FR2898590A1 - PACKAGING FOR JOINTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The package (1) for seals (3) for bottle caps comprises a plastic sleeve whose ends have transverse welds which form end tabs (4, 5). Transverse perforated lines (9, 10) allow the package to be opened by pulling on the tabs. An independent claim is included for a method for making the package.

Description

PACKAGING FOR JOINTS

  The invention relates to a packaging for joints. It relates more particularly to a packaging for joints, for example of round shape, intended to be housed in the bottom of a plug or equivalent. It also relates to a method of manufacturing the package containing said seals.

  The closure of containers by plugs, prior to their first opening, is performed by means of a seal which can be sealable, for example thermally, or bondable. This obturation is obtained on the one hand by the cooperation of a lid placed on the entire periphery of the upper rim of the neck of the container or drinking, thus isolating the container from the outside, and on the other hand, by a generally thicker support, inserted without being fixed to the bottom of the cap, the latter thus being attached to the upper end of the neck of said container.

  The invention relates more particularly to the packaging of these supports for their introduction into the tube of a seal dispensing machine.

  Indeed and in practice, the seal manufacturer is generally not the conditioner of the product. Therefore, the seals are sold to the conditioner who is responsible for positioning the seals in the covers. In practice, this combination is performed automatically by introducing the seals in the tube of a seal dispensing machine. In general, the wall of the tube intended to receive the joints is discontinuous, so as to allow the user to have access to said column in case of poor positioning of the joints.

  To the Applicant's knowledge, the seals are currently packaged in hermetically sealed plastic sheaths. This type of solution requires cutting with one tool one end of the sheath. The joints in the open sheath are introduced into the tube and the sheath is withdrawn by pulling upwards. This action can sometimes damage or return a seal in the column. Sometimes, paper cartridges are used as packaging, just like what is known for coins. A disadvantage is the nature of the paper which does not fulfill the hygienic conditions necessary for food packaging.

  US-A-6 045 641 discloses a method for manufacturing a sleeve of heat-shrinkable material provided with a longitudinal precut. The sleeve has no closures at its ends and does not concern the packaging of specific products.

  In other words, the solution described in this document can not be transposed for the packing of joints, insofar as no restraint of the cut joints is ensured for handling and during storage. In addition, the lack of closure at the ends does not ensure the integrity of the joint, both chemically and physically.

  The problem is therefore to develop a seal package that can be easily handled for the conditioner and that ensures the integrity of the joints it contains.

  To do this, the Applicant has had the idea, in place of paper packaging and hermetic plastic sleeves used today, to implement a plastic film provided with a longitudinal gripping tab and at least one of the ends is closed to also define a pull tab.

  More specifically, the invention relates to a packaging for seals intended to be housed in the bottom of a plug or equivalent, consisting of a plastic sheath, the sheath having, over its entire length, a longitudinal grip tab Pluck.

  This packaging is characterized in that the sheath has a lateral pre-cut gripping tab, arranged at at least one of its ends.

  In other words, this configuration allows the packer, when receiving the packaged seals, to easily open one end of the sheath without cutting tools, before introducing it directly into the tube of the seal dispensing machine. The user then breaks the upper lateral gripping tab and, after breaking the longitudinal gripping tab, easily removes the rest of the plastic without having to remove it from the top of the tube. The risk of damaging the seals upon removal of the package is almost non-existent. In an advantageous embodiment, each end has a pre-cut lateral gripping tab.

  Preferably, the precut is performed along the entire length of the side tab on each of the two ends of the sheet.

  According to another feature, the longitudinal gripping tongue is formed by welding the two longitudinal ends of the plastic sheet. Again, precut is performed on both ends of the sheet. Similarly, the lateral gripping tabs are formed by welding the two lateral ends of the sheet.

  Of course, the shape of the package can be adapted depending on the diameter of the joints and possibly the shape of the joints.

  The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of a package containing seals intended to be housed in the bottom of a plug or equivalent.

  According to this process: - a succession of seals in contact with said sheet by their wafer is deposited on a plastic sheet, - then the sheet is folded around the tube formed by the joints, - it is welded, perforated and cut simultaneously or not the two longitudinal edges 25 of the sheet to form a pre-cut gripping tongue, - simultaneously or later, is welded and then cut the side edges, at least one of which is precut precut.

  In an advantageous embodiment, the process is carried out continuously from a plastic spool.

  When the length of the plastic sheet is adapted to the length corresponding to the succession of joints, the lateral gripping tongues do not need to be cut and are simply welded, at least one being precut. Of course, the plastic package may be made of any material known to those skilled in the art, particularly materials having a weldable face, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

  The invention and the advantages resulting therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following exemplary embodiments in support of the appended figures.

  Figure 1 is an illustration of the package seen in profile. Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 according to A-A '.

  According to the invention, the packaging identified by the general reference (1) consists of a sheath (2) in which are positioned round-shaped seals optionally comprising one or more tongues (3), which are intended to be introduced in the bottom of jar lids. These seals are stacked to fill part of the volume of the sheath (2). This sheath (2) has two free ends (4, 5) forming lateral gripping tabs, and a longitudinal gripping tab.

  More specifically, the package is closed longitudinally and laterally by welding lines, respectively (6, 7 and 8). Between the weld line and the joints are provided precuts (9, 10, 11) for separating the lateral and longitudinal gripping tabs of the sheath, so as to allow the release of the joints.

  FIG. 2 shows a section along line AA of FIG. 1. On this section, it can be seen that the plastic sheet is provided, on its longitudinal portion, with two pre-cuts (9-1 and 9-2) allowing easy separation of the longitudinal gripping tab from the rest of the sheath.

  In practice, the conditioner receives the packaged joints. It opens one end of the pre-cut sheath without cutting tools. It then positions the package and seals in the tube of the seal dispensing machine. Once in place, it pulls the upper side grip tab and the longitudinal grip tab, so as to open the packaging sheath and remove the plastic material through the lumens of the side wall of the dispenser tube.

  The invention also relates to the continuous or discontinuous manufacturing process of the package containing the seals.

  In practice, the seals are arranged on a plastic sheet directly from the reel. Once the seals are in place, the sheet is folded over the joints to form a sheath, the two longitudinal ends are then simultaneously perforated and heat sealed. At the end of this step, the sheath is cut along its entire length. Meanwhile, the lateral ends of the package are also perforated and heat sealed.

  The invention and the advantages derived therefrom are apparent from the foregoing description. Of particular note is the easy implementation of the packaging for the user with greater safety for the operator, and less risk of damaging the seals during unpacking.

Claims (7)

  1 / Packing for seals (1) intended to be housed in the bottom of a plug or equivalent, consisting of a sheath (2) made of plastic, the sheath (2) having over its entire length, a gripping tab longitudinal precut, characterized in that the sheath (2) has a pre-cut lateral gripping tongue arranged at at least one of its ends (4, 5). 2 / Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that each end has a pre-cut lateral gripping tongue. 3 / Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that the precut is formed along the entire length of the side tab. 4 / Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal gripping tongue is obtained by welding the two longitudinal ends of the sheet. 5 / Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or lateral gripping tabs are obtained by welding the two lateral ends of the sheet. 6 / Process for the manufacture of a package containing seals intended to be housed in the bottom of a plug or equivalent, according to which: - a succession of seals in contact with the sheet by their slice is deposited on a plastic sheet; - Folding the sheet around the tube formed by the joints, - is welded, punched and cut simultaneously or not both longitudinal edges of the sheet to form a pre-cut gripping tongue, - simultaneously or later, then welded cuts the lateral edges, at least one of which is pre-cut. 7 / A method according to claim 6, characterized in that it is implemented continuously.