Method and apparatus for moulding cosmetic products

Abstract

Apparatus for moulding a cosmetic product on a housing comprising a support structure having holding means for at least one housing and at least one shaped punch acting on the housing. The apparatus also comprises a mobile screening element, for the cosmetic product, which may be coupled, at least partially, to the outer side surface of the housing.

1 . Apparatus for moulding a cosmetic product on a housing with at least one surface for containing/upholding the cosmetic product, of the type comprising a support structure having holding means for at least one housing and at least one shaped punch acting on said at least one housing, characterised in that it comprises a screening element for the cosmetic product which may be coupled, in such a way that it can be removed, to at least one surface portion of said housing not belonging to said surface for containing/upholding the cosmetic product.  
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said screening element comprises at least one region impermeable to said cosmetic product in which there is at least one through opening which may be coupled to the housing in such a way that it surrounds, and is substantially in contact with, the top outer edge of said housing.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , characterised in that said screening element is a plate with at least one through hole, constituting said at least one opening which may be coupled to the housing, and an upper surface on which the cosmetic product can be laid.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said screening element is fitted above said support structure.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , characterised in that said screening element is fitted elastically on said support structure.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said punch comprises means for interfering with said screening element.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one dimension of the moulding surface of the punch is greater than at least one of the dimensions of the housing, in this way the punch interfering with said screening element.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  6 , wherein said screening element is fitted on said support structure in a mobile way along a direction parallel to the direction of action of the punch.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said screening element comprises one or more garter springs for fitting it on said support structure.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a removable tray interposed between said support structure and said screening element, said at least one housing being laid on said tray.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said holding means for at least one housing comprise at least one suction mouth and means for generating a flow of suction, fluidly connected to said suction mouth.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said moulding surface of the punch is realised according to a substantially concave shape.  
   
   
       13 . Method for moulding a cosmetic product on a housing with a surface for containing/upholding said cosmetic product, by means of a shaped punch, comprising the phases of: 
 a. placing the cosmetic product in correspondence to said surface for containing/upholding the cosmetic product;    b. holding the housing on a support structure;    c. placing a screening element, for the cosmetic product, which may be coupled, in such a way that it can be removed, to at least one surface portion of the housing not belonging to said surface for containing/upholding the cosmetic product;    d. compressing the cosmetic product with the punch and, simultaneously imposing, or maintaining, the coupling of said screening element with said at least one surface portion of the housing;    e. removing the screening element from the coupling with said housing.    
   
   
       14 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein said screening element comprises at least one region impermeable to said cosmetic product and having at least one opening that may be coupled, substantially in contact, with the top outer edge of said housing, characterised in that, during the phase of imposing the coupling of said screening element with the housing, said opening surrounds, and is substantially in contact with, the top outer edge of the housing.  
   
   
       15 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein said screening element is elastically fitted on the support structure, and said punch comprises means for interfering with the screening element, characterised in that: 
 a. before the phase of compressing the cosmetic product, said screening element is placed in such a way that said at least one opening is above said housing; and that    b. during the phase of compressing the cosmetic product, the punch induces a movement of the screening element such that, during moulding, said opening surrounds said outer edge of the housing.    
   
   
       16 . Method according to  claim 13 , characterised in that said phase of placing the cosmetic product corresponding to the housing takes place after a phase of extruding said cosmetic product.  
   
   
       17 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein said phase of removing the screening element occurs by lifting the screening element with respect to the housing.  
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein there is a drying phase of the moulded cosmetic product, after said phase of removing the screening element.  
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 18 , wherein, after said drying phase, there is a phase of surface processing of chip-forming machining of the surface of the dried cosmetic product.  
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein said housing is laid on a removable tray interposed between said support structure and said screening element, characterised in that it comprises, after the phase of removing said screening element from the coupling with said housing, a phase of lifting said tray with respect to the support structure.