ES2362020B1 - PROCEDURE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL PACKAGING OF WET TOWELS IN VERTICAL PACKAGING, DEVICE FOR PUTTING INTO PRACTICE AND PACKAGED PRODUCT OBTAINED. - Google Patents

Abstract

Procedure for the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines, device for implementation and obtained packaging product. # The procedure includes: the introduction of a dry and compacted wipe (1) in an expansion tube (2), the application on the wipe (1) of at least one liquid (3, 4) for its soaking or wetting, and its expansion inside the expansion tube adopting an elongated three-dimensional configuration, the displacement of the moistened and expanded wipe (1) towards a container (5) stick-pack type in formation and the final closure of the container. The invention includes a device consisting of a vertical packaging machine (6) provided with a feeder (7) of moistened wipes and the packaged product obtained.

Description

Procedure for the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines, device for implementation and obtained packaging product. Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a process for the individual packaging of wet wipes, as well as the device for the implementation of said process and the packaged product obtained, containing a wet wipe. Background of the invention

The use of wet wipes impregnated or moistened with a generally hygienic product is widely known.

These wipes are generally folded flat and stacked or attached laterally inside a rigid container provided with a lid or sealing device.

Some packages of this type are described for example in the patent ES2266149T3 in the Utility Model ES1017229U, the patent ES2297098T3, the utility model ES1016493U or the invention patent ES2181947T3.

In some cases, the ES2203526T3 patent is also known concerning a container for wet wipes or other similar consumable items in which a multitude of wet wipes folded flat and stacked or laterally attached are introduced into a flexible wrapper that has a hole in the side or window with opening and closing means for the extraction of the successive wipes.

The packaging of multiple flat-folded wipes in the same container, whether this rigid or flexible requires an initial opening of the container, thereby losing the tightness provided by the initial container and the subsequent opening and closing of the container for the extraction of the wet wipes individually.

This operation causes that once the initial opening of the package has been carried out, the remaining wipes are progressively dried, which prevents their proper use, especially when a high time has elapsed since the initial opening or the container has not been properly closed with the means provided. for this, they can be a rigid cover in the case of rigid containers or an adhesive sheet in the case of flexible containers.

A solution to this problem would be to carry out the individual packaging of the wipes in a sealed and mono-use container so that the user made the opening of the container, used the wipe and subsequently discarded both elements.

However, this solution presents some serious problems of realization, since the individual handling of the wipes for their unitary introduction into a container is especially complex, with the individual packaging of wipes in horizontal packaging machines that perform the folding of the bees having been achieved only to date. the flexible sheet from which the container will be formed and the flat folded wipe is inserted inside the package by means of a sprat, the impregnation or wetting of the wipe being carried out with a liquid after being introduced into the container.

This solution allows very limited production speeds and an additional problem consisting in the need to moisten the wipe once it has been introduced into the container, with the consequent risk of a defective closure of the container due to the existence of liquid between the areas of the sheet to be welded.

A solution to the aforementioned problems would be the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines, usually used to pack other products in a package of the type called "stick-pack", which has not been resolved to date due to the impossibility of introducing the wet wipe through the forming tube used in vertical packaging machines to form, from a flexible sheet of heat-sealable material, the tubular body of said stick-pack container.

Description of the invention

The procedure for the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines has technical characteristics that allow the introduction of the pre-moistened wipes automatically and individually into a stick-pack type container formed in a vertical packaging machine, which provides different advantages, among the It should be noted the high speed of production that allow this type of vertical packaging and eliminate the need to apply the liquid inside the container to moisten the wipe previously introduced in it.

Also included in this invention is a device for the implementation of said process and the finally obtained packaged product.

The method for the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines comprises, according to the invention, the following phases or steps:

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the introduction of a dry and compacted wipe into an expansion tube,

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the application on the dry wipe contained in the expansion tube of at least one liquid for soaking or wetting,

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the maintenance of the wipe inside the expansion tube for the time necessary for the absorption of the liquid by the wipe, the expansion of the wipe inside the tube, and the adoption of an elongated three-dimensional configuration by the wipe section analogous to the inner section of the expansion tube,

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the displacement of the moistened wipe from the inside of the expansion tube to the inside of a forming stick-pack type, when said container is closed longitudinally and by one of its ends and, finally,

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the closure of the other end of the container containing the previously moistened wipe.

The application of liquid on the dry and compacted wipe previously introduced inside the expansion tube allows said wipe to expand freely adopting an elongated three-dimensional configuration of a section analogous to the interior section of the expansion tube, whereby it is achieved that the already moistened wipe has adequate dimensions, especially as regards its section, suitable for feeding a conventional vertical packing machine, the wipe moistened by gravity falling into the interior of the forming container which is finally closed at its end later guaranteeing the tightness of the container.

As mentioned earlier in this invention, a device for the implementation of the process of the preceding claim is also included, said device being usable in combination with a conventional vertical packing machine, of the type that has a forming tube for conformation of the tubular body of stick-pack containers from a heat-sealable sheet, at least one vertical welder for the thermal sealing of the opposite longitudinal edges of the successive containers and a cutter welder for simultaneous closure and separation by cutting of the upper and lower ends of consecutive stick-pack containers.

In accordance with the invention said device is constituted by a wet wipe feeder comprising the following elements:

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a carrier support of several expansion tubes distributed regularly in a circular arrangement,

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a dosi fi er for the individualized supply to the successive tubes of the corresponding dry and compacted wipe,

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at least one liquid doser that supplies the successive expansion tubes carrying a dry wipe with a preset amount of impregnating liquid,

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at least one pusher-ejector faced with a forming tube of the vertical packing machine and describing a longitudinal movement by moving the wet wipe contained in the successive expansion tubes, through the inside of the forming tube, towards a stick pack in formation and,

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means for the intermittent rotary actuation of the plate and the successive confrontation of the forming tubes with the compactor of dry wipes compacted, with the liquid dosi fi er, or the successive liquid dosi fi cators, and with the pusher-ejector.

According to the invention, the expansion tubes of the device have a smaller internal section than that of the forming tube of the vertical packaging machine, which determines that the section of the body formed by the wipe once moistened and expanded inside the expansion tubes it can fall freely from inside the forming tube of the vertical packing machine to the inside of the stick-pack in formation when the wipe is ejected from the corresponding expansion tube by the pusher-ejector faced with the forming tube of the vertical packing machine.

The packaged product obtained, being of the type comprising a wet wipe consisting of a fabric, woven or nonwoven, and an outer packaging, has the peculiarity that the wet wipe is folded flat forming an elongated strip and rolled over itself, adopting an elongated three-dimensional roll or bovine configuration and the outer container is formed by a single sheet of heat-weldable material that defines a tubular configuration closed by a longitudinal weld and by two extreme transverse welds, the roll defined by the wet wipe oriented longitudinally with respect to the tubular body of the container.

Description of the fi gures

To complement the description that is being made and in order to facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

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Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the successive steps and an example of carrying out the procedure for the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines.

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Figure 2 shows a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the device for the implementation of the aforementioned procedure and in which the dry wipe dispenser, the liquid dosi fi cators and the pusher-ejector have been represented in broken lines. arranged on the passage areas of the expansion tubes of the feeder device.

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Figure 3 shows a schematic elevational view of the device of the previous figure arranged on a vertical packing machine known per se.

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Figure 4 shows an elevation view of the packaged product obtained.

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Figure 5 shows successive views of the wet wipe during deployment, after being removed from the container. Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

As shown schematically in Figure 1, the procedure for the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines initially comprises the introduction of a dry and compacted wipe (1) in an expansion tube, the application being subsequently carried out on the wipe (1 ) Dry introduced into the expansion tube (2), the application of a liquid (3) that is absorbed by the wipe

(1) which expands inside the opening and closing tube, adopting in this particular case an elongated cylindrical configuration according to the inner section of the expansion tube (2).

As can be seen in Figure 1, a second liquid (4) with properties equal to or different from those of the liquid (3) can be applied to the wipe (2) at a later stage, depending on the intended use of the wet wipe (2).

The wipe (1) is kept inside the expansion tube (2) until it absorbs the water and expands adopting the elongated three-dimensional configuration mentioned above, being finally displaced from the inside of the expansion tube (2) to the inside of a container (5) of the stick-pack type in formation, the aforementioned container (5) being finally closed with the wipe (1) already moistened inside.

The device used for the implementation of this procedure, and usable in combination with a vertical packing machine (6), known per se, is constituted as shown in Figures 2 and 3 by a feeder (7) of wet wipes arranged on the vertical packing machine (6) and comprising a support (71) carrying several expansion tubes (2) regularly distributed in a circular position; said support (71) being related to drive means (72) that cause its intermittent rotation, in synchronization with the operation of the vertical packing machine, and the passage of each of the expansion tubes (2) through a series of Work stations or zones.

Said feeder (7) comprises in a first station a doser (73) in charge of supplying a dry and compacted wipe (1) to the successive expansion tubes (2), in the next two stations two separate dosers (74) of the liquids (74). 3 and 4) respectively, two following stations without any dosi fi er, and in which the wipes (1) have a sufficient time to absorb the liquids (3 and 4) and expand inside the respective expansion tubes (2) and finally a station provided with an ejector pusher that is responsible for moving the moistened and expanded wipe (1) from the inside of the expansion tube (2) into a forming stick-pack (5), passing said wipe already moistened and expanded by the inside of the forming tube (61) to the inside of said forming container.

This vertical packaging machine comprises, as usual, a forming tube (61) for forming the tubular body of the container (5) from a sheet of heat-sealable material (51), said packaging also having a vertical welder for the longitudinal closure of the container and of a transverse welder

(64) for closing the opposite ends of said container (5).

As can be seen in Figure 3, the wipe (1) already moistened and expanded is introduced into the formation package when it is closed longitudinally by means of a weld (52) and at its lower end by a transverse weld (53), being carried out subsequently the closure of the upper end of the container by means of a transverse weld (54).

The expansion tubes (2) of the wet wipe feeder have an inner section smaller than that of the forming tube (61) of the vertical packing machine which allows the moistened and expanded wipe (1) to pass comfortably and by gravity through the tube (61) to the container (5) in formation.

The product obtained with the procedure and the device mentioned above is constituted by a wet wipe (1) which, as can be seen in Figure 4, has a cylindrical configuration, said cylindrical wipe (1) being folded flat, wound on itself and oriented longitudinally inside the container (5).

As can be seen in Figure 5 to use the wipe, simply remove it from the container (5), unwind it and then unfold it flat.

Once the nature of the invention has been sufficiently described, as well as an example of a preferred embodiment, it is stated to the appropriate effects that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the described elements may be modified, as long as this does not imply an alteration. of the essential features of the invention that are claimed below.

Claims (5)

one.

Procedure for individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines; characterized in that it comprises: -the introduction of a dry and compacted wipe (1) into an expansion tube (2), -the application on the dry wipe (1), contained in the expansion tube (2), of at least one liquid (3, 4) for soaking or wetting, -the maintenance of the wipe (1) inside the expansion tube for the time necessary for the absorption of the liquid (3, 4) by the said wipe (1 ), the expansion of the wipe (1) inside the tube, and the adoption by the wipe (1) of an elongated three-dimensional configuration, similar in section to the inner section of the expansion tube (2), -the displacement of the wipe (1) moistened from the inside of the expansion tube (2) to the inside of a forming stick-pack (5), when said container (5) is closed longitudinally and at one of its ends and finally - the closure of the other end of the container (5) containing the wipe (1 ) previously moistened.

2.

Device for implementing the method of claim 1; of the type comprising a vertical packaging machine (6) provided with a forming tube (61) for the conformation of the tubular container body (5) stick-pack from a heat-weldable sheet (51), at least one vertical welder ( 63) for heat sealing of the opposite longitudinal edges of the successive containers (5) and a cutter welder (64) for simultaneous closure and separation by cutting of the upper and lower ends of consecutive packaging (5) stick-pack ; characterized in that it comprises a feeder (7) of wet wipes that includes:

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a support (71) carrying several expansion tubes (2) distributed regularly in a circular arrangement,

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a doser (73) for the individualized supply to the successive expansion tubes

(2) of the corresponding dry and compacted towel (1),

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at least one liquid doser (74) that supplies the successive expansion tubes (2), carriers of a dry wipe (1), a pre-established amount of impregnating liquid (3, 4),

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at least one pusher-ejector (75) facing the forming tube (61) of the vertical packaging machine and describing a longitudinal movement, moving the wet wipe (1) contained in the successive expansion tubes (2), inside the forming tube (61), towards a container (5) stick-pack in formation and,

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means (72) for the intermittent rotary actuation of the support (71) and the confrontation of the successive forming tubes (2) with the doser (73) of compacted dry wipes, with the successive liquid dosers (74), and with the pusher-ejector (75).

3.

Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the expansion tubes (2) have a smaller internal section than the internal section of the forming tube (61) of the vertical packaging machine (6).

Four.

Packaged product; of the type those comprising a wet wipe (1) formed by a fabric, woven or non-woven, and an outer container (5); characterized in that the wet wipe (1) is folded flat forming an elongated strip and rolled on itself, adopting an elongated three-dimensional roll-like configuration; because the outer container (5) is formed by a single heat-weldable sheet (51) that defines a tubular configuration, closed by a longitudinal weld (52) and by two extreme transverse welds (53, 54), and because the roll defined by the Wet wipe (1) is oriented longitudinally with respect to the tubular body of the container (5).

SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 200802252 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 23.07.2008 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: See Additional Sheet RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

Documents cited Claims Affected

X

US 3978636 A (COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO) 07.09.1976, column 1, lines 53-58; column 2, line 16 - column 3, line 63; Figure 1. one

Y

4

TO

2

Y

US 2005167315 A1 (KREY) 04.08.2005, paragraph 38; Figures 8.10. 4

TO

JP 58149208 A (HAKKO SHOKAI KK) 05.09.1983, figures; AN -JP-3004082-A. 2

TO

EN 1064070 U (PASTRANA ROJAS) 01.02.2007, column 2, line 48 - column 4, line 3, figures. 2

TO

JP 4154506 A (KEE SHII SHII KK; HIRAE HIDETOSHI) 27.05.1992, figure 1 & Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN JP-28032690-A. 2

TO

US 2002197359 A1 (KIM) 26.12.2002, summary; figure 4. 4

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 04/28/2011

Examiner F. Riesco Ruiz Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 200802252 CLASSIFICATION OBJECT OF THE APPLICATION B65B5 / 02 (2006.01) B65B5 / 04 (2006.01) B65D75 / 30 (2006.01) Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) B65B, B65D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENTIONS, EPODOC, WPI State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200802252 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 04.28.2011 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-4 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 2.3 1.4 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. Considerations: State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200802252 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

US 3978636 A (COLMATE PALMOLIVE CO) 07.09.1976

D02

US 2005167315 A1 (KREY) 04.08.2005

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The object of the invention, according to independent claim 1, is a method for the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines, comprising: the introduction of the dry and compacted wipe into an expansion tube, the application on the wipe of a liquid for wetting, the maintenance of the wipe in the tube for absorption and expansion, the movement of the wipe from the expansion tube to the "stick-pack" in formation, when it is closed longitudinally and at one end; and the closure of the other end of the container, containing the wipe. With this procedure the existence of liquid between the areas to be welded is minimized. It is also the object of the invention, according to independent claim 2, a device for the implementation of the above procedure, comprising a vertical packaging machine, with a tubular body forming tube, of "stickpack" packages, from a heat-weldable sheet , a vertical welder for heat welding of the facing longitudinal edges, and, a cutter welder for simultaneous closure and separation by cutting of the ends of the containers. The upper vertical packaging machine has a wet wipe feeder, comprising: a carrier support of several expansion tubes, regularly distributed in a circular manner, a dispenser for supplying the expansion tubes of a dry and compacted wipe, a liquid dispenser to the expansion tubes, a pusher-ejector, facing the forming tube of the packaging machine, which describes a longitudinal movement, displacing the wipe from the expansion tube to the forming container, and, means for intermittent rotary actuation of the support and the confrontation of the expansion tubes to the other elements. It is also the object of the invention, according to independent claim 4, a packaged product comprising a wet tissue wipe and an outer container. The wipe is folded flat and rolled on itself, adopting an elongated roll-like configuration; The container is formed by a heat-sealable sheet in tubular configuration, closed by a longitudinal weld and two extreme transverse welds, the wipe roll being oriented longitudinally with respect to the tubular body of the container. Document D1 discloses a procedure for the individual packaging of wet wipes in vertical packaging machines, comprising: the introduction of the dry and compacted wipe into a "stick-pack" package in formation, when it is closed longitudinally and at one end; the application on the wipe of a first quantity of liquid for wetting, the maintenance of the wipe in the open container for absorption and expansion, the introduction of a second quantity of compensation liquid; and the closure of the other end of the container, containing the wipe. The container used is formed by a heat-sealable sheet, closed by a longitudinal weld and two extreme transverse welds (see column 1, lines 53-58; column 2, line 16-column 3, line 63; figure 1). The fact of first introducing the wipe into an expansion tube and allowing it to absorb the liquid in it instead of directly in the container and waiting for a time for its absorption, is considered an alternative that has the same technical effect: minimize the existence of liquid between the areas to be welded in the final closure; and that, therefore, is considered obvious to the person skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention according to claim 1 is not considered to involve inventive activity based on what is disclosed in document D1 (Art. 8 LP). In relation to independent claim 4, the difference between D1 and the technical matter of claim 4 is that the wipe is folded and rolled on itself, in a longitudinal direction with respect to the container body. The underlying technical problem can therefore be established as the provision of an alternative in terms of the configuration in the packaging of the wipe. This problem and its solution are already included in document D2, which discloses a wet wipe individually packaged in a flexible container, being rolled on itself, in a longitudinal direction with respect to the body of the container (see paragraph 38; figures 8,10) . The fact that it is also folded, prior to rolling, is considered common knowledge in the state of the art. For a person skilled in the art, it would be obvious to use this rolled-up configuration in the packaging, disclosed in document D2, for the packaged towel described in document D1, resulting in the technical object set forth in claim 4 of the application. Therefore, claim 4 lacks inventive activity in relation to what is disclosed in documents D1 and D2 (Art. 8 LP). State of the Art Report Page 4/4