The present invention relates to a support plate for a package suitable for containing a food product. The present invention also relates to a system comprising the support plate and a filling machine comprising the system.
Packaging containers for food products are well known. One type of package known as a Tetra Top® package has a top portion with a closure (such as a screw cap) surrounded by convex or straight surfaces extending out and down towards four vertical side walls. During a filling operation this type of package is held with the closure facing downwards before the package is filled with a food product from above and through the opposing end of the package i.e. the end that eventually forms the bottom of the package as understood by the consumer. The bottom portion is then sealed and the filled package is removed from the filling operation.
More recent packages include a concave surface on their top portion and a concave surface elsewhere on the package such as at an edge between two of the adjacent vertical walls. A concave surface and a concave edge have an aesthetically pleasing appearance and may function as a thumb grip for the user when the food product is poured from the package. Unfortunately, packages with a concave surface on their top portion and a concave edge tend to rotate or twist during filling operations. This leads to incomplete package filling and stoppages in filling operations.
WO 2015/086362 discloses a package carrier for a tetrahedral-shaped package. However, such package carrier is unsuitable for use with packages having a top portion with a concave surface. The WO 2015/086362 package carrier is also unsuitable for use with packages having a concave surface at another location of the package such as an edge between adjacent side walls.
Thus, there is a need for improving the filling of packages with a concave top surface and a concave surface elsewhere on the package.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a support plate for supporting a package during filling with a food product, the support plate comprising:
a wall defining a cavity for receiving a top portion of the package;
the wall having a slanted interior surface that is complementary to the top portion of the package; and
a support projection extending in a parallel direction to and away from the wall, the support projection being complementary to and for abutting the top portion comprising a concave top surface and a concave surface of the package.
According to a second aspect, there is provided a system for use in a filling machine, the system comprising:
a package guide; and
a support plate according to the first aspect above for supporting a package during filling with a food product;
wherein the support plate is mounted on the package guide and the package guide is configured for receiving the package.
According to a third aspect, there is provided a filling machine comprising:
a rotating support;
a plurality of systems according to the second aspect above mounted on the rotating support; and
a filling station for filling a package with a food product when the package is being supported by the support plate of each system.
Some preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The table below lists various features and their respective reference numerals of the embodiments that will be described below with reference to the figures.
The location of support projections 116 and 166 on walls 104 and 154 is the sole difference between support plates 100 and 150. Both plates 100 and 150 may be used in a filling machine depending on the location of the plate in the filling machine and the orientation of the package to be used with the plate 100, 150. Although the support projections 116 and 166 are illustrated in one corner of walls 104 and 154, they need not be located in the wall corner. For example, the support projections 116 and 166 could be located on the side of the walls 104 and 154 i.e. between two adjacent corners of the walls 104 and 154.
The slanted interior surfaces 108, 158 and the cavities 112, 162 are configured for receiving the top dome of a package. The shape of the support projections 116, 166 is complementary to a concave top surface and another concave surface (such as a concave edge) of a package in order that the projections 116, 166 are able to abut and support the concave top surface and the concave surface (e.g. concave edge). This will become clearer with respect to
Guide 300 is overall tubular in shape for receiving a package 200 as depicted with dashed lines. In use the package 200 enters guide 300 at bevelled end 312 and is lowered through guide 300 until the convex top wall 212 and the concave top surface 216 of the package's top dome rests on the complementary slanted interior surface 108, 158 of wall 104, 154. In this position the concave surface 208 of package 200 also rests against the support projection 116, 166 of support plate 100, 150. Once the package 200 is being supported by plate 100, 150 within the guide 300, the package is filled with a food product at the end opposing closure 220 prior to sealing what eventually becomes the bottom of the package 200.
Package guide 300 has a plurality of support ridges 304 located on external opposing faces of guide 300. The support ridges 304 are arranged in pairs wherein each member of a given pair is located at the same height on the guide 300. In this way a pair of ridges 304 is receivable by clip recesses 174 of clip members 120, 170. This allows adjustment of the support plate 100, 150 to a different height on the guide 300 depending on the volume of the package 200 that is to be filled. As mentioned above, the height of the support plate 100, 150 may be adjusted by cooperation between grip member 132, 182 and an automated arm (not shown).
A viewing hole 308 is also provided on package guide 300 for facilitating inspection of décor or other features of the package 200.
The package guide 300 is preferably made of metal.
The support provided by projections 116 and 166 to the concave surface 208 and to the top dome of the package 200 (which includes concave top surface 216) prevents package 200 from rotating or twisting as well as helping to ensure the package 200 is held at the correct height during a filling operation. The support plates 100, 150 also absorb additional pressure generated on the package 200 during filling without damaging the package 200.
The support provided by projections 116 and 166 also allows for reducing or eliminating the requirement for a sealing ring 224 thereby improving the visual appearance of the package 200.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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16182847 | Aug 2016 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2017/069344 | 7/31/2017 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2018/024685 | 2/8/2018 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210380295 A1 | Dec 2021 | US |