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US 10,486,371 B2Granted
Packaging for a group of at least two containers made of plastics material
AssigneeErca
InventorsDominique Schwab, Michel Kervazo, Alain Dunan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The containers are thermoformed in groups, filled, and closed. Then, the containers are separated, and placed adjacent to one another in such a manner that segments of their respective rims face each other and define between them a line of separation. On said line, at least one spot weld is formed that forms a breakable connection between the facing rim segments.
Claims12
A method of forming, filling, and sealing a group of at least two containers made of plastics material, the method comprising:
- thermoforming containers from the same sheet of plastics material, each container comprising a body and a rim that defines an opening;
- filling the containers;
- subsequently closing the containers by placing lids across their openings;
- and
- subsequently separating the containers by cutting them out individually from the sheet;
- wherein, after the containers have been separated, the method further comprises:
- placing the containers adjacent to one another in such a manner that peripheral edges of segments of their respective rims face each other and define between them a line of separation between the adjacent containers;
- and
- forming at least one spot weld on the line of separation, the at least one spot weld forming a breakable connection between the peripheral edges of the facing rim segments.
6 more elements
An installation for forming, filling, and sealing containers, the installation comprising:
- a thermoforming station suitable for thermoforming containers from a sheet of plastics material, each container comprising a body and a rim that defines an opening;
- a conveyor for conveying the thermoformed containers in groups of at least two adjacent containers connected together via a portion of the sheet;
- a filling station for filling the containers;
- a sealing station for closing the containers, the sealing station being downstream from the filling station in the direction in which the containers are conveyed;
- and
- a cutting station suitable for cutting out the containers individually from the sheet so as to separate them, the cutting station being downstream from the sealing station in the direction in which the containers are conveyed;
- wherein, downstream from the cutting station in the direction in which the containers are conveyed, the installation further comprises means for placing the adjacent containers of the group in such a manner that peripheral edges of segments of their respective rims face each other and define between them a line of separation between the adjacent containers;
- and
- wherein the installation further comprises a welding tool suitable for forming at least one spot weld on the line of separation, the at least one spot weld forming a breakable connection between the peripheral edges of the facing rims.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.