AN APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR ATTACHING A LID TO A BASE PORTION

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) and a method for attaching a lid (103) to a base portion (102). The lid and the base portion form parts of a container, such as a user container (101) for a pouched product for oral use. The apparatus (1) comprises a support (3), a base portion feeder (5), adapted to place a base portion on the support, a 5 lid positioner (7) comprising a lid holder (9), and a mover (11), adapted to move the base portion and the lid as a combined unit (109) in a travel direction (TD). The lid positioner is movable between a lid pick-up position and a lid attachment position, the lid holder in the lid pick-up position of the lid positioner being adapted to pick up the lid. The lid holder has a front portion (19) and a rear portion (17) as seen in the travel direction hen the lid 10 positioner is in the attachment position. The lid holder is, in the attachment position of the lid positioner, adapted to hold the lid in a predefinable position in relation to the base portion by the lid holder assuming an angle (α) in relation to the support, with the front portion of the lid holder being located closer to the support than the rear portion of the lid holder. The mover is adapted to move the combined unit in the travel direction from the 15 rear portion towards the front portion of the lid holder.

Claims

1. An apparatus for attaching a lid to a base portion, said lid and said base portion forming parts of a container for a pouched product for oral use, said apparatus comprising: a support, a base portion feeder, configured to place a base portion on said support, a lid positioner comprising a lid holder, a mover, configured to move said base portion and said lid as a combined unit in a travel direction, said lid positioner being movable between a lid pick-up position and a lid attachment position, said lid holder in said lid pick-up position of said lid positioner being configured to pick up said lid, said lid holder having a front portion and a rear portion as seen in said travel direction when said lid positioner is in said attachment position, wherein said lid positioner comprises a rotation axis, such that said lid positioner is movable from said lid pick-up position to said lid attachment position by rotation around said rotation axis, said rotation axis being located at or adjacent to said rear portion of said lid holder, and wherein said lid positioner is configured to be rotated back towards said lid pick-up position when said combined unit has left said lid holder, said lid holder in said attachment position of said lid positioner being configured to hold said lid in a predefined position in relation to said base portion by said lid holder assuming an angle in relation to said support, with said front portion of said lid holder being located closer to said support than said rear portion of said lid holder, and said mover being configured to move said combined unit in said travel direction from said rear portion towards said front portion of said lid holder.

2-12. (canceled)

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said angle is within a range of between 0° and 90°.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of said support is horizontal and said lid holder assumes said angle α in relation to a horizontal plane when in said attachment position of said lid positioner.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a front edge portion of said front portion of said lid holder comprises a lid guide, said front edge portion forming a frontmost part of said front portion, said lid guide comprising an angled surface, which assumes an angle in relation to a surface of the remaining portion of said lid holder, wherein said angle is within a range of between 0° and 30°.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lid positioner comprises a single rotation axis.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base portion feeder is configured to feed said base portion from another direction than said travel direction.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises a local protrusion configured to move a front portion of said base portion towards said lid holder.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lid holder comprises a local protrusion configured to move a front portion of said lid towards said support.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure roller located downstream of said lid positioner, said pressure roller being configured to apply pressure to said lid, while said combined unit passes said pressure roller.

21. A method for attaching a lid to a base portion, said lid and said base portion forming parts of a container for a pouched product for oral use, said method comprising: a) providing said lid, b) providing said base portion and placing it on a support, c) positioning said lid in a predefined position in relation to said base portion by a lid holder, wherein said lid assumes an angle in relation to said base portion, with a front portion of said lid being located closer to said base portion than a rear portion of said lid, d) moving said base portion and said lid as a combined unit in a travel direction going from a rear portion towards a front portion of said lid holder, such that said lid is successively attached to said base portion by said combined unit moving in said travel direction in a gap between said front portion of said lid holder and said support, wherein step c) comprises positioning said lid in said predefined position by rotation around a rotation axis, said rotation axis being located at or adjacent to said rear portion of said lid holder, and wherein said method further comprises rotating said lid positioner back towards said lid pick-up position when said combined unit has left said lid holder.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said angle is within a range of between 0° and 90°.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein step b) comprises feeding said base portion from another direction than said travel direction.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein step c) comprises positioning said lid in said predefined position by moving a front portion of said base portion towards said lid by said support.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein step c) comprises positioning said lid in said predefined position by moving said front portion of said lid towards said base portion by said lid holder.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein said method further comprises e) applying pressure to said lid by a pressure roller, while said combined unit passes said pressure roller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] The present invention will hereinafter be further explained by means of non-limiting examples with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

[0076] FIG. 1a-b illustrate a lid and a base portion of a user container.

[0077] FIG. 2a-c illustrate a lid and a base portion of another user container.

[0078] FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus according to the invention.

[0079] FIG. 4a-4h illustrate attachment of a lid on a base portion in an apparatus as disclosed herein shown in cross-sectional view.

[0080] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the apparatus in the position of FIG. 4c.

[0081] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the lid and the base portion in the position of FIG. 4c.

[0082] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative way of positioning the lid.

[0083] FIG. 8 illustrates another alternative way of positioning the lid.

[0084] FIG. 9 illustrates a method as disclosed herein.

[0085] It should be noted that the appended drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that the dimensions of some features of the present invention may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] The invention will in the following be exemplified by embodiments. It should however be realized that the embodiments are included in order to explain principles of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention, defined by the appended claims. Details from two or more of the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0087] FIG. 1a-b illustrate a commercially available user container 101 for a pouched product for oral use. The user container 101 comprises a base portion 102 and a lid 103. The user container 101 is a child-resistant container of the type described in WO 2017/125405, to which document reference is made for details of the user container. FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b illustrate the lid 103 and the base portion 102 as separate components. The lid 103 is to be attached on the base portion 102 to form the user container 101.

[0088] The user container 101 is provided with a locking arrangement for locking the lid 103 on the base portion 102. The base portion 102 comprises a bottom wall 105, a base side wall 107 and a compartment wall 117 arranged inward of the base side wall 107 with a space 114 between the base side wall 107 and the compartment wall 117. A portion of the base side wall 107 is formed by a resiliently flexible tongue 133, with an upper part of the tongue 133 being inwardly deflectable in a direction towards the compartment wall 117. The locking arrangement comprising a first locking member 122, arranged on an upper part of the resiliently flexible tongue 133, and a second locking member 123, arranged on the lid 103 at a lid side wall end edge 113. The locking arrangement 120 is arranged to assume a locked configuration and a release configuration, in which the upper part of the resiliently flexible tongue 133 is in an inwardly deflected position.

[0089] Hence, the user container 101 comprises a number of safety elements, such as the first locking member 122, the second locking member 123 and the tongue 133, which are intended to reduce the risk that an unsuitable person, such as a child, gets access to the content of the user container 101. However, at the same time, these safety elements result in sophisticated and complex geometries of the base portion 102 and the lid 103. Consequently, if attaching the lid 103 from straight above, as in some prior art apparatuses, it is very important that the base portion 102 and the lid 103 are well centered in relation to each other, since otherwise the safety elements risk getting damaged by the force used to attach the lid 103.

[0090] FIG. 2a-c illustrate another commercially available user container 201 for a pouched product for oral use. The user container 201 comprises a base portion 202, see FIG. 2c, and a lid 203, see FIG. 2a. FIG. 2b illustrates a cross-section of the lid 203. The lid 203 is provided with a disposal compartment 209, intended to hold used products, such that the used products may be disposed of in a neat and orderly way. An exemplary disposal compartment 209 may project by 4-8 mm as measured from a top surface 211 of the lid 203. Hence, also the user container 201, comprising the disposal compartment 209, has a more complex geometry than a standard user container with a planar lid.

[0091] Both illustrated user containers 101, 201 are configured to maintain the freshness of the one or more products contained in the user containers 101, 201 for a long time, also after the user containers 101, 201 have been opened for the first time. In order to obtain this objective, the lids 103, 203 are provided with interconnectable features such as profiles, snap-in elements etc. helping the base portion 102, 202 and the lid 103, 203 to have a tight connection when the user container 101, 201 is closed, e.g. a moisture-tight and/or gas-tight connection.

[0092] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus 1 for attaching a lid to a base portion according to the invention. By utilizing an apparatus as described herein, it is possible to attach the lid 103, 203 to the base portion 102, 202 in a lenient and safe way, which is described in detail below.

[0093] In FIG. 3, the base portion and the lid are as an illustrating example depicted as the base portion 102 and the lid 103 of the user container 101 shown in FIG. 1a-b. However, the apparatus 1 as described herein is very versatile and works well for many different kinds of configurations of the base portion and/or lid, going from simple configurations to very complex and sophisticated ones, including a user container 201 with a disposal compartment 209, as illustrated in FIG. 2a-c.

[0094] The apparatus 1 comprises a support 3, a base portion feeder 5, a lid positioner 7, comprising a lid holder 9, and a mover 11. The base portion feeder 5 is adapted to place a base portion 102, on the support 3, one base portion 102 at the time. The lid positioner 7 is movable between a lid pick-up position, illustrated in FIG. 3, and a lid attachment position, described below in conjunction with FIG. 4c. In the lid pick-up position of the lid positioner 7, the lid holder 9 is adapted to pick up the lid 103 from a lid feeder, not illustrated in FIG. 3, one lid 103 at the time. The mover 11 is adapted to move the base portion 102 and the lid 103 as a combined unit, once the lid 103 has been placed on the base portion 102, described below in conjunction with FIGS. 4d and 4e. The combined unit is to be moved in a travel direction TD, which is directed away from the apparatus 1.

[0095] As an option, illustrated in FIG. 3, the apparatus comprises a pressure roller 13. The pressure roller 13 is adapted to apply pressure to the lid 103, while the combined unit passes the pressure roller 13, described below in conjunction with FIGS. 4e and 4f.

[0096] The series of figures in FIG. 4a-4h, showing a cross-sectional view of an apparatus 1, illustrate attachment of a lid on a base portion in another apparatus according to the invention. This series illustrates a cycle of attaching the lid 103 on the base portion 102. After the cycle is performed, or at the end of the cycle when the combined unit 109 has been moved away from the lid holder 9, the apparatus 1 is ready to put on a next lid on a next base portion. The apparatus 1 of FIG. 4a-4h comprises the corresponding units and components as the apparatus of FIG. 3. The relative positions of the units and components of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 4a-h also correspond to those of the apparatus FIG. 3. Hence, for simplicity, the same denotations and reference signs and are used.

[0097] In the positions depicted in FIG. 4a, corresponding to the relative positions of the units and components depicted in FIG. 3, the lid positioner 7 is in the lid pick-up position and the lid holder 9 has picked up a lid 103 from a lid feeder 15. The lid feeder 15 may form part of the apparatus 1 as described herein. A base portion 102 has been placed on the support 3, in a position, in which the base portion 102 is ready to have a lid 103 attached to it. Typically, the base portion 102 is fed into the apparatus 1 after having been filled by the one or more products to be contained in the user container 101, such as a number of pouched products for oral use.

[0098] The lid positioner 7 comprises a rotation axis A, marked by an x in FIG. 4a, such that the lid positioner is movable from the lid pick-up position, illustrated in FIG. 4a, to the lid attachment position, illustrated in FIG. 4c, by means of a rotation around the rotation axis A. In the illustrated example, the rotation axis A is located adjacent to a rear portion 17 of the lid holder 9. The rear portion 17 of the lid holder 9 is taken as seen in the travel direction TD of the mover 11 when the lid positioner 7 is in the attachment position, cf. FIG. 4c. The opposite portion of the lid holder 9 as seen in the travel direction TD of the mover 11 when the lid positioner 7 is in the attachment position, is denoted as a front portion 19 of the lid holder 9. Also the lid 103 has a rear portion 21 and a front portion 23, with the relative positions of the rear portion 21 and the front portion 23 being determined as seen in the travel direction TD of the mover 11 when the lid positioner 7 is in the attachment position in a corresponding way as for the lid holder 9, cf. FIG. 4c. However, due to the relative positions of the components in the pick-up position of the lid positioner 7 depicted in FIG. 4a, the rear portions 17, 21 are actually forward of the front portions 19, 23.

[0099] Due to the rotation of the lid positioner 7 around the rotation axis A, the lid 103 will be pivoted at a pivot axis located adjacent to the rear portion 21 of the lid 103 itself, see FIG. 4b. This has proven to be an efficient way of positioning the lid 103 in the desired position in relation to the base portion 102.

[0100] The lid positioner 7 is rotated around the rotation axis A until it reaches the attachment position, see FIG. 4c. in this position, the lid holder 9 is adapted to hold the lid 103 in a predefinable position in relation to the base portion 102 by the lid holder 9 assuming an angle α in relation to the support 3, with the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9 being located closer to the support 3 than the rear portion 17 of the lid holder 9. See detailed view of the lid holder 9 and the support 3 in FIG. 5. The angle α may be within a range of between 0° and 90°, preferably between 1° and 45°, more preferably between 2° and 30°, most preferably between 3° and 10. With a low angle α, a larger portion of the lid 103 is attached at the same time, while the combined unit 109 is moved by the mover 11. The angle α is preferably adapted to the geometries of the lid 103 and the base portion 102.

[0101] A corresponding detailed view, showing the base portion 102 and the lid 103 when lid positioner 7 is in the attachment position, as in FIG. 4c, is illustrated FIG. 6. Due to the angle α of the lid holder 9, the lid 103 is held in a corresponding angle β in relation to the base portion 102. The angle β may be within a range of between 0° and 90°, preferably between 1° and 45°, more preferably between 2° and 30°, most preferably between 3° and 10°. An angle of 0°, which would correspond to from straight above, i.e. with the lid holder parallel to the support is thus not included in the range. With a low angle β, a larger portion of the lid 103 is attached at the same time, while the combined unit 109 is moved by the mover 11. The angle β is preferably adapted to the geometries of the lid 103 and the base portion 102. Thereby, the front portion 23 of the lid 103 is closer to the base portion 102 than the rear portion 21. The front portion 23 of the lid 103 is the leading end of the lid 103 and the rear portion 21 of the lid 103 is the trailing end as seen in the travel direction TD. Preferably the lid 103 is held so close to the base portion 102 that it abuts the base portion 102 at the front portion 23, as seen in FIG. 4c and in the detailed view of FIG. 6. The angle β of the lid 103 in relation to the base portion 102 is directly or indirectly given by the angle α between the support 3 and the lid holder 9. Purely as an example, if both the support 3 and the lid holder 9 have planar surfaces, the lid 103 has a planar or substantially planar top surface held against the lid holder 9 and the base portion 102 has a planar or substantially planar bottom and a straight wall of equal height, the angles a and β typically coincide.

[0102] Thereafter, the mover 11 moves the base portion 102 and the lid 103 as a combined unit 109, once the lid 103 has been combined with the base portion 102, i.e. the lid 103 has been placed in contact with the base portion 102, see FIGS. 4d and 4e. The combined unit 109 is moved in the travel direction TD, i.e. in a direction from the rear portion 17 towards the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9. Due to the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9 being closer to the support 3 than the rear portion 17, the lid 103 is successively attached to the base portion 102 by being pressed down by the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9, while the combined unit 109 is moved in the travel direction TD in a gap between the lid holder 9 and the support 3. The distance between the lid holder 9 and the support 3 is adapted to the heights of the base portion 102 and the lid 103 to be combined, such that the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9 is able to apply the pressure used to put the lid 103 on the base portion 102.

[0103] Downstream of the lid holder 9, the combined unit 109 reaches the optional pressure roller 13. The pressure roller 13 is adapted to apply pressure to the lid 103, while the combined unit 109 passes the pressure roller 13 in a gap between the support 3 and the pressure roller 13, see FIGS. 4e and 4f. In case the user container 101 was not closed in the gap between the lid holder 9 and the support 3, by the lid 103 only being brought in physical contact with the base portion 102, the pressure roller 13 may be used to close the user container 101 by applying pressure to the lid 103, e.g. thereby activating snap-in elements. The pressure roller 13 may thus be used to ascertain that the lid 103 is properly attached to the base portion 102.

[0104] When the combined unit 109 has left the lid holder 9, the lid positioner 7 is rotated back towards the pick-up position, see FIG. 4f. Once, the lid positioner 7 has reached the pick-up position, the lid holder 9 is ready to pick up a new lid, see FIGS. 4g and 4h and the base portion feeder, not seen in the view of FIG. 4a-4h, is adapted to place a base portion on the support 3. Thereafter, the cycle is completed.

[0105] As an option, present in the illustrated apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 4a-4h and best seen in FIG. 5, a front edge portion 25 of the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9 may comprise a lid guide 27, the front edge portion 25 forming a frontmost part of the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9 The lid guide 27 comprises an angled surface, which is angled in another direction as compared to the angle α of the lid holder 9 relative to the support 3, preferably in an opposite direction as is illustrated. The lid guide 27 may have a maximal extension in the range of 1-15 mm, preferably in the range of 5-10 mm as measured in the travel direction TD, when the lid positioner 9 is in the attachment position. The angle γ of the lid guide 27 in relation to the rest of the lid holder 9 may be in the range of between 0° and 30°, preferably between 0° and 15°, more preferably between 1° and 10° . The lid guide 27 is adapted to guide the lid 103 when it is moved from the lid feeder 15 to the lid positioner 7, see FIG. 4g, especially at the start of the pick-up of the lid 103. The lid 103 is then moved onto the lid holder 9 by passing the front edge portion 25 of the lid holder 9. By providing the lid guide 27, the lid 103 is easily transferred from the lid feeder 15 to the lid holder 9. In particular, the lid guide 27 helps to reduce, or avoid, the risk that the lid 103 gets stuck on the front edge portion 25 of the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9.

[0106] As an alternative or a complement for positioning the lid in the desired position in relation to the base portion, the support may comprise a local protrusion adapted to move a front portion of the base portion towards the lid holder, see FIG. 7, in which an arrow indicates the movement of the front portion of the base portion. The local protrusion may e.g. be a hump or a cylinder. The local protrusion may be permanent, i.e. present all the time in the support, or the local protrusion may be activated during the lid attachment. The local protrusion helps to lift the front portion of the base portion towards the lid, such that the lid assumes the desired angle in relation to the base portion. Thereafter, the combined unit of the lid and base portion is moved by the mover. As the combined unit passes over the local protrusion, the lid is successively attached to the base portion by the base portion being pressed upwards by the local protrusion. The local protrusion thereby has a size and location adapted such that it only presses a part of the base portion upwards, the part typically being less than half.

[0107] As yet an alternative or a complement for positioning the lid in the desired position in relation to the base portion, the lid holder may comprise a local protrusion adapted to move a front portion of the lid towards the support, see FIG. 8, in which an arrow indicates the movement of the front portion of the lid. The local protrusion may e.g. be a hump or a cylinder. The local protrusion may be permanent, i.e. present all the time in the lid holder, or the local protrusion may be activated during the lid attachment. The local protrusion helps to lower the front portion of the lid towards the base portion, such that the lid assumes the desired angle in relation to the base portion. Thereafter, the combined unit of the lid and base portion is moved by the mover. As the combined unit passes below the local protrusion, the lid is successively attached to the base portion by the lid being pressed downwards by the local protrusion. The local protrusion thereby has a size and location adapted such that it only presses a part of the lid downwards, the part typically being less than half.

[0108] The present invention further relates to a method 300 for attaching a lid 103, 203 to a base portion 102, 202, the lid 103, 203 and the base portion 102, 202 forming parts of a container, e.g. a user container 101, 201 for a pouched product for oral use, see FIG. 9.

[0109] The method comprises:

[0110] a) providing the lid,

[0111] b) providing the base portion 102, 202 and placing it on a support 3,

[0112] c) positioning the lid 103, 203 in a predefinable position in relation to the base portion 102, 202 by means of a lid holder 9, in which the lid 103, 203 assumes an angle β in relation to the base portion 102, 202, with a front portion 23 of the lid 103, 203 being located closer to the base portion 102, 202 than a rear portion 21 of the lid 103, 203, preferably the front portion 23 of the lid 103, 203 abutting the base portion 102, 202,

[0113] d) moving the base portion 102, 202 and the lid 103, 203 as a combined unit 109 in a travel direction TD going from the rear portion 21 towards the front portion 23 of the lid holder 9, such that the lid 103, 203 is successively attached to the base portion102, 202 by the combined unit 109 moving in the travel direction TD in the gap between the front portion 19 of the lid holder 9 and the support 3.

[0114] The method 300 may be performed in the apparatus as described 1 herein, see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4a-4h and the steps described above in conjunction with FIG. 4a-4h.

[0115] In step a), one lid 103 is fed at the time, such that the lid 103 can be picked up by the lid holder 9 with the lid positioner 7 being in the pick-up position, see FIGS. 3, 4a and 4h.

[0116] Step b) may be performed by the base portion feeder 5 described herein, see FIG. 3.

[0117] Step c) may be performed by the lid positioner 7 described herein, see FIGS. 4c, 5 and 6. The details about the angle β of the lid 103 are described above in conjunction with the description of FIG. 6.

[0118] The moving in step d) may be performed by the mover 11 described herein, see FIGS. 4d and 4e.

[0119] Step c) comprises positioning the lid in the predefinable position in relation to the base portion by means of rotation around a rotation axis A, the rotation axis A being located at or adjacent to the rear portion 17 of the lid holder 9, see FIGS. 4b and 4c. Thereby, the lid 103, 203 is pivoted at a pivot axis located at or adjacent to the rear portion 21 of the lid itself. This has proven to be an efficient way of positioning the lid 103, 203 in the desired position in relation to the base portion 102, 202.

[0120] As an alternative or a complement, step c) may comprise positioning the lid in the predefinable position by means of moving a front portion of the base portion towards the lid by means of the support. See FIG. 7. This may be performed with the local protrusion of the support described herein.

[0121] As yet an alternative or a complement, step c) may comprise positioning the lid in the predefinable position by means of moving the front portion of the lid towards the base portion by means of the lid holder. See FIG. 8. This may be performed with the local protrusion of the lid holder described herein.

[0122] Hence, the successive attachment of the lid 103, 203 to the base portion 102, 202 may be achieved in any of the ways described for the apparatus herein or a combination of those ways, such as rotating the lid, locally lifting the base portion towards the and/or locally pressing the lid towards the base portion.

[0123] The method may further comprise

[0124] e) applying pressure to the lid by means of a pressure roller 13, while the combined unit 109 passes the pressure roller 13.

[0125] Step e) may be performed by the pressure roller 13 described in conjunction with the apparatus 1, see FIGS. 3, 4e and 4f.

[0126] Further modifications of the invention within the scope of the appended claims are feasible. As such, the present invention should not be considered as limited by the embodiments and figures described herein. Rather, the full scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims, with reference to the description and drawings.