Apparatus and method for working plastic material and container for fluid product

Abstract

A container comprises container body means ( 2 a ) arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) and pipe means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling distribution of said product ( 3 ) from said container ( 2 ), said pipe means ( 15 ) defining a non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) for said product ( 3 ), said path ( 21 ) extending along substantially progressively decreasing sections of said pipe means ( 15 ); an apparatus for producing containers ( 2 ) provided with container body means ( 2 a ) arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) and pipe means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling distribution of said product ( 3 ) from said container body means ( 2 a ), comprises thermoforming mould means ( 11 ) arranged for thermoforming first film means ( 4 ) and second film means ( 5 ) of thermoformable material for defining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a curvilinear path ( 21 ); a method for producing containers ( 2 ) comprises thermoforming thermoformable sheet material ( 4, 5 ) for defining in said containers ( 2 ) container body means ( 2 a ) arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) and pipe means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling thermoforming for defining in said containers ( 2 ) container body means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling distribution of said product ( 3 ) from said containers ( 2 ), said thermoforming comprising defining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a curvilinear path ( 21 ).

1 . Container, comprising container body means ( 2   a ) arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) and pipe means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling distribution of said product ( 3 ) from said container ( 2 ), characterized in that, said pipe means ( 15 ) defines a non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) for said product ( 3 ), said path ( 21 ) extending along substantially progressively decreasing sections of said pipe means ( 15 ).  
     
     
         2 . Container according to  claim 1 , wherein said pipe means ( 15 ) comprises a first concave portion ( 20 ) and a second concave portion ( 18 ) extending into said first concave portion ( 20 ) for defining said non-rectilinear path ( 21 ).  
     
     
         3 . Container, comprising container body means ( 2   a ), arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) in an interior thereof, and an outlet for said product ( 3 ) from said container body means ( 2   a ), characterized in that, said container body means ( 2   a ) comprises a recess ( 18 ) extending towards said interior.  
     
     
         4 . Container according to  claim 3 , wherein said container ( 2 ) comprises a first concave portion ( 20 ) suitable for receiving said recess ( 18 ).  
     
     
         5 . Container according to  claim 4 , wherein said recess comprises a second concave portion ( 18 ).  
     
     
         6 . Container according to  claim 5 , wherein said first portion ( 20 ) and said second portion ( 18 ) are obtained in pipe means ( 15 ) of said container means ( 2 ) defining said outlet.  
     
     
         7 . Container according to  claim 6 , wherein said first concave portion ( 20 ) and said second concave portion ( 18 ) define a non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) in said pipe means ( 15 ).  
     
     
         8 . Container according to  claim 6 , or  7 , wherein said non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) extends along substantially progressively decreasing sections of said pipe means ( 15 ).  
     
     
         9 . Container according to  claim 2 , or according to any one of  claims 4  to  8 , wherein said first portion ( 20 ) is obtained in first thermoformable sheet means ( 4 ).  
     
     
         10 . Container according to  claim 2 , or according to any one of  claims 5  to  8 , or according to  claim 9  as appended to any one of  claims 5  to  8 , wherein said second portion ( 18 ) is obtained in second thermoformable sheet means ( 5 ).  
     
     
         11 . Container according to  claim 2 , or according to any one of  claims 5  to  8 , or according to  claim 9  as appended to any one of  claims 5  to  8 , or according to  claim 10 , wherein said second portion ( 18 ) has a dome-shaped profile.  
     
     
         12 . Container according to  claim 1 , or  2 , or according to  claim 7 , or  8 , or according to any one of  claims 9  to  11  as appended to claims  7 , or  8 , wherein said, non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) has a curvilinear extension.  
     
     
         13 . Container according to  claim 12 , wherein said curvilinear extension comprises, in succession, a first curved portion ( 25 ) and a second curved portion ( 26 ), said first curved portion ( 25 ) and said second curved portion ( 26 ) having respective centres of curvature (C 1 , C 2 ) arranged at opposite sides of said pipe means ( 15 ).  
     
     
         14 . Container according to  claim 1 , or  2 , or  6 , or  7 , or according to any one of  claims 8  to  13  as appended to  claim 6 , wherein said pipe means ( 15 ) is transversally crossed by opening indicating means ( 23 ).  
     
     
         15 . Container according to  claim 14 , as appended to  claim 2 , or to  claim 6 , or  7 , or to any one of  claims 8  to  13  as appended to  claim 6 , wherein said opening indicating means ( 23 ) crosses a region of said pipe means ( 15 ) farther from said container body means ( 2   a ) than said first portion ( 20 ) and said second portion ( 18 ).  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for producing containers ( 2 ), comprising thermoforming means ( 6 ,  8 ,  11 ) arranged for thermoforming first sheet means ( 4 ) and second sheet means ( 5 ) of thermoformable material for obtaining said containers ( 2 ), characterized in that said thermoforming means ( 6 ,  8 ,  11 ) comprises forming mould means ( 11 ) arranged for obtaining in said containers ( 2 ) pipe means ( 15 ) having a non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) suitable for preventing product from undesirably flowing out after opening.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said forming mould means ( 11 ) comprises first half-mould means ( 11   a ) arranged for obtaining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a first concave portion ( 20 ) and second half-mould means ( 11   b ) arranged for obtaining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a second concave portion ( 18 ) suitable for extending into said first portion ( 20 ).  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said first half-mould means ( 11   a ) comprises cavity means ( 11   c ) arranged for deforming said first film means ( 4 ) for obtaining said first portion ( 20 ).  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 17 , or  18 , wherein said second half-mould means ( 11   b ) comprises a protruding element ( 19 ) arranged for deforming said second film means ( 5 ) for obtaining said second portion ( 18 ).  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said protruding element ( 19 ) has a dome-shaped profile.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus for producing containers ( 2 ), comprising thermoforming means ( 6 ,  8 ,  11 ) arranged for thermoforming thermoformable sheet material ( 4 ,  5 ) for obtaining said containers ( 2 ), characterized in that said thermoforming means comprises forming mould means ( 11 ) provided with a protruding element ( 19 ) arranged for deforming said thermoformable sheet material ( 4 ,  5 ).  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said protruding element ( 19 ) is shaped so as to form in said containers ( 2 ) a recess extending towards an interior of said containers ( 2 ).  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 21 , or  22 , wherein said forming mould means ( 11 ) comprises first half-mould means ( 11   a ) arranged for deforming first sheet means ( 4 ) of said thermoformable material for obtaining a first concave portion ( 20 ) suitable for receiving said recess.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 21  to  23 , wherein said forming mould means ( 11 ) comprises second half-mould means ( 11   b ) arranged for deforming second sheet means ( 5 ) of said thermoformable material for obtaining in said recess a second concave portion ( 18 ).  
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to claims  23  and  24 , wherein said forming mould means ( 11 ) form said first portion ( 20 ) and said second portion ( 18 ) in pipe means ( 15 ) of said container means ( 2 ) so as to define in said pipe means ( 15 ) a non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) for said product ( 3 ) suitable for preventing said product ( 3 ) from undesirably flowing out after opening.  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 21  to  25 , wherein said protruding element ( 19 ) has a dome-shaped profile.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 16  to  26 , wherein said forming mould means ( 11 ) is arranged in a forming station ( 10 ).  
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 16  to  27 , wherein said thermoforming means ( 6 ,  8 ,  11 ) further comprises welding mould means ( 8 ) arranged for interacting with said first film means ( 4 ) and said second film means ( 5 ) for obtaining pre-forms ( 9 ) of container welded along respective peripheral edges.  
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 28 , as appended to  claim 27 , wherein said welding mould means ( 8 ) is arranged in a welding station ( 7 ) placed upstream of said forming station ( 10 ).  
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , and further comprising, upstream of said welding station ( 7 ), a pre-heating station ( 6 ) for said first film means ( 4 ) and second film means ( 5 ).  
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 27 , or according to  claim 28  as appended to  claim 27 , or according to  claim 29 , or according to  claim 30 , and further comprising, downstream of said forming station ( 10 ), a filling station in which said product ( 3 ) is introduced into said containers ( 2 ) and a sealing station in which the filled containers ( 2 ) are sealed.  
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 , and further comprising, downstream of said sealing station, a separating station in which said containers ( 2 ) are separated from undeformed portions of said first film means ( 4 ) and said second film means ( 5 ).  
     
     
         33 . Method for producing containers ( 2 ), comprising thermoforming thermoformable sheet material ( 4 ,  5 ) for defining in said containers ( 2 ) container body means ( 2   a ) arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) and pipe means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling distribution of said product ( 3 ) from said containers ( 2 ), characterized in that said thermoforming comprises defining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) suitable for preventing the product from undesirably flowing out after opening.  
     
     
         34 . Method according to  claim 33 , wherein said defining comprises deforming first film means ( 4 ) of said sheet material for obtaining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a first concave portion ( 20 ).  
     
     
         35 . Method according to  claim 33 , or  34 , wherein said defining comprises deforming second film means ( 5 ) of said sheet material for obtaining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a second concave portion ( 18 ).  
     
     
         36 . Method according to  claim 35  as appended to  claim 34 , wherein before said thermoforming thermo-welding said first film means ( 4 ) to said second film means ( 5 ) is provided for obtaining pre-forms ( 9 ) of container joined along respective peripheral edges.  
     
     
         37 . Method according to  claim 36 , wherein before said thermo-welding heating ( 6 ) said first film means ( 4 ) and said second film means ( 5 ) is provided.  
     
     
         38 . Method according to any one of  claims 33  to  37 , wherein after said thermoforming introducing said product ( 3 ) through suitable openings of said containers ( 2 ) is provided.  
     
     
         39 . Method according to  claim 38 , wherein after said introducing sealing said containers ( 2 ) is provided for closing said openings.  
     
     
         40 . Method according to  claim 39 , wherein after said sealing separating said containers ( 2 ) from undeformed portions of said sheet material ( 4 ,  5 ) is provided.