Apparatus and method for producing a sealed single-dose break-open package

Abstract

A production method of a sealed single-dose break-open package; wherein the package comprises: a first sheet of semi-rigid plastic; a second sheet of flexible plastic superposed on and sealed to the first sheet to define a sealed pocket that contains a dose of a product; and a weakened zone made in a central zone of the first sheet for guiding, after bending of the package, controlled breaking of the first sheet at the weakened zone to cause formation of an outlet opening for the product through the first sheet; the method includes making in a surface (8, 10) of the first sheet an incision that constitutes the weakened zone; wherein the incision is made through plastic deformation of the material using an incision tool having a tip that is not sharp, that is, that has a round shape for deforming rather than cutting.

1 . A production method for producing a sealed single-dose break-open package;
 the sealed package comprises: a first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material; a second sheet of flexible plastic material superposed on and sealed to the first sheet to define a sealed pocket that contains a dose of a product; and a weakened zone that is made in a central zone of the first sheet for guiding, after bending of the sealed package, controlled breaking of the first sheet at the weakened zone in such a way as to cause the formation of an outlet opening for the product through the first sheet itself;   the production method comprises the step of making in a surface of the first sheet at least one incision that constitutes the weakened zone;   the production method is characterised in that the incision is made by means of plastic deformation of the material using an incision tool having a tip that is not sharp, that is to say, that has a round shape for deforming rather than cutting.   
     
     
         2 . The production method according to  claim 1  and comprising the further step of varying a width of the incision at the surface depending on the plastic material of which the first sheet is composed. 
     
     
         3 . The production method according to  claim 1 , wherein the incision has constant depth. 
     
     
         4 . The production method according to  claim 1 , wherein the incision is made on the inner surface facing the pocket of the first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material by deforming locally the first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material. 
     
     
         5 . The production method according to  claim 1 , wherein the incision tool is movable from a position far from a supporting plate of a strip of semi-rigid material to a position of contact with the supporting plate to perform a shaping of the strip. 
     
     
         6 . The production method according to  claim 1 , wherein the incision tool has one end with the shape corresponding to the shape of the incision to be made on the surface of the sheet. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for the production of a sealed single-dose break-open package, wherein the sealed package comprises: a first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material; a second sheet of flexible plastic material superposed on and sealed to the first sheet to define a sealed pocket that contains a dose of a product; and a weakened zone that is made in a central zone of the first sheet for guiding, after bending of the sealed package, controlled breaking of the first sheet at the weakened zone in such a way as to cause the formation of an outlet opening for the product through the first sheet itself; wherein the apparatus comprises at least a first feeding unit of a first strip of semi-rigid plastic material, at least a second feeding unit of a second strip of flexible plastic material, at least one incision unit to make a deformation in the strip of semi-rigid material, and at least one sealing and filling unit for sealing at least one portion of the strip of semi-rigid material to a corresponding portion of the strip of flexible material to form the pocket and for filling pocket, the apparatus being characterised by the fact that the incision unit comprises a first plate and a second plate opposed to the first, wherein the second plate comprises at least one incision tool, wherein the incision tool is movable from a first position far from the first plate to a predefined position close to the first plate to make a deformation in the strip of semi-rigid material placed between the first plate and the second plate. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the surface of the first plate and/or of the second plate oriented towards the strip of semi-rigid material is ground. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the first plate is fixed and the second plate is movable to bring the incision tool to a predefined distance from the first plate. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein it comprises at least one micrometer measuring tool to adjust the range of the incision tool, in particular with reference to the second plate. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein it comprises a plurality of incision tools positioned in line and joined with the corresponding micrometers. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein it comprises a blocking device that has a pair of blocking plates placed upstream of the incision unit, a pair of rubber rollers placed downstream of the incision unit, and an active dancer roller pneumatically or electronically controlled.