Method for manufacturing a strip of packages for storing individual portion of food or beverage, and strip of packages thus obtained

Abstract

The invention deals with a method for manufacturing a strip ( 100 ) of packages ( 30, 40 ), the method comprising steps of:—Providing a first shell ( 10 ) comprising a first part ( 11 ) of a first cavity ( 31 ) comprising a rim ( 12 ), and a flange ( 13 );—Providing a second shell ( 20 ) comprising a first part ( 21 ) of a second cavity ( 41 ) comprising a rim ( 22 ), and a flange ( 23 );—Positioning the first part ( 11 ) of the first cavity aside the first part ( 21 ) of the second cavity with one part of the flange ( 13 ) of the first shell overlapping one part of the flange ( 23 ) of the second shell; and—Linking the part of the flange ( 13 ) of the first shell to the part of the flange ( 23 ) of the second shell. The invention also deals with a corresponding strip ( 100 ) of packages ( 30, 40 ).

1 . Method for manufacturing a strip of packages, the method comprising steps of:
 Providing a first shell comprising a first part of a first cavity comprising a rim, and a flange extending from the rim and surrounding the first part of the first cavity;   Providing a second shell comprising a first part of a second cavity comprising a rim, and a flange extending from the rim and surrounding the first part of the second cavity;   Positioning the first part of the first cavity aside the first part of the second cavity with one part of the flange of the first shell overlapping one part of the flange of the second shell; and   Linking the part of the flange of the first shell to the part of the flange of the second shell.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the flange of each of the first shell and second shell comprises a front surface, and the front surface of the flange of the first shell is linked to the front surface of the flange of the second shell. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the flange of the first shell comprises a reverse surface, and the reverse surface of the flange of the first shell is linked to a front surface of the flange of the second shell. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of closing at least the first cavity. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4  in which the step of closing at least the first cavity comprises steps of:
 Providing a first complementary shell comprising a second part of the first cavity and comprising a rim, and a flange extending from the rim and surrounding the second part of the first cavity; 
 Forming the first cavity by positioning the second part of the first cavity facing the first part of the first cavity; and 
 Sealing the flange of the first complementary shell to the flange of the first shell. 
 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the flange of the first shell comprises a ring surrounding the rim and at least one tab extending from the ring, and the step of linking the part of the flange of the first shell to the part of the flange of the second shell comprises a step of linking the tab of the flange of the first shell to the part of the flange of the second shell. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the step of providing a first complementary shell comprises a step of providing a closing strip comprising at least the second part of the first cavity and a second part of the second cavity; and the method further comprises a step of positioning the second part of the first cavity facing the first part of the first cavity and positioning the second part of the second cavity facing the first part of the second cavity, and a step of sealing the closing strip to the first shell and second shell at least around the first part of the first cavity and the first part of the second cavity. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of providing a portion of food or beverage precursor, and placing the portion in the first part of the first cavity. 
     
     
         9 . Package strip comprising at least a first package and a second package which is linked to the first package, the first package comprising a first cavity and the second package comprising a second cavity, the first package comprising at least a first shell comprising a first part of the first cavity and a flange extending from the first part of the first cavity, and the second package comprising at least a second shell comprising a first part of the second cavity and a flange extending from the first part of the second cavity, the package strip further comprising at least a bond between the first package and the second package, linking the first package to the second package, the bond comprising one part of the flange of the first shell overlapping one part of the flange of the second shell. 
     
     
         10 . Package strip according to  claim 9 , in which the first package comprises a first complementary shell comprising a second part of the first cavity and a flange extending from the second part of the first cavity, and the second package comprises a second complementary shell comprising a second part of the second cavity and a flange extending from the second part of the second cavity. 
     
     
         11 . Package strip according to  claim 9 , in which the package strip comprises a closing strip comprising at least the second part of the first cavity and the second part of the second cavity. 
     
     
         12 . Package strip according to  claim 9 , in which one package of the package strip comprises a portion of food or beverage precursor which is inside the cavity of the package. 
     
     
         13 . Package strip according to  claim 9 , in which one shell is made of a paper-based structure material.