EP0408475B1 - Tube for dispensing a paste having one or more central stripes composed of one or more secondary pastes and its utilisation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tube (20) for dispensing a primary paste with a stripe of a second paste comprising below its dispensing orifice carried by its neck several passages for the primary paste distributed around an opening for the passage of the second paste, the said passages for the primary paste being separated from each other by intervals joining up below this opening, the said intervals being covered by a shroud (7) carrying the said opening and emerging in the annular space for storing the second paste. Simultaneously: (a) the said shroud obstructs the neck, except for the said passages and the said opening; (b) the said passages are inside tubular portions emerging on the said shroud at a level which is lower than or equal to that of the upper end of the said opening; (c) the dispensing orifice has a cross section less than 0.8 times the sum of the cross sections of the said means of passage of the two pastes, and is located at least 1.5 mm below the said opening. <??>The subject of the invention is also a tube for dispensing a primary paste with several central stripes of secondary pastes. <??>The invention is applied to the packaging of pasty products in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, paramedical, hygiene and food domains. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to the field of flexible tubes for dispensing a dough with at least one thread of a typically colored secondary dough.

In its patent application FR-A-2622542 = EP-A-0315554, the applicant has described a flexible tube for dispensing a paste with colored stripes arranged on the surface of the pasty bead. The main paste passes through a central passage while the colored paste stored under the shoulder of the tube passes through small windows in this central passage and progresses towards the exit orifice by applying to the main pasty bead.

Furthermore, document DE-A-2053109 (= FR-A-2113128 = US -A-3747804) discloses a tube for dispensing a pasty bead comprising a main dough with a central thread of a secondary dough, its neck with cylindrical inner surface comprising the passage of said main paste around an axial distribution channel of this secondary paste fed by transverse tubes which open into the annular space containing said secondary paste. In this arrangement, the main dough divides on either side of these transverse tubes and then re-forms into a flow surrounding said axial channel, the secondary dough emerging from this channel near the orifice of the neck. The absence of means for compacting the main dough around the secondary dough is not favorable for obtaining a good quality cord.

The Applicant has sought to obtain a tube giving a bead of the same type, but of improved compactness having a central thread of secondary dough well calibrated. The arrangement studied is interesting in several practical cases, especially when one wishes to mask or protect the substance of the secondary filament until the application of the pasty cord, or even when one then wants to ensure that there has been a sufficient work of the paste after application, this work, for example a massage, which should result in a homogenization of color of the dough thus worked.
A paste means here as well a thick cream. It was necessary to remain at room temperature for the desired solution.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

• a) ledit voile obture le goulot, à l'exception desdits passages et de ladite ouverture centrale permettant seuls de le traverser;
• b) lesdits passages de la pâte principale sont l'intérieur de portions tubulaires distinctes débouchant sur ledit voile, leurs extrémités supérieures débouchantes étant situées sur ledit voile et définissant entre elles avec ledit voile lesdits intervalles;
• c) l'orifice de distribution a une section droite inférieure à 0,8 fois la somme des sections droites desdites portions de passage desdites pâtes principale et secondaire, et est situé à au moins 1,5 mm au-dessus de ladite ouverture centrale.

The first object of the invention, as is known from DE-A-2053109, is a tube for dispensing a main dough with a thread of a second dough or secondary dough, comprising below its dispensing orifice carried by its neck several passages of the main dough distributed around a central opening for the passage of the second dough and opening towards said dispensing orifice at a level less than or equal to that of the upper end of said opening, said passages being separated from one another by intervals opening into an annular space for storing the second paste and joining below said central opening, said intervals being covered at their upper end by a veil carrying said central opening, characterized in that:

• a) said veil closes the neck, with the exception of said passages and said central opening which alone allow it to pass through;
• b) said passages of the main dough are inside distinct tubular portions opening onto said web, their upper open ends being located on said web and defining between them with said web said intervals;
• c) the dispensing orifice has a cross section less than 0.8 times the sum of the cross sections of said passage portions of said main and secondary pastes, and is located at least 1.5 mm above said central opening.

The secondary paste stored between the tubular passages and the shoulder of the tube is usually chosen to have a viscosity close to that of the main paste and reduced miscibility with this paste. The pressing of the tube by its skirt causes the progression of a part of the secondary paste by the intervals existing between the tubular portions, intervals which open out over the entire height of the stored secondary paste, until filling the central part of these intervals. arranged in a star and to expel secondary dough by the central opening, the only opening existing in the upper veil closing the top of these intervals. During this time, the main pasty product is pushed upwards and, being initially located below the annular reserve of secondary dough, it is found that it rises easily and in a controlled manner through the tubular passages without disturbing the currents secondary paste circulating in the intervals between these passages. The main dough streams are welded around the secondary dough stream above the veil closing the neck and defining with this neck and its upper end with a narrower orifice a relaxation and agglomeration chamber in which this welding takes place. It is important that the streams of main dough do not open into this relaxation chamber before the net or central filament of the second dough, the crown welding of the main dough then taking place before the application of this crown around said wire and central. The narrower dispensing orifice ending this chamber which forms an extrusion chamber produces an essential effect of compression of the pasty bead, this bead thus being surprisingly compact and well calibrated and of regular and reproducible structure with a central filament sheathed with continuously through the main dough.

The previous relaxation and agglomeration chamber must be high enough, at least 1.5 mm above the central opening, to properly play the role described. It has been noted that, if it was too low in height, there would be, during the pressing of the tube, engorgement between the veil and the end of the tube carrying the dispensing orifice preventing or disrupting the delivery of the pasty bead to central filament.

A preferred arrangement of the tubular passage portions of the main dough will be described in the Examples. To achieve a favorable lowering of the upper open ends of the passage portions of the main dough relative to the upper end of the central opening, one can make this upper end protruding by 1 to 2 mm relative to the web. It is also possible to adopt, for this reduction or difference in level, a value typically all the greater as the difference in viscosity of the main pastes and secondary is important and between 1.5 and 4 mm, whether the upper end of the central opening is protruding or not.

The neck relaxation and agglomeration chamber preferably has a cross section at least equal to 1.2 times the sum of the cross sections of the pasta passage portions, between the veil and at least 1 mm above the upper end of the central opening for the passage of the secondary paste. Above this relatively free portion for the flow of pasta, there is an annular constriction delimiting the dispensing orifice.

In addition, to obtain a uniform sheathing of the pasty bead delivered, the lower ends of the tubular passage portions of the main dough must be at least 5 mm lower than the inside of the shoulder, when the tube has its orifice. distribution at the top. The level of filling of secondary product being located at least 1 mm below the bottom of the shoulder, there is then a good separation of the main dough and the secondary dough from the start of the pressing of the tube, and we avoid that secondary dough does not pass through the tubular portions outside the main dough streams and therefore comes to dirty the outside of the pasty bead distributed.

Other features of the tube of the invention and its variants will be explained with the aid of the Examples and the drawings.

• a) il y a plusieurs ouvertures de passage de pâtes secondaires, le tube devant distribuer ladite pâte principale avec plusieurs filets centraux de pâtes secondaires, et ledit voile obture ledit goulot à l'exception desdits passages de la pâte principale desdites ouvertures de passage permettant seuls de le traverser;
• b) lesdits intervalles sont isolés les uns des autres par des cloisons allant de chaque passage jusq'au pourtour du voile et par un cloisonnement en étoile allant desdits passages jusqu'au centre dudit voile, lesdites ouvertures étant situées près du centre dudit voile;
• c) ledit orifice de distribution a une section droite inférieure à 0,8 fois la somme des sections droites desdits passages et ouvertures de passage desdites pâtes principale et secondaire, et est situé à au-moins 1,5 mm au-dessus desdites ouvertures.

The invention also relates to a tube for dispensing a main dough with several central threads, the progression intervals of each of these central threads being isolated from each other at the level of their expulsions, made by separate orifices close to the axis. More specifically, the invention thus relates to a tube for dispensing a pasty bead comprising a main dough with at least one central thread of at least one secondary dough comprising below its dispensing orifice carried by its neck several passages of the dough main offset and distributed around at least one opening for the passage of the secondary dough and opening at a level less than or equal to that of the upper end of each said opening, said passages being separated from each other by opening intervals each in an annular space for storing a secondary paste and in a secondary opening, said intervals being covered at their upper end by a veil carrying each said opening, characterized in that:

• a) there are several openings for the passage of secondary pasta, the tube having to distribute said main paste with several central fillets of secondary pasta, and said veil closes said neck with the exception of said passages of the main paste from said passage openings alone to cross it;
• b) said intervals are isolated from each other by partitions going from each passage to the periphery of the veil and by a star partition going from said passages to the center of said veil, said openings being located near the center of said veil;
• c) said dispensing orifice has a cross section less than 0.8 times the sum of the cross sections of said passages and passage openings of said main and secondary pastes, and is located at least 1.5 mm above said openings.

The invention finally relates to the use of the tubes according to the invention for the distribution of an intimately brewing dough, the colored secondary dough or doughs serving as tracer (s) or as witness (s) of the importance or of the quality of brewing thanks to the gradual homogenization of the color.

EXAMPLES

Figure 1 shows a first tube with an inner part special snapped under the shoulder of the tube, in axial section.

Figure 2 is a diagram of the structure of the previous special part, seen from above.

Figure 3 shows a second tube with the same special part, also in axial section.

FIG. 4 represents a one-piece tube according to the invention, in axial section.

FIG. 5 shows a second special part, for obtaining a pasty bead comprising three central pasty filaments, seen from below.

Example 1

The tube 1 of FIG. 1 has a head 2 made of high density polyethylene (PE.HD) overmolded on a metalloplastic skirt 3 with an outside diameter of 40 mm. The underside of its shoulder 4 comprises a rib 5 for latching and retaining the special part 6. This comprises a veil in the center in a star 7 (fig. 1 and 2), substantially conical, having at its aperture an opening 8, the upper end 80 of which protrudes by 1.5 mm from the surface of the web 7, this opening 8 of 1.5 mm diameter thus having 1.7 mm in height. This veil 7 is connected to the upper ends 90 of three portions of tubes 9 to 11 longitudinal. Each portion 9 has a cross section comprising two rectilinear sides 12 forming an angle of 120 ° and a circular base 13 of radius 5.5 mm, the exterior 13 of the 3 portions forming an incomplete circular cylinder centered on the axis of diameter 11 mm, with an inner wall extending the inside 31 of the neck 18. These three portions 9, 10 and 11 are used for the direct passage of the main pasty product expelled by pressing the tube. In general, arrangements having up to seven tubular direct passage portions can be employed, preferably 3 or 5 portions.

The portions 9, 10 and 11 define between them under the veil 7 radial intervals 14 of width 3 mm (fig. 2) opening into the annular space 15 comprised between the special part 6 and the shoulder 4 over the entire height of the reserve of secondary pulp. The path of the secondary pasty product from the storage space 15 to its outlet orifice 8 passing through the intervals 14 and their center 16 is easy.

The chamber 17 of the neck 18 and its narrower orifice 19 favor the tightening of the three streams of main pasty product around the central filament of secondary pasty product.

The tests related to several tubes of this arrangement, the chamber 17 of the neck 18 having a diameter of 10 mm up to 2 mm above the end 80 of the central opening 8, and the dispensing orifice 19 of the tube 1 being of diameter 5.5 mm, the main and secondary pasty products being respectively white and blue and having similar viscosities (30,000 cp). The regularity of the structure of the bead obtained was checked during most of the distribution.

Example 2 (Figure 3)

However, it has been noted in the preceding tests that the central filament of pasty product exhibited discontinuities towards the end of the distribution. Examination of the interior of some tubes showed that the snap rib 5 could disturb the flow of the colored product, and a tube 20 was proposed in which the snap relief 21 did not protrude from the shoulder. 22, the web 7 of the special part 6 being housed in a frustoconical depression 23 corresponding to a thinning of this shoulder 22. This arrangement is satisfactory until the end of the emptying of the tube 20.

Example 3

The tube 24 of FIG. 4 comprises a head 25 molded at once on the skirt 3, this head 25 comprising a central portion constituted by an upper veil 26 extending the shoulder 27 and by three longitudinal tubular portions such as 28 having the same geometry as that of the part 6 (fig. 1 and 2) and defining between them intervals 29 also of the same arrangement. These portions 28 each have two radial walls and a circular cylindrical wall 30 extending the interior 31 of the neck 32.
To facilitate demolding, this interior 31 of the neck 32 is straight, which gives a less good compactness of pasty bead. A first improvement consists in equipping the interior of this neck with a part 33 providing a chamber 34 and a narrower orifice 35 as in Example 1, this part 33 being shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4 in broken lines.

Example 4

FIG. 5 shows a special piece 36 to be fixed under the shoulder of a tube as in Examples 1 and 2 (Figures 1 and 3) and making it possible to obtain three central pasty filaments in a pasty bead. The essential principle of the invention, namely the expulsion of the main dough by several off-center direct passages and the forced routing of a secondary pasty product between the annular space which contains it and a central opening under the cover of a upper veil which isolates it from the preceding direct passages, is adapted in the following way: each radial interval 37 corresponds to an annular sector of storage 38 of a particular colored product, the sectors 38 and 39 of each group of two different colored products being separated by partitions 40 going from a direct passage 41 to the periphery of the web 42, in contact with the shoulder of the tube after attachment of the part 36.

At the central zone, the three radial intervals 37 are isolated from each other by a sealed star partition 44 fixed to the internal edges of the direct passages such as 41 and to the upper web 42. This web 42 carries near its center three outlet openings such as 43, each opening 43 allowing the expulsion of a secondary product reaching the corresponding radial interval 37.

This special piece 36 produces a pasty bead of a main product containing three secondary pasty fillets of different colors, these colors such as green, red and blue remaining distinct in the bead despite their proximity.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION AND APPLICATIONS

The special parts or the one-piece heads of the invention are made of plastic, preferably a fairly rigid plastic such as PE.HD or PP (polypropylene).
The reproducibility of the structure of the composite pasty bead obtained is remarkable.

The invention thus typically relates to the protection of a central pasty product or the highlighting of work relating to the pasty bead.

The tube of the invention is used for the packaging of pasty products from the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, paramedical, hygienic and food fields.

Claims (10)

1. A tube (1; 20; 24) for distributing a paste bead comprising a principal paste with a central thread of a second paste or secondary paste, comprising below its distribution orifice (19; 35) carried by its mouth (32) a plurality of passages (9 to 11; 28) for the principal paste distributed about a central aperture (8) for passage of the second paste, the said passages (9 to 11; 28) being separated from one another by gaps (14; 29) which are joined to one another again underneath the said central aperture (8), the said gaps (14; 29) being covered at their top end by a membrane (7; 26) carrying the said central aperture (8), and emerging into the annular space (15) which serves to store the second paste discharging towards the said orifice (19; 35) for distribution at a level which is below or the same as that of the end (80) of the said aperture (8), the said passages (9 to 11; 28) being separated from one another by gaps (14; 29) which discharge into an annular space (15) for storing the second paste and which are joined to one another again under the said central aperture (8), the said gaps (14; 29) being covered at their top end by a membrane (7; 26) incorporating the said central aperture (8), characterised in that:

   a) the said membrane (7; 26) covers the mouth (32), with the exception of the said passages (9 to 11; 28) and the said central aperture (8) which alone are allowed to pass through the neck (32);

   b) the said passages (9 to 11; 28) for the principal paste are inside separate portions of tube (9 to 11; 28) which open out onto the said membrane (7; 26), their upper discharging ends (9) being situated on the said membrane (7; 26) and defining the said gaps (14; 29) between themselves and the said membrane;

   c) the said distribution orifice (19; 35) has a cross-section which is less than 0.8 times smaller than the sum of the cross-sections of the said portions of passage (9 to 11 and 8) for the said principal and secondary pastes and is situated at least 1.5 mm above the said central aperture (8).
2. A tube according to claim 1 in which the said direct passages (9 to 11) are tubular portions of cross-section in the form of sectors of a circle, their circular peripheral walls (13) being aligned according to a circular axial cylinder and their radial walls (12) defining inter se a longitudinal star-shaped gap (14 and 16) centred on the axis and of which the radial arms (14) are of the same width.
3. A tube according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which the said central aperture (8) forms an axial chimney of a height greater than the mean thickness of the said membrane (7), the top end (80) of the said aperture (8) projecting by 1 to 2 mm in relation to the said membrane (7).
4. A tube according to any one of claims 1 or 2, comprising between the said distribution orifice (19) and the said membrane (7) a chamber (17) inside the mouth (18) of a cross-section at least equal to 1.2 times the said sum of the cross-sections of the said passage portions (9 to 11 and 8) from the said membrane (7; 26) and up to at least 1 mm above the top end (80) of the said central aperture (8), the said chamber (17) then comprising a narrowing which defines the said distribution orifice (19).
5. A tube according to either of claims 1 to 2, in which the said top ends (90) of the direct passages (9 to 11) are situated 1.5 to 4 mm lower than the top end (80) of the said central aperture (8).
6. A tube according to either of claims 1 to 2, in which the bottom end of the said direct passages (9 to 11) is situated at least 5 mm lower than the interior of the shoulder of the said tube.
7. A tube according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the said direct passages (9 to 11) and the said upper membrane (7) in which there is the central aperture (8) are produced in the form of a member (6) which is moulded separately and fixed to the interior of the tube (1, 20).
8. A tube according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the said direct passages (28) and the said upper membrane (26) in which there is the central aperture are produced by monobloc moulding together with the rest of the head (25), the said upper membrane (26) being an extension of the shoulder (27) of the tube (24, the peripheral walls (30) of the said passages extending the interior (31) of the mouth (32).
9. A tube for distributing a paste bead comprising a principal paste with at least one central thread of at least one secondary paste, comprising below its distribution orifice (19) carried by its neck (32) a plurality of passages (41) for the principal paste, the said passages being offset and distributed around at least one aperture (43) for passage of secondary paste and emerging at a level which is lower than or the same as that of the top end of each said aperture (43), the said passages (41) being separated from one another by gaps (37) each of which opens out into an annular space (38) for storing a secondary paste and into a said aperture (43), the said gaps (37) being covered at their top end by a membrane (42), each carrying the said aperture (43), characterised in that:

   a) there are a plurality of apertures for the passage of secondary pastes (43), the tube being required to distribute the said principal paste with a plurality of central threads of secondary pastes, and the said membrane (42) covers the said mouth (32) with the exception of the said passages for principal paste (41) and the said apertures (43) which alone are allowed to pass through the said neck;

   b) the said gaps (37) are isolated from one another by partitions (40) extending from each passage (41) to the periphery of the membrane (42) and by a star-shaped partitioning arrangement (44) extending from the said passages (41) as far as the centre of the said membrane (42), the said apertures (43) being situated close to the centre of the said membrane (42);

   c) the said distribution orifice has a cross-section which is less than 0.8 times the sum of the cross-sections of the said passages (41) and apertures (43) for the passage of the said principal and secondary pastes, and is situated at least 1.5 mm above the said apertures (43).
10. The use of a tube according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for the distribution of a paste which has to be intimately blended, the secondary paste or pastes being coloured and serving to demonstrate such mixing.

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