GB2322093A

GB2322093A - Manufacture of receptacles incorporating a banderole of ornamentation

Info

Publication number: GB2322093A
Application number: GB9803054A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Gandon
Original assignee: Erca SA
Current assignee: Erca SA
Priority date: 1997-02-12
Filing date: 1998-02-12
Publication date: 1998-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-12
Also published as: FR2759320A1; ES2170593A1; FR2759320B1; DE19804876B4; GB9803054D0; ES2170593B1; GB2322093B; DE19804876A1

Abstract

Process for the manufacture of receptacles (1) by thermoforming from a thermoplastic ribbon (10) moved forward step by step, the ribbon being moved forward by a length corresponding to the formation of kn rows of receptacles, wherein a thermoforming station (16) is used which extends over k steps of forward movement and comprises k thermoforming posts (18; 20) each having n rows of compartments (R1, R2; R3, R4). In each of the posts a banderole of ornamentation is placed in each compartment of the post in question from a strip (26, 27) fed via a disengagement mechanism provided (19, 21, 19', 21') for each compartment. The k thermoforming posts (18, 28) are disposed in such a way that the kn rows of receptacles are finally thermoformed and banderoled at the outlet of the thermoforming station.

Description

1 TITLE:

Thermoforming Process and Apparatus for Receptacles 2322093 The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the manufacture of receptacles by thermoforming and for the positioning of banderoles of ornamentation on the latter, of the type according to which a thermoplastic ribbon moved forward step by step is heated, there is placed in each of the thermoforming compartments of at least one row of thermoforming compartments a banderole of ornamentation cut from a strip of ornamentation and a receptacle is thermoformed in each compartment from each of the zones of the ribbon called "receptacle sites".

In known processes of this type, each step of forward motion of the ribbon corresponds to the formation of one or of two rows of receptacles. Conventionally, immediately after the formation of the receptacles, the process is followed by a stage of injecting into the receptacles a product such as a yoghurt, a pasty product or a liquid or gelatinous product, by a stage of sealing lids onto the receptacles and by a stage of cutting off the sealed receptacles from the ribbon, so as to obtain individual receptacles or ones assembled in groups of a few receptacles. Thus, in said known processes, the stages of filling the receptacles, sealing the lids and cutting off the receptacles permit the simultaneous processing of only one or two rows of banderoled receptacles.

This is due to the fact that, in order to be able to place a banderole of ornamentation around the receptacles, sufficient space must be available on at least one side of a processed row in the thermoforming station to be 0 able to feed the strips from which the banderoles are cut off. For example, if one step of forward motion of the ribbon corresponds to the processing of two rows of receptacles, respectively a row upstream and a row downstream, the strips of ornamentation for the receptacles of the upstream row are fed on the side upstream of this row and the strips of -,5 ornamentation for the receptacles of the downstream row are fed on the side downstream of this row. Given the size of the moulds in which the forming compartments are constructed, if three or more rows of receptacles were to be thermoformed simultaneously, insufficient space would be available to feed the strips of ornamentation of the row(s) which is (are) situated between the other two. This limitation as to the number of rows of receptacles which it is possible to process at each step of forward movement of the machine slows down the rates of production.

Other known processes use two mould units mounted on a barrel or similar. At a given instant, only a first unit is used for thermoforming the receptacles, while the second unit is removed from the path of the thermoplastic ribbon, which makes it possible to place banderoles in the thermoforming compartments of said second unit. At the following step, the barrel is actuated in order to place the second unit on the path of the ribbon and to use it for thermoforming receptacles, while the first unit is removed from the ribbon and provided with banderoles in its turn.

These other processes make it possible, at each step of forward movement of the machine, to process a number of rows of receptacles greater than 2 (for example 4). They have the major drawback, however, of calling for the use of two mould units (which represents in total twice the number of thermoforming compartments normally required) and, above all, of necessitating at each cycle the actuation of the ban-el in order to move the two mould units, a fact which, since these units are bulky and heavy components, increases considerably the size of the thermoforming station and reduces the rate of the machine, The invention has the object of providing an improved process which, while making it possible, at the outlet of the forming stage, to process a number of rows of receptacles greater than two (conventionally an even number equal to four, six or eight), is free of the above- mentioned drawbacks.

This object is achieved, in accordance with this invention, due to the fact that, at each step of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon, said ribbon i& moved forward by a length corresponding to the formation of kn 3 rows of receptacles, k and n being whole numbers greater than 1, to the fact that a forming station is used which extends over k steps of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon and comprises k thermoforming posts each comprising n rows of compartments, a disengagement mechanism being provided downstream or upstream of each compartment, to the fact that, in each of said posts, a banderole of ornamentation is placed in each of the compartments of the post in question, the banderoles being cut off from a strip fed via the disengagement mechanism provided for each compartment, and n rows of receptacles provided with banderoles are thermoformed, and to the fact that the k thermoforming posts are disposed in such a way that, for each receptacle site of the ribbon not thermoformed in a given post, there exists, in a post situated downstream of said given post, a compartment in which a receptacle is thermoformed at the site in question.

1 It will be appreciated that in the process of the invention, the stage of thermoforming of the receptacles and placing of a banderole of ornamentation concomitantly with the thermciforming is carried out in several stages. In a first stage, in the first thermoforming post, only n rows of receptacles are thermoformed, which are disposed so that a disengagement mechanism is provided downstream or upstream of each row in order to permit the feeding of one strip of ornamentation per compartment. In a second step, there are processed in the same manner n other rows (not processed initially). This procedure is followed until the n last rows in the kth thermoforming post are processed. Insofar as the forming station extends over k steps of forward movement of the machine, in order to prevent said station having too high dimensions, the number k is preferably chosen equal to two or to three. The number n is for its part conventionally equal to 2, 3 or 4.

At the outlet of the thermoforming station, kn receptacles thermciformed and banderoled are available, and each of the following stages (filling, seating of lids and cutting off of the receptacles) can be effected simultaneously on C receptacles at each step of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon. Thus, if k and n are both chosen equal to two, -4 for example, the rate of production compared with the conventional process is doubled, which permits the forming and banderoling of only two rows of receptacles in the forming station.

It should be noted that, according to the process of the invention, it is not necessary to move the thermoforming posts transversely to the direction of forward movement of the ribbon and that the total number of thermoforming compartments used is equal to the number of receptacles processed at each step.

_) dz According to a first variant, in which an even number is chosen for n, the compartments are placed in each of the k thermoforming posts on n/2 groups of two juxtaposed rows and the k thermoforming posts are placed so that, for each of the compartments belonging to a given post, there exists a compartment belonging to another post which is removed from the compartment in question by a distance substantially equal to (1+21kn) times the step of forward movement of the ribbon.

By choosing n/2 groups of juxtaposed rows in each of the k thermoforming posts, the disengagement required for the feeding of the strips of ornamentation is available, since, for the upstream row of each group, the strips of ornamentation can be fed on the upstream side and, for the downstream row of each group, the strips of ornamentation can be fed on the downstream side. Naturally, between each of the n/2 groups of two rows, there remain at least two non-processed rows in a given thermoforming post. For example, if k and n are equal to 2, it is possible in an initial stage to thermoform and banderole the receptacles of the first group of two rows, row no. 1 and row no. 2, ignoring the sites of the ribbon corresponding respectively to the non-processed rows no. 3 and no. 4. The receptacles of said rows no. 3 and no. 4 are thermoformed and banderoled in a second stage, in the second thermoforming post, in which are also located already thermoformed and banderoled receptacles of rows no. 1 and no. 2.

According to a second variant, the compartments are placed in each of the k thermoforming posts on n rows of non- juxtaposed compartments and the k thermoforming posts are placed so that, for each of the compartments belonging to a given post, there exists a compartment belonging to another post which is removed from the compartment in question by a distance substantially equal to (1+11kn) times the step of forward movement.

Said second variant makes it possible for example, by choosing k equal to 2 and n equal to three, to process six rows of receptacles per step of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon by using a thermoforming station which comprises two thermoforming posts and extends over only two steps of forward movement of the ribbon (preferably, k is equal to 2). To do this, in the first post, the receptacles of rows no. 1, no. 3 and no. 5 are for example thermoformed and banderoled, leaving unprocessed the sites of the ribbon corresponding respectively to rows no. 2, no. 4 and no. 6. In the second post, the receptacles of said rows no. 2, no. 4 and no. 6 are thermoformed and banderoled, while the receptacles of rows no. 1, no. 3 and no. 5 are already thermoformed and banderoled. The following stages of the process (filling, sealing of lids and cutting off) will be effected at each step of forward movement of the ribbon on six rows of receptacles at a time.

Naturally, the process according to the first or the second variant can be used to process eight rows of receptacles per step of forward movement 2.5 of the machine. To do this, according to the first variant, the first thermoforming post for example is used to thermoform and banderole the receptacles of rows nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6 and the second thermoforming post to thermoform and banderole the receptacles of rows nos. 3, 4, 7 and 8. According to the second variant, there can be chosen to process in the first post rows nos. 1, 3, 5 and 7 and, in the second post, the receptacles of rows nos. 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Preferably, in each of the k-1 thermoforming posts situated upstream of the post which is located the greatest distance downstream, the sites of the ribbon which are not yet thermoformed are held at thermoforming 6 temperature. The thermoplastic ribbons have conventionally, in fact, to be raised to an elevated temperature to be able to be thermoformed without difficulty. The holding at a high heat makes it possible to prevent the unprocessed zones of the ribbon in an upstream post from cooling down, which would make their thermoforming in a post situated a greater distance downstream difficult.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing receptacles by thermoforming and for positioning banderoles of ornamentation on the latter, which apparatus comprises means for moving forward step by step a thermoplastic ribbon, means for heating said ribbon, a thermoforming station comprising at least one row of thermoforming compartments, means for cutting off banderoles of ornamentation from strips of ornamentation, means for placing a banderole of ornamentation in each thermoforming compartment and means for thermoforming a receptacle in each compartment from a zone of the thermoplastic ribbon called a "receptacle site".

First known apparatus of this type make it possible to process, in the thermoforming station, only one or two rows of receptacles in order to thermoform them and banderole them simultaneously. As indicated above, this necessity to process only a reduced number of rows of receptacles is due to the fact that the feeding of the strips of ornamentation into the region of the thermoforming compartments 2 5 necessitates a space sufficient that, if the thermoforming station were to comprise three or more rows of juxtaposed thermoforming compartments, would not be available as regards the compartments of the interior rows situated between the two end rows. The known apparatus permitting the simultaneous thermoforming and banderoling of the receptacles therefore 51 have a reduced capacity and do not permit the obtaining of rates of production comparable to those that are obtained for apparatus without banderoling, in which the thermoforming station comprises conventionally 4, 6 or 8 rows of thermoforming compartments, which makes it possible to process simultaneously 4, 6 or 8 rows of receptacles at each step of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon and in each station of the 7 apparatus.

Other apparatus capable of processing four rows of banderoled receptacles comprise, in the thermoforming station, two mould units each having four rows of thermoforming compartments. Said two units are mounted on a barrel or similar which is actuated at each cycle to place a unit on the path of the ribbon and to remove the other unit in order to place banderoles in the compartments which it comprises and vice-versa.

These apparatus are expensive because they comprise twice the number of thermoforming compartments than apparatus without banderoling having the same capacity and because means for displacing said units synchronised with the forward movement of the ribbon have to be provided.

The invention has the object of remedying these drawbacks and proposing an apparatus having a capacity equal or substantially equal to that of apparatus without banderoling, in order to increase the rates of productions.

This object is achieved due to the fact that, k and n being whole numbers greater than 1, the thermoforming station extends over k steps of forward movement of the ribbon and comprises k thermoforming posts each comprising n rows of thermoforming compartments, a disengagement mechanism being provided downstream or upstream of each compartment, to the fact that the apparatus comprises means for feeding a strip of ornamentation at least to the vicinity of each compartment via the disengagement mechanism corresponding to each compartment and means for placing in each compartment and cutting off from each strip a banderole of ornamentation, to the fact that each thermoforming post comprises means for thermoforming a receptacle in each of the compartments which said post comprises and to the fact that the k thermoforming posts are disposed so that, for each receptacle site of the ribbon not thermoformed in a given upstream post, there exists, in a post J_ situated downstream of said given post, a compartment and 8 thermoforming means suited to thermoforming a receptacle at the site in question.

Thanks to these provisions, at the outlet of the thermoforming station, kn 0.5 receptacles are thermoformed and banderoled, so that the capacity of the apparatus is kn receptacles at each step of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon in the stations downstream of the thermoforming station (for example a filling station, a station for the placing and sealing of lids and a station for the cutting off of the receptacles from the ribbon).

In the first thermoforming post of the station, n rows of compartments are thermoformed and banderoled, using, to feed the strips from which the banderoles are cut, the disengagement mechanisms corresponding to each compartment. In the following post or posts, the receptacle sites not processed in the first post are processed in the same manner.

It should be noted that the thermoforming station comprises, in total, the same number of thermoforming compartments as an apparatus without banderoling having the same capacity and that it is not necessary to displace the mould units of the forming posts transversely to the direction of forward movement of the ribbon in the course of manufacture.

According to a first variant, in which n is an even number, each post of the thermoforming station comprises n/2 groups of two juxtaposed rows of thermoforming compartments and the k thermoforming posts are placed so that, for each of the compartments belonging to a given post, there exists a compartment belonging to another post which is removed from the compartment in question by a distance substantially equal to (1 +21kn) times the step of forward movement of the ribbon.

-W For example, n and k can be chosen equal to 2. Thus, in the first thermoforming post is located a first group of a first and a second row of thermoforming compartments, permitting the thermoforming and the banderoling of a first and a second row of receptacles, while the receptacle sites corresponding to the third and fourth rows are not processed in said first post, but only in the second one. If n and k are 9 respectively equal to 4 and to 2, the first post comprises a first group comprising a row no. 1 and a row no. 2, as well as a second group comprising a row no. 5 and a row no. 6, while the second post comprises a third group comprising a row no. 3 and a row no. 4, as well as a fourth group comprising a row no. 7 and a row no. 8. In each group, there remains, on the upstream side of a first row (no. 1, no. 5, no. 3, no. 7) and on the downstream side of a second row (no. 2, no. 6, no. 4, no. 8), a disengagement space in which no thermoforming compartment is located, in order to feed the strips of ornamentation.

According to a second variant, each post of the thermoforming station comprises n rows of non-juxtaposed compartments and the k thermoforming posts are disposed so that, for each of the compartments belonging to a given post, there exists a compartment belonging to another post which is removed from the compartment in question by a distance substantially equal to (1 +1 Ikn) times the step of forward movement.

According to said second variant, n can be chosen equal to 3 and k equal to 2, in which case the first thermoforming post can comprise a row no. 1.

a row no. 3 and a row no. 5 of thermoforming compartments, no thermoforming compartment being located in said post in the zones corresponding respectively to rows no. 2, no. 4 and no. 6. It is only in the second post that the zones corresponding to said rows no. 2, no. 4 and no. 6 are fitted with thermoforming compartments, while the zones corresponding to rows no. 1, no. 3 and no. 5 do not have a compartment.

Preferably, each of the k-1 thermoforming posts situated upstream of the thermoforming post located the greatest distance downstream comprises means for maintaining at thermoforming temperature the sites of the ribbon which are not yet thermoformed.

This measure makes it possible to ensure that the zones of the ribbon which are intended to be thermoformed and banderoled in a thermoforming post downstream of the station retain, on their arrival in said post, a temperature permitting their thermoforming without difficulty.

The invention will be further described and illustrated and better understood by reference to the following detailed description of several embodiments shown as non-limiting examples. The description makes reference to the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic view in elevation of an apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows, in an extremely diagrammatic manner, the implementation of the first variant of the process in accordance with the invention and the apparatus according to the variant, Fig. 3 shows, in an extremely diagrammatic manner, the implementation of the process according to the second variant and the second variant of the apparatus, - Fig. 4a is an overhead view of a ribbon in course of thermoforming, while, Fig. 4b shows the feeding of the strips of ornamentation beneath the thermoforming compartments of the apparatus in which said ribbon passes, Figs 5a to 5e illustrate five successive phases of the thermoforming and the banderoling, Fig, 6 is a partial cross-sectional view in a plane corresponding to the plane VIM of Fig. 5a and Fig. 7 is an axial section at W-VII of Fig. 6.

J5 The apparatus of Fig. 1 is used for thermoforming receptacles 1 from a 11 thermoplastic ribbon 10, for filling said receptacles with a product such as a liquid, pasty or gelatinous product (in particular a food product) and for forming the filled receptacles.

Said apparatus comprises a spool 12 on which is wound the thermoplastic ribbon 10 which passes, in general horizontally, through the whole of the apparatus by being driven step by step by support and drive means (not shown). In the whole of the following, the direction from upstream to downstream denoted by the arrow F must be understood as denoting the direction of forward movement of the ribbon through the various successive stations of the apparatus.

Thus, in the direction of the arrow F, said apparatus comprises successively a heating box 14 which serves to bring the thermoplastic ribbon to the thermoforming temperature, a thermoforming station 16, in which the receptacles are thermoformed and banderoled, a station for metering and filling the receptacles 17 and a station for closing the receptacles 20, in which a belt with lids 22 is placed on the open upper extremity of the receptacles and sealed to the edges of the latter by means of a sealing tool 24. Downstream of the station 20, the apparatus comprises conventionally a station for cutting off the receptacles from the belt, then a packaging station for palletising the receptacles cut off in groups or individually.

The heating box 14 is interrupted in the figure, it extends in general over several steps of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon. The apparatus shown as an example is used for processing, in the stations 1 and 20 situated downstream of the thermoforming station, four rows of receptacles at a time. Thus, the rate of said apparatus is four rows of receptacles per step of forward movement of the ribbon.

In the present text, the expression "banderoling a receptacle" means placing a banderole around the wall of a receptacle and fixing it to said wall. Conventionally, a banderole is cut off from a strip of paper or similar material and is stuck to the wall of the receptacle due to the fact that its 7 12 internal face is coated with a heat- sealing material which is heated by the hot thermoplastic material in which the receptacle is formed in the thermoforming compartment.

0.5 The thermoforming station extends over two steps p of forward movement of the ribbon. Thus, the whole numbers k and n referred to at the start of the present text are, in Fig. 1, both equal to 2. The thermoforming station therefore comprises a first thermoforming post 18 which comprises a first and a second row, R1 and R2, of thermoforming compartments. Said 10 rows are juxtaposed and can therefore be constructed in the same lower mould unit 20. Above the unit 20 is located an upper unit 22 which comprises the same number of sliding pistons 24 as the unit 20 comprises thermoforming compartments. The thermoplastic ribbon 10 thus passes between the lower 20 and upper 22 units and, for the thermoforming, 1.5 each piston 24 descends from its high position in which it releases the forward movement of the ribbon to a low position in which it enters a corresponding compartment in order to deform mechanically the ribbon which is then thermoformed by means of compressed air. In order to banderole the thermoformed receptacles in the row R1, the strips of 20 ornamentation 26 of a first series of strips are conveyed at least up to the vicinity of the thermoforming compartments of the row R1 via a space 19 left free upstream of the compartments of said row. In symmetrical manner, in order to banderole the thermoformed receptacles in the compartments of the row R2, the strips of ornamentation 27 of a second 25 series are conveyed on the downstream side of the compartments of the row R2 at least up to the vicinity of said compartments via the space 21. In the example shown, the disengagements 19 and 21 permitting, for each compartment of the rows R1 and R2, the feeding of a strip of ornamentation are obtained easily due to the fact that no thermoforming 30 compartment is juxtaposed with the compartments of the row R1 upstream of the latter, and that no thermoforming compartment is juxtaposed with the compartments of the row R2 downstream of the latter.

The thermoforming station comprises a second thermoforming post 28 similar to: the first post 18.

13 For a given stoppage position of the ribbon, four rows of receptacle sites are located simultaneously in the first post 18 of the thermoforming stations 16, of which only two rows (the first two in the example) are in the region of the upper and lower mould units and are for thermoforming in the rows R1 and R2 of compartments. The following two rows of the ribbon are not thermoformed in the first post 18, but will be so only in the rows R3 and R4 of thermoforming compartments of the second post 28 when they arrive in said post.

In order to prevent the two rows of sites for non- thermoformed receptacles in the first post 18 from cooling down in said post, the latter comprises a box 30 which maintains said two rows at a high heat. In the second post 28 of the station, the two rows of receptacles already thermoformed in the first post 17 are not subjected to any processing.

At the outlet of the thermoforming station, it will therefore be possible, in each downstream station of the apparatus, to process simultaneously four rows of receptacles. Thus, the station 17 for metering and filling comprises four rows of metering units 17a. Similarly, the station for placing and sealing a lid ribbon on the receptacles is arranged so as to able to simultaneously place and seal the ribbon with lids 22 on edges of the receptacles of four adjacent rows of receptacles.

Fig. 2 shows in a highly diagrammatic manner the implementation of the process of the invention according to a first variant, which implementation is able to be realised with the aid of the apparatus of Fig. 1. In this figure, as in Fig. 1, the thermoforming station extends in total over two steps of forward movement of the ribbon, and the number k mentioned previously 3 0 is therefore equal to 2. To simplify matters, the thermoforming posts of said station are only represented diagrammatically by the lower mould units which they comprise. The first post 38 permits the thermoforming and banderoling of the receptacles of a first group of two rows of receptacles, two adjacent thermoforming compartments Cl and C2 being 35 shown. The second post 48 for its part permits the thermoforming of two 14 other rows of non-processed receptacles in the post 38, two thermoforming compartments C3 and C4 being shown in said post In the first thermoforming post 38, which is situated upstream of the post 48, the sites of the ribbon which are not yet thermoformed are held at thermoforming temperature by means of means for holding at a high heat 30. Below said means 30 is arranged a disengagement mechanism 49 for the feeding of strips of ornamentation to the compartments belonging to the same row as C2.

In order to ensure that there are thermoformed and banderoled in the second post 48 the rows of receptacles not processed in the first post 38, the two posts are disposed so that, for each of the compartments Cl, respectively C2 belonging to the first post 38, there exists a compartment C3, respectively C4 belonging to the post 48 which is removed from the compartment in question (Cl respectively C2) by a distance dl substantially equal to one and a half times the step of forward movement p of the ribbon. k and n have been chosen equal to 2 in order that said distance C11 corresponds to (1 +21kn) times the step p. This is also the case in the apparatus of Fig. 1, since the compartments of the row R1 are 20 removed by the distance dl equal to one and a half times the step p of the compartments of the row R3 and the compartments of the row R2 are removed by the same distance dl from the compartments of the row R4. If, according to the same variant, it was chosen to use two thermoforming

posts each comprising two groups of two rows of thermoforming compartments, said rows not being juxtaposed, it would be possible to thermoform in the station eight rows of receptacles by arranging that there corresponds to each compartment of a row of the first post a compartment of a row of the second post, which row is removed from the first one by a distance equal to one and a quarter times the step of forward movement of the ribbon. The formula would therefore be repeated according to which the distance between a compartment of the first post and a corresponding compartment in the second post is equal to (1 +21kn) the step of forward movement.

3-5 Fig. 3 illustrates the second variant of the process and the apparatus. In this figure, the numbers k and n have been chosen equal to 2 and 3 respectively. The thermoforming station therefore comprises two posts respectively 58 and 68. In the first post 58, the thermoforming compartments C'l, C'3 and C'5 are disposed on three rows of nonjuxtaposed compartments, that is to say that between the compartments C'l and C'3 on the one hand, and between the compartments C'3 and C'5 on the other, there remains a space (59, 59) in which no thermoforming compartment is located. Thus, in order to feed a strip of ornamentation to the vicinity of the compartment C'l, use will be made for example of the space 59 left free between the rows of compartments W and C'3 (or the space situated upstream of the compartment Cl), while in order to feed a strip of ornamentation to the vicinity of the compartment C'3, use will be made of the space 59' provided between the rows of compartments C'3 and C'5 (or the space 59) and that in order to feed a strip of ornamentation to the vicinity of the compartment C'5, use will be made of the disengagement mechanism 59' arranged downstream of the row of compartments C'5 (or the space 59'). The receptacle sites located above the spaces 59, 59', and 59" are with advantage held at thermoforming temperature by means for holding at high heat 30'.

The second thermoforming post 68 comprises three non- juxtaposed rows of thermoforming compartments, respectively C2, C'4 and C'6, the compartment C2 serving to thermoform receptacles in the receptacle sites which were located in the space 59 when the ribbon was in the first thermoforming post, while the compartments CA and C'6 serve respectively to thermoform the receptacles which were located, in the post 58, above the spaces 59' and 59". In said second post 68, the receptacles thermoformed and banderoled previously in the 0 compartments C'l, C'3 and C'5 are not subjected to any processing. The thermoforming station of Fig- 3 extends over twice the step p' of forward movement of the ribbon, while the first and second posts 58 and 68 each extend over one step p' of forward movement. In order to ensure that the sites for receptacles non-thermoformed in the first post 58 are thermoformed in the second post 68, the compartments of the two posts 16 are spaced, the ones compared with the others, by a particular distance.

Thus, the row of compartments C2 of the second post for thermoforming the receptacle sites situated above the disengagement mechanism 59 when the ribbon is located in the first post is spaced from the row of compartments C'1 by a distance d'l equal to 1+116 times p'. Similarly, the rows of compartments C4 and C6 are distant from the rows of compartments C3 and C5 by the same distance C. k and n have been chosen respectively equal to 2 and 3, so that the distance C is equal to (1 +1 Ikn) times the step.

Figs 4a and 4b will now be described, which provide a better understanding of the feeding of the strips of ornamentation below the thermoplastic ribbon into the thermoforming station. The example shown corresponds to an arrangement that can be used in the apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 4a shows highly diagrammatically the thermoplastic ribbon 10 viewed from above during its forward movement in the direction F through the apparatus. At the instant shown, the part 70 of the ribbon is located in the first thermoforming post 18, while the part 72 situated immediately upstream is still located in the heating box 14 and the part 74 situated immediately downstream is still located in the second thermoforming post 28. The length of a step of forward movement of the ribbon corresponds to four rows of receptacle sites. In the first thermoforming post, on the portion 70, are thermoformed two juxtaposed rows of six receptacles 76 and 78, while the zone 73 of the ribbon situated downstream of the row 78 and extending over a length corresponding to two rows of receptacle sites is held at temperature in the heating box 30. In the following step, the portion 70 of the ribbon takes the place of the portion 74, in the second thermoforming post 28. The two rows 76 and 78 of receptacles already thermoformed are not processed, while two juxtaposed rows of receptacles 80 and 82 are thermoformed in the portion 73 of the ribbon. In all the following steps of the apparatus, the rows 76, 78, 80 and 82 will be processed (metering, filling, sealing of the lids, etc.) as four juxtaposed rows of receptacles, on each occasion in a single processing post.

It will be seen from Fig. 4b that the strips of ornamentation fed into the 17 first post 18 are unwound from a roller 90 and are then cut up longitudinally and fed to the first post by a system of successive guide pulleys (not shown). The strips are fed separately to a horizontal level and to a vertical position (below the thermoforming compartments) permitting directly the realisation and the positioning of the banderoles of ornamentation in a manner which will be made clear below.

it is seen that in order to banderole the receptacles of the row 76 in the row R1 of the compartments of Fig. 1, the strips 26a to 26f, cut off from a first half of the ribbon wound on the roller 90, are fed below the compartments of the row R1 by using a disengagement mechanism 19 arranged on the upstream side of said row. As can be seen in Fig. 1, only the heating box 14 is present upstream of the row of compartments R1, so that said region of the apparatus does not comprise any bulky component below the ribbon which could interfere with the feeding of the strips 26a to 26f. These latter can therefore, in passing below the box 14, be fed to the compartments of the row R1. As for the strips 27a to 27f which will serve to banderole the receptacles of the row 78 that are thermoformed in the row of compartments R2 of Fig. 1, the latter are fed into the disengagement mechanism 21 situated on the downstream side of said row of compartments. Said strips 27a to 27f have been cut from the second half of the ribbon wound on the roller 90.

It is seen in Fig. 1 that the thermoforming post comprises oniy, immediately downstream of the row of compartments R2, a secondary heating box 30 serving to hold the zone 73 of the ribbon at thermoforming temperature. Consequently, below said heating box, there remains the disengagement 21 sufficient to permit the feeding of the strips 27a to 27f.

Overall, the arrangement of the means for feeding the strips serving to omament the receptacles of rows 80 and 82 in the second thermoforming post are symmetrical to the means mentioned previously, relative to a vertical plane passing through the boundary of the zones 70 and 74 of the ribbon. Thus, the strips Wa to 26'f cut from a first half of a ribbon unwound from a roller 90; serve to banderole the thermoformed is receptacles in the row 82, that is to say via the compartments of the row R4 of Fig. 1, said strips being fed via a disengagement mechanism 19' arranged on the downstream side of said row R4, since, as is seen in Fig.

1, the apparatus does not comprise any bulky equipment directly downstream of said row. The strips serving to banderole the receptacles of the row 80 are fed from a second half of the ribbon unwound from the roller 90' below the thermoforming compartments of the row R3, coming from the upstream side of said compartment row into the disengagement mechanism 2V. At a given instant, only the two rows of receptacles already thermoformed in the first thermoforming post are located directly upstream of said compartment row R3, and the apparatus does not have in said zone any bulky equipment, so that the strips 27'a to 271 are fed without difficulty.

1.5 There will now be described with reference to Figs 5a to 5e, 6 and 7 the realisation and the positioning of the banderoles of ornamentation around the receptacles. Said figure shows diagrammatically a thermoforming compartment 100 in which a receptacle is thermoformed and banderoled. The bottom 101 of the compartment 100 is provided with an annular slot 20 102 the exterior edge 102a of which (Fig. 7) is aligned with the vertical wall 103 of the compartment. It is seen in the figures that the receptacles 1 thermoformed by means of the compartment 100 have in their lower part a central projecting zone 2. By extension, there is referred to as the "bottom" of the compartment the whole of that part of the latter that serves to thermoform the portions of a receptacle other than its upper edge and its vertical wall.

Below the compartment 100 is located a cavity 104 which will be referred to as the "cavity for receiving a banderole of ornamentation". Below the compartment are likewise located transfer means 106 which are vertically mobile in the cavity 104. In the example of Figs 5a to 5e, a strip of ornamentation 108 is fed into the cavity 104 via a disengagement mechanism 109 arranged on the left-hand side of said cavity. As is seen better in the cross-section of Fig. 6, the cavity 104 (more precisely its wall 104) has a passage 110 which opens onto said disengagement 19 mechanism. It will be appreciated easily that said passage 110 serves to permit the insertion of the free extremity 108a of the strip 108 inside the cavity. As will be seen below, the length of the passage 110 measured tangentially to the winding of the banderole is sufficient to permit the free end of said banderole to be turned down after the latter has been cut off.

The means for feeding the strips comprise means for winding the latter in the cavity. In this connection, there is shown in Fig. 6 a pulley 112 for feeding the strip to the immediate vicinity of the cavity and guides 114, 116, 118 constraining the strip to make a revolution of the pulley and to insert itself into the passage 110 (the guides 116 and 118 delimiting between them a slot aligned with the passage 110). Conventionally, the strip of ornamentation is a strip of paper, thermoplastic material or similar. Although flexible, said strip is therefore endowed with a relative rigidity.

Consequently, in order to wind the strip inside the cavity, it suffices to constrain it to move forward and actuate the pulley 112, on which occasion said strip follows closely the contour of the internal wall 105 of the cavity. In order to ensure the correct winding, a winding core 120 is located in the cavity. Thus, an annular winding space 122 is delimited between the external periphery of the core and the internal wall 105 of the cavity. In moving forward in said space, the strip cannot help adopting a cylindrical form.

As is also seen in Fig. 6, the apparatus comprises a system for cutting up the strip. Said system is implemented only after the winding of the strip in the cavity- It is situated in the vicinity of the passage 110. 1 n the example shown, said system comprises a knife 124 mobile with respect to a support member 126 which maintains it in the immediate vicinity of the cavity. The guides 116 and 118 mentioned previously play the role of counter-knives. In fact, after the winding of the strip in the cavity, the fact of displacing the knife 124 in the direction T shown in Fig. 6 grips the strip between the knife 124 and the counter- knives 118 and 116, so that the latter is cut without difficulty. After the cutting, the knife 124 is retracted in the direction opposite to the direction T. In the example shown, the support member 126 is placed next'Llo the wall of the cavity and the knife 124 is mobile in a recess 127 provided in said support member. The knife is maintained in place in said recess by a permanent magnet 128. The means for controlling the displacement of the knife in the direction T and in the opposite direction are synchronised with the means of forward movement of the strip so as to be activated only at the end of a phase of winding of a strip in the cavity. The part of the strip which is cut off and which is situated inside the cavity is ready to constitute a banderole of ornamentation.

The apparatus also comprises means (not shown) for displacing vertically the transfer means 106 between a high position in which their upper extremity is located substantially on a level with the bottom of the compartment (Figs 5a and 5e) and a low position in which said upper extremity is located in the vicinity of the lower extremity 107' of the banderole 108'contained in the cavity (Fig. 5c). More precisely, in their high position, the transfer means come substantially into the plane of the annular slot 102 provided in the bottom of the compartment.

As is seen in Fig. 5d, the upper extremity of the transfer means 106 is suited to bearing the banderole 108'during the displacement of said transfer means from their low position up to their high position, in the course of which displacement (between Figs 5d and 5e) the banderole 108' passes through the annular slot 102 and positions itself in the compartment 100. The procedure is as follows.

all the time that a receptacle 130 is being thermoformed in the compartment 100, in which is already disposed a banderole of ornamentation 138 (for which thermoforming the transfer means 106 occupy their high position and cooperate with the lower extremity of the J0 banderole 138 in place), there is inserted into cavity 104 (in the annular space 122) the free extremity of the strip 108 via the passage 110, said strip is wound in said cavity onto at least substantially one revolution and the strip is cut in the region of the passage 100 in order to form a banderole 108-, 21 at the end of the thermoforming of the receptacle 130 which is disengaged from the compartment, the ribbon 10 being moved forward step by step for said disengagement (Figs 5c and 5d), the transfer means 106 are lowered into the cavity 104 which contains the banderole cut off 108' (Fig. 5b), until said means 106 are fed into their low position (Fig.

5c); from said low position, the transfer means 106 which bear the banderole 108'are raised (Fig. 5d) until said means come into their high position and the banderole 108' is located entirely in the thermoforming compartment 100 which is then ready for the thermoforming of a following receptacle (Fig. 5e).

In order to disengage the receptacle already thermoformed from the thermoforming compartment, it is possible, as Figs 5c and 5d show, to lower the assembly composed of the thermoforming compartment 100 and the cavity 104 situated below the latter, relative to the ribbon with receptacles 10, in such a way that the upper extremity of the compartment 100 is located at the very most substantially on a level with the lower extremity of a receptacle already thermoformed. Said descent movement can commence as soon as the thermoforming of a receptacle is completed, that is to say that the compartment 100 can descend even though the transfer means 106 are themselves descending inside the cavity, the compartment 100 and said means 106 being able to reach their low positions at the same time.

It should be noted that the vertical displacement of the transfer means 106 is controlled relative to the compartment/cavity unit and not relative to the ribbon 10.

The thermoforming compartment then ascends again as shown in Fig. 5d and positions itself once more in a thermoforming position. The ascending movements of the compartment relative to the ribbon and of the transfer means 106 relative to the cavity can be carried out at the same time, the compartment and the transfer means being able to pass into their 22 respective high positions at the same time.

The strip 108, either not yet cut or immediately after its cutting, can accompany the vertical displacements of the thermoforming compartment, the support member 126 (Fig. 6) then being able to be integral with the compartment.

In order to maintain a banderole of ornamentation in place in the thermoforming compartment, the latter comprises with advantage air suction means comprising suction bores 132.

The transfer means 106 are mounted on support means which free the passage 110 of the cavity at least when they occupy their high position (to permit the insertion without damage of the free extremity of a strip) and which delimit in said cavity an internal space suited to containing the banderole. By referring to Figs 5a to 5c and 6, it will be seen that the support means can be constituted by four pins 141, 142, 143 and 144 and be distributed regularly in the periphery of the cavity 104. The spaces between the pins are free and the latter are disposed so as not to block the passage 110. The transfer means 106 are therefore constituted by the upper extremities of each of the pins 141 to 144. The internal space 122 for containing the banderole in the cavity is therefore provided in the example shown between, on the one hand, the internal wall 105 of the cavity and the internal peripheries of the pins 141 to 144 and, on the other, the external periphery of the core 120. The pins 141 to 144 slide in borings 146 provided in the bottom of the cavity 104. However, they do not have dimensions equal to those of said borings over their whole length. Thus, each pin has over a part of its length a recessed zone 147 turned towards the core. The upper extremity of the recess 147 constitutes the lower face of the transfer means 106 which is turned towards the interior of the cavity. On said face, said transfer means have a first ramp 148 which narrows towards the top, that is to say it is inclined towards the centre line of the cavity and towards the top. Thus, the ramps of the four pins draw closer to one another in approaching the top. Said four ramps cooperate with the banderole to prevent the latter being 2 3 damaged when the pins descend again in the cavity 104. More precisely, when the banderole is being wound in the cavity around the core, it occupies naturally the internal space which is reserved for it and therefore comes to rest fully against the internal wall 105 of the cavity and the recesses 147 of the pins. Then, when the latter descend inside the cavity, the ramps 148 cooperate with the upper edge 107 of the banderole 108' cut off and tend to narrow the latter (reduce its diameter) and thus permit the passage without damage of the upper extremities of the pins situated above the ramps 148.

When the pins have reached their low position shown in Fig. 5c, the banderole 108' is no longer constrained to narrow. It is composed of a material such as paper or similar and comprises a natural relative elasticity due to its winding. Consequently, no longer being constrained, it has a tendency to increase slightly its diameter and its lower extremity 107' comes to rest naturally on the transfer means 106, that is to say on the plane upper extremities of the pins 141 to 144. It is thanks to this phenomenon that the transfer means are able, in their low position, to receive the lower extremity of the banderole 108' and are able then to bear the latter right into the compartment 100 when they ascend again in the cavity.

Overall, the process implemented can be defined in the following manner there is supplied for each compartment an on the whole cylindrical cavity 104 having diametrical dimensions substantially equal to those of the compartment and the banderole 108' is wound resting against the wall of said cavity, then, by lowering the transfer means 106, the banderole 108'which is located in the cavity 104 is narrowed slightly elastically and the transfer means are lowered until their upper extremity -o is located substantially on a level with the lower extremity 107' of the banderole and the latter can recover elastically its initial diametrical dimensions and thus rest on the upper extremity of the transfer means which can then bear the banderole into the compartment while ascending again.

3-5 24 It is seen also in Fig. 7 that, for each cavity, the winding core 120 has in the vicinity of its upper extremity a second ramp 149 which widens towards the top until its periphery attains substantially the dimensions of the internal edge of the annular slot 102. Said ramp cooperates with the internal face of the banderole 108'when the latter is ascending again, being borne by the transfer means in order to correctly guide the banderole into the slot 102.

Fig. 7 is a partial view in vertical section, in the region of the junction between the cavity 104 and the forming compartment 100. This figure shows the position of a banderole after its cutting off by the knife 124. Just after the cutting, the free end 1OW of the banderole 108' has not yet entered the cavity 104 and is substantially in the position shown by a broken line in Fig. 6. The remainder of the banderole is correctly disposed in the cavity and is denoted by the reference 108' in Fig. 7. The free end 1OW is turned down in the passage 110 onto the remainder of the banderole during the feeding of the latter into the forming compartment 100, the lower extremity of the wall of said compartment which is located directly above the passage 110 comprising for this purpose a truncated ramp 150 which assumes, when it approaches the centre line of the compartment, the direction leading towards the top, with which ramp the free end 1OW' cooperates when the banderole, borne by the upper extremity of the transfer means, ascends in the compartment.

2-5 1 _ 5

Claims

1. Process for the manufacture of receptacles (1) by thermoforming and for the positioning of banderoles of ornamentation on the latter, of the type in which a thermoplastic ribbon (10), moved forward step by step, is heated and there is placed in each of the thermoforming compartments of at least one row (R1) of thermoforming compartments a banderole of ornamentation cut from a strip of ornamentation (26, 27) and a receptacle is thermoformed in each compartment from each of the zones of the ribbon being receptacle sites, characterised in that at each step of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon (10), said ribbon is moved forward by a length corresponding to the formation of kn rows of receptacles, k and n being whole numbers greater than 1, in that a thermoforming station (16) is used which extends over k steps of forward movement of the thermoplastic ribbon and comprises k thermoforming posts (18, 28,1 38, 48.1 58, 68) each comprising n rows of compartments, a disengagement mechanism being provided downstream or upstream of each compartment, in that, in each of said posts, a banderole of ornamentation is placed in each of the compartments of the post in -)o question, the banderoles being cut off from a strip (26, 27) fed via the disengagement mechanism provided for each compartment, and n rows of receptacIles provided with banderoles are thermoformed, and in that the k thermoforming posts (18, 28,...) are disposed in such a way that, for each receptacle site of the ribbon which is not thermoformed in a given post (18) upstream, there exists, in a post (28) situated downstream of said given post, a compartment in which a receptacle is thermoformed at the site in question.

2. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that, n being an 0 even number, the compartments (Cl, C2, C3, C4) are placed in each of the k thermoforming posts (38, 48) on n/2 groups of two juxtaposed rows and in that the k thermoforming posts (38, 48) are placed so that, for each of the compartments (Cl, C2, C3. C4) belonging to a given post (38; 48), there exists a compartment (C3, C4.1 Cl, C2) belonging to another post (48; 38) which is removed from the compartment in question by a distance 26 substantially equal to (1 +21kn) times the step (p) of forward movement of the ribbon.

3. Process according to clairn 1, characterised in that the compartments (C.1, C2, C3, C4, CY5, C6) are placed in each of the k Lhermoforming posts (58, 68) on n rows of non-juxtaposed compartments and in that the k thermoforming posts (58, 68) are placed so that, for each of the compartments (C1, C3, C5, C2, C4, C6) belonging to a given post (58, 68), there exists a compartment (C2, C4, C6; C1, C3, C5) belonging to another post (68; 58) which is removed from the compartment in question by a distance substantially equal to (1 +l /kn) times the step of forward movement (p').

4. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, in each of the k-1 thermoforming posts (38, 58) situated upstream of the thermoforming post which is located the greatest distance downstream (48, 68), the sites of the ribbon which are not yet thermciformed (49, 59, 59', 59") are held at thermoforming temperature (30, 30).

5. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each thermoforming compartment (100) is provided with a bottom (101) having an annular slot (102) and there is provided below each thermciforming compartment a cavity (104) for receiving a banderole of ornamentation in which transfer means (106) are vertically mobile and in that the cycle with the following stages is carried out:

a) all the time that a so-called "preceding" receptacle (130) is being thermoformed in the thermoflorming compartment, the transfer means (1106) occupy a high position in which their upper extremity is substantially on a level with the bottom (101) of the compartment, there is inserted into the cavity (1104) situated below said compartment the free extremity of a strip of ornamentation (108) via a passage (1 ll 0) opening onto the disengagement mechanism corresponding to said compartment, the strip is wound in said cavity 'to at least substant- 1ally one revolution and 'he 27 latter is cut in the region of the passage (110) of the cavity to form a banderole, b) at the end of the thermoforming of the preceding receptacle (130) which is disengaged from the compartment, the ribbon being moved forward by a step, the transfer means (106) are lowered in the cavity (104) containing the banderole (108'), until said means are fed into a low position in which their upper extremity is substantially on a level with the lower extremity of said banderole, c) the transfer means (106) which bear said banderole (108) are raised until said means come into their high position and the banderole is located entirely in the thermoforming compartment (100) which is then ready for the thermoforming of a "following" receptacle.

6. Process according to claim 5, characterised in that there is supplied for each compartment an on the whole cylindrical cavity (104) having diametrical dimensions substantially equal to those of the compartment and the banderole (108) is wound resting against the wall 20 (105) of the cavity, in that, by lowering the transfer means (106), the banderole (108) present in the cavity (104) is narrowed slightly elastically, in that said transfer means are lowered until their upper extremity is located substantially on a level with the lower extremity (1 OT) of the banderole (108) and the latter can recover elastically its initial diametrical 25 dimensions and thus rest on said upper extremity of the transfer means.

7. Apparatus for manufacturing receptacles (1) by thermoforming and for positioning banderoles of ornamentation on the latter, which apparatus comprises means for moving forward step by step a thermoplastic ribbon, means for heating (14) said ribbon, a thermoforming station (16) comprising at least one row (R1) of thermoforming compartments, means for cutting off banderoles of ornamentation from strips of ornamentation, means for placing a banderole of ornamentation in each thermoforming compartment and means for thermoforming a receptacle in each compartment from a zone of the thermoplastic ribbon called a "receptacle 28 site", characterised in that, where k and n are whole numbers greater than 1, the thermoforming station (16) extends over k steps of forward movement of the ribbon and comprises k thermciforming posts (18, 28) each comprising n rows of thermoforming compartments (R1, R2; R3, R4), a disengagement mechanism (19, 21, 19,21) being provided downstream or upstream of each compartment, in that it comprises means for feeding a strip of ornamentation at least to the vicinity of each compartment via the disengagement mechanism corresponding to each compartment and means for placing in each compartment and cutting off from each strip a banderole of ornamentation, in that each thermoforming post (18, 28) comprises means (20, 22, 24) for thermoforming a receptacle in each of the compartments which said post comprises and in that the thermoforming posts (18, 28) are disposed in such a way that, for each receptacle site of the ribbon which is not thermoformed in a given post (18) upstream, there exists, in a post (28) situated downstream of said given post, a compartment and thermoforming means suited to thermoforming a receptacle at the site in question.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that, where n is 20 an even number, each post (38, 48) of the thermoforming station comprises n/2 groups of two rows of juxtaposed thermoforming compartments (Cl, C2) and in that the k thermoforming posts are placed so that, for each of the compartments (Cl, C2; C3, C4) belonging to a given post (38, 48), there exists a compartment (C3, C4; Cl, C2) belonging to another post (48; 38) which is removed from the compartment in question by a distance (dl) substantially equal to (1+21kn) times the step of forward movement of the ribbon.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that each post 0 (58, 68) of the thermoforming stations comprises n rows of nonjuxtaposed compartments (C'l, C'3, C'5, C2, CA, C'6) and in that the k thermoforming posts are placed so that, for each of the compartments (C'I, C'3, C'5.1 C2, CA, C'6) belonging to a given post (58, 68), there exists a compartment (C2, CA, C'61 C'l, C'3, C'5) belonging to another post (68;, 58) which is removed from the compartment in question by a 29 distance (d'l) substantially equal to (1 +1 Ikn) times the step of forward movement.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in 05 that each of the k-1 thermoforming posts (38; 58) situated upstream of the thermoforming post situated the greatest distance downstream (48; 68) comprises means (30, 30) for maintaining at thermoforming temperature the sites of the ribbon which are not yet thermoformed (49-, 59, 59', 59").

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that each thermoforming compartment (100) comprises a bottom (101) provided with an annular slot (102), in that it comprises, for each compartment, a cavity (104) for receiving a banderole of ornamentation situated below the compartment and transfer means (106) vertically mobile in said cavity, in that the cavity has a passage (110) opening onto the disengagement mechanism (109) corresponding to the compartment in question and for permitting the insertion of the free extremity (108a) of a strip of ornamentation (108) inside the cavity, in that the means for feeding the strip comprise means (112, 105, 120, 122) for winding the 20 latter in the cavity, in that a system (124) for cutting up the strip, suited to cutting up the latter after its winding in the cavity, is situated in the vicinity of the passage (110) of said cavity, in that it comprises means for displacing vertically the transfer means (106) between a high position in which the upper extremity of said means is substantially on a level with the bottom of the compartment and a low position in which said upper extremity is in the vicinity of the lower extremity (1 OT) of the banderole (108') contained in the cavity and in that the upper extremity of the transfer means (106) is suited to bearing the banderole (108) during the displacement of said means from their low position up to their high -10 position, in the course of which displacement the banderole passes through the annular slot (102) and positions itself in the compartment (100).

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that the transfer means (1,06) are mounted on support means (141, 142, 143, 144) freeing the passage (110) of the cavity (104) at least in the high position of said means and delimiting in said cavity an internal space (122) suited to containing the strip, in that the transfer means (106) have, on their lower face turned towards the interior of the cavity (104) a first ramp (148) narrowing towards the top and suited to cooperating with the banderole (108) contained in the cavity in order to narrow the latter during the descent of said means and in that the upper extremity of the transfer means is suited, in the low position of said means, to receive the lower extremity (107) of the banderole (108) on the occasion of an expansion of the latter, which tends to recover elastically its initial diametrical dimensions.

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 11 and 12, characterised in that each of the cavities situated below the thermoforming compartments comprises a winding core (120) for the banderoles.

14. Apparatus according to claims 12 and 13, characterised in that for each cavity, the winding core (120) has, in the vicinity of its upper extremity, a second ramp (149) widening towards the top until its periphery attains substantially the dimensions of the internal edge of the annular slot (102), said ramp being suited to cooperating with the internal face of the banderole in order to guide the latter in said annular slot.

15. Process for the manufacture of receptacles by thermoforming and for the positioning of banderoles of ornamentation on the latter, carried out substantially as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.

16 Apparatus for the manufacture of receptacles by thermoforming and for the positioning of banderoles of ornamentation on the latter, constructed and arranged to function as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.