FR2696995A1 - Double sachets for packaging cosmetic and pharmaceutical prods. - produced by insertion of prim. folded and sealed tube within second tube to hold two prods. required to be mixed - Google Patents

Abstract

Package for liquid, powdered or paste prod. comprises two containers, one (2) within the other (3), each contg. a different prod.. Prim. sheet of heat sealable material is unrolled, flattened, folded along longitudinal line to form two overlapping sections and sealed along the free edges to form a prim. tube which is sealed transversely. The prim. tube is then inserted within a second tube of larger transverse dimensions. The second tube is then heat sealed at predetermined intervals opposite the seal of the inner container to form a series of concentric inner and outer containers. The containers are filled and then cut along the seals to form individual packages. USE/ADVANTAGE - Cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Opening of one of the sachets results in automatic opening of the second (claimed) resulting in instant mixing where required. Aesthetically pleasing package to consumer.

Description

PACKAGING FOR DIFFERENT PRODUCTS NCN MIXTURES
The present invention relates to a packaging intended to contain several pasty products, liquid or pulverulent, so that said products are kept separately. More particularly, the invention can be applied to a packaging intended to contain two pasty products, liquid or powdery, different, and intended to be mixed at the time of use. By way of example, the products can be of the cosmetic or pharmaceutical type. In particular, the invention finds an advantageous application in the field of samples of products of the cosmetic or pharmaceutical type.

 We know the enthusiasm of the public of consumers for product samples, whether these are new products to be known and discovered by potential consumers, or already existing products whose manufacturer intends to develop the marketing.

 The manufacturer or distributor of such products is therefore required to produce packaging and containers intended to contain a certain dose of products, the smallest possible for economic purposes (since the sample is generally distributed free of charge) but in sufficient quantity to allow potential consumers to get an idea of the product and test it. There are also numerous products, in particular in the field of cosmetics and pharmacology, intended to be used extemporaneously, and consisting of a mixture of several products, generally two or three. It is therefore necessary to separate the products, for conservation reasons, from the fact that, for example, the products once mixed constitute a mixture whose preservation properties over time remain very limited.

It is therefore necessary to provide packaging of a particular type and comprising several containers, more generally two or three. These containers are associated with each other, taking into account the intended future use for the products which are intended to be mixed at the time of use. In addition, the containers must be sealed and isolated from each other. Finally, the containers must be provided with opening means or arranged in such a way that their opening allows a dry mixture without manipulation, generally considered to be dirty by
the user, products with a view to producing the mixture intended for extemporaneous use.

 It is also desirable that the packaging and the associated containers are presented in a pleasant manner for the consumer, in particular in the case of cosmetic products, taking into account the specific clientele for which these products are intended.

 Furthermore, these packages must be produced economically, taking into account their distribution free of charge, in the case of samples.

 It is understood that packaging of this type obeys various constraints and can be considered contradictory.

 It has been proposed in the prior art to package two or more products intended to be used extemporaneously, in the form for example of two containers connected to each other along a longitudinal edge. This first type of embodiment is not very aesthetic, since the products are side by side, and moreover oblige the user to carry out delicate and messy manipulations, insofar as the openings of the two containers are arranged relatively distant one of the other, thus making it difficult to mix the two products contained respectively in each of the containers.

 It has also been proposed to produce such packages in the form of a single container provided with an internal partition separating the container into two separate volumes. In addition to the costly nature of such packaging given the relative difficulties of making them, they have the disadvantage of an inconvenient presentation of the products which are arranged one on the other, the consumer not having the possibility to see both products at the same time.

 The present invention overcomes these drawbacks and relates to a packaging intended to receive several products and allow the cons er vati on of these separately, while ensuring, at the time of opening, easy mixing of the products at the time of l 'extemporaneous use. In addition, the packaging according to the invention provides an attractive and attractive presentation of the products intended for extemporaneous use, and this is all the more important in the case of samples of products, which are by definition intended to attract the consumer and present the products in the best conditions for subsequent sales, in case the consumer is satisfied with the product.

 To this end, according to the invention, the packaging for pasty or pulverulent product of the type comprising at least two containers, namely a first container intended for a first product and associated with a second container intended for a second product, is characterized in that said first container is disposed inside said second container.

 Preferably, the inner container is arranged relative to the outer container, so that the opening of one also causes the opening of the other.

 Advantageously, the containers are in elongated shape and made of a flexible material, more particularly of the heat-sealable type.

The invention also relates to a device for producing such packages, of the type comprising at least two containers, namely a first container intended for a first product and associated with a second container intended for a second product, characterized in that it includes:
- Means for producing a first tube, intended to constitute the first container or internal container;
- Means for sealing transversely at said intervals said first tube;
- Means for injecting the first product into said pockets thus formed;
- Means for disposing said first tube, comprising a succession of pockets filled with product, inside a second tube of dimension greater than said first tube;
- Means for transversely sealing, at determined intervals, said second tube;
- Means for injecting said second product inside said second tube;
- Means for transversely sealing said first and second tubes, thus defining packages provided with two concentric containers; and
- Means for transversely cutting said tubes in line with the transverse sealing zones.

The invention finally relates to a method for producing a packaging for a pasty, liquid or pulverulent product of the type comprising at least two containers, namely a first container intended for a first product and associated with a second container intended for a second product , characterized in that one ::
- unrolls flat a first sheet of heat-sealable material, and intended to form the first container or internal container;
- folds said sheet along a fold line parallel to the longitudinal direction, so as to form two folded sides one on the other;
- Seals the two free edges of said panels, to form a first tube;
- Has said tube between two strips of transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of said tube;
- fixes the free edges of each strip, two by two;
- Seals said strips (and said inner tube) transversely at a determined interval;
- Cutting along said transverse closure lines, said tubes thus defining two concentric cotneneurs of determined length;
- filled the inner and outer containers, respectively with a first and a second product; and
- seals the transverse opening of the two containers.

The invention will be better understood in the light of the appended drawing in which:
- Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the packaging according to the invention;
- Figure 2 is a sectional view along the direction AA of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the packaging of Figure 1, the end of which is sectioned transversely;
- Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of the packaging of the invention;
- Figure 5 shows a side view of the packaging production machine;
- Figure 6 shows a side view, on an enlarged scale, of the part of the machine intended for the production of the inner container;
- Figure 7 shows schematically in top view, an embodiment of the inner container from a strip of flexible material; and
- Figure 8 shows a plan view of the series of packages made from a continuous strip.

 The invention will be described below in its application to the production of packaging intended to contain two different products, for example of the pasty type and intended for extemporaneous use. More particularly, the packaging is intended to contain sample doses of the two products mentioned above. For example, the two products can be for cosmetic use such as ....

 With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the packaging according to the invention, bearing the general reference 1, is produced from a sheet of strip of plastic material, and more particularly of thermoplastic material, and heat-sealable. Preferably, the materials used are translucent or transparent.

The packaging 1 is preferably elongated and one of the dimensions in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction is substantially less than
the other dimension in the same plane and the longitudinal direction. In other words, the thickness of the package, in a direction transverse to its plane is substantially less, and preferably very less, in a ratio of 1 to 6, to its width and its length.

 For example, the packaging has a length of approximately 13 cm, a width of 6 cm and a thickness of 4 mm.

According to a feature of the invention, the packaging comprises two containers, namely a first container 2, disposed inside a second container 3. The first container 2 will hereinafter be called internal container 2, while the second container 3 will hereinafter be called external container. The internal container 2 is intended to receive a certain quantity of a first product (in a shaded area in the drawing), while the external container is capable of receiving a second product
(represented by a dotted area). Note that according to the embodiment described, the volume available for the second product, inside the external container, has the general shape of a flattened ring, since the central part of the external container is taken by the internal container 2 .

 The external container 3 is produced from two sheets of thermoplastic material, bearing the references 3a and 3b (see FIGS. 1A and 2). The two sheets 3a and 3b are welded on their longitudinal edges according to longitudinal sealing strips 4 and 5. The internal container 2 is produced in the same way from a sheet of heat-sealable material, folded on itself along d 'a longitudinal edge 6 and welded along the two opposite longitudinal edges according to a longitudinal sealing strip 7. Before the sealing of one of the transverse edges of the inner and outer containers, the latter constitute sorts of concentric flattened tubes.

 The packaging according to the invention is produced by cutting into segments of given length, in a transverse direction. The internal 2 and external 3 containers are sealed along a transverse edge 8, thus leaving the opposite transverse edge 9 free and thus forming an opening, for each of the containers, through which the respective products can be poured into the internal containers. and external.

 Preferably, the material constituting the internal container 2 is made of polyethylene, in order to ensure satisfactory heat sealing, in the sealing zones common with the external container 3. These zones bearing the respective references 10 and 11 are shown hatched in the figure. 4.

 The means enabling the packaging to be produced from strips of thermoplastic materials are described below, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

Figure 5 shows a side view of
the entire machine intended to produce the packaging according to the invention. The machine comprises a first part referenced I, and a part II located downstream from part I. The upstream part, marked with reference I, is intended for producing the internal container, in the form of a continuous sheath, from '' a continuous strip of heat-sealable material. Part II is intended for the production of the entire packaging, and more particularly for the relative arrangement of the internal container 2 inside the external container 3, for sealing the various longitudinal and transverse edges of the two containers, as well than filling the internal container with the corresponding product.

 The part of the machine intended for producing the internal container 2 is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 showing the parts I and II respectively from the side and from the front.

 The part of the machine comprises a base 15 on which is rotatably mounted a coil 16 on which is wound a continuous strip of plastic material and particularly of the heat-sealable type, such as polyethylene. The strip wound on the reel 16 bears the reference 17, and is unwound by a set of pulleys, in a manner known per se, up to a panel 18, of triangular shape (see FIG. 6), the point of which is directed downstream. , in the direction of travel of the strip 17. The panel 18 is integral with a frame 18A. At the lower end, that is to say at the downstream end of the triangular panel 18, the strip 17 is folded on itself by its longitudinal edges, as shown in Figure 7, so that the strip is folded along a central fold line 6, and qye the two free longitudinal edges 19 and 20 are arranged side by side.

The strip 17 is then folded in half on itself, and passes between two rollers 21 mounted for rotation along the parallel axes and arranged almost tangentially with respect to each other. The folding of the strip 17 is carried out by side panels of the triangular panel 18, so that the sides 22 and 23 of the strip 17 are folded over one another.

 As shown more particularly in Figure 6, at the outlet of the rollers 21, are arranged rods or hot plates 24, on either side of the strip 2, formed of the strip 17 folded back on itself.

The heating plates or rods 24 are arranged one opposite the other and connected to means known in themselves for heating and means for translational movement in a direction transverse to the plane of the strip 2. Advancement of the strip 2 is produced sequentially, at a pitch equal to the length of the heating plates 24. The heating plates 24 are intended to seal on one of the longitudinal edges of the strip 2 to form the inner sheath, intended to constitute the internal container.

Apparatus I also includes a .... 25 and a .... 26 (Figure 5).

 Part I also comprises a conduit 40, preferably flexible, in the general shape of an L, and capable of plunging into the internal sheath 2, once the latter has been heat-sealed along a transverse edge. The conduit 40 is connected to a source of a product intended to be packaged / preserved.

 The inner sheath 2 thus produced, at the outlet of the heating plates 24, is disposed flat between two continuous strips 3a and 3b, of width substantially greater than the internal sheath 2. The two strips 3a and 3b are intended to constitute the external container 3, and come from a coil 27 arranged to rotate on a frame 28, and traveling in a known manner by a pulley set, so as to be brought to the outlet of the apparatus I (see FIG. 5). More specifically, the strips 3a and 3b (intended to constitute the external container) are brought between two turning rollers 29, capable of bringing the strips 3a and 3b parallel to the sheath forming the internal container 2. The latter is disposed between the strips 3a and 3b, and more precisely, in the middle position with respect to said strips 3a and 3b which are themselves arranged one opposite the other.

The next phase, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6, consists of heat-sealing the longitudinal edges of the strips 3a and 3b, according to two segments of given length, substantially equal to the length of the package once it is finished. by means of heating plates 30 mounted on elements 31 movable in translation, in synchronization with the advancement of the continuous strip comprising the internal sheath 2 and the strips 3a and 3b. Preferably, the heat sealing of the external container 3 is carried out not only along two longitudinal edges 4 and 5, but also along a transverse edge 8 (see FIG. 3). The heat sealing of the external container 3 thus has a general form of
U, as shown in FIG. 3. Note that at this stage, the inner sheath 2 is also joined by heat-sealing, strips 3a and 3b, according to an area, bearing the reference 10 in FIG. 4. A duct 41 , similar to the conduit 40 for supplying the first product for the internal container 2, is provided so as to enter the external container 3 and fill the latter with a second product. The conduits 40 and 42 are secured to support means 42. Next, downstream of the heat-sealing station, in the direction of travel of the strips, a cutting station which cuts the strip in two places 33, 34. The strip is cut according to given segments corresponding to the longitudinal dimension of the final packaging. Cutting takes place on the one hand, at the base of the transverse heat-sealing strip 8, and on the other hand, at the end of the longitudinal heat-sealing strips 4 and 5, on the side opposite to the heat-sealing strip 8. A succession of aligned packages is thus obtained as shown in FIG. 8.

The last operation consists in heat sealing the transverse edge opposite to the heat sealed transverse edge 8, so as to form a transverse upper heat sealing edge bearing the reference 30 (FIG. 1).
The cutting of the notches 12 and 13, intended to constitute a starting point for rupture, is carried out on two strips 3a and 3b, for example before they enter part II of the machine (FIG. 5).

 The invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, but encompasses all variants as included in the claims.

Claims (11)

 l.Packaging for product skins, liquid or powder of the type comprising at least two containers, namely a first container intended for a first product and associated with a second container intended for a second product, characterized in that said first container is arranged to inside said second container.  2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the first container (internal container) is arranged relative to the second container (external container) so that the opening of one container also causes the opening of the other container .  3. Packaging according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the two containers are generally elongated.  4. Packaging according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the containers has a transverse dimension substantially less than its longitudinal dimension.  5. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the containers are made of a flexible material, said containers forming sachets.  6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the containers consists of a sheet folded along one longitudinal edge and closed along the other longitudinal edge.  7. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that each sachet is closed in a transverse dimension.  8. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that said material is heat sealable.  9. Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the material comprises polyethylene.  10. Device for producing a packaging for a pasty, liquid or powdery product, of the type comprising at least two containers, namely a first container intended for a first product and associated with a second container intended for a second product, characterized in what it contains:  - Means for producing a first tube, intended to constitute the first container or internal container;  - Means for sealing transversely at said intervals said first tube;  - Means for injecting the first product into said pockets thus formed;  - Means for disposing said first tube, comprising a succession of pockets filled with product, inside a second tube of dimension greater than said first tube;  - Means for transversely sealing, at determined intervals, said second tube;  - Means for injecting said second product inside said second tube;  - Means for transversely sealing said first and second tubes, thus defining packages provided with two concentric containers; and  - Means for cutting transversely or in shape said tubes in line with the transvale sealing zones.  11. Method for producing a packaging for pasty, liquid or pulverulent product, of the type comprising at least two containers, namely a first container intended for a first product and associated with a second container intended for a second product, characterized in what:  - A first sheet of heat-sealable material is unwound flat and intended to form the first container or internal container;  - Folding said sheet along a fold line, parallel to the longitudinal direction, so as to form two folded sides one on the other;  - Sealing the two free edges of said sides, to form a first tube, and sealing said tube transversely at a specified interval;  - said first tube is placed at  the interior of a second tube, of transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of said first tube; ;  - Sealing transversely at said interval said second tube, facing the closure lines of said first tube, so as to define a succession of sachets or concentric containers, namely an internal container, an external container;  - said internal and external containers are filled respectively with a first and a second product; and  - Cutting along the transverse sealing and sealing lines said containers, so as to obtain a plurality of individual packages.