A METHOD FOR REALISING A BALL SPREADER

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for realising a ball spreader (also known as a ball applicator). The ball spreader is applicable to a container of a product.

Background art

[0002] A spreader of the type described in Italian Patent 1310917 is known. It comprises a spreading ball of a fluid product, a ball housing and a closing cover.

[0003] The realisation of the product includes:

• realising a ball housing by means of a first mould;
• realising a cover by means of a second mould.

[0004] The application of the spherical ball (acquired separately) in the ball housing, and the assembly of the ball housing with the cover is done manually.

[0005] A first drawback of this production solution is linked to production velocity, strongly conditioned by the number of operators doing the assembly. A further drawback is linked to the spaces that a like manufacturing solution requires; in fact supply lines of three distinct parts are required, up to an assembly zone.

[0006] EP1591035 discloses a cosmetic product packaging having a ball spreader and a closing cover.

[0007] In this context, the technical task underpinning the present invention is to provide a method for realising a ball spreader which obviates the drawbacks in the prior art as described above.

Disclosure of the invention

[0008] In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for realising a spreader that enables accelerating production while at the same time minimising the production spaces.

[0009] The defined technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a method for realising a spreader comprising the technical characteristics set out in one or more of the appended claims.

Brief description of drawings

[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following indicative, and hence nonlimiting, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a method for realising a spreader as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

• figure 1 is a view of a spreader according to the present invention applied to a container;
• figure 2 shows a detail of figure 1;
• figure 3 illustrates a plant usable for implementing a method according to the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0011] An object of the present invention is also a method of realising a ball spreader 1. It finds particular application for applying deodorants, body creams etc. The spreader 1 comprises: a spreading ball 2 of a fluid product, a ball housing 3, a closing cover 4.

[0012] The spreader 1 is suitable for connection to a container 10 of the product. This is done by means of a ball housing 3 (in particular the ball housing 3 is a connecting ring-nut with the container 10). The ball 2 projects externally of the ball housing 3 for coming into contact with a surface on which the product is to be spread. In particular the ball housing 3 defines a housing 30 in which the ball 2 is partly housed. Internally of the housing 30, a part 22 of the ball 2 comes into contact with the product to be spread present in the container 10. A part 21 of the ball 2 projects externally of the housing 30 for coming into contact with a surface on which the product is to be spread. The ball 2 is advantageously spherical. It is free to rotate with respect to the ball housing 3. The cover 4 prevents contact of the ball 2 with the external environment and is removed to enable use of the spreader 1.

[0013] The method further comprises the step of realising the ball housing 3 by moulding. This takes place in a mould 5 which assumes a closed configuration in which two half-moulds 51, 52 are reciprocally neared for defining a first moulding chamber 53 of the ball housing 3 and an open configuration (see figure 3) in which the two half-moulds 51, 52 are reciprocally distanced. The ball housing 3 is made of plastic.

[0014] The method further comprises a step of positioning the mould 5 in the open configuration and introducing said ball 2 inside the mould 5 (between the first and the second half-mould 51, 52). In particular this includes positioning the ball 2 on the ball housing 3 internally of the mould 5. The positioning of the ball 2 on the ball housing 3 is preferably done under pressure.

[0015] The method further comprises the step of realising the cover 4 by moulding. The two half-moulds 51, 52 of said mould 5 in the closed configuration define a second moulding chamber 54 for realising said cover 4. The cover 4 is typically made of a plastic material.

[0016] The second moulding chamber 54 is advantageously flanked to the first moulding chamber 53.

[0017] The method further comprises the steps of introducing an actuator 6 inside the mould 5 in the open configuration. The above-described step of positioning the ball 2 on the ball housing 3 is done by means of the actuator 6.

[0018] The method further comprises a step of removing, by means of the actuator 6, the cover 4 from one of said two half-moulds 51, 52.

[0019] The method further comprises the step of connecting the cover 4 to the ball housing 3. This is preferably done by screwing.

[0020] The step of connecting the cover 4 to the ball housing 3 takes place inside the mould 5 (i.e. between the first and the second half-moulds 51, 52) in the open configuration and includes moving the cover 4 by means of said actuator 6.

[0021] The invention as it is conceived enables achieving multiple advantages.

[0022] Primarily it enables increasing production velocity by eliminating the presence of workers for assembly. Further it enables realising the assembly internally of the production mould, thus minimising space occupation due to the transfer lines of the pieces to be assembled.

[0023] The invention as it is conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications, provided they fall under the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to requirements.

Claims

1. A method for realising a ball spreader (1) comprising: a spreading ball (2) of a fluid product, a ball housing (3), a closing cover (4), said method comprising the steps of:

- realising by moulding said ball housing (3) in a mould (5) which assumes a closed configuration in which two half-moulds (51, 52) are reciprocally neared for defining a first moulding chamber (53) of the ball housing (3) and an open configuration in which the two half-moulds (51, 52) are reciprocally distanced;

- positioning said mould (5) in the open configuration and introducing said ball (2) inside the mould (5) positioning the ball (2) on the ball housing (3) inside the mould (5);

- connecting said cover (4) to the ball housing (3).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that said cover (4) is realised by moulding, the two half-moulds (51, 52) of said mould in the closed configuration defining a second moulding chamber (54) for realising said cover (4).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterised in that said second moulding chamber (54) is flanked to the first moulding chamber (53).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterised in that it comprises steps of:

- introducing an actuator (6) inside the mould (5) in the open configuration;

- removing, by means of the actuator (6), the cover (4) from one of said two half-moulds (51, 52);

the step of connecting said cover (4) to the ball housing (3) taking place inside the mould (5) in the open configuration and including moving the cover (4) by means of said actuator (6).

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zur Realisierung einer Kugelauftragsvorrichtung (1), umfassend: eine Auftragskugel (2) eines Fluidprodukts, ein Kugelgehäuse (3), eine Verschlussabdeckung (4), wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst:

- Realisieren durch Formen des Kugelgehäuses (3) in einer Form (5), die eine geschlossene Konfiguration, in der beide Halbformen (51, 52) zum Definieren einer ersten Formkammer (53) des Kugelgehäuses (3) wechselseitig nahe beieinander liegen, und eine offene Konfiguration einnimmt, in der die beiden Halbformen (51, 52) wechselseitig voneinander entfernt sind;

- Positionieren der Form (5) in der offenen Konfiguration und Einführen der Kugel (2) in die Form (5), wobei die Kugel (2) auf dem Kugelgehäuse (3) innerhalb der Form (5) positioniert wird;

- Verbinden der Abdeckung (4) mit dem Kugelgehäuse (3).

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Abdeckung (4) durch Formen realisiert wird, wobei die beiden Halbformen (51, 52) der Form in der geschlossenen Konfiguration eine zweite Formkammer (54) zum Realisieren der Abdeckung (4) definieren.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Formkammer (54) mit der ersten Formkammer (53) flankiert ist.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es folgende Schritte umfasst:

- Einführen eines Aktors (6) in die Form (5) in der offenen Konfiguration;

- Entfernen der Abdeckung (4) mittels des Aktors (6) von einer der beiden Halbformen (51, 52);

wobei der Schritt zum Verbinden der Abdeckung (4) mit dem Kugelgehäuse (3) innerhalb der Form in der offenen Konfiguration (5) erfolgt und das Bewegen der Abdeckung (4) mittels des Aktors (6) umfasst.

Revendications

1. Procédé de réalisation d'un épandeur à bille (1) comprenant : une bille d'épandage (2) d'un produit fluide, un logement de bille (3), un couvercle de fermeture (4), ledit procédé comprenant les étapes de :

- réaliser par moulage ledit logement de bille (3) dans un moule (5) adoptant une configuration de fermeture dans laquelle deux demi-moules (51, 52) sont rapprochés l'un de l'autre pour définir une première chambre de moulage (53) du logement de bille (3) et une configuration d'ouverture dans laquelle les deux demi-moules (51, 52) sont espacés réciproquement ;

- positionner ledit moule (5) dans la configuration d'ouverture et introduire ladite bille (2) à l'intérieur du moule (5) en positionnant la bille (2) sur le logement de bille (3) à l'intérieur du moule (5) ;

- raccorder ledit couvercle (4) au logement de bille (3).

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit couvercle (4) est réalisé par moulage, les deux demi-moules (51, 52) dudit moule dans la configuration de fermeture définissant une seconde chambre de moulage (54) servant à réaliser ledit couvercle (4).

3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite seconde chambre de moulage (54) est flanquée de la première chambre de moulage (53).

4. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes de :

- introduire un actionneur (6) à l'intérieur du moule (5) dans la configuration d'ouverture ;

- retirer, au moyen de l'actionneur (6), le couvercle (4) de l'un desdits deux demi-moules (51, 52) ;

l'étape consistant à raccorder ledit couvercle (4) au logement de bille (3) ayant lieu à l'intérieur du moule (5) dans la configuration d'ouverture et incluant le déplacement du couvercle (4) au moyen dudit actionneur (6).

Drawing