[0001] This invention refers to a packaging device and apparatus for wrapping an item, typically
a food product, in a casing formed by a pair of half-shells made from sheeted material
with a shape matching a respective portion of the surface of the item, and associated
packaging process.
[0002] In known procedures, the two preformed half-shells are coupled one to the other around
the item and connected together by means of an operation known as caulking which implies
folding and/or upsetting flanges surrounding the mouth contour of each half-shell.
[0003] The term "caulking", which is used in mechanical technologies to indicate the operation
of upsetting the edge of riveted sheets, is used in this description in a broad sense
to indicate a deformation operation that folds and/or upsets the flange edges of each
half-shell in such a way that such flange edges are connected to one another.
[0004] A packaging process and apparatus of the type mentioned above are described in
DE 17 84 647 U. The procedure described there contemplates an initial stage in which little aluminium
sheets are drawn in respective shaped moulds in such a way as to form the two half
shells of the casing; a food product is then inserted into one of the two half-shells,
supported by the respective mould, and the second half-shell, inserted in a respective
mould, is applied on the part of the product protruding from the first half-shell,
thereby positioning the flange edges of the two half-shells in a face-to-face relationship.
[0005] When the two moulds have been closed, the flange edges are trimmed or punched; then
the flange edges of the two half-shells are joined together by hot-bonding, gluing
or folding; this last operation is not described in detail, however.
[0006] GB 952 925 describes a procedure and a caulking device in the framework of a process that uses
two half-shells of sheet aluminium shaped as a mould for forming a hollow chocolate
body; the caulking operation is carried out by arranging the items inserted one by
one between the two sheet aluminium half-shells in a first press which, with the aid
of a ring-type shaping element, provokes an initial folding of the flange edges in
a direction orthogonal to the general plane of the flanges.
[0007] The items are then transferred to a second press, associated with which is a ring-type
shaping element which, in turn, causes the flanges to curl.
[0008] One object of this invention is to supply a device that makes it possible to carry
out the caulking operation simultaneously on a plurality of items.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a procedure and an apparatus that permit
in-line packaging, operating continuously or step by step, thereby making it possible
to package a plurality of items in half-shells of sheeted material with high productivity.
[0010] In the light of these objects, a caulking device, an apparatus comprising it, and
a process as defined in the claims that follow constitute the subject of the invention.
[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be evident from the
following detailed description, which is purely exemplificative and not limitative,
and which is made with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
- figs. 1-15 are schematic representations that illustrate consecutive stages of the
packaging procedure of a preferred embodiment;
- figs. 7a and 7b illustrate two consecutive positions of the operation carried out
in fig. 7;
- fig. 16 is a perspective view of a caulking tool used in the framework of the process;
and
- fig. 17 is a plan view of the tool in fig. 16, depicted in an operating position along
with the item on which the tool works for the caulking operation.
[0012] The apparatus according to the invention carries out the in-line packaging of a given
item starting from an initial sheeted material drawing stage in order to obtain the
half-shells that constitute the casing, and goes on to discharge the completely packaged
item.
[0013] As will be evident from the description that follows, some of the operating stages
described below with reference to the attached drawings are purely optional.
[0014] Fig. 1 shows a drawing stage for forming a first and second half-shell 2, 4 in a
respective honeycomb mould 6 and 8. The half-shells 2, 4 are obtained from a sheet
of plastically deformable material. This is typically a sheet of aluminium, for example
from 10 µm to 40 µm thick, and can optionally be coated on at least one face with
a lacquer or other hot-melt or hot-bonding coating. The moulds 6 and 8 have a shaped
moulding cavity 9, 11 (fig. 2) with a form that matches a respective portion of the
external surface of the item to package.
[0015] The item to package is illustrated in the drawings supplied along with this description,
and in figs. 1 to 15 in particular, with a circular cross section, so that the two
half-shells 2, 4 are equal to one another in the sections that are the subject of
the figures.
[0016] It is evident that this is a purely exemplificative choice taken for illustrative
simplicity, as the invention should not be understood in any way to be limited to
packaging items with circular cross sections or with rotational symmetry; on the contrary,
the procedure is particularly advantageous for packaging shaped items with complex
and asymmetrical forms, of the type illustrated in fig. 17, for example.
[0017] The two half-shells made from sheeted material in which the item is packaged can
in this way have forms that differ from one another, it being understood that in any
case the mouth profile of the half-shells corresponds to the profile of the item's
maximum longitudinal section.
[0018] In this way the item to wrap can, for example, be a body of food material, chocolate
for example, optionally hollow, such as a chocolate egg (which constitutes a typical
example of a body with rotational symmetry) for example, or a body with a complex
form, such as a body representing a toy, a character or an animal.
[0019] It is also intended that, although each mould is depicted in the attached drawings
with a single seat for drawing the respective half-shell, in industrial practice each
mould can comprise a plurality of seats, arranged in a matrix for example, in order
to make it possible to draw a plurality of half-shells in a single stage.
[0020] A continuous band of sheeted material unwound from a reel is cut to obtain a sheet
which is positioned on each mould; in the case in which each mould has a plurality
of seats, after having positioned the sheet so that it covers the seats, a first cutting
operation is generally carried out in order to subdivide the sheet into small individual
sheets, each of which covers a respective seat.
[0021] The drawing operation is carried out in a way that is known per se, for example with
the use of a plug 10 (or a plurality of plugs 10) with a form that is complementary
to the surface of each mould seat or cavity.
[0022] The drawing operation is carried out without constraining, or by only constraining
slightly, the peripheral edges of each sheet subjected to drawing. The half-shells
of sheeted material 2, 4 obtained in this way have a hollow surface portion 2a, 4a
and a peripheral surface portion 2b, 4b surrounding the mouth contour of the hollow
portion, the external profile of which corresponds to the perimeter of each sheet
fed to the respective mould.
[0023] It should be specified, however, that the procedure described also applies to packaging
an item that has a surface with a flat base, and in which case one of the half-shells
consists of an undrawn sheet, i.e. a flat sheet; therefore, the fact that the two
portions of casing are defined as half-shells in this description is to be intended
as inclusive of the case in which one of said portions is a flat sheet.
[0024] Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate stages (optional moreover) in which the drawn half-shells
2, 4 are transferred into auxiliary supports 12, 14, each having at least one respective
seat 16, 18 for receiving and/or supporting the respective half-shell and a portion
of general flat surface 20, 22, surrounding the mouth of the respective seat, suitable
for supporting the peripheral portion 2b, 4b of the respective half-shell.
[0025] As illustrated in fig. 3, one of said supports has an annular slot or groove 24 surrounding
the mouth profile of the seat 16, the function of which is illustrated below. As indicated,
the stages in fig. 2 and fig. 3 are optional, as the drawing operation could be carried
out in a mould with characteristics in conformity with the support 12.
[0026] The item P is then positioned in the half-shell 2, using means of transfer known
per se, for example of the suction cup type, and the half-shell 4 is coupled to the
half-shell 2 in a position superimposed on the surface portion of the item P which
emerges from the seat 16; a configuration is obtained in which the two half-shells
2, 4 are arranged with their peripheral surface portions 2b, 4b that surround the
mouth contours of the half-shells in a face-to-face and essentially coplanar relationship,
as illustrated in fig. 6.
[0027] In order to obtain this configuration, the support 14 can be overturned 180° onto
the support 12, as illustrated in fig. 5; for this purpose, the supports 12, 14 can
be articulated with one another in book form; however this solution is purely exemplificative
as it is intended that the configuration in fig. 6 can be obtained with other operating
means which effect the transfer of the half-shells 4, optionally drawn in a separate
line, onto the half-shells 2.
[0028] The procedure then envisages an operation for cutting the peripheral edges 2b, 4b
of the half-shells for the purpose of obtaining, in each half-shell, a flange, indicated
as a whole by 5, 7, which surrounds the mouth contour of the half-shells 2, 4, preferably
at a uniform distance.
[0029] This cutting operation illustrated in figs. 7, 7a and 7b, is preferably carried out
by provoking, simultaneously with cutting, the folding of a portion 5a, 7a of the
flanges 5, 7 distal from said item P in an angled position, preferably orthogonal,
with respect to the plane on which the flange portions 5b, 7b, proximal to the item
P, lie.
[0030] This operation can be carried out by means of a device of the type illustrated in
fig. 7 which cooperates with the support 12, provided with the annular groove 24.
[0031] This cutting device comprises a vertically mobile support 26, with associated an
annular cutting means or punch 28 and presser means 30, 32, preferably elastically
constrained to the support 26, that surround the annular cutting means 28 internally
and externally.
[0032] The cutting device is positioned by the presser means 30, 32 in contact with the
peripheral portion 4b and with the cutting means 28 which is capable of penetrating
the groove 24. The cutting end 28a of the cutting means 28 is capable of penetrating
the groove 24 at a slight radial distance from the radially internal wall 24a of the
groove 24, this distance being dimensioned in such a way as to be able to receive
the flange edges 7a and 5a.
[0033] In this way, in the course of the cutting operation, the presser means 30 and 32
constrain the peripheral portions 2b and 4b of each half-shell and the descent of
the cutting means inside the groove 24 provokes simultaneous folding downwards of
the distal flange portions 5a and 7a (figs. 7a and 7b) at the same time as the cutting
of said peripheral portions with a flange profile that conforms with the mouth contour
of the half-shells.
[0034] The portions of scrap, indicated as a whole by 13, can be removed following cutting,
for example by extraction in a later stage of the procedure.
[0035] The procedure then preferably envisages an operation for overturning the item P by
180° with the associated half-shells 2, 4, in such a way as to position the folded
flange edges 5a, 7a upwards.
[0036] This operation can, for example, be carried out in accordance with the operating
stages in figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 that comprise the overturning of the support 14 onto
the support 12 to obtain the configuration in fig. 9, in which the two half-shells
are constrained between the respective supports 12, 14, the overturning by 180° of
the two associated supports 12, 14 (fig. 10) and the subsequent opening of the top
support 14 to obtain the configuration in fig. 11.
[0037] In this configuration, the two half-shells 2 and 4 are not constrained to one another,
so that it is necessary to carry out the caulking operation with folding and the possible
upsetting of the folded flange edges.
[0038] According to the invention, this operation can be carried out by means of a caulking
device, having the characteristics defined in the attached claims, described with
reference to figs. 12 and 17, which is set up to operate starting from an item wrapped
by the two half shells in the configuration in fig. 11.
[0039] It is intended, however, that the configuration in fig. 11 which makes it possible
to operate by means of the device described below can be obtained independently with
working stages that do not necessarily correspond with those described previously.
[0040] Such a device, however, which can constitute a station in a packaging apparatus that
carries out one or more of the operations previously described in line, or which can
constitute a standalone device to which the items with the associated half-shells
2, 4 can be fed, generally comprises means of support such as, for example, the support
12 in fig. 11 comprising at least one seat 16 suitable for supporting the item P inserted
between the two half-shells of sheeted material, or a plurality of seats, each for
a respective item; the means of support comprise a substantially flat surface 34 which
surrounds the aforesaid seat 16 and which is suitable for supporting the flanges 5,
7 of the two half-shells arranged in a relationship of superimposition one on the
other.
[0041] The device comprises means of caulking arranged to cause the folding and/or upsetting
of the flange portions 5a, 7a distal to the item P, starting from a configuration
of said flanges in which their distal portions 5a and 7a are already folded in an
angled position, generally virtually orthogonal to the surface 34 of the support.
[0042] The aforesaid caulking means comprise a caulking tool, indicated by 36, which can
be a body in the shape of a plate with an opening 38 (fig. 16) (or a plurality of
openings, one for each item to caulk), having a perimeter profile 40 homologous and
widened with respect to the perimeter profile defined by the ends of the flanges 5,
7.
[0043] In this way the caulking tool 36 is capable of being positioned in contact with the
surface 34 of the support 12, with the opening 38 in a position surrounding the distal
flange portions 5a, 7a at a distance, namely in the configuration shown in fig. 17,
visible in which is the top half-shell 2, the perimeter profile defined by the distal
portions 5a, 7a and the profile 40 of the opening 38 which is positioned at a virtually
uniform distance from the flange edges.
[0044] The caulking tool is vertically mobile with respect to the means of support between
a raised position and a lowered position, in which it is in contact with the surface
34. The caulking tool 36 is also mobile on a horizontal plane. Motor means 42 are
arranged for operating the vertical and horizontal movements of the caulking tool.
[0045] In particular, the motor means 42 are arranged to bring consecutive or non-consecutive
sections of the profile 40 of the opening 38 into contact with a homologous section
of the profile defined by the previously folded distal flange portions 7a, 5a. This
operation can be carried out in the position in which the bottom end of the caulking
tool is in contact with the surface 34 and is also useful for obtaining, where necessary,
correct positioning of said distal flange portions 5a, 7a in a position orthogonal
to the surface 34 (fig. 12).
[0046] The caulking tool is then subject to a vertical movement for a distance d greater
than the thickness of the two superimposed proximal flange portions 5b, 7b and such
that the bottom end of the profile 40 of the opening 38 is still capable of interfering,
following a horizontal displacement, with the top end of the distal flange portions
7a, 5a (fig. 13).
[0047] Consecutively, the caulking tool 36 is subject to a horizontal movement of approach
to the item P, in such a way as to cause further folding towards the inside of the
distal flange portions 7a, 5a (fig. 14), superimposed on the proximal portions 5b,
7b.
[0048] Optionally, and in any case preferably, the caulking tool 36 is then subject to a
vertical movement of approach towards the surface 34 of the support 12, to cause upsetting
(fig. 15).
[0049] The aforesaid operations, namely the operations in figs. 12, 13 and 14, and optionally
also the operations in fig. 16 (upsetting), are carried out for further consecutive
or non-consecutive sections of the profile of the flanges. For example, when the item
has a generally quadrangular profile, the aforesaid operations are carried out for
each of the sides that define the profile; it is intended however that carrying out
the caulking operation along the whole flange profile does not constitute an essential
and imperative aspect of the procedure as - in certain applications - it may be desirable
to maintain an uncaulked portion of the flange profile, or keep a section of the flange
profile in which the flanges are in a superimposed position and are not folded on
themselves; this solution can, for example, be applied in the case in which the connection
of one section of the flanges is made by applying an adhesive label. In this way the
procedure according to the invention has the further advantage that it makes it possible
to carry out the caulking operation only on one portion of the perimeter profile of
the flanges or on specific portions, even on portions that are not adjacent to one
another.
[0050] In particular, in the case of a profile of the type illustrated in figs. 16 and 17,
the caulking tool can carry out the complete (or partial) caulking operation, being
put in motion with a translational movement in two directions orthogonal to one another.
[0051] In the case of an item with a body having a profile with curvilinear sections, an
ovoid profile for example, the caulking tool can be arranged for a rotary and eccentric
movement on the horizontal plane, so as to bring consecutive or non-consecutive sections
of the profile 40 of the opening 38 into contact once again with the flange edges
and carry out the subsequent operations illustrated.
[0052] As indicated above, the final upsetting operation is optional, because in the case
of particular configurations of the item to caulk, such as, for example, in the case
of an ovoid body, the caulking operation (if necessary) can be carried out at a later
stage with an auxiliary tool 36b (fig. 15), vertically mobile under the action of
motor means 42a, and provided with an opening the internal profile of which substantially
corresponds with the mouth profile of the two half-shells. The aforesaid auxiliary
tool 36b can be driven in a vertical movement until contact with flange edges folded
on themselves, so as to effect upsetting along the entire contour of the flange edges
in a single upsetting operation.
[0053] The procedure and the caulking device described make it possible in this way to package
the items that have a complex or mixtilinear profile, just like bodies with a regular
profile or with rectilinear and curvilinear sections.
[0054] As already indicated, it is intended that the procedure and the device can be set
up to operate simultaneously on a plurality of items.
[0055] As indicated, it is possible to carry out the caulking operation along the entire
flange contour, by envisaging the possibility of movement of the caulking tool 36
even only in two orthogonal directions in a horizontal plane; in this way the caulking
device is particularly simple and advantageous, as it makes it possible to operate
on items with different forms, simply by changing the profile 40 of the opening or
openings 38.
[0056] Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of actuation
and the embodiment details can be varied compared with what has been described and
illustrated for non-limiting exemplificative purposes only, without leaving the framework
of the claims that follow.
1. Device for wrapping an item (P) in a casing formed from a pair of half-shells (2,
4) made from sheeted material with a shape matching respective portions of the outer
surface of said item (P), wherein said half-shells (2, 4) are provided with a respective
flange (5, 7) surrounding the respective mouth contour and said flanges (5, 7) are
connected together by folding and/or upsetting so as to jointly define said casing,
comprising:
- support means (12) suitable for supporting said item (P) inserted between said half
shells (2, 4) of sheeted material, with the respective flanges (5, 7) arranged in
a face-to-face relationship;
- caulking means (36) arranged to carry out the folding of said flanges upon themselves
and optionally the upsetting of said folded flanges, from a configuration in which
an end portion (5a, 7a) of said flanges (5, 7) distal from said item (P) is arranged
in an angled position with respect to the flange portion (5b, 7b) proximal to said
item (P),
characterised in that said caulking means (36) comprise a tool comprising an opening (38) having a profile
(40) that is homologous and widened with respect to the perimeter profile defined
by the distal end (5a, 7a) of said flanges (5, 7), said tool (36) being mobile in
the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the proximal portion (5b, 7b) of
said flanges (5, 7) lies and also being mobile parallel to the plane of said proximal
portion of the flanges, wherein motor means (42) are provided arranged to position
said caulking tool (36) with the profile (40) of said opening (38) in an arrangement
surrounding said angled distal portion (5a, 7a) of said flange (5, 7) and to bring
a section of the profile (40) of said opening (38) into contact with a homologous
section of the perimeter profile defined by said angled distal portion of said flanges
(5, 7) and to cause an approach movement towards said item (P) by said section of
the profile of said opening (38) in contact with said distal portion (7a) to cause
further folding thereof on said proximal portion (5b, 7b) and to repeat the aforementioned
operations on further sections of the profile of the distal portion (5a, 7a) of said
flanges (5, 7).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that, following said approach movement of the profile of said opening (38) that causes
the further folding of said distal portion (5a, 7a) on said proximal portion (5b,
7b), the motor means are arranged to generate a movement of said tool (36) perpendicular
to the plane of said proximal portion (5b, 7b), to cause the upsetting of said distal
portions (5a, 7a) folded on said proximal portions (5b, 7b).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterised in that said support means (12) comprise a substantially flat surface (34) surrounding said
seat (16) suitable for supporting the proximal portions (5b, 7b) of said flanges (5,
7) and said motor means are arranged to:
- actuate said caulking tool (36) between a position away from said surface (34) to
a position in which said tool (36) is in contact with said surface (34) and said profile
(40) of the opening (38) and surrounds the angled distal portions (5a, 7a) of said
flanges (5, 7) at a distance,
- actuate said tool (36) parallel to said surface (34) until a section of the profile
(40) of said opening (38) is brought into contact with a homologous section of the
angled distal portion (7a) of said flange,
- actuate said tool (36) in the direction perpendicular to said surface (34) up to
a distance (d) from said surface (34), such that the profile (40) of said opening
(38) is able to interfere with the end of the distal portion (5a, 7a) of said flanges
(5, 7) and not interfere with the overlapping proximal portions (5b, 7b) of said flanges
(5, 7),
- actuate said tool (36) according to a movement parallel to said surface (34) according
to an approach movement towards said item (P) to cause the folding of said distal
portion (5a, 7a) of said flanges (5, 7) on said proximal portion (5b, 7b), and
- optionally, actuate said tool (36) in the direction perpendicular to said surface
(34) to cause the upsetting of said distal end portion (5a, 7a) on said proximal portion
(5b, 7b).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that it comprises an auxiliary upsetting member (36b) of said flanges (5, 7) comprising
a tool (36b) provided with an opening with a perimeter profile (40b) substantially
matching the mouth profile of said half-shells (2, 4), said auxiliary tool (36b) being
mobile in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the proximal portion of said
flanges (5, 7) and being mobile between a position away from said flanges (5, 7) and
a lowered position in contact with the distal portion (5a, 7a) of said flanges (5,
7) folded on said proximal portion (5b, 7b) to carry out its upsetting.
5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said caulking tool (36) is mobile parallel to the plane of said proximal portion
(5b, 7b) of said flanges (5, 7) according to two perpendicular directions.
6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said tool (36) is mobile parallel to the plane of said proximal portions (5b, 7b)
of said flanges (5, 7) according to a rotary or eccentric movement.
7. Apparatus for packaging an item (P) in a casing formed from a pair of half-shells
(2, 4) made from sheeted material, comprising a device according to any one of claims
1 to 6.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7,
characterised in that it comprises:
- first and second drawing means (6, 8, 10) suitable for providing a first (2) and
second (4) half-shell of sheeted material, each having a surface portion (2a, 4a)
with a matching shape to a respective surface portion of said item (P) and a surface
portion (2b, 4b) surrounding said first portion (2a, 4a);
- means for coupling said first and second sheet with respective surface portions
(2a, 4a) of said item (P) with said peripheral surface portions (2b, 4b) in overlapping
relationship; and
- means for cutting said first and second sheet according to a profile surrounding
said item (P), so as to form a pair of peripheral flanges (5, 7), said cutting means
(26, 28, 30, 32) being arranged to cause, simultaneously to the cutting, the folding
of a distal portion (5a, 7a) with respect to the item (P) of said flange (5, 7) in
an angled position with respect to the general plane of said flanges (5, 7).
9. Process for wrapping an item (P) in a casing formed from a pair of half-shells (2,
4) made from sheeted material having a shape matching respective outer side portions
(2a, 4a) of said item (P), wherein said half-shells (2, 4) are provided with a respective
flange (5, 7) surrounding the respective mouth outline and said flanges (5, 7) are
connected together through a caulking operation comprising the folding and optionally
the upsetting of said flanges (5, 7) so as to jointly define said casing,
characterised in that it comprises the operations of:
- supporting said item (P) inserted between a pair of half-shells (2, 4) provided
with respective flanges (5, 7) in a face-to-face relationship, with portions of said
flanges (5a, 7a) distal with respect to the item arranged in an angled position with
respect to the plane in which the flange portions (5b, 7b) proximal to said item lie,
- providing a mobile caulking tool (36) comprising an opening (38) having a profile
(40) that is homologous and widened with respect to the perimeter profile defined
by the distal end of said flanges,
- positioning said tool (36) with the profile of said opening (38) in a relationship
surrounding said angled distal portion (5a, 7a) of said flanges,
- actuating said tool to bring a section of said profile (40) of said opening into
contact with a homologous section of the perimeter profile defined by said angled
distal portions (5a, 7a) of said flanges,
- causing an approach movement towards said item (P) of said section of the profile
of said opening (38) in contact with said distal portion (7a) to cause its further
folding on said proximal portion (5b, 7b), and
- repeating the aforementioned operations for further sections of the profile of the
distal portion (5a, 7a) of said flanges (5, 7).
10. Process according to claim 9, characterised in that, following said approach movement of the profile of said opening (38) that causes
the further folding of said distal portion (5a, 7a) on said proximal portion (5b,
7b), it comprises the operation of generating a movement of said tool perpendicular
to the plane of said proximal portion (5b, 7b), to cause the upsetting of said distal
portions (5a, 7a) folded on said proximal portions (5b, 7b).
11. Process according to claim 9 or 10,
characterised in that it comprises the operations of:
- providing a first and second sheet, each having a surface portion (2a, 4a) shaped
to match a respective outer surface portion of said item (P) and a peripheral surface
portion (2b, 4b) surrounding said shaped portion,
- coupling said first and second sheet with respective surface portions of said item
(P) with said peripheral surface portions (2b, 4b) in an overlapping relationship,
- carrying out a cutting operation on said first and second sheet according to a profile
surrounding said item (P) so as to form a pair of peripheral flanges (5, 7), and further
characterised in that said cutting operation is carried out so as to cause, simultaneously to the cutting,
the folding of the portion (5a, 7a) of said flanges (5, 7) distal from said item (P)
in an angled configuration with respect to the general plane of said flanges (5, 7).
12. Process according to claim 9, comprising, following said cutting operation, an operation
of inverting said item (P) by 180° with said half-shells (2, 4) coupled.
13. Process according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that said caulking operation is carried out through a caulking device as defined in any
one of claims 1 to 6.
14. Package comprising an item (P) and a casing formed from a pair of half-shells (2,
4) made from sheeted material with a shape matching respective portions of the outer
surface of said item wherein said half-shells are provided with a respective flange
(5, 7) surrounding the respective mouth contour characterised in that said flanges are connected together through upsetting and/or folding along just one
portion of the perimeter profile of said flanges or along non-consecutive portions
of said profile.
15. Package according to claim 14, characterised in that it can be obtained through a process according to any one of claims 9 to 13.