Field of the invention
[0001] The present description relates to packaging techniques and regards in particular
techniques that enable production of multiple packages.
Description of the prior art
[0002] In the packaging sector, in particular for packaging foodstuffs, for many years now
the solution known as "flowpack" (at times also referred to as "form-fill-seal" or
FFS) has been widely adopted.
[0003] According to this solution, which is documented in a rather extensive literature,
including patent literature, a sheet of wrapping material that is run off a reel is
shaped according to a general channel-shaped conformation (usually open downwards)
that enables insertion of the products in the package. The free branches of the channel-shaped
conformation are then brought to couple with one another so as to provide a longitudinal
sealing line ("fin"). The tubular blank thus formed, with the products located inside
it, then undergoes transverse sealing and cutting, to give rise to the individual
wrappers. The sealing heads cause a flattening in intermediate positions between the
products, and in the flattened areas transverse sealing lines are formed in a region
corresponding to which a cutting operation is performed such as to bring about separation
of the individual wrappers.
[0004] In this sector, for some time there has been felt the need to make packages of this
type in the form of multiple packages, for example in the form of paired packages.
These multiple packages contain a number of units of product that can be consumed
at different times. The user can thus, for example, separate the two wrappers and
open just one of the two to consume the product or products contained therein, while
the remaining products remain packaged for subsequent consumption (even at a certain
distance in time) and preserve intact their characteristics precisely because they
remain inside a package that is intact.
[0005] At present, this need is met primarily by resorting to packages of the type commonly
referred to as "multipacks". These are packages constituted by a number of individual
flowpack wrappers grouped together and packaged in a flowpack of larger dimensions.
[0006] The process of production of said multipacks then entails repeating in cascaded fashion
a number of packaging processes. In addition to this, once the main flowpack has been
opened, the individual flowpack wrappers that are contained inside it can get dispersed
in an undesirable way.
[0007] A further drawback of the above technique is constituted by the considerable consumption
of packaging material.
[0008] On the other hand, there have already been proposed in the art (see, for example,
the document No.
US-B-6 789 945 and, to a certain extent, also the documents Nos.
US-A-2005/0109796,
US-A-2006/0151351, and
US-A-5 024 536) solutions inspired by the concept of making a package comprising a number of bags
set alongside one another starting from a package of larger dimensions that is then
segmented with sealing lines that divide the original package into a number of compartments,
each of which in turn constitutes an independent package.
[0009] Also this solution comes up, however, against various problems of implementation.
[0010] In the first place, the aforesaid sealing lines can prove anything but easy to provide
when the package already contains the products inside it. In the second place, the
aforesaid sealing lines can end up opposing considerable resistance in regard to any
tearing stress aimed at separating the individual packages from one another according
to the modalities described previously. This fact can involve, for example, the need
to subject the aforesaid sealing lines to treatments of pre-incision or dinking, which
are aimed at facilitating tearing for the purpose of separation of the individual
packages. In the specific case, where the package divided into compartments to form
individual wrappers is a flowpack, there then exists the further problem linked to
the fact that in the original flowpack there may remain masses of air that might hinder
subsequent squeezing of the package where the sealing lines that are to provide the
aforesaid division into compartments are formed.
[0011] The present applicant has already presented, in the Italian patent application No.
TO2008A000256 (see also
WO 2009/122 244 A1), a method for providing multiple packages that enables prevention of the intrinsic
drawbacks of the solutions according to the known art discussed above. Said method
envisages, in particular, using a modified flowpack packaging plant, where the wrapping
material of which the package is made is shaped so as to form at least two channel-shaped
parts, connected together along a connection line that extends parallel to their direction
of extension and is set between the mutually facing walls of said parts. Subsequently,
respective products are inserted in said channel-shaped parts, and then the latter
are first closed to form a tube via respective longitudinal sealing lines, and finally
closed at the end via respective transverse sealing lines.
Object and summary of the invention
[0012] The present applicant has now devised a new method, forming the subject of the present
invention, which, in addition to solving the problems of the known art to which reference
has been made above, also affords various advantages over the method previously presented
by the present applicant.
[0013] According to the present invention, said method presents the characteristics recalled
specifically in the ensuing claims. The invention also relates to the apparatus for
providing the aforesaid method and the corresponding package obtained therefrom.
[0014] The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation
to the invention.
[0015] Various embodiments of the corresponding package give rise to a multiple package
(for example a double package), where the individual wrappers are in effect structurally
identical to one another and/or can be separated from one another with an action of
separation that is at the same time convenient and safe, preventing any risk of undesirable
accidental opening of one of the wrappers that are separated.
Brief description of the annexed drawings
[0016] The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with
reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
- Figure 1 illustrates an example of multiple package forming the subject of the present
description;
- Figures 2 and 3 illustrate an example of wrapping material used in the method described
herein for obtaining the package of Figure 1;
- Figures 4 to 6 illustrate cross-sectional views according to the planes IV-IV, V-V
and VI-VI indicated in Figure 11, respectively;
- Figures 7 and 8 illustrate in greater detail respective examples of intermediate products
of the method described herein;
- Figure 9 illustrates a further step of the method described herein;
- Figure 10 illustrates in greater detail the characteristics of the package that can
be obtained with the method described herein; and
- Figure 11 is a schematic illustration of a plant for implementation of the method
described herein.
Detailed description of examples of embodiment
[0017] Illustrated in the ensuing description are various specific details aimed at providing
an in-depth understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments can be obtained without
one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components materials,
etc. In other cases, known structures, materials or operations are not illustrated
or described in detail so that the various aspects of the embodiments will not be
obscured.
[0018] Reference to "an embodiment" or "one embodiment" in the framework of the present
description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure, or
characteristic described in relation to the embodiment is comprised in at least one
embodiment. Hence, phrases such as "in an embodiment" or "in one embodiment" that
may be present in various points of the present description do not necessarily refer
to the one and the same embodiment. Moreover, particular conformations, structures
or characteristics can be combined in any adequate way in one or more embodiments.
[0019] The references used herein are merely provided for convenience and hence do not define
the sphere of protection or the scope of the embodiments.
[0020] Figure 1 represents an example of multiple package (designated by the reference 20)
that can be obtained via the method forming the subject of the present description.
[0021] The multiple package 20 comprises a first flowpack wrapper 30, containing a first
product P, formed by a first wrapping of sheet material that is closed to form a tube
along a first longitudinal sealing line 162 (see Figure 11) and is provided with a
first transverse sealing line (in technical jargon referred to as "closing bellows")
166 on both of its opposite ends.
[0022] The multiple package 20 further comprises a second flowpack wrapper 40 containing
a second product P', formed by a second wrapping of sheet material that is closed
to form a tube along a second longitudinal sealing line 164 (see Figure 11) and is
provided with a second transverse sealing line (in technical jargon referred to as
"closing bellows") 166' on both of its opposite ends.
[0023] The first and second wrappers are set alongside one another in a direction transverse
to the aforesaid first and second sealing lines and are connected together, at one
or both of their opposite ends, in an area corresponding to the aforesaid first and
second transverse sealing lines (or closing bellows). As will be seen in what follows,
said connection between the transverse sealing lines is of a tear-separable type.
It should be noted that the sealing lines mentioned herein (longitudinal and transverse
sealing lines, the latter being also referred to as "closing bellows") can be of any
type suitable for the application in question. For example, said sealing lines can
be obtained via heat-sealing, ultrasound sealing, or else gluing. Hereinafter, the
transverse sealing lines will be called by the term "closing bellows" commonly used,
without thereby wishing to refer to any of their specific embodiments.
[0024] To obtain a package of the above sort, the method described herein envisages, in
general, forming a first tubular blank of the first wrapper, containing the first
product, and a second tubular blank of the second wrapper, separate and distinct from
the first blank and containing the second product, and setting the aforesaid first
and second blanks alongside one another, and moreover making, on one or both of the
opposite end portions of the aforesaid first and second blanks, a transverse sealing
line that traverses both of the corresponding portions of the aforesaid first and
second blanks in said condition where they are set alongside one another, and is designed
to define the aforesaid first and second bellows, respectively of the aforesaid first
and second wrappers, and at the same time to determine a tear-separable connection
between said first and second bellows.
[0025] The aforesaid transverse sealing line (which traverses both of the corresponding
portions of the aforesaid first and second blanks) constitutes a common or shared
sealing line between the two wrappers that make up the multiple package, in the sense
that said line is designed to define both of the aforesaid first and second bellows
(or first and second sealing lines) of said wrappers. Moreover, by the fact that it
determines itself the aforesaid tear-separable connection, said line can be easily
"torn" or "split" in the aforesaid first and second bellows (or first and second sealing
lines) for separating the two wrappers of the multiple package.
[0026] It should be noted that, basically, said common sealing line constitutes an adhesion
line; namely, where it is provided, parts of wrapping material that can be connected
together are made effectively to adhere to one another (in this connection, the reader
is referred to the ensuing description, where the possible modalities according to
which respective parts of wrapping material can be rendered connectable to one another
are explained); in the method described herein said line is such as to traverse both
of the corresponding end portions of the aforesaid first and second blanks for determining
the aforesaid first and second sealing lines and at the same time the aforesaid tear-separable
connection between said sealing lines. As will be seen in what follows, preferably
said line extends continuously, traversing completely the corresponding ends of the
aforesaid first and second blanks.
[0027] In various embodiments, as in the one illustrated, in said method setting said first
and second blanks alongside one another comprises setting said first and second blanks
at a distance apart from one another such that in creating the aforesaid sealing or
adhesion line an overlapping of said corresponding portions of said first and second
blanks is brought about, so that said sealing or adhesion line determines a tear-separable
connection between overlapping parts of said corresponding portions. In various embodiments,
the parts of said corresponding portions - of said first and second blanks - that
are to overlap are at least partially connectable to one another.
[0028] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate an example of sheet wrapping material 10 starting from
which, via said method, the multiple package illustrated in Figure 1 can be obtained.
With reference to said figures, in the wrapping material 10 the two opposite surfaces
10a and 10b have at least on part of their extension characteristics of sealability
that differ from one another. For example (the persons skilled in the sector will
on the other hand appreciate immediately that the same basic concepts illustrated
on the basis of this example can be implemented by resorting to a wide range of equivalent
solutions), the sheet 10 can be constituted by a sheet of aluminium (or of plastic
material, such as polypropylene) "coupled", i.e., coated on the surface 10a, with
a heat-sealable (or ultrasound sealable) plastic material, such as polyethylene. On
the surface 10b, the aluminium (or plastic) material is not instead coated other than
in areas 10c (which may mate with homologous areas 10c' situated in a position specularly
symmetrical to the areas 10c with respect to the folding direction, as will be described
more fully in what follows), where a heat-sealable (or ultrasound sealable) plastic
material, such as polyethylene, is applied.
[0029] In the preferred example illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the surface 10b has both
of the areas 10c and 10c'. As may be noted from Figure 2, the areas 10c and 10c' are
located along one and the same ideal line that is substantially orthogonal to the
direction of longitudinal development of the wrapping sheet 10 (which is indicated
by the arrow A in Figure 2 and corresponds also to the direction of advance of the
sheet 10 itself in the method described in what follows). In any case, the general
principle whereby the areas 10c (and the areas 10c', if present) are defined and arranged
will be become evident in the sequel in the course of the description regarding the
step of the method in which said areas perform their function. It is in any case immediately
evident for the person skilled in the sector of flowpack methods that the areas 10c
and 10c' illustrated in Figure 2 are, on one, front (with respect to the direction
of A), half thereof (defined by an ideal cutting line orthogonal to the direction
A), designed for the production of a first multiple package and, on the other, rear,
half, for the production of a second multiple package (subsequent to the first package
with respect to the direction of advance A).
[0030] Once again it is recalled that the example made previously with reference to specific
materials expresses a principle that can be implemented by resorting to different
materials and/or in a different way. Just to provide an example, it may be considered
that the sheet 10 is constituted by non-heat-sealable plastic material that on the
surface 10a is treated with a heat-sealing lacquer or else laminated with a sealing
layer, whereas instead on the surface 10b, only in the areas 10c (and, if present,
the areas 10c') it is rendered heat-sealable by application of heat-sealing lacquer.
[0031] Basically, whatever the solution adopted in terms of choice of the materials and/or
of connection technique adopted (heat-sealing, ultrasound sealing, gluing, etc.),
whereas the surface 10a can be connected to a homologous surface, the surface 10b
resists the action of connection with a homologous surface, except in the areas 10c
(and the areas 10c', if present).
[0032] In various embodiments, as in the one illustrated in the figures, the method forming
the subject of the present description can envisage the steps of:
- providing a sheet of wrapping material;
- shaping, on the aforesaid first and second products, said wrapping material to form
at least two channel-shaped parts alongside one another, which have a U-shaped region
and two side branches extending from the respective U-shaped region towards respective
distal flaps, and which contain respectively the aforesaid first and second products;
- cutting the sheet material in an intermediate position between the channel-shaped
parts themselves, so that said channel-shaped parts set alongside one another form
distinct parts;
- closing said channel-shaped parts at the aforesaid respective distal flaps to form
a tube; and
- connecting together the respective distal flaps to form said first and second longitudinal
sealing lines.
[0033] In various embodiments, as in the one illustrated, in said method the step of forming
the aforesaid channel-shaped parts comprises the operation of pulling by the side
flaps the sheet of wrapping material against the aforesaid first and second products
and at the same time forming a depression in a central portion of the wrapping sheet,
set between said first and second products, so as to cause raising on the sheet of
wrapping material of said channel-shaped parts formed alongside one another.
[0034] The method described above can in general be implemented with an apparatus comprising:
- a line for feeding a sheet of wrapping material;
- a line for conveying the aforesaid first and second products;
- means for forming, starting from the aforesaid sheet of wrapping material, a first
tubular blank of the aforesaid first wrapper, containing the aforesaid first product,
and a second tubular blank of the aforesaid second wrapper, separate and distinct
from the first blank and containing the aforesaid second product, and setting the
first and second blanks alongside one another;
- means for providing, on one or both of the opposite end portions of the aforesaid
first and second blanks, a transverse sealing line that traverses both of the corresponding
end portions of the aforesaid first and second blanks in the aforesaid position where
they are set alongside one another, and is designed to define a first bellows and
a second bellows, respectively, of the aforesaid first and second wrappers, and to
determine at the same time a tear-separable connection between the aforesaid first
and second bellows.
[0035] Figures 4 to 11 illustrate a preferred embodiment of such an apparatus.
[0036] With reference to Figure 11, said apparatus comprises a line for feeding a wrapping
material, for example made of the material illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 discussed
above. Said material can be in the form of a web that is run off a reel B set in a
raised position with respect to the rest of said feed line.
[0037] Said apparatus further comprises a line for conveying the products to be packaged,
comprising in the specific case two conveyor belts T, T' (or else one conveyor belt
divided into two product conveying paths) that run parallel to one another in the
direction of advance A. As will be seen hereinafter, said direction A corresponds
to the direction of advance both of the sheet of wrapping material 10 and of the products
P and P'. Said conveyor belts are controlled in a co-ordinated way for conveying the
products P, P' in a condition where they are set alongside one another.
[0038] The apparatus further comprises a shaping station 120 that is traversed by the aforesaid
conveying and feed lines. In particular, the line for feeding the wrapping sheet enters
the shaping station with a descending branch of the wrapping sheet, which in said
station is then brought back substantially parallel to the direction A referred to
above. It should be noted that the inclination of the aforesaid branch, with respect
to the line for conveying the products, facilitates intervention of the means - which
will be described in what follows - of said station that have the function of pulling
said sheet of wrapping material against said products.
[0039] In general, said station comprises first means designed to pull by the side flaps
the aforesaid sheet of wrapping material against the products P, P' on the conveyor
belts, and second means designed to make a depression in a central portion of the
wrapping material set between the two rows of products.
[0040] The aforesaid first and second means are co-ordinated in such a way as to cause raising
on the wrapping material of the two channel-shaped parts formed alongside one another
mentioned previously. In the specific case, said shaping station comprises two side
laminas 90 and one central lamina 92 that extend, starting from one and the same position,
parallel to and set alongside one another in the direction A, in an area corresponding
to the two conveyor belts T and T'. The central lamina 92 extends slightly further
forward than said conveyor belts and, immediately downstream of said lamina, said
shaping station envisages two or more pairs of opposed rollers 102, which, with the
aid of the two side laminas 90, have the function of pulling by the side flaps the
wrapping material against the products P and P'. The action of the rollers 102 will
be described in the detail in what follows; in any case, it should here be pointed
out that the function referred to above - of pulling the wrapping material by the
flaps - is in itself carried out just by the rollers 102, whilst the side laminas
90 act simply as guide for said flaps.
[0041] The central lamina 92 has, instead, the function of forming a depression in the central
portion of the wrapping sheet that is set between the two rows of products.
[0042] As may be seen in Figure 11, the side laminas 90 and the central lamina 92 each have,
in an area corresponding to their end facing in the direction opposite to the flow
of the products and of the wrapping material, an inclined edge designed to constitute
a guide for the branch of the wrapping material entering the shaping station 120.
Said laminas have, moreover, at said ends, respective wheels 94 designed to favour
sliding of the wrapping material and prevent a sticking of said laminas in said material,
which could cause tearing of the material itself.
[0043] As may be seen in the figure, the co-ordinated action between the means referred
to above has the function of shaping the wrapping sheet according to a form having
the aforesaid channel-shaped parts set alongside one another, with the products P
and P', respectively, inside them.
[0044] In particular, with reference to Figure 4:
- each of the two channel-shaped parts set alongside one another has a U-shaped region
and two side branches (which are symmetrical or, as in the example illustrated herein,
asymmetrical, for reasons that will emerge more clearly in what follows) extending
from the U-shaped region;
- the two channel-shaped parts set alongside one another have two inner side branches
that are connected together in an area corresponding to their distal flaps, designated
by the reference number 14a.
[0045] Once again with reference to Figure 11, the central lamina has, in a position downstream
of the two side laminas, and in a region once again corresponding to the two conveyor
belts, a blade 96 designed to separate the distal flaps 14a, in such a way that said
channel-shaped parts are separate and distinct from one another.
[0046] As may be seen in Figures 5 and 11, once the sheet material 10 exceeds the two conveyor
belts T and T', the two channel-shaped parts close to form a tube, each around the
respective row of products, as a result of the action of the two opposed rollers 102
(which, as will be seen in greater detail in what follows, press all four distal flaps
of said channel-shaped parts against one another). In this way, as soon as the products
leave the conveyor belts, they are immediately taken up by the tube-like portion that
in the mean time has formed around them (see Figure 5).
[0047] As represented schematically in Figures 4, 5 and 6, in said tube-like configuration
of the wrapping material the free flaps of the two channel-shaped parts (designated
by 14a, in the case of the free flaps of the two inner branches, which are shorter
and set up against one another, and by 14b, in the case of the free flaps of the two
outer branches, which are longer and opposite to one another) are set up against each
other so as to form a layered structure designated as a whole by 16.
[0048] From Figure 4 it may be understood that, in the example of embodiment illustrated,
the outer flaps 14b are longer than the inner flaps 14a by a length approximately
equal to the width of the products P. In this way, when the various flaps are gathered
to form the structure 16, located in position substantially half-way between the products
P, the greater length of the outer flaps 14b causes the end margins of all the flaps
gathered in the structure 16 to be set practically alongside one another, without
any of them projecting from the structure 16.
[0049] As may be seen in Figure 6, the structure 16 (comprising four layers, i.e., - in
order - the outer flap 14b and the inner flap 14a of one of the channel-shaped parts,
and then the inner flap 14a and the outer flap 14b of the other channel-shaped part)
is then made to advance through the opposed rollers 102. In said embodiment, the opposed
rollers 102 also constitute a longitudinal-sealing assembly that is to form, in the
way described in what follows, the so-called longitudinal fin of a flowpack wrapper.
It is, however, clear that, according to alternative embodiments of the apparatus,
there may be envisaged a longitudinal-sealing assembly distinct from the rollers 102,
and set downstream thereof.
[0050] Whereas in the conventional operation of flowpack packaging machines the longitudinal
fin is formed as a result of juxtaposition and sealing of two flaps of sheet material
fed through one said longitudinal-sealing assembly, in the example illustrated herein
the flaps of sheet material that are set on top of one another in layers and passed
through the sealing assembly 102 are four in number.
[0051] The effect of the sealing action obtained by the sealing assembly 102 is, however,
conditioned by the characteristics of sealability/connectability of the sheet 10 illustrated
at the start.
[0052] In the specific case, the four flaps 14a, 14b that advance within the sealing device
102 have in sequence the following alternation of characteristics of sealability (which
can be ideally viewed proceeding from left to right and with reference to the point
of observation of Figure 5):
- a first flap 14b with an outer surface (i.e., external with respect to the layered
structure 16) corresponding to the surface 10b of the sheet 10 and hence not sealable
and an inner surface corresponding to the surface 10a of the sheet 10 and hence sealable;
- a second flap 14a, the surface of which facing the first flap 14b seen previously
corresponds to the surface 10a of the sheet 10 and is hence sealable, whilst the opposite
surface corresponds to the surface 10b of the sheet 10 and is not sealable;
- a third flap 14a, with an outer surface facing the second flap seen previously corresponding
to the surface 10b of the sheet 10 and hence not sealable, and with an inner surface
corresponding to the surface 10a of the sheet 10 and hence sealable; and finally
- a fourth flap 14b, with an inner surface (i.e., internal with respect to the layered
structure 16) facing the third flap seen previously and corresponding to the surface
10a of the sheet 10 and hence sealable, and an opposite surface (external with respect
to the layered structure 16) that corresponds to the surface 10b of the sheet 10 and
hence not sealable.
[0053] The net action of the sealing tool 102 will be hence that of connecting together,
with formation of sealing lines, the flaps the opposite surfaces of which are sealable.
[0054] In other words, with reference to the alternation of sealable and non-sealable surfaces
referred to above, the net action of the sealing tool 102 is to produce sealing of:
- the first flap 14b with the second flap 14a, with formation of a first longitudinal
fin 162, which closes in a tube the first of the channel-shaped parts of the blank
of wrapping material in Figure 4; and
- the third flap 14a with the fourth flap 14b, with formation of a second longitudinal
fin 164, which closes in a tube the second of the channel-shaped parts of the blank
of wrapping material in Figure 4.
[0055] The tool 102 does not instead bring about sealing of the second flap with the third
flap (i.e., of the two inner flaps 14b) since these flaps expose to one another surfaces
that cannot be sealed to one another.
[0056] The two fins 162 and 164 formed by the sealing device 102 are thus independent of
one another and can be separated away from one another, as is clearly illustrated
in Figure 9, for example via a so-called "plowshare" (not illustrated in the figures).
[0057] Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of the mutual configuration of the wrapping
material and of the products that are obtained with the apparatus of Figure 11, in
the area set between the rollers 102 and the transverse cutting and sealing station
122 (which will be described more fully hereinafter). As may be seen in said figure,
said configuration presents two distinct tubular blanks 30', 40' - closed in a tube-like
form along respective longitudinal sealing lines and each containing a respective
product - that occupy positions set alongside one another in a direction transverse
to their respective longitudinal sealing lines. In Figure 7 the two tubular blanks
are represented as being at a given distance from one another. To bring the blanks
into said mutual arrangement, there may, for example, be envisaged, downstream of
the rollers 102, a spacer element designed to move the blanks up away from one another
to the aforesaid distance. However, once again as will be discussed in what follows,
said distance may also be zero and the two blanks hence remain substantially in contact
with one another.
[0058] As may be seen in Figure 7, in the aforesaid mutual configuration, one of the two
blanks is provided with a connection area 10c, on each of its opposite ends, in a
position laterally shifted so as to give out onto a respective corresponding end of
the other blank. If, as illustrated in said figure, also the areas 10c' are present,
they are located on the other blank, in positions specularly symmetrical to the areas
10c - with respect to an ideal plane parallel to the axial direction of the two tubular
blanks and set between these - and facing these.
[0059] As schematically illustrated in Figures 8, 9, and 11, the two tubular blanks thus
formed are then made to advance towards the transverse-sealing station 122, comprising
jaw units 112 (with reciprocating or rotary motion) designed to form on each tubular
blank the end closing bellows of the package.
[0060] Provided in said jaw units is a transverse sealing line 200 that traverses both of
the corresponding end portions of the tubular blanks and superposes the areas 10c
on the areas 10c', if present, or else on corresponding portions of the blank opposite
to the one in which said areas 10c are provided. Said sealing line is consequently
designed to create the respective closing bellows 166, 166' of said blanks and at
the same time a tear-separable connection between said bellows. Hereinafter the mechanism
with which said connection is provided is explained in detail.
[0061] When the two jaws squeeze the end portions of said blanks to form the respective
closing bellows, the latter flatten out and expand laterally until they overlap one
another in an area corresponding to their respective mutually facing parts, on which,
as has been said previously, the areas 10c and, if present, the areas 10c', are located.
Said areas 10c are consequently in contact either with the corresponding areas 10c'
of the opposite blank, or else with corresponding portions of the latter, and the
action of the two jaws determines sealing and connection between said parts in contact.
[0062] At the same time, in a way in itself known, said jaws create the respective end bellows
166, 166' of the two blanks, which, from what has been described above, will be connected
to one another in the areas 10c (and 10c', if present).
[0063] According to altogether known criteria, such as to not to require any detailed description
herein, in said specific example the jaw units of the station 122 are moreover designed
to separate the pairs of flowpack wrappers - which they themselves have just completed
- from the rest of the wrapping material. Alternatively, there may instead be envisaged
a station 112 designed for providing the transverse sealing line 200, and, in addition,
a station downstream of the station 122, where segmentation (or cutting) is performed
of the chain of multiple packages, which, in this case, are supplied at output from
the station 122.
[0064] It should once again be noted that the mechanism of sealability/non-sealability described
previously can be achieved with the choice of constituent materials and/or of a structure
in the sheet material 10 different from the one described previously, albeit maintaining
the general concept of providing in the packet the elements that advance through the
sealing assembly 102 (whatever the principles that regulate operation of said assembly
may be) a sequence of flaps of sheet material sealable in pairs to form the fins 162
and 164, which, however, remain independent, i.e., not sealed to one another.
[0065] Persons skilled in the sector will appreciate on the other hand that the mechanism
of sealability/non-sealability described previously is suited to being implemented
also with application of adhesives, hence, for example, with the use of a sheet material
10 the opposite surfaces 10a and 10b of which are both in themselves non-sealable,
but are rendered sealable if need be (areas 10c, 10c', flaps 14a, 14b) with local
application of adhesive, for example via purposely provided dispensing nozzles.
[0066] Persons skilled in the sector will moreover appreciate that the sealability between
two opposite surfaces does not require in an absolute way that the two surfaces be
identical to one another. This happens in the case of the example illustrated herein,
where it has been at least implicitly assumed that the surface 10a of the sheet 10
will have uniform surface characteristics throughout its development, so that the
mutually facing surfaces of the flaps 14a, 14b sealed to one another in pairs to form
the fins 162 and 164, are the same as one another and - for example -both coated with
a heat-sealable material. The sealability between two surfaces can in fact derive,
for example, from the presence of a heat-sealable material or from application of
an adhesive material also on just one of the two surfaces in question. This applies
of course also in relation to the connection areas 10c and 10c': in this regard it
has in fact been pointed out a number of times that the presence of the areas 10c'
is altogether optional.
[0067] The final package thus obtained, designated as a whole by the reference 20 in Figure
1, is constituted by two flowpack wrappers set alongside one another in a direction
transverse to the longitudinal sealing lines of the two wrappers, and connected together
at the respective end bellows. The characteristics of resistance of the connection
made between the bellows (connection that is designed to be tear-separable when the
consumer wishes to separate the two parts of the package) can be determined exactly
and precisely (for example, during production of the sheet material 10, i.e., during
creation of the areas 10c - and of the homologous areas 10c', if present), preventing
said connection, on the one hand, from being too weak, with the risk of an undesirable
separation of the wrappers and, on the other hand, from offering an excessively high
resistance to tear, exposing the consumer to the risk of tearing in an undesirable
way one of the wrappers that are for the moment not to be opened.
[0068] It is in any case to be noted that the connection between the two packages at their
bellows enables concentration, on these, of the stresses that are generated when the
user separates said wrappers, and hence prevents, during their separation, any risk
of tearing of said wrappers, since said bellows are formed by as many as two layers
sealed to one another (along the transverse sealing line 200) and are consequently
extremely strong. In addition, since to divide said wrappers it is necessary to intervene
only at their ends, the products contained therein are not subjected to any stress,
and there is consequently no risk of them getting broken as a result of the forces
exerted to separate the two wrappers.
[0069] The operations described above with reference to the annexed figures constitute a
preferred example of embodiment of the method described herein. In particular, the
steps illustrated in Figure 11 and in Figures 4 to 6 represent the preferred modalities
to obtain the specific configuration illustrated in Figure 7, i.e. - with reference
to the main characteristics of said configuration - to obtain two distinct tubular
blanks, which are closed in tubular form along respective longitudinal sealing lines
and each contain a respective product, and that are set alongside one another in a
direction transverse to the aforesaid longitudinal sealing lines.
[0070] It should, however, be noted that said configuration can be obtained also according
to other modalities. For example, the two or even more tubular blanks can be formed
separately according to the conventional modalities of a normal flowpack packaging
line, and, then be arranged alongside one another in the configuration described above,
in order to be able then to form on their corresponding end portions the aforesaid
transverse sealing line, designed to determine the respective closing bellows of said
blanks and at the same time a tear-separable connection between said bellows. For
this purpose, said blanks set alongside one another must be either set in contact
with one another, or else their mutual distance, if not zero, must be in any case
such that, as described previously, when their end portions are squeezed to form the
respective closing bellows, these flatten out and expand laterally until they overlap
the corresponding portions of the blank or blanks set alongside, and enable in this
way, for what has been described previously, a mutual connection between the overlapping
parts. As on the other hand has already been mentioned previously, said parts for
connection of the end portions may be connectable to one another either as already
the sheet material that is run off the reel is sealable in said parts, for example,
because in the production of the reel these have been coated with heat-sealing lacquer,
or because in the process of production of the multiple package they have been rendered
connectable and/or sealable via application of adhesive and/or heat-sealing material.
[0071] It should, however, be pointed out that an albeit minimal distance between the two
tubular blanks 30' and 40', in their mutual configuration where they are set alongside
one another, enables a connection to be obtained between the bellows that is more
precise and free from residual stresses - which are, instead, generated when the two
flowpack wrappers are in contact and press against one another - and to obtain, in
general, a global appearance of the package that is more pleasant.
[0072] It will moreover be appreciated that the operation of segmentation must not necessarily
be provided in a position corresponding to each of the transverse sealing lines 200.
The solution described herein is suited, in fact, very conveniently to providing multiple
packages comprising a number of blocks of, for example, two individual wrappers, coupled
in pairs (bi-pack) in a position where they are set alongside one another and connected
together in a tear-separable way at the end bellows, where the various blocks are
arranged in a positions set head-on with respect to one another and are connected
at the end bellows defined by one and the same transverse line 200 (which, when it
is not cut completely, can undergo "pre-incision" or "dinking" so that it can be torn
in a precise way in order to separate the individual packages without tearing the
tubular wrapper thereof in which the product is wrapped).
[0073] The solution described herein enables a bi-pack package (or in general a multiple
package) to be produced that is altogether compact, in the sense that the individual
flowpack wrappers paired with one another assume the conformation of a package resembling
the one that would be obtained by inserting the wrappers in question in a multipack
package of an adherent type.
[0074] The solution described herein can be implemented with appropriate modifications to
flowpack machines commonly available in packaging plants.
[0075] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction
of the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what is described
herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope
of the invention as defined in the ensuing claims. This applies in particular, but
without any limitation, to:
- the possibility of applying the mechanism described to the production of multiple
packages comprising three or more individual wrappers (and not two, as in the example
illustrated herein); and
- the possibility of envisaging the differentiated characteristics of connectability/non-connectability
described previously, only on the parts of the wrapping sheet where said characteristics
are effectively involved (for example, envisaging the presence of sealable/non-sealable
material or the application of adhesive/antiadhesive material only on the flaps 14a
and 14b).
1. A method for making a multiple package (20) comprising a first flowpack wrapper (30)
and a second flowpack wrapper (40),
wherein said first flowpack wrapper (30) contains a first product (P), and is formed
by a first wrapping of sheet material that is closed to form a tube along a first
longitudinal sealing line (162) and is provided with a first transverse sealing line
(166) on both of its opposite ends,
wherein said second flowpack wrapper (40) contains a second product (P'), and is formed
by a second wrapping of sheet material that is closed to form a tube along a second
longitudinal sealing line (164) and is provided with a second transverse sealing line
(166') on both of its opposite ends,
wherein said method envisages forming a first tubular blank (30') of said first wrapper,
containing said first product (P), and a second tubular blank (40') of said second
wrapper, separate and distinct from said first blank and containing said second product
(P'), and setting said first and second blanks alongside one another, and in that
it envisages making, on one or both of the opposite end portions of said first and
second blanks, a common transverse sealing line (200), which traverses both of the
corresponding end portions of said first and second blanks in said position where
the blanks are set alongside one another and is designed to define said first and
second transverse sealing lines (166, 166'), respectively of said first and second
wrappers, and to determine at the same time a tear-separable connection between said
first and second transverse sealing lines,
said method being characterised in that setting said first and second blanks (30', 40') alongside one another comprises setting
said first and second blanks (30', 40') at a distance apart from one another such
that said common sealing line (200) overlaps said end portions of said first and second
blanks determining said connection between said first and second transverse sealing
lines.
2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein forming said first and second blanks envisages
respectively:
- forming a first wrapping designed to receive said first product and closing said
wrapping along said first longitudinal sealing line (162) to form a tube; and
- forming a second wrapping designed to receive said second product and closing said
wrapping along said second longitudinal sealing line (164) to form a tube.
3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the formation of
said first and second blanks comprises the operations of:
- providing a wrapping sheet (10);
- providing said first and second products (P, P');
- shaping, on said first and second products, said wrapping sheet (10) to form at
least two channel-shaped parts alongside one another, which have a U-shaped region
and two side branches extending from the respective U-shaped region towards respective
distal flaps (14a, 14b), and that contain, respectively, said first and second products;
- cutting said sheet (10) in an intermediate position (14) between the channel-shaped
parts themselves so that said channel-shaped parts set alongside one another form
distinct parts;
- closing said channel-shaped parts along said respective distal flaps (14a, 14b)
to form a tube; and
- connecting together the respective distal flaps (14a, 14b) to form said first and
second longitudinal sealing lines (162, 164).
4. The method according to Claim 3, wherein forming said at least two channel-shaped
parts comprises the operation of pulling by its side flaps said wrapping sheet against
said first and second products and at the same time forming a depression in a central
portion of the wrapping sheet set between said first and second products so as to
cause, on said wrapping sheet, raising of said channel-shaped parts set alongside
one another.
5. The method according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, comprising the operation of separating
from one another said first and second longitudinal sealing lines (162, 164).
6. The method according to any one of Claims 3 to 4, wherein said operation of closing
said channel-shaped parts set alongside one another to form a tube comprises the steps
of:
- setting on top of one another in a layered structure (16) the distal flaps (14a,
14b) of said channel-shaped parts formed alongside one another, wherein each of the
distal flaps (14a, 14b) in said layered structure (16) can be connected to an adjacent
distal flap (14a, 14b) belonging to the same channel-shaped part;
- passing said layered structure (16) through a connection assembly (102) to connect
to one another the adjacent distal flaps (14a, 14b) belonging to one and the same
channel-shaped part to form said first and second longitudinal sealing lines (162,
164).
7. A multiple package comprising:
- a first flowpack wrapper (30) containing a first product (P) and formed by a first
wrapping of sheet material that is closed to form a tube along a first longitudinal
sealing line (162) and is provided with a first transverse sealing line (166) on both
of its opposite ends;
- a second flowpack wrapper containing a second product (P') and formed by a second
wrapping of sheet material that is closed to form a tube along a second longitudinal
sealing line (164) and is provided with a second transverse sealing line (166') on
both of its opposite ends;
said first and second wrappers being set alongside one another in a direction transverse
to said first and second longitudinal sealing lines (162, 164),
wherein said first and second wrappers are connected to one another in a tear-separable
way, at one or both of their opposite ends, along said first and second transverse
sealing lines (166, 166'),
said package being
characterized in that said first and second wrappers are connected to one another only in an area corresponding
to said first and second transverse sealing lines (166, 166').
8. The package according to Claim 7, comprising a common transverse sealing line (200)
that traverses both of the corresponding end portions of said first and second wrappers
in said position where they are set alongside one another, and is designed to define
said first and second transverse sealing lines (166, 166'), respectively of said first
and second wrappers, and to determine at the same time the connection between said
first and second transverse sealing lines.
9. An apparatus for implementing a method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that it comprises:
a line for feeding a wrapping sheet (10);
a line for conveying said first and second products (P, P');
means (90, 92, 102) for forming, starting from said wrapping sheet, a first tubular
blank (30') of said first wrapper, containing said first product (P), and a second
tubular blank (40') of said second wrapper, separate and distinct from said first
blank and containing said second product (P'), and for setting said first and second
blanks alongside one another;
means (112) for providing, on one or both of the opposite end portions of said first
and second blanks, a common transverse sealing line (200) that traverses both of the
corresponding end portions of said first and second blanks in said position where
they are set alongside one another, and is designed to define a first transverse sealing
line (166) and a second transverse sealing line (166'), respectively, of said first
and second wrappers, and to determine at the same time a tear-separable connection
between said first and second transverse sealing lines,
wherein said feed line is designed to set said first and second blanks (30', 40')
at a distance apart from one another such that said common transverse sealing line
(200) overlaps said end portions of said first and second blanks, determining said
connection between said first and second transverse sealing lines.
10. The apparatus according to Claim 9,
wherein said means for forming said first and second blanks comprise a shaping station
(120), traversed by said feed line, and comprising first means (102; 90, 102) designed
to pull by its side flaps said wrapping sheet against said first and second products
on said conveying line, and second means (92) for forming a depression in a central
portion of the wrapping sheet between said first and second products, said first and
second means being co-ordinated in such a way as to bring about raising on said sheet
of wrapping paper channel-shaped parts set alongside one another, each having a U-shaped
region and two side branches that extend from the U-shaped region towards respective
distal flaps (14a, 14b).
11. The apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein said first means (102) are moreover designed
to close in a tube-like form along said distal flaps (14a, 14b) said channel-shaped
parts, inside which are said first and second products (P, P').
1. Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Mehrlingspackung (20) mit einer ersten Flowpack-Hülle
(30) und einer zweiten Flowpack-Hülle (40),
bei dem die erste Flowpack-Hülle (30) ein erstes Erzeugnis (P) enthält und durch eine
erste Umhüllung von Lagenmaterial ausgebildet wird, die geschlossen ist, so dass eine
Röhre entlang einer ersten Längsdichtungslinie (162) ausgebildet wird und mit einer
ersten Querdichtungslinie (166) an beiden ihrer gegenüberliegenden Enden versehen
ist,
bei dem die zweite Flowpack-Hülle (40) ein zweites Erzeugnis (P') enthält und durch
eine zweite Umhüllung von Lagenmaterial ausgebildet wird, die geschlossen ist, so
dass eine Röhre entlang einer zweiten Längsdichtungslinie (164) ausgebildet wird,
und mit einer zweiten Querdichtungslinie (166') an beiden ihrer gegenüberliegenden
Enden versehen ist,
wobei das Verfahren anstrebt, eine erste röhrenförmige Leerform (30') der ersten Hülle,
die das erste Erzeugnis (P) enthält, und eine zweite röhrenförmige Leerform (40')
der zweiten Hülle auszubilden, die getrennt und abgegrenzt von der ersten Leerform
ist und das zweite Erzeugnis (P') enthält, und die erste und zweite Leerform längsseits
aneinanderzusetzen, und anstrebt, an einem oder beiden der gegenüberliegenden Endabschnitte
der ersten und zweiten Leerform eine gemeinsame Querdichtungslinie (200) herzustellen,
die beide der entsprechenden Endabschnitte der ersten und zweiten Leerform in den
Positionen durchquert, wo die Leerformen längsseits aneinander gesetzt sind, und derart
gestaltet ist, dass sie entsprechend die erste und zweite Querdichtungslinie (166,
166') der ersten und zweiten Hülle definiert, und zur gleichen Zeit eine reiß-trennbare
Verbindung zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Querdichtungslinie bestimmt,
wobei das Verfahren dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass das Setzen der ersten und zweiten Leerform (30', 40') längsseits aneinander Setzen
der ersten und zweiten Leerform (30', 40') in einem Abstand entfernt von einander
umfasst, so dass die gemeinsame Dichtungslinie (200) die Endabschnitte der ersten
und zweiten Leerform überlappt, die die Verbindung zwischen der ersten und zweiten
Querdichtungslinie bestimmen.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem Ausbilden der ersten und zweiten Leerform jeweils
anstrebt:
- Ausbilden einer ersten Umhüllung, die gestaltet ist, das erste Erzeugnis aufzunehmen,
und Schließen der Umhüllung entlang der ersten Längsdichtungslinie (162) zum Ausbilden
einer Röhre; und
- Ausbilden einer zweiten Umhüllung, die gestaltet ist, das zweite Erzeugnis aufzunehmen,
und Schließen der Umhüllung entlang der zweiten Längsdichtungslinie (164) zum Ausbilden
einer Röhre.
3. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Ausbildung der ersten
und zweiten Leerform die folgenden Betätigungen umfasst:
- Vorsehen einer Hülllage (10);
- Vorsehen des ersten und zweiten Erzeugnisses (P, P');
- Formen der Hülllage (10) an dem ersten und zweiten Erzeugnis, um zumindest zwei
kanalförmige Teile längsseits aneinander auszubilden, die einen U-förmigen Bereich
und zwei Seitenzweige aufweisen, die sich entsprechend von dem U-förmigen Bereich
zu den entsprechenden distalen Laschen (14a, 14b) erstrecken, und die entsprechend
das erste und zweite Erzeugnis enthalten;
- Schneiden der Lage (10) in einer Zwischenposition (14) zwischen den kanalförmigen
Teilen selbst, so dass die kanalförmigen Teile, die längsseits aneinander gesetzt
sind, abgegrenzte Teile bilden;
- Schließen der kanalförmigen Teile entlang den entsprechenden distalen Laschen (14a,
14b) zum Ausbilden einer Röhre; und
- Verbinden der entsprechenden distalen Laschen (14a, 14b) zum Ausbilden der ersten
und zweiten Längsdichtunglinie (162, 164).
4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 3, bei dem Ausbilden der zumindest zwei kanalförmigen Teile
die Betätigung von Ziehen der Hülllage durch ihre Seitenlaschen gegen das erste und
zweite Erzeugnis und zur gleichen Zeit Ausbilden einer Vertiefung in einem Mittelabschnitt
der Hülllage umfasst, die zwischen dem ersten und zweiten Erzeugnis gesetzt ist, so
dass an der Hülllage verursacht wird, dass sich die kanalförmigen Teile erhöhen, die
längsseits aneinander gesetzt sind.
5. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 4 mit der Betätigung von Trennen der ersten
und zweiten Längsdichtungslinie (162, 164) voneinander.
6. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 4, bei dem die Betätigung von Schließen der
kanalförmigen Teile, die längsseits aneinander gesetzt sind, zum Ausbilden einer Röhre
die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
- Setzen der distalen Laschen (14a, 14b) der kanalförmigen Teile, die längsseits aneinander
ausgebildet sind, auf die Spitze der anderen in einem geschichteten Aufbau (16), wobei
jede der distalen Laschen (14a, 14b) in dem geschichteten Aufbau (16) mit einer angrenzenden
distalen Lasche (14a, 14b) verbunden werden kann, die zu demselben kanalförmigen Teil
gehört;
- Durchführen des geschichteten Aufbaus (16) durch eine Verbindungsanordnung (102)
zum Verbinden der angrenzenden distalen Laschen (14a, 14b) miteinander, die zu ein
und demselben kanalförmigen Teil gehören, zum Ausbilden der ersten und zweiten Längsdichtungslinie
(162, 164).
7. Mehrlingspackung mit:
- einer ersten Flowpack-Hülle (30), die ein erstes Erzeugnis (P) enthält und durch
eine erste Umhüllung von Lagenmaterial gebildet ist, die geschlossen ist, so dass
eine Röhre entlang einer ersten Längsdichtungslinie (162) ausgebildet ist, und mit
einer ersten Querdichtungslinie (166) an beiden ihrer gegenüberliegenden Enden versehen
ist;
- einer zweiten Flowpack-Hülle, die ein zweites Erzeugnis (P') enthält und durch eine
zweite Umhüllung von Lagenmaterial ausgebildet ist, die geschlossen ist, so dass eine
Röhre entlang einer zweiten Längsdichtungslinie (164) ausgebildet wird, und mit einer
zweiten Querdichtungslinie (166') an beiden ihrer gegenüberliegenden Enden versehen
ist;
wobei die erste und zweite Hülle längsseits aneinander in eine Richtung gesetzt sind,
die quer zu der ersten und zweiten Längsdichtungslinie (162, 164) verläuft,
wobei die erste und zweite Hülle miteinander auf eine reiß-trennbare Weise verbunden
sind, und zwar an einem oder beiden ihrer gegenüberliegenden Enden, entlang der ersten
und zweiten Querdichtungslinie (166, 166'),
wobei die Packung
dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass die erste und zweite Hülle miteinander nur in einem Bereich verbunden sind, der der
ersten und zweiten Querdichtungslinie (166, 166') entspricht.
8. Packung nach Anspruch 7 mit einer gemeinsamen Querdichtungslinie (200), die beide
der entsprechenden Endabschnitte der ersten und zweiten Hülle in der Position durchquert,
wo sie längsseits aneinander gesetzt sind, und gestaltet ist, die erste und zweite
Querdichtungslinie (166, 166') entsprechend der ersten und zweiten Hülle zu definieren
und zur gleichen Zeit die Verbindung zwischen der ersten und zweiten Querdichtungslinie
zu bestimmen.
9. Vorrichtung zum Umsetzen eines Verfahrens nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie aufweist:
eine Linie zum Zuführen einer Hülllage (10);
eine Linie zum Befördern des ersten und zweiten Erzeugnisses (P, P');
Mittel (90, 92, 102) zum Ausbilden, ausgehend von der Hülllage, einer ersten röhrenförmigen
Leerform (30') der ersten Hülle, die das erste Erzeugnis (P) enthält, und einer zweiten
röhrenförmigen Leerform (40') der zweiten Hülle, die getrennt und abgegrenzt zu der
ersten Leerform ist und das zweite Erzeugnis (P') enthält, und zum Setzen der ersten
und zweiten Leerform längsseits aneinander;
Mittel (112) zum Vorsehen einer gemeinsamen Querdichtungslinie (200) an einem oder
beiden der gegenüberliegenden Endabschnitte der ersten und zweiten Leerform, die beide
der entsprechenden Endabschnitte der ersten und zweiten Leerform an der Position durchquert,
wo sie längsseits aneinander gesetzt sind, und derart gestaltet ist, dass eine erste
Querdichtungslinie (166) und eine zweite Querdichtungslinie (166') entsprechend der
ersten und zweiten Hülle definiert sind und zur gleichen Zeit eine reiß-trennbare
Verbindung zwischen der ersten und zweiten Querdichtungslinie bestimmt ist,
wobei die Zuführlinie derart gestaltet ist, dass die erste und zweite Leerform (30',
40') in einem Abstand getrennt voneinander gesetzt werden, so dass die gemeinsame
Querdichtungslinie (200) die Endabschnitte der ersten und zweiten Leerform überlappt,
die die Verbindung zwischen der ersten und zweiten Querdichtungslinie bestimmen.
10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 9,
bei der Mittel zum Ausbilden der ersten und zweiten Leerform eine Formstation (120),
die durch die Zuführlinie durchquert wird und ein erstes Mittel (102; 90, 102), das
gestaltet ist, die Hülllage durch ihre Seitenlaschen gegen das erste und zweite Erzeugnis
an der Zuführlinie zu ziehen, und ein zweites Mittel (92) zum Ausbilden einer Vertiefung
in einem Mittelabschnitt der Hülllage zwischen dem ersten und zweiten Erzeugnis aufweist,
wobei das erste und zweite Mittel auf solch eine Weise koordiniert werden, dass Erhöhen
der kanalförmigen Teile auf die Lage von Hüllpapier herbeigeführt wird, die längsseits
aneinander gesetzt sind, wobei sie jeweils einen U-förmigen Bereich und zwei Seitenäste
aufweisen, die sich von dem U-förmigen Bereich zu den entsprechenden distalen Laschen
(14a, 14b) erstrecken.
11. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 10, bei der das erste Mittel (102) darüber hinaus gestaltet
ist, in einer röhrenähnlichen Ausbildung entlang den distalen Laschen (14a, 14b) die
kanalförmigen Teile zu schließen, innerhalb derer das erste und zweite Erzeugnis (P,
P') sind.
1. Procédé de fabrication d'un paquet multiple (20) comprenant un premier emballage tubulaire
("flowpack") (30) et un second emballage tubulaire ("flowpack") (40),
ledit premier emballage tubulaire ("flowpack") (30) contenant un premier produit (P),
et étant formé par une première enveloppe de matériau en feuille qui est fermée pour
former un tube le long d'une première ligne de soudage longitudinale (162) et est
pourvue d'une première ligne de soudage transversale (166) sur ses deux extrémités
opposées,
ledit second emballage tubulaire ("flowpack") (40) contenant un second produit (P'),
et étant formé par une seconde enveloppe de matériau en feuille qui est fermée pour
former un tube le long d'une seconde ligne de soudage longitudinale (164) et est pourvue
d'une seconde ligne de soudage transversale (166') sur ses deux extrémités opposées,
ledit procédé prévoyant les étapes consistant à former une première ébauche tubulaire
(30') dudit premier emballage, contenant ledit premier produit (P), et une seconde
ébauche tubulaire (40') dudit second emballage, distincte et séparée de ladite première
ébauche et contenant ledit second produit (P'), et à disposer lesdites première et
seconde ébauches l'une le long de l'autre, et le procédé prévoyant de réaliser, sur
l'une des parties d'extrémité opposées desdites première et seconde ébauches, ou les
deux parties d'extrémité, une ligne de soudage transversale commune (200), qui traverse
les deux parties d'extrémité correspondantes desdites première et seconde ébauches
dans ladite position où les ébauches sont disposées l'une le long de l'autre et est
conçue pour définir lesdites première et seconde lignes de soudage transversales (166,
166'), respectivement, desdits premier et second emballages, et pour déterminer, en
même temps, une connexion séparable par déchirage entre lesdites première et seconde
lignes de soudage transversales,
ledit procédé étant caractérisé en ce que la disposition desdites première et seconde ébauches (30', 40') l'une le long de
l'autre comprend la disposition desdites première et seconde ébauches (30', 40') à
une distance l'une de l'autre de manière que ladite ligne de soudage commune (200)
chevauche lesdites parties d'extrémité desdites première et seconde ébauches déterminant
ladite connexion entre lesdites première et seconde lignes de soudage transversales.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la formation desdites première et seconde
ébauches prévoit, respectivement :
- la formation d'une première enveloppe conçue pour recevoir ledit premier produit
et la fermeture de ladite enveloppe le long de ladite première ligne de soudage longitudinale
(162) afin de former un tube ; et
- la formation d'une seconde enveloppe conçue pour recevoir ledit second produit et
la fermeture de ladite enveloppe le long de ladite seconde ligne de soudage longitudinale
(164) afin de former un tube.
3. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la formation
desdites première et seconde ébauches comprend les opérations consistant à :
- fournir une feuille d'enveloppe (10) ;
- fournir lesdits premier et second produits (P, P') ;
- façonner, sur lesdits premier et second produits, ladite feuille d'enveloppe (10)
afin de former au moins deux parties en forme de canal l'une le long de l'autre, qui
comportent une région en forme de U et deux ramifications latérales s'étendant depuis
la région en forme de U respective vers des volets distaux (14a, 14b) respectifs,
et qui renferment, respectivement, lesdits premier et second produits ;
- couper ladite feuille (10) en une position intermédiaire (14) entre les parties
en forme de canal elle-mêmes de manière que lesdites parties en forme de canal disposées
l'une le long de l'autre forment des parties distinctes ;
- fermer lesdites parties en forme de canal le long desdits volets distaux (14a, 14b)
respectifs afin de former un tube ; et
- relier les volets distaux (14a, 14b) respectifs afin de former lesdites première
et seconde lignes de soudage longitudinales (162, 164).
4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la formation desdites au moins deux
parties en forme de canal comprend l'opération consistant à tirer, par ses volets
latéraux, ladite feuille d'enveloppe contre lesdits premier et second produits, et,
en même temps, former une dépression dans une partie centrale de la feuille d'enveloppe
disposée entre lesdits premier et second produits de manière à provoquer, sur ladite
feuille d'enveloppe, une surélévation desdites parties en forme de canal disposées
l'une le long de l'autre.
5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, comprenant l'opération de
séparation, l'une de l'autre, desdites première et seconde lignes de soudage longitudinales
(162, 164).
6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 et 4, dans lequel ladite opération
de fermeture desdites parties en forme de canal disposées l'une le long de l'autre
afin de former un tube comprend les étapes consistant à :
- disposer l'un sur l'autre, en une structure stratifiée (16), les volets distaux
(14a, 14b) desdites parties en forme de canal formées l'une le long de l'autre, chacun
des volets distaux (14a, 14b) dans ladite structure stratifiée (16) pouvant être relié
à un volet distal (14a, 14b) adjacent appartenant à la même partie en forme de canal
;
- faire passer ladite structure stratifiée (16) par un ensemble de connexion (102)
pour relier, l'un à l'autre, les volets distaux (14a, 14b) adjacents appartenant à
une seule et même partie en forme de canal afin de former lesdites première et seconde
lignes de soudage longitudinales (162, 164).
7. Paquet multiple comprenant :
- un premier emballage tubulaire ("flowpack") (30) contenant un premier produit (P),
et formé par une première enveloppe de matériau en feuille qui est fermée pour former
un tube le long d'une première ligne de soudage longitudinale (162) et est pourvue
d'une première ligne de soudage transversale (166) sur ses deux extrémités opposées,
- un second emballage tubulaire ("flowpack") contenant un second produit (P'), et
formé par une seconde enveloppe de matériau en feuille qui est fermée pour former
un tube le long d'une seconde ligne de soudage longitudinale (164) et est pourvue
d'une seconde ligne de soudage transversale (166') sur ses deux extrémités opposées
;
lesdits premier et second emballages étant disposés l'un le long de l'autre dans une
direction transversale auxdites première et seconde lignes de soudage longitudinales
(162, 164),
lesdits premier et second emballages étant reliés l'un à l'autre de manière à être
séparés par déchirage, à l'une de leurs extrémités opposées ou aux deux extrémités,
le long desdites première et seconde lignes de soudage transversales (166, 166'),
ledit paquet étant
caractérisé en ce que lesdits premier et second emballages sont reliés l'un à l'autre uniquement dans une
zone correspondant auxdites première et seconde lignes de soudage transversales (166,
166').
8. Emballage selon la revendication 7, comprenant une ligne de soudage transversale commune
(200), qui traverse les deux parties d'extrémité correspondantes desdits premier et
second emballages dans ladite position où ils sont disposés l'un le long de l'autre,
et est conçue pour définir lesdites première et seconde lignes de soudage transversales
(166, 166'), respectivement, desdits premier et second emballages, et pour déterminer,
en même temps, la connexion entre lesdites première et seconde lignes de soudage transversales.
9. Appareil pour mettre en oeuvre un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 6,
caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend :
une chaîne de distribution de feuille d'enveloppe (10) ;
une chaîne de transport desdits premier et second produits (P, P') ;
des moyens (90, 92, 102) pour former, à partir de ladite feuille d'enveloppe, une
première ébauche tubulaire (30') dudit premier emballage, contenant ledit premier
produit (P), et une seconde ébauche tubulaire (40') dudit second emballage, distincte
et séparée de ladite première ébauche et contenant ledit second produit (P'), et pour
disposer lesdites première et seconde ébauches l'une le long de l'autre ;
un moyen (112) pour réaliser, sur l'une des parties d'extrémité opposées ou les deux,
desdites première et seconde ébauches, une ligne de soudage transversale commune (200),
qui traverse les deux parties d'extrémité correspondantes desdites première et seconde
ébauches dans ladite position où elles sont disposées l'une le long de l'autre, et
est conçue pour définir une première ligne de soudage transversale (166) et une seconde
ligne de soudage transversale (166'), respectivement, desdits premier et second emballages,
et pour déterminer, en même temps, une connexion séparable par déchirage entre lesdites
première et seconde lignes de soudage transversales,
ladite chaîne de distribution étant conçue pour disposer lesdites première et seconde
ébauches (30', 40') à une distance l'une de l'autre de manière que ladite ligne de
soudage commune (200) chevauche lesdites parties d'extrémité desdites première et
seconde ébauches, déterminant ladite connexion entre lesdites première et seconde
lignes de soudage transversales.
10. Appareil selon la revendication 9,
dans lequel lesdits moyens pour former lesdites première et seconde ébauches comprennent
une station de façonnage (120), traversée par ladite chaîne de distribution, et comprenant
des premiers moyens (102 ; 90, 102) conçus pour tirer, par ses volets latéraux, ladite
feuille d'enveloppe contre lesdits premier et second produits sur ladite chaîne de
transport, et un second moyen (92) pour former une dépression dans une partie centrale
de la feuille d'enveloppe entre lesdits premier et second produits, lesdits premiers
et second moyens étant coordonnés de manière à provoquer, sur ladite feuille de papier
d'enveloppe, une surélévation desdites parties en forme de canal disposées l'une le
long de l'autre, chacune comportant une région en forme de U et deux ramifications
latérales qui s'étendent depuis la région en forme de U vers des volets distaux (14a,
14b) respectifs.
11. Appareil selon la revendication 10, dans lequel lesdits premiers moyens (102) sont,
en outre, conçus pour fermer lesdites parties en forme de canal en un tube le long
desdits volets distaux (14a, 14b), à l'intérieur desquelles parties se trouvent lesdits
premier et second produits (P, P').