Apparatus and method for manufacturing a package that includes edible substances

Abstract

An apparatus may manufacture a package that includes edible substances. The apparatus may include a first provider for providing a first edible substance into a first space and include a second provider for providing a second edible substance into a second space, at least one of the two edible substances including ready-to-eat cereal. The apparatus further includes a partition mechanism for implement a partition for separating the two edible substances. The apparatus further includes a sealing mechanism for sealing a container that encloses the first space and/or the second space. The apparatus further includes a tube-handling mechanism for combining a tube with the container for forming a combination, an internal width of the tube being larger than an average unit width of units of the ready-to-eat cereal, wherein the package comprises the combination. The apparatus further includes a controller for controlling at least one of the above-mentioned members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for manufacturing a package that includes edible substances, the apparatus comprising:
 a first provider configured to provide a first edible substance into a first space;   a second provider configured to provide a second edible substance into a second space, at least one of the first edible substance and the second edible substance including ready-to-eat cereal;   a partition mechanism configured to implement a partition unit for separating the first edible substance from the second edible substance;   a sealing mechanism configured to seal a container that encloses at least one of the first space and the second space;   a tube-handling mechanism configured to handle a tube and configured to combine the tube with the container for forming a combination, an internal width of the tube being larger than an average unit width of units of the ready-to-eat cereal, wherein the package comprises the combination; and   a controller including hardware circuit and configured to control at least one of the first provider, the second provider, the partition mechanism, the sealing mechanism, and the tube-handling mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the internal width of the tube is larger than an average unit length of the units of the ready-to-eat cereal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the partition mechanism comprises:
 a holder configured to dispose the partition unit inside the container after the first edible substance has been disposed inside the first space; and   a bonding unit configured to bond the partition unit with the container after the partition unit has been disposed inside the container.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a tapered portion, and wherein the partition mechanism comprises a holder that is configured to dispose the partition unit inside the tapered portion and above the first edible substance at a position where a width of the partition unit is substantially equal to an internal width value of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism is configured to close the container after the first edible substance, the partition unit, and the second edible substance have been disposed inside the container and after the partition unit has been positioned between the first edible substance and the second edible substance. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first space is inside a first sub-container that includes a first side, wherein the second space is inside a second sub-container that includes a second side, wherein at least one of the partition mechanism and the sealing mechanism is configured to couple the first sub-container with the second sub-container, wherein the container includes the first sub-container and the second sub-container, wherein the partition unit includes the first side and the second side, and wherein the tube-handling mechanism is configured to dispose the tube such that the tube overlaps the first side and overlaps the second side. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing mechanism is configured to seal an interface of the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing mechanism is configured to provide a band such that the band surrounds both the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing mechanism is configured to provide an enclosure such that the enclosure encloses both the first sub-container and the second sub-container. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first space is inside a first sub-container that includes a side, wherein the second space is inside a second sub-container that includes an opening, wherein at least one of the partition mechanism and the sealing mechanism is configured to use the first sub-container to close the opening, wherein the partition unit includes the side, and wherein the container includes the first sub-container and the second sub-container. 
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing a package that includes edible substances, the method comprising:
 providing a first edible substance into a first space;   providing a second edible substance into a second space, at least one of the first edible substance and the second edible substance including ready-to-eat cereal;   implementing a partition unit for separating the first edible substance from the second edible substance;   sealing a container that encloses at least one of the first space and the second space;   combining a tube with the container for forming a combination, an internal width of the tube being larger than an average unit width of units of the ready-to-eat cereal, wherein the package comprises the combination; and   controlling, using a controller that includes hardware circuit, at least one of the implementing, sealing, and combining.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the internal width of the tube is larger than an average unit length of the units of the ready-to-eat cereal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the implementing comprises:
 disposing the partition unit inside the container after the first edible substance has been disposed inside the first space; and   bonding the partition unit with the container after the partition unit has been disposed inside the container.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the container has a tapered portion, and wherein the implementing comprises: disposing the partition unit inside the tapered portion and above the first edible substance at a position where a width of the partition unit is substantially equal to an internal width value of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 coupling a first sub-container with a second sub-container, wherein the first space is inside the first sub-container that includes a first side, wherein the second space is inside the second sub-container that includes a second side, wherein the container includes the first sub-container and the second sub-container, wherein the partition unit includes the first side and the second side, and wherein at least one of a portion of the first side and a portion of the second side is more fragile than a sidewall of the container; and   disposing the tube such that the tube overlaps the first side and overlaps the second side.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: sealing an interface of the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: providing a band such that the band surrounds both the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: providing an enclosure such that the enclosure encloses both the first sub-container and the second sub-container. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: inverting the first sub-container before disposing the first side on the second side. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: using a first sub-container that includes a side to close an opening of a second sub-container, wherein the first space is inside the first sub-container, wherein the partition unit includes the side, and wherein the container includes the first sub-container and the second sub-container.