FR2495582A1 - Ice cream packaged in hollow plastic spherical shell - which splits to serve ready moulded individual portion - Google Patents

Abstract

A package for an individual portion of ice cream etc., as well as an industrial process and a machine for filling the package with ice cream mixt. The package takes the form of a hollow sphere of food quality plastic which can be filled with ice cream mixt. via a hole through the wall of the sphere. The package can be readily sepd. into two hemispheres so that the ice cream can be removed for eating. The two hemispheres are pref. flattened together as external, radial annular flanges around their max. dias. The flanges may be locked together by spring tabs or/and secured by welding or adhesive. Ice cream mixt., expanded by aeration is pref. drawn into the spherical packages at a temp. of -3 to -7 deg.C. The filled spheres are then boxed, frozen down to a temp. between -20 and -80 deg.C and passed onward for storage/distribution.

Description

 The present invention relates to a new type of packaging for ice creams and the like, in particular in individual doses, to a new method for packaging said creams using this new type of packaging and to an apparatus for packaging ice creams. or the like.

 It is known to manufacture frozen food products such as, in particular, ice creams, in compartmentalized molds in which said products are frozen and from which they are then extracted using suitable mold release means, to be optionally cut up. in individual blocks, then packaged or otherwise packaged for sale. I1 is also known to form ice creams in their final form by direct filling of commercial packaging such as small jars or "family" boxes, either using timed metering devices with valve or extrusion, the creams then being frozen in their commercial packaging.

For the consumption of ice creams contained in so-called "family" boxes with a capacity of 1 to 6 liters, the waiter, in catering or in cafe or brewery, or the housewife, uses a special spoon for the shaping of balls of ice cream which are introduced into ice cream bowls before being served to the consumer.

To facilitate the formation of ready-to-eat ice cream scoops, it has also been proposed to form blanks of cream scoops in molds of suitable shape, which are then opened to drop said blanks on a honeycomb plate on which they are frozen, then unpacked in boxes to be sent to places of consumption. However, this technique does not provide the hygiene guarantees required for food products and also exposes the balls thus formed to possible shocks which are liable to alter their appearance and reduce the attractiveness which they are called. to exercise on the consumer.

 The present invention has therefore set itself the aim of providing new means for packaging ice creams and the like, as well as methods and devices for packaging said creams, in the form of balls, which better meet the requirements of the practical that the packaging methods and apparatus proposed in the prior art, in particular in that they make it possible to make available to the public scoops of ice cream and the like protected in a hygienic and aesthetic manner, protected from shocks and contacts, both reciprocal and with their containers, which can be handled without requiring direct manual contact, ready to use without requiring formatting by the waiter or the housewife, scoops of ice cream and the like formed in the new packaging according to the invention having, moreover, the advantage of uniformity in weight and shape which cannot be achieved by the methods and apparatus offered in accordance with the prior art.

 The present invention relates to a new packaging means characterized in that it consists of a substantially spherical ball, made of plastic or food-grade elastomer, comprising an opening for filling said ball with a dose of ice cream. or the like, and further comprising means for separating said scoop into two parts, preferably substantially equal, to enable it to release or extract therefrom the dose of ice cream it contains, with a view to its consumption.

 In the context of the present invention, the term "substantially spherical ball" means, by "sphere" or by "hemisphere", a volume close to the sphere or the hemisphere, such as sphere, hemisphere, ovotid, semiovoid, substantially spherical or semi-spherical volume with multifacets, etc.

 Also in the context of the present invention, the term "ice creams and the like" means ice creams, ice creams and sorbets, to which it is necessary to add various other food products capable of being packaged in this type of packaging. , and in particular cream-desserts, individual doses of fresh or processed cheeses, confectionery, fruit pulps to suck, frozen drinks in the solid state called "soft drinks" in the form of frozen crystals, etc ... , without this list being considered as limiting; however, for the convenience of the description, it will be appropriate to designate in the following, the content of the packages in accordance with the invention, under the generic name of "ice creams", it being understood that this term is intended to also encompass food products other than ice cream.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the new packaging means according to the present invention, it consists of two hemispheres arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to each other to form a sphere, assembled one at a time. 'other tightly by their symmetrical edges.

 According to an advantageous arrangement of this embodiment, the two half-spheres are assembled together by snap-fastening by means of snap-fastening means of corresponding appropriate profiles, carried opposite one another by the edges which are face each of the two hemispheres.

 According to another advantageous arrangement of this embodiment, the two half-spheres are assembled together by gluing or by welding, the assembly by gluing or welding possibly being able to constitute a means of reinforcing the assembly by snap-fastening.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the conditioning sphere according to the invention, the means for separating said sphere into two parts are constituted by a collar which respectively borders the edge of each of the two half-spheres, the separation being carried out by insertion of a nail between the two flanges applied one on the other.

 According to a preferred arrangement of the invention, said flanges are provided with means capable of further facilitating the separation of the two hemispheres.

These means are advantageously constituted by pull tabs carried respectively by the lower and upper flanges, preferably in locations offset from one another, or by notches or cutouts made in at least one of the two flanges, said notches or cutouts preferably being offset from one another when they are formed in the lower flange and in the upper flange respectively. According to another advantageous embodiment, these separation means consist of a difference in width of the two flanges.

 According to another preferred embodiment of the new packaging means in accordance with the present invention, this consists of a plate comprising a plurality of cells, each of which constitutes a hemisphere, for example a lower hemisphere, and by a number of hemispheres independent of each other, equal to the number of hemispheres integral with each other carried by the wafer, which independent hemispheres are assembled on the hemispheres integral, in particular by snap-fastening.

 As a variant of this embodiment, the packaging means according to the invention can be produced in the form of two plates in which symmetrical cells are arranged, superimposed and assembled to form a packaging means with multiple spheres.

 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the new packaging means according to the present invention, it consists of a sphere made in one piece, comprising an opening for the introduction of the ice cream and comprising, in addition3 at least one weakening line or a precut formed on the periphery of the sphere in an appropriately chosen plane, along which the separation of the sphere into two parts takes place, under the effect of a simple manual traction, to allow the release or extraction of the scoop of ice cream, for consumption.

 According to the invention, the packaging means are made of plastic or food-grade elastomer, of any suitable thickness, using the usual techniques in the matter, such as injection molding, thermoforming, blowing, conditioning sphere produced in a single piece being advantageously produced preferably by blowing or creep. The packaging means constituted by two half-spheres superimposed symmetrically either individually or by grouping into plates, are made of identical or different materials, of identical or different colors, transparent or not.

 According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the opening which is provided with the upper hemisphere of the packaging means in accordance with the invention, can be of any suitable shape allowing it to be conveniently filled, in particular using an extrusion nozzle; such an opening may advantageously be constituted by a circular, oval or other orifice, centered or not centered in the vertical axis of the packaging means, or by two lips or slots which intersect perpendicularly to each other, etc.

 The present invention also relates to a method for packaging ice creams and the like which is characterized in that the food product to be packaged is adjusted to a temperature and to a consistency suitable for allowing its dosage by extrusion or the like, then is distributed in the packaging means according to the invention, using a dosing nozzle which penetrates into the opening of said packaging means, after which the packaging means duly filled with the food product to be packaged are optionally subjected to a process freezing, before being put in boxes and / or cases.

 According to an advantageous embodiment of the packaging method according to the invention, particularly suitable for the packaging of ice creams, an ice cream composition, the temperature of which has previously been adjusted to +5 to + 80C, is placed in an enclosure whose the temperature is adjusted so as to lower the temperature of said composition to -3 to -7 C and in which air is incorporated to cause the expansion of said composition, after which the expanded composition, cooled to -3 to -70C is brought to a metering system maintained at a temperature of -3 to -70C, which distributes it in the packaging means in accordance with the present invention, by penetrating into the opening made in the upper part of said packaging means and the means of packaging duly filled with said composition are sent to a freezing chamber at -20 to -80 C from where they are evacuated to a packaging station.

 According to another advantageous embodiment of the packaging method in accordance with the present invention, more particularly applicable to the packaging of food products in packaging means consisting of two symmetrically superposed half-spheres, assembled by snap-fastening, snap-fastening of the two half-spheres spheres estr a 1 is ed by application of pressure.

 According to another advantageous embodiment of the packaging method in accordance with the present invention, more particularly applicable to the packaging of food products in packaging means constituted by two symmetrically superimposed hemispheres, assembled by snap-fitting, the snap-fastening is kept hermetically sealed during filling of the packaging means, by applying pressure, in order to avoid any infiltration of ice cream or the like into the snap joint plane.

 The present invention further relates to an ice cream packaging machine and the like of those comprising a tray supporting a plurality of rows - or tracks - parallel of cells or imprints, in advance step by step. not, which machine is characterized in that it comprises a device for storing the packaging means in accordance with the invention, a system for gripping said packaging means at the base of the storage device, to ensure their placement in the cells, a device for dosing the cream or the like to be packaged in said packaging means, comprising metering devices the number of which is equal to that of the parallel tracks of cells in the machine and a system for ejecting the filled packaging means, out of the machine.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the packaging machine according to the present invention, particularly suitable for packaging ice creams and the like in packaging means consisting of two symmetrically superposed hemispheres, it is characterized in that it includes a device for storing lower hemispheres, a device for storing upper hemispheres, means for gripping the lower hemispheres to ensure their positioning in the cells of the machine, means for gripping the half upper spheres to ensure their positioning on the lower half-spheres, latching means of the upper half-sphere on the lower half-sphere, an ice cream metering device or the like in the spheres assembled by snap-fastening, and a system for ejecting the filled packaging means from the machine.

 According to an advantageous arrangement of this embodiment, the means for gripping the lower hemispheres are constituted by a gripping suction cup.

 According to another advantageous arrangement of this embodiment, the means for gripping the upper hemispheres are constituted by a suction cup, which is advantageously coupled to a system for snapping the upper hemisphere onto the lower hemisphere.

 According to the invention, the latching system comprises means for applying pressure and is advantageously constituted by a pressure head or a jack mounted on a spring.

 Also in accordance with the invention, the machine is equipped with means for reversing the upper hemisphere to place it in a position of symmetry on the lower hemisphere, which reversing means are advantageously constituted by a rack device associated with the means. for gripping the upper hemispheres, which device causes the rotation of said gripping means carrying an upper hemisphere, about their support axis to allow the correct positioning of the upper hemisphere on the lower hemisphere.

 According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the metering device comprises continuously adjustable dosers and it is advantageously equipped with one or more product inlets to allow one or more different products to be dispensed in a packaging means. .

 According to an advantageous embodiment of these metering devices, these consist of a metering head comprising a product inlet, the opening and closing of which are controlled by the actuation of a piston.

 According to another advantageous arrangement of the invention, the machine is equipped with a hermetically sealed catch retention system during filling of the packaging means, in order to prevent infiltration of cream or the like in the plane. of snap joint, which system is constituted by lateral guides or by a pressure head, which are mounted on a spring.

 In accordance with the present invention, the machine is equipped with means for the automatic control of the different phases of the conditioning process carried out by said machine.

 In addition to the foregoing provisions, the invention also comprises other provisions, which will emerge from the description which follows.

 The invention relates more particularly to the packaging means for ice creams and the like as well as the packaging methods and machines, in accordance with the above provisions, the means used for the manufacture of said packaging means and the production of said equipment, as well as the production lines including said processes, apparatus and packaging means.

 The invention will be better understood with the aid of the additional description which follows, which refers to the appended drawings in which - FIGS. 1a, 1b, ic represent an embodiment of the packaging means in accordance with the present invention, - Figures 2 and 3 show various embodiments of the filling opening of the packaging means according to the invention, - Figures 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d show different embodiments of the latching means of two superimposed hemispheres assembled to form a packaging means in accordance with the invention, - Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, 6 and 7 show different embodiments of the separation means of two superimposed hemispheres assembled to form a means packaging according to the invention, - Figures 8 and 9 show two other embodiments of the packaging means according to the invention, - Figure 10 is a diagram of an embodiment isation of the packaging method according to the invention, - Figure 11 is a diagram of the successive operations performed by the packaging machine according to the invention, - Figure 12 is an overall diagram of a packaging machine to the invention, - Figure 13 is a schematic representation in front longitudinal section of the storage and positioning means in the cells of the machine, lower hemispheres of packaging means constituted by the assembly of a lower hemisphere and an upper hemisphere, - Figure 14 is a schematic representation in front longitudinal section of the storage and positioning means of the upper hemispheres of said packaging means on the corresponding lower hemisphere, - FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section, on a larger scale, of said means for positioning the upper half-spheres of FIG. 14, - FIG. 16 is a schematic view in front longitudinal section of a device for filling the packaging means according to the invention, and - FIG. 17 is a schematic view in longitudinal section, on a larger scale, of the sealing means of the latching during filling, associated with the filling device.

 it should be understood, however, that these drawings and the corresponding descriptive parts, are given solely by way of illustration of the subject of the invention, of which they do not in any way constitute a limitation.

 The packaging means represented in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c consist of two half-spheres of plastic or food-grade elastomer, which can be of identical or different materials, of different colors, transparent or not; for example, the lower hemisphere 1 can be made of white or colored polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) crystal or any other suitable material, and the upper hemisphere 2 can be made of crystal PVC (transparent) or in white or colored polystyrene. The upper hemisphere 2 is provided with a filling orifice which can, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1b and 1c, be of circular shape, 3, or appear, as in the figure 2, in the form of two lips 4 which intersect to form a cross or, as in Figure 3, in the form of two slots 5 which intersect perpendicularly to each other. it goes without saying that any other form of opening allowing the filling of the packaging means in accordance with the invention using a metering nozzle capable of penetrating said packaging means, may be suitable, the embodiments shown Figures 1 to 3 being given only by way of nonlimiting examples. It will easily be understood that although the openings 3, 4, 5 have been shown centered at the top of the packaging means, such an arrangement is not critical in that the openings can be arranged in ways different from those shown in the drawings.

 The packaging means shown in the drawings and in particular in FIGS. 1 to 7 and 9 are advantageously produced by any suitable means and in particular by injection molding, thermoforming, blowing or by a combination of several of these techniques.

 The dimensions of the packaging means according to the invention can be variable within wide limits; however, dimensions allowing the packaging of ready-to-use individual ice cream balls and the like are preferred, such packaging means of spherical shape then preferably having a diameter of the order of 5 cm and being suitable to contain a volume of approximately 50 to 60 ml of ice cream, ice cream or sorbet, for example, without these indications being limiting.

 The assembly of the two hemispheres 1 and 2 one on the other is advantageously carried out by gluing or welding or else by snap-fastening. FIGS. 4a to 4d show different snap-on profiles which are given by way of nonlimiting examples and which may be replaced by other snap-on profiles not shown in the drawings. It may prove advantageous to reinforce the assembly by snap-fastening by gluing or -welding the hemispheres snapped onto each other, to further improve the sealing of the packaging means according to the present invention.

it is also advantageous to provide each of the two half-spheres which form the packaging means according to the invention, with a collar 6, 7 whose role is to facilitate the separation of the two hemispheres at the consumption stage to release the scoop of ice cream or the like contained in the packaging means, for direct consumption after removing the upper hemisphere, or to extract it from its packaging for introduction into a cup by a waiter or by the housewife, before consumption. To further facilitate the separation of the two half-spheres at the consumption stage, it may be advantageous to provide the flanges 6,7 with tongues 8, 9 for separation by traction (cf. Figures 5a to suc); it is then advantageous for these tongues 8, 9, carried respectively by the lower flange 6 and by the upper flange 7, to be offset with respect to one another to facilitate the separation operation. Instead of the tongues 8, 9, it is possible to provide notches 10, which are also offset with respect to each other, respectively on the lower 6 and upper 7 flanges, the separation of the two hemispheres then being carried out by simple introduction of a nail in the corresponding notches (see Figure 6). The desired separation can also be obtained by giving the lower flange, 6a for example, a width greater than that of the upper flange 7a, thus allowing the separation of the two half spheres 1 and 2 by simple introduction of a nail between the two flanges 6a and 7a (cf. figure 7)
According to another embodiment, the packaging means according to the invention can be produced by blowing or creep, in a single piece to form a sphere 12 provided with a filling opening 13 and with pre-cuts 14 using from which the sphere is opened to release the scoop of ice cream or the like which it contains, by simple manual pulling at 54 (cf. FIG. 8).

 According to another embodiment - cf. Figure 9 -, the packaging means according to the invention comprise a plate 15 of plastic or elastomer produced by injection molding or thermoforming, comprising cells 16 which constitute lower hemispheres integral with each other, which cells are associated with upper hemispheres 17 independent of each other, produced by injection molding, thermoforming or blowing ye, for example, and each comprising a filling opening 18; the assembly of the upper half-spheres 17 with the cells 16 which constitute the lower half-spheres is advantageously obtained by bonding, welding or snap-fitting as described above, the snap-fitting assembly possibly being reinforced by bonding or welding.

 Such an embodiment has the advantage of allowing an interesting grouping on the commercial level: in fact, it is frequent to serve ice creams, for example in the form of two scoops, of different flavors in particular. Producing packaging walnuts in the form of a lower plate with two cells each closed by an upper half-sphere makes it possible to provide the consumer with a ready-to-use grouping. Similarly, it can be advantageous for the consumer, restaurateur or housewife, to be able to have a group comprising a plurality of integral packaging means, which makes their storage and availability easier, so that the packaging means in the form of blisters in accordance with the present invention, can be made so as to include a plurality of integral spheres, 6, 8, 12 and more for example, detachable from the wafer along a precut from manufacturing for example.

 Of course, although there has been shown and described in the foregoing an embodiment in which only the lower hemispheres are joined in the form of a plate, it goes without saying that other alternative embodiments are possible and in particular the variant according to which it is the upper hemispheres which are joined together while the lower hemispheres are independent of each other and the variant according to which both the upper hemispheres and the lower hemispheres are secured in a wafer and assembled by superposition in the plane of symmetry of the packaging means and snap-fastening and / or gluing and / or welding.

 In accordance with the present invention, the wise filling of the packaging means according to the invention1 with ice cream or the like is carried out by introducing into them a quantity dosed according to the volume of said packaging means, of the food product to be packaged, to through the opening (3, 4, 5, 13,18) provided for this purpose at the upper part of said packaging means. An embodiment of the method has been shown by way of non-limiting example in FIG. 10. conditioning die according to the invention, particularly suitable for the packaging of ice creams, ice creams and sorbets, in which an ice cream composition is prepared during a first step, 19 which is adjusted to a temperature of the order of about + 70C, then placed, during a second step 20, in a turbine engine which transfers its frigories to said composition to lower the temperature thereof to -3 to - About 60C, while the composition is expanded by injecting air, for example. At the end of the refrigeration step 20, 1 composition, cooled down to -60 ° C., is brought to this temperature at a packaging machine, designated generally by the reference 21, which can be a rotary machine or a linear machine, and which will be described in more detail below. In this packaging machine, the packaging means according to the invention are filled with the food product to be packaged, by dynamic volumetric dosing or by injection, via the opening (3,4,5,13 or 18) provided in said packaging means, at the entrance of which the product metering device penetrates to ensure precise filling of said packaging means. The packaging method according to the present invention, in its application to the packaging of products in a sphere or the like consisting of two hemispheres assembled symmetrically one on the other, provides for the positioning of the lower hemisphere (1 for example), in cells 25 provided for this purpose in the machine, then the positioning of the upper hemisphere (2 for example), on the lower hemisphere (1), possibly after having returned after it leaves storage means in order to put it in the closed position relative to the lower hemisphere, the application of an assembly force or pressure P1 to cause the locking of the two hemispheres 1, 2, one on top of the other and close the packaging sphere, as well as the application of a pressure P2 to keep the snap closed hermetically during the filling process of the closed packaging means, at the using an appropriate dosing device 26 .

 The packaging means duly filled with the packaged food product are then ejected from the packaging machine by any suitable means 24, to be packaged during a step 23 and. When said products are ice creams or the like, they are brought, before the packaging step 23, to a freezing step 22 where they are frozen at a temperature of the order of -20 to -300C.

 The packaging machine used in the context of the invention can be a rotary machine or a linear machine with step-by-step advance. There are commercially available rotary or linear machines of the type comprising a plate in which are formed cells distributed in a plurality of rows - or parallel tracks, such as, for example, linear machines of the "Viking" type. produced and marketed by ALFA-LXVAL-HOYER. The packaging machine according to the present invention comprises improvements to this type of known machine, which are intended to allow the packaging of ice creams or the like in the packaging means in accordance with the invention, and to allow the complete automation of the packaging process carried out by the machine according to the invention.

The packaging machine shown as a whole in FIG. 12 is described, by way of example, with reference to the use of packaging means constituted by two half-spheres superimposed symmetrically, but its operation and its ~ Adaptation for packaging in means constituted, for example, by a sphere or the like produced in a single piece, or by plates of several integral packaging means. It comprises a plate assembly 27 in which is formed a plurality of cells 25 arranged in one track or in a plurality of tracks 28 (1 to 8 tracks for example), mutually parallel and parallel to the drive axis of the plate 27, which assembly 27 is driven step by step, by a geared motor for example (not shown); it further comprises a storage device 29 for a plurality of lower hemispheres, associated with means 30 for gripping and placing successive lower hemispheres in each of the cells 25 of a section of the tracks perpendicular to the drive axis of the plate, brought opposite said means 30;; it further comprises a storage device 31 dlune plurality of upper hemispheres, as associated with means 32 for gripping and setting position of successive upper hemispheres on each of the lower hemispheres placed in the cells of a section of tracks perpendicular to the drive axis of the plate 27, which gripping means 32 may possibly be associated with means for turning over said upper half-spheres, which will be described later and / or for latching means 33 of the upper half-spheres on the lower half-spheres, which will also be described later. packaging according to the invention is further equipped with a metering device 34 of the food product to be packaged in the packaging means according to the invention, through the opening formed in them , and from a device 35 for ejecting the filled packaging means, to a packaging belt (not shown), possibly to a freezing station (22) and to a packaging station (23). 36 allows movement and synchronization of the operation of the devices 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, the automatic control of which is carried out from a control panel 55,
The storage device 29 for lower hemispheres contains a plurality of lower hemispheres stacked one on top of the other (not shown) and is equipped with a gripping system such as a suction cup 30 which, during a cycle step-by-step stop of the assembly 27, ascends to seek a hemisphere in the storage device 29 then descends to deposit it in a cell 25. The unstacking of the hemispheres at the base of the storage device 29 is done either naturally, due to the elasticity of the material from which the hemisphere is made, with respect to stops 37 provided at the base of the device 29, or using finger systems (not shown ) which release the half-sphere to be put in place in a corresponding cell 25, when it is taken up by suction by the suction cup 30 (cf. FIG. 13). The reciprocating movement of the suction cups 30 is transmitted to them via the axis 56, the movement of which is controlled by a cam (not shown).

 The storage device 31 for upper hemispheres contains a plurality of upper hemispheres stacked one on top of the other (not shown) and is equipped with a gripping system such as a suction cup 32 of suitable shape. -the upper spheres are stacked in the device 31 in the correct position for positioning on the lower hemispheres, it is, of course, not necessary to provide a turning device for placing said upper half-spheres in the correct position. Otherwise, a turning system 38, with a rack for example, controlled by a cam 39 which transfers its movement to it via the axis 40, is associated with the axis 41 for supporting the suction cups 32, so as to rotate said suction cups 32 about their axis 41, to return the upper hemispheres 2 to the required position to allow them to come to rest on a lower hemisphere positioned in a cell e 25 of plate 27 (see fig, 14).

 According to the invention, the suction cup 32 to which the vacuum is supplied by the line 42, is advantageously associated with a latching device which comprises a pressure head43 mounted on a calibrated spring 44, which exerts a latching pressure in the joint plane of the conditioning sphere to snap the two hemispheres one onto the other (see fig. 15).

 It may be advantageous to provide the latching device 43-44 with a welding jaw or a glue distributor (not shown) to reinforce the mutual fixing of the two hemispheres to each other. .

It is also possible to dissociate the gripping suction cup from the upper half-spheres, from the latching device, the latter then entering into operation during the step-by-step forward movement which follows the gripping step and possibly from reversal of the upper hemisphere (as shown schematically in Figure 12)
The filling device 34 comprises a plurality of metering devices, the number of which is preferably equal to the number of tracks 28 of the plate 27, so as to simultaneously fill the packaging spheres arranged in the same section of cells perpendicular to the axis. These are preferably infinitely adjustable up to the volume of the sphere and are adapted to the viscosity of the product to be packaged. it is advantageous to provide the dosers with several products, by several product feeds, possibly communicating with each other, in order to be able to introduce several different products - or several "mixes" of different flavors in the case of ice creams, ice creams or sorbets or to be able to introduce two different products or perfumes in a grouping of two or more united packaging.

Color as shown in Figure 16, these dispensers have at least unp
arrival of product 45 in -a dosing head 46 which is driven by a
alternative movement of descent and ascent communicated to it by the motion transfer axis 47 associated with a cam system not shown, mounted on the frame 48 of the machine and controlled from the control panel 55. arrival of the closed packaging spheres, at the filling station, stopping the step-by-step advance triggers a cam system which drives the axis 47 associated with the support axis 51 of the filling device, to cause the descent of the metering heads 46 carried by said axis 51 and their penetration into the opening formed at the top of the conditioning spheres, at the same time as the actuation of the piston 49 for opening the product inlet 45 (By a system of jacks 50 for example). During the filling of the conditioning spheres, the two half-spheres snapped one on the other are kept hermetically sealed by means of a holding device in pressure which includes, for example le, a pressure head 52 mounted on a calibrated spring 53, in order to avoid the output of ice cream or the like in the joint plane of the snap-fastening (see FIG. 17) When the intended dose of product has been introduced into the coating sphere, a system of cams causes the displacement of the axis 47 and, consequently, the ascent of the dosing heads 46 and the closing of the arrival of the product by ascent of the piston 49 (cf. figure 17).

 A new step-by-step advance brings the filled packaging spheres to an ejection station 35 where an ejection means such as a pusher 24 pushes the filled packaging sphere out of its cell 25, to cause it to fall onto a packaging mat or the like (not shown), before being sent to other processing stages (such as freezing, packaging, etc.).

 The machine according to the invention described in the foregoing makes it possible to carry out the packaging operations entirely automatically. In its application to the packaging of spheres made in one piece, the machine according to the invention can be considerably simplified in that it is not necessary to provide it with a latching device, or with holding means. pressure snap.

 it emerges from the above description that whatever the modes of implementation and embodiments adopted, means, methods and packaging apparatus are obtained which, compared to the means for the same purpose previously known, important advantages which emerge from the above description, as well as other advantages which will emerge from the use of said means, methods and packaging apparatus.

 As is apparent from the above, the invention is in no way limited to those of its modes of implementation, embodiment and application which have just been described more explicitly; on the contrary, it embraces all the variants which may come to the mind of the technician in the matter, without departing from the scope, or the scope, of the present invention.

Claims (18)

CLAIMS 1) New means of packaging, characterized in that it consists of a substantially spherical ball made of food-grade plastic or elastomer, comprising an opening for filling said ball with a dose of ice cream or the like , and comprising, in addition, means for separating said scoop into two parts, preferably substantially equal, in order to make it possible to release or extract therefrom the dose of ice cream it contains, for consumption .  20) Packaging means according to Claim 1, characterized in that it consists of two hemispheres (1, 2) arranged substantially symmetrically one on the other, to form a sphere, assembled to one another tightly by their symmetrical edges.  30) Packaging means according to Claim 2, characterized in that the two half-spheres (1,2) are assembled together by snap-fastening with the aid of snap-fastening means of corresponding appropriate profiles carried opposite one of the other by the edges which face each of the half-spheres.  4) Packaging means according to Claim 2, characterized in that the two half-spheres are assembled together by gluing or by welding.  50) Packaging means according to Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the snap-on assembly is reinforced by gluing or by welding.  6) Packaging means according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means for separating said sphere into two parts consist of a flange (6,7) which respectively borders the edge of each of the two half -spheres, the separation being carried out by insertion of a nail between the two flanges applied one on the other.  70) Packaging means according to Claim 6, characterized in that the said flanges are provided with means capable of further facilitating the separation of the two hemispheres, advantageously constituted by pull tabs (8, 9) carried respectively by the flanges lower and upper.  80) Packaging means according to Claim 6, characterized in that said flanges are provided with means capable of further facilitating the separation of the two hemispheres, constituted by notches or cutouts (10,11) made in at least one 'one of the two flanges.  90) A packaging means according to any one of Claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said tongues (8,9), notches or cutouts (10, 11), are offset from one another.  100) Packaging means according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is constituted by a plate (15) comprising a plurality of cells (16) each of which constitutes a hemisphere, and by a number of hemispheres ( 17) independent from each other, equal to the number of half-spheres (16) integral with each other carried by the plate (15), which independent half-spheres are assembled on the integral half-spheres; in particular by snap-fastening.  11) Packaging means according to Claim 10, characterized in that the lower hemispheres and the upper hemispheres are produced in the form of plates in which a plurality of hemispheres are joined together r the upper and lower plates being symmetrically superimposed and assembled by any appropriate means  120) Means of packaging according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is constituted by a sphere (12) made in one piece, comprising an opening (13) for the introduction of the cream in packs and further comprising at minus a weakening line (14) or a precut formed on the periphery of the sphere in an appropriately chosen plane, along which the separation of the sphere into two parts takes place, under the effect of a simple manual pull (in 54), to allow the release or extraction of the scoop of ice cream for consumption.  130) Means of packaging according to any one of Claims I to 12, characterized in that the opening which is provided with the upper hemisphere of said packaging means is constituted by a circular orifice, oval or the like, centered or not in the vertical axis of the packaging means.  140) Packaging means according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the opening which is provided with the upper hemisphere of said packaging means is constituted by a slot.  15 O) means of packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the opening which is provided with the upper hemisphere of said packaging means is constituted by a pair of lips.  166) Packaging means according to any one of Claims 1 to 12; characterized in that the opening which is provided with an upper hemisphere of said conditioning means is constituted by lips (4) or slots (5) which intersect each other, dicularly between them.  17 ") Process for packaging ice creams and the like, characterized in that the food product to be packaged is adjusted to a temperature and a consistency suitable for allowing its dosage by extrusion or the like, then is distributed in the packaging means according to Any one of Claims 1 to 16, using a dosing nozzle which penetrates into the cover of said packaging means, after which the packaging means duly filled with the food product to be packaged are possibly subjected to a freezing process, before to be packed in boxes and / or cases.  180) Method according to Claim 17, particularly suitable for the packaging of ice creams, characterized in that an ice cream composition whose temperature has previously been adjusted to +5 to + 80 These places in an enclosure whose temperature is adjusted so to lower the temperature of said composition to -3 to -70C and in which air is incorporated to cause the swelling of said composition, after which the expanded composition, cooled to -3 to -70C, is brought to a system metering maintained at a temperature of -3 to -7 0C, which distributes it in the de-cDnditionnement according to 1 'any dice Claims 1 to 1G by penetration into the opening in the upper part of said condItIonnement, and the packaging means duly filled with said composition are sent to a freezing chamber at -20 to -800C from where they are evacuated to a packaging station.  190) Method according to any one of Claims 17 or 18, more particularly applicable to the packaging of food products in packaging means constituted by two symmetrically superposed half-spheres, assembled by snap-fastening, characterized in that the snap-fastening of the two half -spheres is produced by applying pressure (P1).  20) Method according to any one of Claims 17 to 19, more particularly applicable to the packaging of food products in packaging means constituted by two symmetrically superposed half-spheres, assembled by snap-fastening, characterized in that the snap-fastening is kept hermetically tightly closed during filling of the packaging means, by applying pressure (P2), in order to avoid any infiltration of ice cream or the like into the snap joint plane.  21) Machine for packaging ice creams and the like of the type comprising a plate supporting a plurality of rows, - or tracks - parallel of cells or cavities, in step-by-step advance, which machine is characterized in that it comprises a device for storing the packaging means according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, a system for gripping said packaging means at the base of the storage device, to ensure  their installation in the cells, a device for dosing the cream or the like to be packaged in said packaging means, and a system of e c e n e c t i o n means of e c o n d i t i o n n m m e e t e m p l i s outside the machine.  220) Packaging machine according to Claim 21, particularly suitable for packaging ice creams and the like in packaging means constituted by two symmetrically superposed half-spheres, characterized in that it comprises a storage device (29) for half lower spheres, a storage device (31) for upper hemispheres, means for gripping the lower hemispheres to ensure their placement in the cells (25) of the machine, means for gripping (32) the hemispheres upper to ensure their placement on the lower hemispheres, latching means (33) of the upper hemisphere on the lower hemisphere, a metering device (34) of ice cream or the like in the assembled spheres by snap-fastening and an ejection system (24) of the filled packaging means, out of the machine.  230) Packaging machine according to Claim 22, characterized in that the means for gripping the lower hemispheres are constituted by a gripping suction cup (30).  240) Packaging machine according to Claim 22, characterized in that the means for gripping the upper hemispheres are constituted by a ven cough (32), which is optionally advantageously coupled  to a click system of the upper hemisphere (2) s  the lower hemisphere (1).  250) Packaging machine according to Revendica  tion 24, characterized in that the latching system  includes means for applying pressure and is  advantageously constituted by a pressure head or a  cylinder (43) mounted on a spring (44).  260) Packaging machine according to any one  as in Claims 21 to 25, characterized in that it  is equipped with means for reversing the half-sphere su  to put it in a position of symmetry on the half  lower sphere, which turning means (38) are provided  taggedly constituted by a rack device as  associated with the gripping means (32) of the upper half-spheres  (2), which device causes the rotation of said means  gripping (32) carrying an upper hemisphere (2), around  of their support axis (4l), to allow correct positioning  rect of the upper half-sphere on -the lower half-sphere  better.  270) Packaging machine according to which one  conch of Claims 21 or 22, characterized in that  that the dosing device includes adjustable dosers  continuously and is advantageously equipped with a  or more product arrivals to allow  distribution of one or more different products in  one or more conditioning means.  280) packaging machine according to Claim 27, characterized in that the metering device comprises a plurality of metering units, preferably a number equal to that of the tracks of the machine,  each of which is constituted by a dosing head (46) comprising a product edge (45) whose opening and closing are coerrmdées by actuation of a piston (49).  29) Packaging machine according to any one of Rr  sections 21 to 28, characterized in that it is fitted with a hermetically sealed latching retention system during filling of the packaging means, in order to avoid infiltration of cream or the like in the joint plane of the latching, which system is constituted by lateral guides or by a pressure head (52), which are mounted on a spring (53).  30) 'Packaging machine according to any one of Claims 21 to 29, characterized in that it is equipped with means for the automatic control of the different phases of the packaging process carried out by said machine, which comprise a set of axes transfer of movement associated on the one hand with the various positions of the machine and on the other hand with cams for controlling said movements and for synchronizing the operation of said positions.