EP0773161B1 - Machine for thermoforming, filling and hermetic closing of plastic containers having a multiplicity of compartments - Google Patents

Machine for thermoforming, filling and hermetic closing of plastic containers having a multiplicity of compartments Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0773161B1
EP0773161B1 EP19960402345 EP96402345A EP0773161B1 EP 0773161 B1 EP0773161 B1 EP 0773161B1 EP 19960402345 EP19960402345 EP 19960402345 EP 96402345 A EP96402345 A EP 96402345A EP 0773161 B1 EP0773161 B1 EP 0773161B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compartments
strip
receptacles
product
machine according
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EP19960402345
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0773161A1 (en
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Patrick Becquart
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ARCIL
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ARCIL
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
    • B65B9/042—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material for fluent material

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a machine for thermoforming, filling and sealing of plastic containers comprising at least two compartments for receiving products different, such as food products.
  • the means used for this purpose are relatively complex and unsuitable for the production of groups or "packs" of containers, in particular when the container compartments are closed by individual lids or covers, or they are implemented on machines making it possible to dose a produced in the first compartments of the containers, to close these compartments and to cut out the containers or groups of containers to separate them from each other others, then to dose another product within second container compartments and close these second compartments (see for example EP-A-0611695).
  • the object of the invention is to avoid disadvantages of known systems and to group on a all the means to dose different products in different compartments thermoformed containers and seal tightly these compartments while avoiding any risk of mutual contamination of the dosed products.
  • the invention therefore makes it possible, on a machine to thermoforming, filling and closing of containers, to dose different products in compartments different from the containers and ensure their closure waterproof by means of one or more strips of material flexible and waterproof which pass over guiding means individuals allowing the recovery and closing of compartments in which a first product is already dosed, before another product is dosed in other compartments of the same containers.
  • the machine also includes means for longitudinally cutting a aforementioned strip in at least two parallel strips which serve respectively to seal compartments different from the aforementioned containers.
  • These means of longitudinal strip cutting are arranged upstream of the aforementioned guide means.
  • the machine can then include means for support of a tape reel and deflection rollers which are arranged between the coil or the cutting means and the aforementioned guide means.
  • the machine comprises at least two coils of strip arranged to unwind parallel strips intended respectively when closing different compartments of the aforementioned containers.
  • the machine comprises, upstream and at the level means for metering the second product, means for lifting at least one longitudinal edge of a strip above to free access to the second compartments containers.
  • the invention allows integrate on a thermoforming machine, filling and closing of means containers avoiding any risk of mutual contamination of different products dosed in compartments different from the containers and also allowing a tight closure of these compartments without discontinuity in moving or advancing the containers on the machine.
  • the machine of Figure 1 comprises means for supporting a reel 10 of thermoplastic film 12 and means for guiding and moving the film step by step 12 in a container thermoforming station 14 each comprising at least two adjacent compartments intended to receive different products such as example that dairy products on the one hand and dry products on the other hand, the mixture of which must not be realized that by the consumer, the compartments correspondents of successive containers being aligned by type of product to be received alongside the direction of movement of the film 12.
  • thermoforming 14 The post of thermoforming 14 is followed by a 16 metering station minus a first product in first compartments containers, a station 18 for sealing these first compartments, a dosing station 20 of a second product in the second compartments of containers, a station 22 for sealing second compartments and a cutting station 24 used to deliver groups at the machine outlet or "packs" 26 of containers or possibly individual containers.
  • the watertight closure of the compartments of containers is secured by tape or film 28 of flexible and waterproof material unwound from a reel 30 carried by suitable means of the machine and passing on idler rollers 32 which bring this strip 28 above the thermoformed containers, between station 16 for dosing the first product and the closing station 18 of the first compartments of the containers.
  • thermoformed containers each have two transverse compartments aligned with respect to the direction of travel of containers in the machine, these two compartments being of different sizes.
  • two rows containers are thermoformed in the film 12, with an arrangement which is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the film 12, as can be seen in Figures 3 and 5.
  • the invention also applies in cases where the containers are formed differently in film 12, and in cases where the containers include more than two compartments intended to receive different products.
  • Figures 2 and 3 which represent a first embodiment of the invention, we find the means 16 for dosing at least a first product in the first compartments 34 of the containers 36, the station 18 for watertight closure of the first compartments 34, station 20 for dosing at least one second product in the second compartments 38 of the containers, the station 22 for closing the second compartments of containers, the reel 30 of flexible and waterproof tape 28 used to close the container compartments and the deflection rollers 32 on which the strip passes 28 to arrive between the dosing station 16 of the first product and station 18 closing the first container compartments.
  • the machine also includes means 40 for longitudinal cutting of the strip 28, which are arranged between the coil 30 and the return rollers 32 and which cut the strip 28 into three parallel strips, namely a central strip 42 intended to cover the first compartments 34 of thermoformed containers and two side strips 44 arranged on either side of the central strip 42 and intended to cover the second compartments 38 of thermoformed containers.
  • the three bands 42, 44 leaving the means of cutout 40 pass side by side on the idler rollers 32, then the central strip 42 is brought between the thermoformed containers and the closing station 18 for the closure of the first compartments 34 of containers, while the two side bands 44 first pass on a roller 46 arranged upstream of the first closing station 18 and at a certain height above the thermoformed containers as shown in Figure 2, then on a roller 48 located downstream of the means 20 for dosing the second product at the same height as the roller 46 and on a deflection roller 50 guiding the side bands 44 between the thermoformed containers and the means 22 for closing the second compartments 38.
  • the rollers 46, 48 and 50 are horizontal and transversely oriented, and arranged at a height sufficient above the thermoformed containers to not not interfere with the operation of the closing means 18 first compartments 34 and metering means 20 of the second product in the second compartments 38.
  • One (or more) first product is dosed by station 16 in the first compartments 34 of thermoformed containers in film 12 and then these first compartments are sealed station 18 by the central strip 44 cut from the strip 28 unwound from reel 30.
  • one (or more) second product is dosed at station 20 in the second compartments 38 of the containers, the side bands 44 cut from the strip 28 being raised above the row of containers, then the second compartments 38 of containers are closed by strips 44 at station 22.
  • the central bands 42 and lateral 44 can be heat sealed on the edges of compartments 34 and 38 for closing waterproof.
  • the second product dosed in the second compartments 38 of the containers cannot contaminate the first product dosed in the first compartments 34, the latter being tightly sealed when the containers are brought to the level of station 20 of dosage of the second product.
  • the waterproof shutter container compartments is secured from of a single reel 30 of a strip 28 of material appropriate, this filling occurring without discontinuity in the movement of the containers in the machine.
  • Figures 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the invention, in which the watertight closure of compartments 34 and 38 of thermoformed containers is insured from a single coil 30 of a strip 28 of flexible and waterproof material appropriate, as in the embodiment of the figures 2 and 3, the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 does not comprising no means 40 for cutting the strip 28 into three parallel strips, but means for lifting the edges of this strip above the second compartments 38 sufficient to allow the dosage of second product in these second compartments.
  • a roller 32 with frustoconical ends for deflecting the strip 28 by which this strip 28 is brought to the above compartments 34, 38 of containers at level station 18 for closing the first compartments 34, means for lifting the edges of the strip 28 being arranged upstream and downstream of the metering station 20 second product and comprising a guide 52 arranged between the station 18 for closing the first compartments 34 and the second product dosing station 20, and another guide 54, similar to the first, arranged between station 20 of dosing of the second product and the closure means 22 second compartments 38, a transverse roller 56 advantageously being provided just upstream of the station 22 to ensure that the edges of the band 28 on the second compartments 38 of the containers, for the purpose of closing these second compartments.
  • Edge lifting guides 52 and 54 longitudinal of the strip 28 are oriented transversely above this strip and include two slots 60 located above the partitions between the first compartments 34 and the second compartments 38 of the containers, the longitudinal edges 62 of the strip 28 being engaged in these slots 60 for release the second compartments 38 for metering the second product.
  • the strip 28 unwound from the reel 30 is brought by the idler rollers 32 between the containers thermoformed and station 18 for closing the first compartments 34, and it is welded on the edges of the first compartments 34 to close them so waterproof.
  • the longitudinal edges of the strip 28 are partially raised on the ends frusto-conical of roller 32 and partially overlap the second compartments 38 of the containers at the level of the post 18, then are raised vertically by passage in the slots 60 of the guides 52 and 54, to release access to these compartments and allow the dosing of second product at item 20.
  • the edges 62 of the strip 28 are folded down by the roller 56 on the second compartments 38 and are welded on the edges of these compartments at station 22.
  • the means shown in Figures 6 to 9 prevent the lifting of the edges of the strip 28, which is generally a flexible plastic film or aluminum or an aluminum-paper complex or aluminum-paper-plastic, does not cause the formation of fold lines in this strip that would risk remain after the edges are folded down and would harm the appearance of the final product, and also does stretching of the edges of the strip 28 resulting in a plastic and permanent deformation thereof.
  • roller 32 located between the means 16 for dosing the first product and the means 18 for closing the first compartments of containers is replaced by a shorter 66 roller, whose length is substantially equal to the width useful tape for closing the first compartments 34.
  • rollers 68 used have ends frustoconical 70 allowing a raising of edges 62 of the band 28 without plastic deformation thereof.
  • the guides 52, 54 support rollers 72 free or rotated ensuring the lifting of edges 62 of the strip 28.
  • the axes of the rollers 72 can be inclined towards outside. They can also be tilted towards the rear relative to the direction of movement of the strip 28 as shown in FIG. 11 to ensure by a helix effect moving up the edges 62 of band 28.
  • Means for lifting the edges of the strip 28 may also, depending on the nature of the strip, consist of fixed parts 74, possibly adjustable in position, including ramps and slots 76 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 12.
  • the edges of the strip 28 are kept raised over the entire the distance required to fill the compartments unsealed, then folded flat by ramps and rolls and / or by any other appropriate means, for closing the compartments which have just been full.

Description

L'invention concerne une machine de thermoformage, de remplissage et de fermeture étanche de récipients en matière plastique comprenant au moins deux compartiments destinés à recevoir des produits différents, tels notamment que des produits alimentaires.The invention relates to a machine for thermoforming, filling and sealing of plastic containers comprising at least two compartments for receiving products different, such as food products.

Il existe des machines de ce type, dans lesquelles les dosages des produits dans les compartiments des récipients et les fermetures de ces compartiments sont effectués en plusieurs étapes, par exemple par dosage d'un produit dans des premiers compartiments des récipients, fermeture de ces compartiments, dosage d'un autre produit dans d'autres compartiments des récipients et fermeture de ces autres compartiments, pour éviter qu'un des produits dosés ne vienne contaminer l'autre. Cependant, les moyens utilisés à cette fin sont relativement complexes et inadaptés à la production de groupes ou "packs" de récipients, notamment lorsque les compartiments des récipients sont fermés par des couvercles ou opercules individuels, ou bien ils sont mis en oeuvre sur des machines permettant de doser un produit dans les premiers compartiments des récipients, de fermer ces compartiments et de découper les récipients ou des groupes de récipients pour les séparer les uns des autres, puis de doser un autre produit dans les deuxièmes compartiments des récipients et de fermer ces deuxièmes compartiments (voir par exemple EP-A- 0611695).There are machines of this type, in which the dosages of the products in the container compartments and closures therefor compartments are made in several stages, by example by dosing a product in first container compartments, closing of these compartments, dosing of another product in others container compartments and closure of others compartments, to prevent any of the dosed products from come and contaminate the other. However, the means used for this purpose are relatively complex and unsuitable for the production of groups or "packs" of containers, in particular when the container compartments are closed by individual lids or covers, or they are implemented on machines making it possible to dose a produced in the first compartments of the containers, to close these compartments and to cut out the containers or groups of containers to separate them from each other others, then to dose another product within second container compartments and close these second compartments (see for example EP-A-0611695).

Pour éviter qu'un produit dosé dans un compartiment puisse contaminer un autre produit déjà dosé dans un autre compartiment du même récipient ou d'un récipient voisin, il a également été proposé d'établir des barrages ou rideaux d'air entre les compartiments par un jeu de surpressions et de dépressions contrôlées, mais ces moyens manquent d'efficacité et sont de plus très délicats à régler et à contrôler.To prevent a product dosed in a compartment could contaminate another product already dosed in another compartment of the same container or a neighboring container it was also proposed to establish barriers or air curtains between the compartments by a game of controlled overpressures and depressions but these means are ineffective and are moreover very delicate to regulate and control.

L'invention a pour but d'éviter les inconvénients des systèmes connus et de regrouper sur une seule et même machine tous les moyens permettant de doser des produits différents dans des compartiments différents de récipients thermoformés et de fermer de façon étanche ces compartiments tout en évitant tout risque de contamination mutuelle des produits dosés.The object of the invention is to avoid disadvantages of known systems and to group on a all the means to dose different products in different compartments thermoformed containers and seal tightly these compartments while avoiding any risk of mutual contamination of the dosed products.

Elle propose, à cet effet, une machine de thermoformage, de remplissage et de fermeture étanche de récipients en matière plastique comprenant chacun au moins deux compartiments destinés à recevoir des produits différents tels que des produits alimentaires par exemple, des moyens de thermoformage des récipients dans un film de matière thermoplastique, des moyens de dosage d'au moins un premier produit dans les premiers compartiments des récipients, des moyens de fermeture étanche de ces premiers compartiments, des moyens de dosage d'au moins un second produit dans les seconds compartiments des récipients, des moyens de fermeture étanche de ces seconds compartiments, des moyens de découpe pour séparer des récipients ou des groupes de récipients du film de matière thermoplastique et des moyens de guidage d'au moins une bande de matière souple et étanche destinée à former des couvercles ou opercules de fermeture des compartiments précités, lesdits compartiments formant des files parallèles de compartiments dans la machine, caractérisée en ce que les moyens de guidage comprennent :

  • des moyens prévus entre les moyens de dosage de premier produit et les moyens de fermeture étanche des premiers compartiments pour amener une première bande ou partie de bande au dessus de la file des premiers compartiments en vue de leur fermeture,
  • des moyens prévus en amont des moyens de dosage de second produit pour éloigner une seconde bande ou partie de bande de la file des seconds compartiments en vue du dosage de second produit,
  • et des moyens agencés entre les moyens de dosage de second produit et les moyens de fermeture des seconds compartiments pour amener ladite seconde bande ou partie de bande au-dessus de la file des seconds compartiments en vue de leur fermeture,
   et en ce que les moyens de découpe pour séparer les récipients ou les groupes de récipients du film de matière thermoplastique sont situés en aval des moyens de dosage et de fermeture étanche des compartiments.To this end, it offers a thermoforming, filling and sealing machine for plastic containers, each comprising at least two compartments intended to receive different products such as food products for example, means for thermoforming the containers in a film of thermoplastic material, means for metering at least a first product in the first compartments of the containers, means for sealing the first compartments, means for metering at least a second product in the second compartments of the receptacles, means for sealing these second compartments, sealing means for separating receptacles or groups of receptacles from the film of thermoplastic material and means for guiding at least one strip of flexible and impermeable material intended to form covers or lids for closing the aforementioned compartments, said compartments form ant parallel rows of compartments in the machine, characterized in that the guide means comprise:
  • means provided between the means for metering the first product and the means for sealing the first compartments to bring a first strip or part of the strip above the line of the first compartments for closing,
  • means provided upstream of the second product metering means for moving a second strip or part of the strip away from the line of second compartments for the purpose of metering the second product,
  • and means arranged between the means for dosing the second product and the means for closing the second compartments to bring said second strip or part of the strip above the line of the second compartments for closing,
and in that the cutting means for separating the containers or groups of containers from the film of thermoplastic material are located downstream of the metering and sealing means for the compartments.

L'invention permet donc, sur une machine de thermoformage, de remplissage et de fermeture de récipients, de doser des produits différents dans des compartiments différents des récipients et d'assurer leur fermeture étanche au moyen d'une ou de plusieurs bandes de matière souple et étanche qui passent sur des moyens de guidage particuliers permettant le recouvrement et la fermeture des compartiments dans lesquels un premier produit est déjà dosé, avant qu'un autre produit ne soit dosé dans d'autres compartiments des mêmes récipients.The invention therefore makes it possible, on a machine to thermoforming, filling and closing of containers, to dose different products in compartments different from the containers and ensure their closure waterproof by means of one or more strips of material flexible and waterproof which pass over guiding means individuals allowing the recovery and closing of compartments in which a first product is already dosed, before another product is dosed in other compartments of the same containers.

Dans un premier mode de réalisation, la machine comprend également des moyens de découpe longitudinale d'une bande précitée en au moins deux bandes parallèles qui servent respectivement à fermer de façon étanche des compartiments différents des récipients précités.In a first embodiment, the machine also includes means for longitudinally cutting a aforementioned strip in at least two parallel strips which serve respectively to seal compartments different from the aforementioned containers.

Ces moyens de découpe longitudinale de bande sont agencés en amont des moyens de guidage précités.These means of longitudinal strip cutting are arranged upstream of the aforementioned guide means.

La machine peut comprendre alors des moyens de support d'une bobine de bande et des rouleaux de renvoi qui sont agencés entre la bobine ou les moyens de découpe et les moyens de guidage précités.The machine can then include means for support of a tape reel and deflection rollers which are arranged between the coil or the cutting means and the aforementioned guide means.

Dans une autre forme de réalisation de l'invention, la machine comprend au moins deux bobines de bande agencées pour dérouler des bandes parallèles destinées respectivement à la fermeture de compartiments différents des récipients précités. In another embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises at least two coils of strip arranged to unwind parallel strips intended respectively when closing different compartments of the aforementioned containers.

Selon encore une autre forme de réalisation de l'invention, la machine comprend, en amont et au niveau des moyens de dosage du second produit, des moyens de relevage d'au moins un bord longitudinal d'une bande précitée pour libérer l'accès aux seconds compartiments des récipients.According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises, upstream and at the level means for metering the second product, means for lifting at least one longitudinal edge of a strip above to free access to the second compartments containers.

La partie de bande qui est ainsi relevée pour le dosage du second produit est ensuite rabattue sur les second récipients en vue de leur fermeture étanche.The part of the strip which is thus raised for the dosage of the second product is then reduced to the second containers for sealing.

De façon générale, l'invention permet d'intégrer sur une machine de thermoformage, de remplissage et de fermeture de récipients des moyens permettant d'éviter tout risque de contamination mutuelle de produits différents dosés dans des compartiments différents des récipients et permettant également une fermeture étanche de ces compartiments sans discontinuité dans le déplacement ou l'avance des récipients sur la machine.In general, the invention allows integrate on a thermoforming machine, filling and closing of means containers avoiding any risk of mutual contamination of different products dosed in compartments different from the containers and also allowing a tight closure of these compartments without discontinuity in moving or advancing the containers on the machine.

L'invention sera mieux comprise et d'autres caractéristiques, détails et avantages de celle-ci apparaítront plus clairement à la lecture de la description qui suit, faite à titre d'exemple en référence aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • La figure 1 représente très schématiquement une machine selon l'invention ;
  • Les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues de côté et de dessus respectivement d'une première forme de réalisation des moyens de dosage et de fermeture selon l'invention ;
  • Les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues de côté et de dessus respectivement d'une autre forme de réalisation de ces moyens ;
  • Les figures 6 à 12 représentent schématiquement des variantes de réalisation de l'invention.
    • The invention will be better understood and other characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given by way of example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 very schematically represents a machine according to the invention;
  • Figures 2 and 3 are side and top views respectively of a first embodiment of the metering and closing means according to the invention;
  • Figures 4 and 5 are side and top views respectively of another embodiment of these means;
  • Figures 6 to 12 schematically represent alternative embodiments of the invention.

    • La machine de la figure 1 comprend des moyens de support d'une bobine 10 de film thermoplastique 12 et des moyens de guidage et de déplacement pas à pas du film 12 dans un poste 14 de thermoformage de récipients comprenant chacun au moins deux compartiments adjacents destinés à recevoir des produits différents tels par exemple que des produits laitiers d'une part et des produits secs d'autre part, dont le mélange ne doit être réalisé que par le consommateur, les compartiments correspondants des récipients successifs étant alignés par type de produit à recevoir parallèlement à la direction de déplacement du film 12. Le poste de thermoformage 14 est suivi d'un poste 16 de dosage d'au moins un premier produit dans des premiers compartiments des récipients, d'un poste 18 de fermeture étanche de ces premiers compartiments, d'un poste 20 de dosage d'un second produit dans les seconds compartiments des récipients, d'un poste 22 de fermeture étanche des seconds compartiments et d'un poste 24 de découpe permettant de délivrer en sortie de machine des groupes ou "packs" 26 de récipients ou éventuellement des récipients individuels.The machine of Figure 1 comprises means for supporting a reel 10 of thermoplastic film 12 and means for guiding and moving the film step by step 12 in a container thermoforming station 14 each comprising at least two adjacent compartments intended to receive different products such as example that dairy products on the one hand and dry products on the other hand, the mixture of which must not be realized that by the consumer, the compartments correspondents of successive containers being aligned by type of product to be received alongside the direction of movement of the film 12. The post of thermoforming 14 is followed by a 16 metering station minus a first product in first compartments containers, a station 18 for sealing these first compartments, a dosing station 20 of a second product in the second compartments of containers, a station 22 for sealing second compartments and a cutting station 24 used to deliver groups at the machine outlet or "packs" 26 of containers or possibly individual containers.

    La fermeture étanche des compartiments des récipients est assurée au moyen d'une bande ou d'un film 28 de matière souple et étanche déroulé d'une bobine 30 portée par des moyens appropriés de la machine et passant sur des rouleaux de renvoi 32 qui amènent cette bande 28 au dessus des récipients thermoformés, entre le poste 16 de dosage du premier produit et le poste 18 de fermeture des premiers compartiments des récipients.The watertight closure of the compartments of containers is secured by tape or film 28 of flexible and waterproof material unwound from a reel 30 carried by suitable means of the machine and passing on idler rollers 32 which bring this strip 28 above the thermoformed containers, between station 16 for dosing the first product and the closing station 18 of the first compartments of the containers.

    Dans les modes de réalisation de l'invention qui sont décrits et représentés dans les dessins, notamment aux figures 2 à 5, les récipients thermoformés comprennent chacun deux compartiments transversalement alignés par rapport à la direction de déplacement des récipients dans la machine, ces deux compartiments étant de tailles différentes. Par ailleurs, deux rangées parallèles de récipients sont thermoformées dans le film 12, avec une disposition qui est symétrique par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du film 12, comme on peut le voir sur les figures 3 et 5.In the embodiments of the invention which are described and represented in the drawings, in particular in FIGS. 2 to 5, the thermoformed containers each have two transverse compartments aligned with respect to the direction of travel of containers in the machine, these two compartments being of different sizes. In addition, two rows containers are thermoformed in the film 12, with an arrangement which is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the film 12, as can be seen in Figures 3 and 5.

    Bien entendu, l'invention s'applique également aux cas où les récipients sont formés de façon différente dans le film 12, et aux cas où les récipients comprennent plus de deux compartiments destinés à recevoir des produits différents.Of course, the invention also applies in cases where the containers are formed differently in film 12, and in cases where the containers include more than two compartments intended to receive different products.

    Dans les figures 2 et 3 qui représentent un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, on retrouve les moyens 16 de dosage d'au moins un premier produit dans les premiers compartiments 34 des récipients 36, le poste 18 de fermeture étanche des premiers compartiments 34, le poste 20 de dosage d'au moins un second produit dans les seconds compartiments 38 des récipients, le poste 22 de fermeture des seconds compartiments des récipients, la bobine 30 de bande souple et étanche 28 servant à la fermeture des compartiments des récipients et les rouleaux de renvoi 32 sur lesquels passe la bande 28 pour arriver entre le poste 16 de dosage du premier produit et le poste 18 de fermeture des premiers compartiments des récipients.In Figures 2 and 3 which represent a first embodiment of the invention, we find the means 16 for dosing at least a first product in the first compartments 34 of the containers 36, the station 18 for watertight closure of the first compartments 34, station 20 for dosing at least one second product in the second compartments 38 of the containers, the station 22 for closing the second compartments of containers, the reel 30 of flexible and waterproof tape 28 used to close the container compartments and the deflection rollers 32 on which the strip passes 28 to arrive between the dosing station 16 of the first product and station 18 closing the first container compartments.

    Dans ce mode de réalisation, la machine comprend également des moyens 40 de découpe longitudinale de la bande 28, qui sont agencés entre la bobine 30 et les rouleaux de renvoi 32 et qui découpent la bande 28 en trois bandes parallèles, à savoir une bande centrale 42 destinée à recouvrir les premiers compartiments 34 des récipients thermoformés et deux bandes latérales 44 disposées de part et d'autre de la bande centrale 42 et destinées à recouvrir les seconds compartiments 38 des récipients thermoformés.In this embodiment, the machine also includes means 40 for longitudinal cutting of the strip 28, which are arranged between the coil 30 and the return rollers 32 and which cut the strip 28 into three parallel strips, namely a central strip 42 intended to cover the first compartments 34 of thermoformed containers and two side strips 44 arranged on either side of the central strip 42 and intended to cover the second compartments 38 of thermoformed containers.

    Les trois bandes 42, 44 sortant des moyens de découpe 40 passent côte à côte sur les rouleaux de renvoi 32, puis la bande centrale 42 est amenée entre les récipients thermoformés et le poste de fermeture 18 pour l'obturation des premiers compartiments 34 des récipients, tandis que les deux bandes latérales 44 passent d'abord sur un rouleau 46 agencé en amont du premier poste de fermeture 18 et à une certaine hauteur au dessus des récipients thermoformés comme représenté en figure 2, puis sur un rouleau 48 situé en aval des moyens 20 de dosage du second produit à la même hauteur que le rouleau 46 et sur un rouleau de renvoi 50 guidant les bandes latérales 44 entre les récipients thermoformés et les moyens 22 de fermeture des seconds compartiments 38.The three bands 42, 44 leaving the means of cutout 40 pass side by side on the idler rollers 32, then the central strip 42 is brought between the thermoformed containers and the closing station 18 for the closure of the first compartments 34 of containers, while the two side bands 44 first pass on a roller 46 arranged upstream of the first closing station 18 and at a certain height above the thermoformed containers as shown in Figure 2, then on a roller 48 located downstream of the means 20 for dosing the second product at the same height as the roller 46 and on a deflection roller 50 guiding the side bands 44 between the thermoformed containers and the means 22 for closing the second compartments 38.

    Les rouleaux 46, 48 et 50 sont horizontaux et orientés transversalement, et agencés à une hauteur suffisante au dessus des récipients thermoformés pour ne pas gêner le fonctionnement des moyens 18 de fermeture des premiers compartiments 34 et des moyens 20 de dosage du second produit dans les seconds compartiments 38.The rollers 46, 48 and 50 are horizontal and transversely oriented, and arranged at a height sufficient above the thermoformed containers to not not interfere with the operation of the closing means 18 first compartments 34 and metering means 20 of the second product in the second compartments 38.

    Le fonctionnement de cette première forme de réalisation de l'invention découle à l'évidence de ce qui précède :The functioning of this first form of realization of the invention stems clearly from what precedes:

    Un (ou plusieurs) premier produit est dosé par le poste 16 dans les premiers compartiments 34 des récipients thermoformés dans le film 12, puis ces premiers compartiments sont fermés de façon étanche au poste 18 par la bande centrale 44 découpée dans la bande 28 déroulée de la bobine 30. Ensuite, un (ou plusieurs) second produit est dosé au poste 20 dans les seconds compartiments 38 des récipients, les bandes latérales 44 découpées de la bande 28 étant relevées au dessus de la file de récipients, puis les seconds compartiments 38 des récipients sont fermés par les bandes 44 au poste 22. De façon classique, les bandes centrales 42 et latérales 44 peuvent être thermosoudées sur les bords des compartiments 34 et 38 pour assurer leur fermeture étanche.One (or more) first product is dosed by station 16 in the first compartments 34 of thermoformed containers in film 12 and then these first compartments are sealed station 18 by the central strip 44 cut from the strip 28 unwound from reel 30. Then one (or more) second product is dosed at station 20 in the second compartments 38 of the containers, the side bands 44 cut from the strip 28 being raised above the row of containers, then the second compartments 38 of containers are closed by strips 44 at station 22. From conventionally, the central bands 42 and lateral 44 can be heat sealed on the edges of compartments 34 and 38 for closing waterproof.

    On constate que, dans cette première forme de réalisation, le second produit dosé dans les seconds compartiments 38 des récipients ne peut venir contaminer le premier produit dosé dans les premiers compartiments 34, ces derniers étant obturés de façon étanche lorsque les récipients sont amenés au niveau du poste 20 de dosage du second produit. En outre, l'obturation étanche des compartiments des récipients est assurée à partir d'une seule bobine 30 d'une bande 28 de matière appropriée, cette obturation se produisant sans discontinuité du déplacement des récipients dans la machine.We note that, in this first form of realization, the second product dosed in the second compartments 38 of the containers cannot contaminate the first product dosed in the first compartments 34, the latter being tightly sealed when the containers are brought to the level of station 20 of dosage of the second product. In addition, the waterproof shutter container compartments is secured from of a single reel 30 of a strip 28 of material appropriate, this filling occurring without discontinuity in the movement of the containers in the machine.

    Dans une variante de réalisation, on peut supprimer les moyens 40 de découpe de la bande 28 en trois bandes parallèles et remplacer la bobine 30 par trois bobines, l'une pour la fourniture de la bande centrale 42, les deux autres pour la fourniture des deux bandes latérales 44, cette variante de réalisation ayant l'avantage que les bandes latérales 44 d'obturation des seconds compartiments 38 des récipients peuvent être décorées de façon indépendante de la bande centrale 42 d'obturation des premiers compartiments 34 des récipients.In an alternative embodiment, one can remove the means 40 for cutting the strip 28 in three parallel strips and replace coil 30 with three reels, one for supplying the tape central 42, the other two for the supply of the two side bands 44, this variant having the advantage that the lateral strips 44 for closing the second compartments 38 of the containers can be decorated independently of the central strip 42 for closing the first compartments 34 of containers.

    Les figures 4 et 5 représentent une autre forme de réalisation de l'invention, dans laquelle la fermeture étanche des compartiments 34 et 38 des récipients thermoformés est assurée à partir d'une seule bobine 30 d'une bande 28 de matière souple et étanche appropriée, comme dans le mode de réalisation des figures 2 et 3, la forme de réalisation des figures 4 et 5 ne comprenant pas de moyens 40 de découpe de la bande 28 en trois bandes parallèles, mais des moyens de relevage des bords de cette bande au dessus des seconds compartiments 38 d'une façon suffisante pour permettre le dosage du second produit dans ces seconds compartiments.Figures 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the invention, in which the watertight closure of compartments 34 and 38 of thermoformed containers is insured from a single coil 30 of a strip 28 of flexible and waterproof material appropriate, as in the embodiment of the figures 2 and 3, the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 does not comprising no means 40 for cutting the strip 28 into three parallel strips, but means for lifting the edges of this strip above the second compartments 38 sufficient to allow the dosage of second product in these second compartments.

    Plus précisément, on trouve dans les figures 4 et 5 un rouleau 32 à extrémités tronconiques de renvoi de la bande 28 par lequel cette bande 28 est amenée au dessus des compartiments 34, 38 des récipients au niveau du poste 18 de fermeture des premiers compartiments 34, des moyens de relevage des bords de la bande 28 étant agencés en amont et en aval du poste 20 de dosage du second produit et comprenant un guide 52 agencé entre le poste 18 de fermeture des premiers compartiments 34 et le poste 20 de dosage du second produit, et un autre guide 54, semblable au premier, agencé entre le poste 20 de dosage du second produit et les moyens 22 de fermeture des seconds compartiments 38, un rouleau transversal 56 de guidage étant avantageusement prévu juste en amont du poste 22 pour assurer le rabattement des bords de la bande 28 sur les seconds compartiments 38 des récipients, en vue de l'obturation de ces seconds compartiments.More specifically, we find in Figures 4 and 5 a roller 32 with frustoconical ends for deflecting the strip 28 by which this strip 28 is brought to the above compartments 34, 38 of containers at level station 18 for closing the first compartments 34, means for lifting the edges of the strip 28 being arranged upstream and downstream of the metering station 20 second product and comprising a guide 52 arranged between the station 18 for closing the first compartments 34 and the second product dosing station 20, and another guide 54, similar to the first, arranged between station 20 of dosing of the second product and the closure means 22 second compartments 38, a transverse roller 56 advantageously being provided just upstream of the station 22 to ensure that the edges of the band 28 on the second compartments 38 of the containers, for the purpose of closing these second compartments.

    Les guides 52 et 54 de relevage des bords longitudinaux de la bande 28 sont orientés transversalement au dessus de cette bande et comprennent deux fentes 60 situées au dessus des séparations entre les premiers compartiments 34 et les seconds compartiments 38 des récipients, les bords longitudinaux 62 de la bande 28 étant engagés dans ces fentes 60 pour dégager les seconds compartiments 38 en vue du dosage du second produit.Edge lifting guides 52 and 54 longitudinal of the strip 28 are oriented transversely above this strip and include two slots 60 located above the partitions between the first compartments 34 and the second compartments 38 of the containers, the longitudinal edges 62 of the strip 28 being engaged in these slots 60 for release the second compartments 38 for metering the second product.

    Le fonctionnement de cette forme de réalisation de l'invention est le suivant :How this form of realization of the invention is as follows:

    La bande 28 déroulée de la bobine 30 est amenée par les rouleaux de renvoi 32 entre les récipients thermoformés et le poste 18 de fermeture des premiers compartiments 34, et elle est soudée sur les bords des premiers compartiments 34 pour les fermer de façon étanche. Les bords longitudinaux de la bande 28 sont relevés partiellement au passage sur les extrémités tronconiques du rouleau 32 et recouvrent partiellement les seconds compartiments 38 des récipients au niveau du poste 18, puis sont relevés verticalement par passage dans les fentes 60 des guides 52 et 54, pour libérer l'accès à ces compartiments et permettre le dosage du second produit au poste 20. Ensuite, les bords longitudinaux 62 de la bande 28 sont rabattus par le rouleau 56 sur les seconds compartiments 38 et sont soudés sur les bords de ces compartiments au poste 22.The strip 28 unwound from the reel 30 is brought by the idler rollers 32 between the containers thermoformed and station 18 for closing the first compartments 34, and it is welded on the edges of the first compartments 34 to close them so waterproof. The longitudinal edges of the strip 28 are partially raised on the ends frusto-conical of roller 32 and partially overlap the second compartments 38 of the containers at the level of the post 18, then are raised vertically by passage in the slots 60 of the guides 52 and 54, to release access to these compartments and allow the dosing of second product at item 20. Then the edges 62 of the strip 28 are folded down by the roller 56 on the second compartments 38 and are welded on the edges of these compartments at station 22.

    De façon générale, la forme de réalisation des figures 4 et 5 présente les mêmes avantages que celle des figures 2 et 3.In general, the embodiment of the Figures 4 and 5 have the same advantages as that of Figures 2 and 3.

    Les moyens représentés aux figures 6 à 9 permettent d'éviter que le relevage des bords de la bande 28, qui est en général un film de plastique souple ou d'aluminium ou d'un complexe aluminium-papier ou aluminium-papier-plastique, ne provoque la formation de lignes de pliage dans cette bande qui risqueraient de subsister après rabattement des bords et nuiraient à l'aspect du produit final, et ne provoque également un étirage des bords de la bande 28 se traduisant par une déformation plastique et permanente de celle-ci.The means shown in Figures 6 to 9 prevent the lifting of the edges of the strip 28, which is generally a flexible plastic film or aluminum or an aluminum-paper complex or aluminum-paper-plastic, does not cause the formation of fold lines in this strip that would risk remain after the edges are folded down and would harm the appearance of the final product, and also does stretching of the edges of the strip 28 resulting in a plastic and permanent deformation thereof.

    Aux figures 6 et 7, le rouleau 32 situé entre les moyens 16 de dosage du premier produit et les moyens 18 de fermeture des premiers compartiments des récipients, est remplacé par un rouleau 66 moins long, dont la longueur est sensiblement égale à la largeur utile de bande pour la fermeture des premiers compartiments 34.In Figures 6 and 7, the roller 32 located between the means 16 for dosing the first product and the means 18 for closing the first compartments of containers, is replaced by a shorter 66 roller, whose length is substantially equal to the width useful tape for closing the first compartments 34.

    Lorsque la bande 28 passe sur un tel rouleau 66, ses bords 62 se relèvent (dans la mesure où ils sont ensuite conduits dans des guides appropriés tels que 52) comme représenté en figure 7 sans provoquer un étirage élastique ou plastique de cette bande.When the strip 28 passes over such a roll 66, its edges 62 are raised (insofar as they are then led into appropriate guides such as 52) as shown in figure 7 without causing stretching elastic or plastic of this band.

    Dans la variante de réalisation des figures 8 et 9, les rouleaux 68 utilisés ont des extrémités tronconiques 70 permettant un relevage de bords 62 de la bande 28 sans déformation plastique de celle-ci.In the alternative embodiment of Figures 8 and 9, the rollers 68 used have ends frustoconical 70 allowing a raising of edges 62 of the band 28 without plastic deformation thereof.

    Dans la variante de réalisation des figures 10 et 11, les guides 52, 54 supportent des rouleaux 72 libres ou entraínés en rotation assurant le relevage des bords 62 de la bande 28. Comme représenté en figure 10, les axes des rouleaux 72 peuvent être inclinés vers l'extérieur. Ils peuvent également être inclinés vers l'arrière par rapport au sens de déplacement de la bande 28 comme représenté en figure 11 pour assurer par un effet d'hélice le déplacement vers le haut des bords 62 de la bande 28.In the alternative embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the guides 52, 54 support rollers 72 free or rotated ensuring the lifting of edges 62 of the strip 28. As shown in FIG. 10, the axes of the rollers 72 can be inclined towards outside. They can also be tilted towards the rear relative to the direction of movement of the strip 28 as shown in FIG. 11 to ensure by a helix effect moving up the edges 62 of band 28.

    Les moyens de relevage des bords de la bande 28 peuvent aussi, en fonction de la nature de la bande, être constitués de pièces fixes 74, éventuellement réglables en position, comprenant des rampes et des fentes 76 comme représenté schématiquement en figure 12. Les bords de la bande 28 sont maintenus relevés sur toute la distance nécessaire au remplissage des compartiments non scellés, puis ils sont rabattus à plat par des rampes et des rouleaux et/ou par tout autre moyen approprié, pour la fermeture des compartiments qui viennent d'être remplis.Means for lifting the edges of the strip 28 may also, depending on the nature of the strip, consist of fixed parts 74, possibly adjustable in position, including ramps and slots 76 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 12. The edges of the strip 28 are kept raised over the entire the distance required to fill the compartments unsealed, then folded flat by ramps and rolls and / or by any other appropriate means, for closing the compartments which have just been full.

    Bien entendu, il est possible de combiner sur une même machine tous les modes de réalisation qui viennent d'être décrits ou certains d'entre eux, notamment quand la machine permet la fabrication simultanée de plusieurs récipients à plusieurs compartiments et le dosage de plusieurs produits dans les compartiments des récipients.Of course, it is possible to combine on one machine all embodiments which have just been described or some of them, especially when the machine allows manufacturing several containers at the same time compartments and the dosage of several products in the container compartments.

    Claims (10)

    1. Machine for thermoforming, filling and sealing closures for receptacles made from plastic material each comprising at least two juxtaposed compartments (34, 38) intended to receive different products, such as food products for example, the machine comprising means (14) to thermoform receptacles from a film (12) of thermoplastic material, means to dose a first product in the first compartment (34) of the receptacles, means (18) to close and seal these first compartments, means (20) to dose a second product in the second compartments (38) of the receptacles, means (22) to close and seal these second compartments, means of cutting (24) in order to separate receptacles or groups of receptacles from the line (12) of thermoplastic material and means to guide at least one strip (28) of flexible and sealing material intended to form covers or closures for the compartments (34, 38) quoted above, the said compartments forming parallel lines of compartments in the machine, characterised in that the means of guiding comprise:
      means (32) provided between the means (16) to dose the first product and the means (18) to close and seal the first compartments (34) in order to position a first strip or section of strip (28, 42) over the line of the first compartments (34) with the purpose of their closure,
      means (46, 52) provided before the means (20) to dose the second product in order to move a second strip or section of strip (44, 62) away from the line of the second compartments (38) of the receptacles with the purpose of dosing a second product,
      and means (48, 50, 54, 56) arranged between the means (20) to dose a second product and the means (22) to close and seal the second compartments (38) in order to move the said second strip or section of strip over the line of the second compartments (38) with the purpose of their closure,
      and in that the means of cutting (24) in order to separate the receptacles or groups of receptacles from the film of thermoplastic material are situated after the means to dose the products and close and seal the compartments (34, 38).
    2. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means (40) to longitudinally cut a strip (28) quoted above into at least two parallel strips (42, 44) serving respectively to close the first and second compartments (34, 38) of the thermoformed receptacles.
    3. Machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the means to cut the strip (40) are arranged before the means of guiding quoted above.
    4. Machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that it comprises means to support a reel (30) of the strip (28) quoted above, and reverse rollers (32) arranged between the reel (30) or the means of cutting (40) and the means of guiding quoted above.
    5. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises at least two reels of strip quoted above, arranged to unroll parallel strips to close the first and second compartments respectively of the thermoformed receptacles.
    6. Machine according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the means of guiding quoted above are rollers (32, 46, 48, 50) arranged transversely above the thermoformed receptacles.
    7. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises before and in the vicinity of the means (20) to dose the second product, means (52, 54, 66, 68) to lift at least one longitudinal edge (62) of the strip (28) quoted above in order to free the access to the second compartments (38) of the receptacles.
    8. Machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the means of lifting up comprise guides (52, 54) containing slits (60) to allow at least one longitudinal edge (62) of the said strip (28) to pass through.
    9. Machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the means of lifting comprise rollers (66, 68) to guide the strip (28) before the means (18) to close the first compartments, these rollers having tapered ends (70) or a length less than the width of the strip (28) to allow the edges (62) of the strip to be lifted without the latter being pulled or deformed.
    10. Machine according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the means of lifting comprise cylinders (72) to guide the edges (62) of the strip (28), the cylinders being inclined in relation to the running direction of the strip so that its edges are lifted by spiral action.
    EP19960402345 1995-11-07 1996-11-05 Machine for thermoforming, filling and hermetic closing of plastic containers having a multiplicity of compartments Expired - Lifetime EP0773161B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    FR9513130A FR2740756B1 (en) 1995-11-07 1995-11-07 MULTI-COMPARTMENT PLASTIC CONTAINER THERMOFORMING, FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE
    FR9513130 1995-11-07

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP0773161A1 EP0773161A1 (en) 1997-05-14
    EP0773161B1 true EP0773161B1 (en) 2001-02-07

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    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP19960402345 Expired - Lifetime EP0773161B1 (en) 1995-11-07 1996-11-05 Machine for thermoforming, filling and hermetic closing of plastic containers having a multiplicity of compartments

    Country Status (4)

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    EP (1) EP0773161B1 (en)
    DE (1) DE69611748T2 (en)
    ES (1) ES2155926T3 (en)
    FR (1) FR2740756B1 (en)

    Families Citing this family (2)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE10154722A1 (en) * 2001-11-09 2003-05-22 Convenience Food Sys Wallau packaging machine
    US20220177169A1 (en) * 2019-03-18 2022-06-09 Galderma Holding SA Pharmaceutical Packaging System and Method of Manufacturing Same

    Family Cites Families (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    FR1552043A (en) * 1967-11-06 1969-01-03
    FR2522478B1 (en) * 1982-03-03 1986-03-28 Nestle Sa FOOD PRODUCT CONSISTING OF A POWDERY MASS AND SEPARATELY PACKED TRIM, PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE TRIM, PACKAGING AND PACKAGING PROCESS
    DE4304337A1 (en) * 1993-02-13 1994-08-25 Gea Finnah Gmbh Method and device for filling and closing a double chamber cup made of plastic

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    DE69611748D1 (en) 2001-03-15
    FR2740756B1 (en) 1997-12-05
    ES2155926T3 (en) 2001-06-01
    DE69611748T2 (en) 2001-10-31
    EP0773161A1 (en) 1997-05-14
    FR2740756A1 (en) 1997-05-09

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