacity.
6. A method according to claim 1, in which the container (R) has a rigid body (10, 10e) together with means for varying its capacity, the method being characterized in that prior to fixing said member in said evacuated enclosure, the container (R) is filled at atmospheric pressure while its rigid body (10, 10e) is held mechanically.
7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said means for varying the capacity of the container (R) consists in a flexible pouch (10i) fixed to a rigid body (10c) and disposed inside it, the rigid body having a vent hole (17).
8. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the rigid body (10) is a cylinder having a neck (15) at one end while its other end is open, and in that said means for varying the capacity of said container (R) are constituted by a scraper piston (100') closing said open end in sealed manner and suitable for travelling from a low position in which the container (R) is full to a high position in which the container (R) has been emptied.
9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that said scraper piston (100') has a ring (103') projecting into said substance (80) and shaped such that the dispenser member occupies the inside of the said ring (103') when said scraper (100') is in said high position, thereby reducing the quantity of substance (80) that remains inside the container (R) after it has been emptied.
10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said scraper piston (100') has a ring (102') projecting sufficiently from its side facing away from said substance (80) to come into abutment against a closure plate (16') which includes a vent hole (17) and which is held over said open end of said container (R) to close it.
11. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that prior to fixing said dispenser member on said container (R), said substance (8) is injected into said container (R) under pressure by means of an injector (200) passing through a plug (202) disposed on said neck (15), said scraper piston (100') being in said high position inside said empty container (R) when said substance (80) begins to be injected therein.
12. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said means for varying the capacity of said container (R) comprise a propellant gas disposed over the substance (80), said dispenser member then being constituted by a precompression metering pump (P) having a differential piston (60') having a plunger (61) at one end for engaging inside a delivery channel (41') in a hollow piston (40') and constituting therewith an outlet valve, and a skirt (62') at its other end for engaging telescopically in sealed manner around a sleeve (52') fixed to a pump body (50') in order to form an admission valve together therewith, said sleeve (52') including relief (53', 54') adapted to break the sealing between the skirt (62') and the sleeve (52') when said differential piston (60') is pushed down fully inside said pump body (50').
13. Apparatus for implementing the method according to any preceding claim, said container (R) including a neck (15) on which said dispenser member is adapted to be fixed in sealed manner, with said stage of fixing said member in sealed manner being preceded by at least the following stages:

    1) said container (R) is disposed in a socket (110) having an open top so that said neck (15) is presented at said top; and

    2) said container (R) is filled with said substance via said neck (15), after which said dispenser member is disposed on said neck (15);

       the apparatus being characterized in that it includes a ring (300, ..., 308) adapted to bear downwards and in sealed manner on the top of said socket (110) so as to constitute said enclosure (1, 3), means (308, 318) for sucking air from said enclosure (1, 3), and means (320, ..., 329) for fixing said dispenser member (P), said means being disposed in the center of said ring (300, ..., 308).
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said ring (300, ..., 308) bears in sealed manner on the top of said socket (110) by means of an annular sealing lip (307) adapted to rest against a circular rim (115) fixed to said socket (110).
15. Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14, characterized in that said socket (110) is movable, and in that said apparatus (3) is lowered onto said socket (110) by actuating a first actuator (10) when said socket moves to a position vertically below said apparatus (3).
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said socket (110) is mounted on a carousel (100).
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that means (320, ..., 329) for fixing said member comprise a centering device (317) compatible with said member and terminated by a bearing surface adapted to act as an abutment for a fixing component (20) of said member, said centering device (317) being fixed to a head (310, ..., 318) of said apparatus (3), said ring (300, ..., 308) of said apparatus (3) being connected to said head (310, ..., 318) by a leakage shock absorber type system such that when said ring (300, ..., 308) bears against said socket (110), said centering device (317) may be lowered slowly onto said member until said bearing surface exerts a suitable force on said fixing component (20) of said member.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said fixing component (20) of said member is a ring including internal relief (22), said force exerted by said bearing surface being sufficient to cause said relief (22) to snap-fasten around the neck (15) around said container (R).
19. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said fixing component (20) of said member is a crimping collar, said force exerted by said bearing surface being sufficient to compress a gasket (23) disposed between said collar and said neck (15) of said container (R), and in that said means (320, ..., 329) for fixing said member further include clamps (320) fixed to said head (310, ..., 318) of said apparatus (3) and adapted to close against said crimping collar under drive from a closing cone (325) which a second actuator causes to slide over said clamps (320).
20. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said fixing component (20) of said member is a crimping cap, said force exerted by said bearing surface being sufficient to press said cap against said neck (15) of said container (R), and in that said means (320, ..., 329) for fixing said member further include clamps (320) fixed to said head (310, ..., 318) of said apparatus (3) and suitable for being splayed apart against said cap beneath said neck (15) by a cam driven relative to said clamps (320) by a second actuator.
21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 20, in which said dispenser member is a pump (P) having a hollow actuator rod (40) which communicates with a pump chamber (55) when depressed, admission into the pump chamber (55) being governed by a non-return valve (52), the apparatus being characterized in that said centering device (317) includes a centering device rod (331) of comparable diameter to said actuator rod (40) of said pump (3), said centering device rod having an axial channel (333) and being fixed to a piston (332) for driving said centering device rod axially within said centering device (317).
22. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that said piston (332) occupies a hollow inside said centering device (317) in which it separates in sealed manner a top chamber (373) and a bottom chamber (371), a duct (334) running along said centering device rod (331) opening out into said top chamber (373), and a return spring (336) being disposed around said centering device rod (331) inside the bottom chamber (371).
23. Apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that a top part (337) fits in sealed manner around said centering device (317) and provides an abutment for said piston (332) against a shoulder (330) of the centering device rod (331) against the force exerted by said spring (336).
24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 23, characterized in that said socket (110) contains two jaws (120, 130) constituting a vice (1) for engaging said container (R).
25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that one of said jaws (120, 130) is fixed to a jaw drive rod (131) projecting outside said socket (110), a return spring (134) surrounding said jaw drive rod (131) so as to oppose said jaws (120, 130) of said vice (1) moving towards each other, and a wheel (133) being fitted to the end of said jaw drive rod (131), a caring strip (101) also being provided against which said wheel (133) can run when said socket (110) moves, said strip (101) being disposed relative to said socket (110) in such a manner that said jaws (120, 130) are kept closer to each other against the force of said spring (134).

Images