EP0931726A1

EP0931726A1 - Method for applying a spoon to a pot

Info

Publication number: EP0931726A1
Application number: EP99850007A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Per Egil Bakkum; Arne Kviterud
Original assignee: TINE Norske Meierier BA
Current assignee: TINE Norske Meierier BA
Priority date: 1998-01-23
Filing date: 1999-01-19
Publication date: 1999-07-28
Also published as: NO980306L; NO980306D0; NO306505B1

Abstract

A method for applying a spoon to a pot having two compartments is carried out by bending at least the side compartment upwards, applying glue with a glue gun and affixing a spoon to the main compartment wall using an application wheel, and blowing the spoon into place with air or pushing it into place mechanically.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for applying and attaching an article. To be more precise, the application relates to a method for applying a spoon packed in plastic film to a plastic pot. The plastic pot is preferably of the two compartment type where the spoon is attached between the compartments,
Two-compartment pots are especially known in connection with yoghurt but are also used for dessert products or other ready-prepared products which can be eaten straight from the pot. The products in the two compartments have different consistencies and can be mixed together in the main compartment immediately prior to use. These products may be yoghurt and a cereal product or rice pudding and jam, that is, components which should not be stored or kept together. These products have been on the market for a number of years, and are often used as snacks between meals in situations in or outside the home. In these cases, there is a greater user friendliness if the product has a spoon attached to the pot.
In theory, a spoon of this kind may be attached to the top, the bottom or the sides of the pot. A feature common to all these attachment sites is that they will increase the cost of and hamper the packing in the outer packaging. Placing the spoons in one of these locations will also cause limitations with respect to decoration, printed patterns and colours on the pot or lid.
More specifically, the application relates to a method for applying or affixing a spoon to a two-compartment pot, wherein the pot consists of a main compartment and a smaller side compartment connected together by a flexible connecting bridge, characterised in that the pots are carried on a conveyor belt which ensures directional orientation of the pots, the side compartment is bent upwards and held in place, glue is applied to the wall of the main compartment with a glue gun, and then a spoon is applied using an application wheel.
In the two-compartment pots in question, one compartment (the main compartment) is usually larger than the other, and the compartments are joined together by a flexible plastic connecting bridge. On a pot of this kind, the most suitable place for the attachment of a spoon, which will not have any consequences for outer packaging and decoration, is the part between the compartments under plastic. This location and the application method according to the present invention will allow the use of standard pots, aluminium lids and standard outer packaging. The location of the spoon does not involve any cost-increasing steps as regards packaging. A spoon which is attached in this way will also be protected against external influences so that there is a smaller chance of the spoon being ripped off unintentionally. It will also be easier to pack the pots in outer packaging when the spoon is thus attached.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of drawings:

Figure 1: is a sectional view of a pot consisting of a main compartment and a side compartment.
Figure 2: shows the pot where the side compartment has been bent upwards and glue is applied with a glue gun.
Figure 3: shows how the spoon is affixed to the glue on the main compartment using an application wheel.
Figure 4: is a schematic illustration of the whole application process including orientation of the pot before and after application.

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a pot 10 which is made of plastic and consists of a large main compartment 11 and a smaller side compartment 12. The main compartment may, e.g., be filled with yoghurt and the side compartment may be filled with a cereal mix, jam or the like. The pot is circular in form and the two compartments are joined together by means of a flexible, bendable connecting bridge 14 having a weakening groove. Between main compartment 11 and side compartment 12, a "space" 20 is formed below the connecting bridge 14. A spoon 15 is attached in this space by means of the method according to the invention. This spoon, which preferably is a folding spoon, is pre-packed in plastic and is attached to the main compartment by means of the method of the invention.
In order to apply the spoons to the pots, it is essential that the pots are oriented correctly. This is done by carrying filled pots 10 along on a conveyor belt 27, preferably of rubber or another suitable material. A conveyor belt 28 rotates in the same direction as the conveyor belt 27, but at a different speed. Thus, the pots are turned around and fall with space 20 over a ridge 29 which is located across conveyor belt 27. Gradually, all the pots will be oriented in the right position one after another, that means to say that the smallest compartment 12 faces towards the application wheel 18. Figure 4 shows a pot before and after orientation.
The next step in the process is that the correctly oriented pots are carried forward to a device which bends the side compartment 12 upwards as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The pots are held in place between upper conveyor belt 26 and lower conveyor belt 25. The side compartment 12 is bent upwards to the desired angle with the aid of a longitudinal clamp 21. A weakening groove in the connecting bridge 14 allows the side compartment to be bent upwards in this way. Thus, easier access to the space 20 between the compartments 11 and 12 is procured by enlarging the space.
The pots are then carried past one or two glue guns 17 which apply glue 16 in one or two strings on the main compartment 11 wall facing the space 20, see Fig. 2. Once glue has been applied thereto, the pots are carried forward to an application wheel 18 as shown in Fig. 3.
The spoons 15, which are made of plastic and are preferably folding spoons, are pre-packed in plastic and are supplied in long rolls 30 which are cut up during application of the spoons.
These plastic rolls of spoons are inserted into the application wheel 18 for the gluing of the spoons to the pots. A cutting means such as, e.g., a knife 19, serves to cut the packed plastic spoons one by one from the roll. The application wheel 18 moves the spoon into position in front of an air nozzle 22. With the aid of an air pulse, the spoon is blown towards the previously applied string of glue on the main compartment 11 wall. An alternative to affixing the spoon with the aid of air is to use a hammer driven by an air cylinder which pushes the spoon into place.
The longitudinal clamp 21 which holds the side compartment in the upwardly bent position, is then removed. The pots with spoons glued thereon are conveyed forward and are ready for packing.

Claims

A method for applying or affixing an eating utensil (15), e.g., a spoon, to a two-compartment pot, wherein the pot consists of a main compartment (11) and a smaller side compartment (12) joined together by a flexible connecting bridge (14), the eating utensil being placed in a space (20) between the compartments, characterised in that the pots (10) are carried on a conveyor belt which ensures directional orientation of the pots, the side compartment (12) is bent upwards and held in place, glue is applied to the main compartment (11) wall with a glue gun (17), and then the eating utensil (15) is applied in the space (20) using an application wheel (18).
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the directional orientation on the conveyor belt is carried out by conveying the pots (10) over a ridge (19) which fits into the space (20) between main compartment (11) and side compartment (12).
A method according to claims 1- 2, characterised in that the eating utensil (15) is connected to the application wheel (18) in continuous plastic rolls.
A method according to claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the application takes place with the aid of a hammer or air blowing from an air nozzle (22).