Machine for filling containers with cosmetic products

Abstract: The cosmetic product is fed onto a support (3; 23) for the formation of a layer (9) of cosmetic product of a predetermined height. A device for the withdrawal and pressing of portions (12) of the layer (9) proceeds to the formation of tablets (10) of cosmetic product, subsequently moving to a position where it discharges the tablets (10) into respective containers (14).

Description: The present invention relates to a machine for filling containers with cosmetic products. Machines are known for filling containers with compacted cosmetic powders, that provide for successive processing steps corresponding to the deposit of a given quantity of cosmetic powder in a container and to pressing it by means of mechanical pressing systems. Again according to the known art the metering of cosmetic powder takes place, for example, by manually depositing the cosmetic powder on a metal surface provided with a number of cavities each containing a metal or plastic container. In this case, since the fall of the cosmetic powder takes place by gravity, its distribution in the containers takes place in an entirety casual manner. The subsequent removal of the excess powder, accomplished by means of a special scraper system, must be carried out several times and thus causes clotting of the product or haloes that later are very obvious in the finished product and frequently jeopardises its use. In a more sophisticated manner the metering of the cosmetic powder in the container takes place through the use of loading screw feeders or hoppers above the metal surface. Such ponderal metering devices, to be able to work, must be contained in variously-shaped metal cylinders and in these the drop of the powders cannot be directed homogeneously to all points, especially in the case of irregular and complex shapes. As a consequence, in the step of pressing for the formation of the finished product, the surface powder contained in the container is at a different level and exhibits a lack of homogeneousness of the cosmetic features as regards the preparation and the resistance to a fall. The object of the present invention is to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks by accomplishing a machine that guarantees the homogeneousness of the cosmetic product (in powder form or also as dried mud) inside a container and the uniformity of its surface distribution. FR-A-2 481 060 discloses a machine for producing tablets of earth out of a leveled layer of earth. According to the invention such object is attained with a machine for filling containers with cosmetic products, which further comprises the features defined in the characterizing part of claim 1. Downstream from the support, constituted, say, by a conveyor belt, there is preferably a sump for collecting excess cosmetic product, that is subsequently brought back to said means for feeding the cosmetic product. A suitable pressing means is also preferably installed for the final pressing of the tablets in the container. The features of the present invention shall be made more evident by the following detailed description of its embodiments illustrated as non-limiting examples in the enclosed drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is perspective view of a machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of a part of the machine of Fig. 1, that is destined for metering the cosmetic product before its withdrawal and pressing in the collection container; Fig.s 3, 4, 5, 6 illustrate in successive operating positions the enlarged detail of the means for the withdrawal and pressing of a tablet of cosmetic product; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a part of the machine according to a variant of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7. With reference to Fig. 1, there is shown a machine according to the invention that comprises a hopper 1, inside which, by rotation, a screw 2 feeds cosmetic powder to a hopper 20 underneath and then to a conveyor belt 3 and a means for homogenising the cosmetic powder, such as, say, the stirrer 17. The conveyor belt 3 is provided with lateral shoulders 16 for containing the cosmetic powder falling upon it. Along the conveyor belt 3, at a certain distance from the hopper 1, there is an adjustable plate 4 that executes the levelling of the cosmetic powder for the formation of a continuous layer 9 of cosmetic powder of a predetermined height. To the sides of the conveyor belt 3 there is a pair of guides 5 for the sliding movement of a device 6 that withdraws and presses portions 12 of the layer 9 for the formation of tablets 10 of cosmetic powder. The device 6 consists of a frame 7 supporting a metal die 8, inside which a piston 11 slides. The machine also comprises a rotating support 13 for containers 14 suitable for being filled with respective tablets 10. Between the conveyor belt 3 and the rotating support 13 there is a collection sump 15 for any excess cosmetic powder. In operation, cosmetic powder is fed by the rotation of the screw 2 inside the hopper 1 onto the conveyor belt 3 and is homogenised by the stirrer 17 so as to form a continuous layer 9 of homogeneous and soft product that can be apportioned. The width of the layer 9 is kept constant by the lateral containment shoulders 16 associated with the conveyor belt 3. During its translation, the layer 9 meets the levelling plate 4, that reduces its height to a desired level and also exerts upon it a first pressure, that makes its density uniform. The layer 9 then slides toward the withdrawal and pressing device 6 for the formation of the tablets 10. The device 6 operates as follows. As illustrated in Figures from 3 to 6, starting from its position over the conveyor belt 3 (Fig. 3), the metal die 8 is lowered (Fig. 4) so as to separate a portion 12 of cosmetic powder from the layer 9. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the piston 11 is in turn lowered so as to compress the portion 12 to obtain a tablet 10. The die 8 is then raised from the layer 9 and takes with it the tablet 10 held by its side walls. The device 6 then translates along the guides 5 to a position where it discharges the tablet 10 in a corresponding container 14. This position is illustrated in Fig. 6 and in dot-and-dash line in Fig. 1. Then the means 6, without the tablet 10, returns to the initial position, illustrated with full lines in Fig. 1, for the withdrawal of a new tablet 10. In the meantime the rotating support 13 rotates so as to position an empty container 14 in the position of loading a new tablet 10. When all the containers 14 in the rotating support 13 have been filled with tablets 10, a further pressing means, not shown, executes the final pressing of the tablets 10. The homogeneousness is thus ensured of the cosmetic powder in the containers 14 as well as the uniformity of its surface distribution, both flat and corrugated. The use of this machine guarantees the complete utilization of the cosmetic powder. All residues of cosmetic powder that do not contribute to the formation of the tablets 10 are collected, as production proceeds, in a collection sump 15 and fed again to the hopper 1 as indicated by the arrows of Fig. 1. With the machine as described it is possible to obtain tablets consisting of a single cosmetic powder as well as tablets consisting of several cosmetic powders. This latter embodiment implies the delivery on the conveyor belt 3 of strips of different cosmetic powders. Still with this machine it is also possible to obtain tablets of any desired height simply by varying the pressure exerted by the piston 11 on the portion 12 of the layer 9. Although in the description of the embodiment shown in the drawings mention has always been made of cosmetic powder, it is finally clear that the machine as described can also readily be used for a cosmetic product in the form of mud or cream. There is illustrated in Fig.s 7 and 8 a variant of the previous embodiment of the machine according to the invention. In it, in place of the conveyor belt 3, there is a plate 23 closed at its lower end by a closing surface 24 and provided with cavities 22 inside which the cosmetic powder is poured and forms directly portions 12 of a fixed predetermined height. Subsequently the device 6 comes into action that, in the manner illustrated in Fig.s 5 and 6, presses the cosmetic powder of each portion 1 for the formation of a respective tablet 10 and transfers each tablet 10 to a corresponding container 14 of the rotating support 13. It should be noted that in both embodiments described, as well as in others that fall within the scope of the invention, the containers 14 can be made of plastic and can be destined for sale directly. The conveyor belt 3 of the embodiment of Fig.s 1-6 can in turn be replaced with a rotating carrousel, that can possibly comprise a plate with cavities like the one illustrated in Fig.s 7 and 8.

Claims: Machine for filling containers with cosmetic products, characterized by comprising feed means (1, 2, 17, 20) for feeding a cosmetic product onto a support (3, 23) and leveling means (4, 22) cooperating with said support (3,23) to define a predetermined height of said cosmetic product, in that it further comprises a tablet forming and transfer device (6) arranged above said support (3, 23) for separating and pressing portions of cosmetic product to form tablets (10) of cosmetic product and for picking up and transferring said tablets (10) into respective containers (14) arranged in a discharge position. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (3, 23) is formed by a conveyor belt (3) movable along a path to move the cosmetic product towards an outlet and said leveling means (4, 22) consist of an adjustable plate (4) arranged along said path downstream of the feed means (1, 2, 17, 20) and upstream of said forming and transfer device (6) to define a continuous layer (9) of cosmetic product of predetermined height. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a collection sump (15) arranged at said outlet of the conveyor belt (3) for collecting residual cosmetic product and recycling means for bringing back the residual cosmetic product from said collecting sump (15) to said feed means (1, 2, 17, 20). Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (3, 23) is formed by a plate (23) closed at its lower end by a closing surface (24) and provided with cavities (22) inside which the cosmetic product is poured for forming distinct portions of cosmetic product. Machine accoding to claim 1, characterized in that further pressing means are provided for applying a final pressure to the tablets (10) in said containers (14). Machine accoding to claim 1, characterized in that said forming and transfer device (6) comprises a vertically movable die (8) for separating portions of cosmetic product and a piston (11) vertically slidingly housed in said die (8) for pressing said portions of cosmetic product to form tablets (10) frictionally held by said die (8).

Inventors: HAEBERLI ADRIAN, HAEBERLI, ADRIAN
Applicants: GELD & KAPITALANLAGEN AG, AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT FUER GELD- UND KAPITALANLAGEN
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65B63
IPC codes: B65B63, A61Q1, A61K8, A45D33