DESCRIPTION FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a package of a plurality of containers for food products or beverages, in particular cans, with a protection device. Said container in particular are hermetically sealed, disposable, typically non-reclosable, intended for primary packaging.

The package is adapted to protect the containers by applying a hygienic protection device that prevents contamination of the lid that can be opened from production until the moment the content is used, in order to ensure hygienically convenient consumption conditions. Simultaneously said protection device is adapted to hold the containers in place to guarantee the tightness of the package.

The packaging is obtained by means of an embodiment method particularly suitable for this function.

BACKGROUND

Containers for food products or beverages are products whose use is very widespread.

They can consist of different metallic materials such as, for example but not exclusively, aluminium or steel.

Typically, a steel can is made up of three pieces, with the body having a cylindrical or rectangular section, closed by welding or crimping, the lid and bottom always applied by crimping.

An aluminium can is usually made up of two pieces; the cylindrical body and the bottom are obtained by deep drawing, the moulded lid is applied by crimping. Beverage cans are very popular, also thanks to the fact that they do not require specific tools for opening, but simply the actuation of an opening member, normally called tab, which preferably remains joined to the container.

However, in particular during the transport and storage phases, said containers risk being contaminated by physical, chemical and biological agents.

During and after opening the can, the contents can in turn get contaminated, coming into contact with the external surface of the container, even in an extremely dangerous way for the health of the consumer.

Said problem also occurs due to the shape of the opening member which is generally made in such a way that during opening part of the lid is introduced into the container and comes into contact with the contents.

Furthermore, the improper use of drinking directly from the can, as if it were a glass, bringing the mouth in direct contact with the contaminated surface, is very widespread.

Different types of packages are known in the state of the art, which group several cans for sale. Said packages are mainly intended to hold the containers in place and facilitate their transport and storage, but they do not solve the hygiene

problems.

The simplest and cheapest known packaging systems provide for holding several cans together by means of multiple plastic rings which are positioned under the lids. This package, while being very simple and cheap, has the disadvantage of not protecting the surface of the can which will come into contact with the product. It is also the cause of serious ecological problems, mainly related to an incorrect disposal and the ring conformation which tends to damage mainly marine fauna. Other types of known packages are for example bundles in which a certain number of cans are bandaged together by means of a plastic film. Said type of packaging, however, does not provide for any effective system to prevent contamination of the surface of the can which may come into contact with the product.

On the contrary, in said packages the closed spaces between film and lid, subjected to the action of heat and light, in the presence of oxygen and humidity, become an excellent space for the proliferation of microorganisms.

Other packaging systems, such as clusters, provide for grouping and holding multiple cans using cardboard packages.

Also in this case the function is to group the containers, but not to protect them hygienically.

With regards to clusters, in addition to aforesaid problems, the permeability of the materials employed is added which further undermines the effectiveness of the protection.

Some attempts, rather than grouping together, that have mainly the purpose of protecting the cans during storage and transport with means ranging from multiple encapsulation up to single caps/seals, in aluminium or plastic, coupled as coverings to the lid of the container, are known in the state of the art.

Although a certain degree of protection of the can surface from coarse dirt deposits is guaranteed by said systems, they have generally not been successful due, for example, to the presence of oxygen and humidity owing to the imperfect adherence between the protection and the lid or the permeability of the materials used. In fact, the closed spaces between covering and lid, subjected to the action of heat and light, in the presence of oxygen and humidity, become an excellent space for the proliferation of microorganisms.

Furthermore, said protections do not fully adhere to the surface to be protected, therefore there is no guarantee that they will effectively remain in place until the can is opened for the consumption of its contents.

Protection devices applied in the liquid state which solidify successively, when they are already applied to the can, are also known in the state of the art. Said solutions perfectly follow the shape of the can and therefore do not present the problems mentioned above for the protections of the lid type.

The problem with protection devices made using liquid solutions is that of not being adequately suitable for the contact with food.

In fact, the substances/solutions/liquid suspensions used have a residual portion of free monomers after hardening which are not free of migration phenomena.

In particular, it is found that the faster the solidification of the liquid phase, the greater the residual portion of free monomers and this is what happens in the case of can filling plants, which generally have very high rates and do not allow adequate solidification times.

It should be noted that the protection systems described above, in addition to the problems highlighted, do not perform the function of packaging in the sense of grouping and holding together several containers to facilitate their handling and storage. EXPOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a package of a plurality of containers for food products or beverages, in particular cans with protection device and related application method, structurally and functionally designed to overcome one or more of the above limits exposed with reference to the known prior art.

In the context of aforesaid problem, a main object of the invention is to develop a package for food products or beverages with protection device and related method and application apparatus, which allows both to group and hold several containers in place and to protect the external surface of said container, which normally comes into contact with the contents during its opening and subsequent consumption, in a hygienically safe manner.

An object of the present invention is to make available to the art a package for food products or beverages with protection device and related method of application, within the framework of a simple, rational solution that allows to reduce the use of packaging materials.

These and other objects are reached by the characteristics of the invention as set forth in the independent claims. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

In particular, an embodiment of the present invention makes available a package of a plurality of containers for food products or beverages, in particular cans, arranged in parallel or in quinconce rows. A container comprises a body, to which a closing member is firmly connected, the upper surface of which may carry an opening member 212 for the leakage of the contents.

Said package comprises a protection device adapted to protect and group/hold the containers in place by a film providing for at least one covering surface which extends to cover all the closing members of the plurality of the containers.

Said covering surface defines adhesion portions in which each respective part or zone extends to cover the whole upper surface of each closing member of each container composing the package and said adhesion portion is shaped according to the opposite part or zone of each upper surface by shapeability properties and adhering thereto by adhesive properties, such that the film bonds to each container and is removable/peelable by tearing.

The protection device groups and hold in place several containers and furthermore, thanks to the characteristics of the film employed and the application process, both adherence, that is the perfect contact of the opposite surfaces and the adhesion, that is the bonding of the film on the lid, are achieved, both of fundamental importance for the effectiveness of the protection.

In particular, each adhesion portion of the film extends to cover the whole upper accessible surface of the closing member of each container.

Each part or zone of the adhesion portion of the film is completely adherent on the entire external surface of the closing member and in particular has the characteristic of adhering/bonding to the protrusions and/or recesses present on the upper surface and on the opening member.

On the one hand this makes the package more solid, but above all together with other aspects of the device described below, it prevents the presence of air and humidity between the upper surface of the closing member or lid and the covering surface of the film, blocking the proliferation of microorganisms.

Thanks to this solution, the use of packaging material for manufacturing the package is reduced as the protective device does not bind the layer of the containers as is the case in a bundle, but only covers the upper surface. Therefore, compared to a bundle, the amount of plastic material used is significantly reduced.

To ensure a better capacity of the package to hold the containers in place, the solution may further comprise connection members to connect the body and/or the bottom of each container with at least the body and/or the bottom of the adjacent container, respectively.

For example, said connection members can comprise a lower film which provides for at least one adhering surface which extends to adhere to at least one portion of the bottom of the containers composing the package, and said adhering surface is preferably glued by such adhesive properties as to make that the lower film preferably bonds to the containers and is removable/peelable by tearing. Thanks to this solution, a good mechanical tightness of the package is guaranteed while using a reduced quantity of packaging material compared to known packages.

According to an aspect of the invention, the adhesion portion comprises a side covering surface which extends beyond the upper surface, going to adhere to the outer edge of the closing member.

Thanks to this aspect, the sealing of the upper surface of the container is better guaranteed, improving the prevention of external contaminations.

To further guarantee this aspect, a feature of the invention provides that the side portion of the film is anchored in the interspace between the side surface and the outer edge of the closing member.

Said anchoring and sealing effect has also the function of further increasing the firmness of the device.

Preferably the film is of the multi-layered type, and preferably comprises at least one barrier layer, with reduced permeability to gases and/or water vapour, preferably being added with EVOH (Ethylene-Vinyl-Alcohol).

This aspect guarantees the barrier effect of the protection device against vapours and gases.

Preferably there is also at least one layer with characteristics suitable to confer appropriate tensile strength and puncture resistance to the film.

An aspect of the invention is that the adhesion /bonding of the film to the surface of the closing member of the container reaches values such that it can remain peelable manually and therefore allow easy removal of the protection at the moment of consumption. This aspect is made possible by the fact that the film comprises, at least on the covering surface, an added layer of a thermo-adhesive polymer, preferably, but not limited to, EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate), for generating adhesive properties, preferably actuatable by heat, such as to allow a good adhesion/bonding also on, but not limited to, the bisphenol A- based epoxy resins that are present on the container.

A further advantage of the invention is linked to the fact that the film and/or the lower film comprises predetermined breaking points arranged preferably between a container and the other one, adapted to facilitate the release of the single container from the package.

Furthermore, said predetermined breaking points of the film are arranged so that, once the single container has been released, it maintains the adhesion portion of the covering surface which extends to cover the whole upper surface of the closing member of said container adherent.

This provides an important advantage which is that of allowing the maintenance of the hygienic protection provided by the adhesion portion, even on the single can, once it is withdrawn from the package. Therefore the container remains hygienically protected until it is opened and consumed.

Another aspect of the invention is that of making available a process for manufacturing one or more packages of containers for food products or beverages, in particular a can, by a protection device comprising a film, characterized in that it provides for arranging the same film at the upper surface of each closing member of the plurality of the containers to be packaged, and for shaping and adhering each respective part or zone of the adhesion portions of the covering surface of said film to the opposite part or zone of each upper surface by means of shapeability properties and by adhesive properties, such that the film bonds to each container and is removable/peelable by tearing.

Thanks to this process, a hygienically effective application of the protection device and an application capable of holding the cans in place for their storage and handling are guaranteed.

Said process preferably provides for applying the protection device according to at least one positioning step, a preparation step and an application step.

The positioning step provides for making a layer formed by a plurality of containers arranged in parallel or in quinconce rows, said layer adapted to define one or more packages and provides for positioning and holding the film above the layer of containers to be packaged and in the proximity of the respective closing members.

The preparation step provides for gradually creating the vacuum on both sides of the film, balancing the pressure values so that the same film does not contact the closing member of the containers; preferably simultaneously it provides for making the film suitably shapeable by means of a step of irradiation and/or contact and/or convection heating and preferably until activating its thermo-adhesive properties and/or its thermoplastic properties. The application step for applying the film to the containers provides for approaching the film to the closing members of the layer 601 of containers or vice versa, until bringing said film in contact with the outer edge of the closing member to implement the adhesion/welding/bonding thereof; then it provides for restoring the atmospheric pressure or a balanced temporary overpressure that is preferably the same above and below the film so as to keep the film in place between a container 200 and the other one, and to push, press, and adhere the adhesion portion of the covering surface against the upper surface, and preferably to push, press, and adhere the covering side portion about the outer edge of the closing member and preferably on a portion of the side surface of the body below the closing member, and further preferably to insert said covering side portion into the interspace that is present between the side surface and the outer edge of the closing member.

The advantages of said application in particular by vacuum are due to the fact that the film:

- closely follows the profile of the container, thus being inserted into interspaces and recesses without however totally incorporating appendixes of the container, such as for example the opening member, which would make it impossible to remove the protection later;

- does not retain air bubbles, even in the most inaccessible recesses, such as for example below the opening member, thanks to the vacuum that, created during the application phase, is kept throughout the whole shelf life of the product;

- bonds on the whole accessible surface of the lid of the container, not only on limited portions of said surface.

The fact of remaining under vacuum is further guaranteed by the barrier property of the film used against vapours and gases, so as to prevent the proliferation of microorganisms.

A possible embodiment also provides for arranging connection members to connect the body and/or the bottom of each container with at least the body and/or the bottom of the adjacent container, respectively.

Thanks to this solution, the mechanical strength of the package and its ability to hold the containers in place even in case of the storage and handling of said packages increase.

In particular, the process can provide for arranging a lower film at the bottom of the plurality of containers forming the layer to be packaged and provides for adhering the adherent surface to at least one portion of the bottom by adhesive properties of said adhering surface, such that the lower film bonds to each container and is removable/peelable by tearing.

In this case, the application of said lower film can take place simultaneously with the application of the protection device, and preferably by means of the positioning, preparation and application steps which will be described in detail below.

A preferred embodiment provides that during the preparation step and in particular in the heating step, it is provided for keeping the film and the lower film in a tensioned position, by tensioning or abutting means, preferably until the application step thereof.

Thanks to this aspect, excessive and uncontrolled deformations of the films are avoided, which can affect the perfect adhesion with the application surfaces.

In order to further guarantee this aspect, the process can provide, before the application step of the film, supporting the side covering surface of the adhesion portion which extends past the outer edge, by resting means that are configured not to generate an adhesion with the film and that are configured to be able to be withdrawn, once the one or more packages have been manufactured.

At the end of the process, it can be provided, after the application step, a cutting step, in which the excess film is cut after the application, and/or the film is cut between a container and the other one for the subdivision of the layer into packages containing subsets of containers adjacent to each other.

Said objects and advantages are all achieved by the container for food products or beverages with protection device and related method and application apparatus, object of the present invention, which is characterized by what is provided in the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This and other features will be more apparent from the following description of some of the embodiments, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings.

- Figure 1 : illustrates an axonometric view of a container, in particular a can;

- Figure la: illustrates a section view of a container, in particular a can;

- Figure 2: illustrates a section view of a package, of a plurality of cans with a protection device;

- Figure 3: illustrates a section view of a package, of a plurality of cans with a protection device and connection members;

- Figure 4: illustrates a top view of a package of cans on which the protection device is applied;

- Figure 5: illustrates a bottom view of a package of cans on which the lower film is applied;

- Figure 6: illustrates a top view of a layer of cans on which the protection device is applied before its subdivision into predetermined packages;

- Figure 7: illustrates a section view of a portion of the container, in particular a single can, on which the protection device is applied.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With particular reference to Figure 1, a container 200 for food products or beverages is shown.

In particular, a can for beverages is represented, which is one of the containers that mostly presents hygienic problems due to its shape and the habits of use of the consumers that are often improper.

In the following the term "can" can be used instead of container, without limiting the scope of protection of the invention.

Said type of container 200 generally comprises a body 220 to which a closing member 210, generally called lid, is firmly connected. As shown in Figures 1 and la, the closing member 210 comprises a substantially flat upper surface 211 and a raised outer edge 213.

In Figure la, said upper surface 211 comprises a circular recess 214, normally called milling, located in the proximity of the edge 213.

The upper surface 211 may also carry an opening member 212 for the leakage of the contained product and in this case of the beverage.

Said opening member protrudes with respect to the upper surface 211 and gives rise to recesses placed between itself and the closing member 210.

The edge 213 is configured to connect the closing member

210 to the body 220 for example by crimping. Generally, after the normal filling process, the container 200 is closed by, for example, double crimping between the closing member 210 and the body 220 of the can.

An interspace 222 is therefore created between the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210 and a side surface 221 of the body 220.

A package 600 of a plurality of containers 200 for food products or beverages, in particular a can, on which a protection device 100 adapted to protect but also to group, hold the containers 200 in place forms the object of the invention.

A preferred embodiment provides that said protection device 100 comprises a film 300.

Said film 300 in turn comprises at least one covering surface 310 which extends to cover all the closing members 210 of the plurality of the containers 200 composing the package 600.

In particular said covering surface 310 defines adhesion portions 301 in which each respective part or zone extends to cover the whole upper surface 211 of each closing member 210 of each container 200 composing the package 600.

Said adhesion portion 301 is shaped according to the opposite part or zone of each upper surface 211 by shapeability properties and adhering thereto by adhesive properties, such that the film 300 bonds to each container 200 and is removable/peelable by tearing.

Each respective part or zone of the adhesion portion 301 of the film 300 is such as to adhere completely on the entire upper surface 211 of the closing member 210 and in particular has the characteristic of going to adhere to all the protrusions that are present on the upper surface 211 and on the opening member 212 and closing all the recesses present between the upper surface 211 and the opening member 212. The protection device 100 behaves like an adherent skin that bonds in a peelable/removable/non-permanent way, creating the hygienic protection in the same way on the whole affected surface.

More specifically, the adhesion portion 301 adheres like a skin, which is bonded in each part or zone of contact with the opposite surfaces of the container, for example by entering the circular recess 214 located in the proximity of the edge 213.

This prevents the entry of both contamination and gases and vapours between the upper surface 211 and the adhesion portion 301, also preventing the proliferation of microorganisms.

According to an aspect of the invention, the adhesion portion 301 comprises a side covering surface 301' which extends beyond the upper surface 211 going to adhere to the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210.

The side covering surface 301' can extend and adhere to a portion of the side surface 221 of the body 220 below the closing member 210. Thanks to this aspect, the insulation of the upper surface 211 of the container 200 from external contamination is more guaranteed.

Contrary to what happens with other systems which provide for only partial bonding, and in particular at the raised edge 213, the combination of adherence and adhesion like a skin that characterizes the invention allows to maintain a high degree of hygienic protection even in the presence of punctures of the adhesion portion 301, since any external contamination is prevented from reaching other points of the surface to be protected that are not strictly those exposed at the puncture itself.

A characteristic of the invention, shown in Figure 7, provides that the side covering surface 301 of the film 300 enters the interspace 222 present between the side surface 221 and the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210 to further improve the anchoring in place of the device 100 and sealing the surface to be protected.

To obtain adhesion, which prevents both the removal and the possible entry of contamination between the protection device 100 and the container 200, the film 300 and in particular the covering surface 310 preferably has adhesive properties.

Said properties combined to the shapeability properties are preferably, but not exclusively actuatable by heating the film 300 itself since according to another aspect of the invention, the film 300 is preferably a film made of thermoplastic material.

For example, a type of material that may be suitable for said application is a polyethylene plastic film comprising additives such as to activate adhesive properties for the adhesion to various materials such as for example for example aluminium or epoxy resins with bisphenol A, with which the surface of the can lid is normally treated.

The type of material used for said films 300 can be, for example, the one normally used for the skin packaging of food products.

In fact, said film 300 further preferably has properties suitable for food use.

A preferred embodiment also provides that the film 300 is of the barrier type, that is to say with reduced permeability, preferably impermeable to gases and/or water vapour and further preferably of the multi-layered type.

In particular, the film 300 comprises, at least on the covering surface 310, a layer added with a thermo adhesive polymer, preferably but not exclusively EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). Said polymer is adapted to generate adhesive properties, preferably actuatable by heat, such as to allow a good adhesion/bonding also on, but not limited to, the bisphenol A- based epoxy resins that are present on the container 200.

Preferably, said film 300 is of the multi-layered type, and for example comprises at least one barrier layer, with reduced permeability to gases and/or water vapour, preferably being added with EVOH (Ethylene-Vinyl-Alcohol).

Furthermore, it comprises at least one layer having characteristics suitable to confer appropriate tensile strength and puncture resistance to the film 300. In this way, thanks to aforesaid characteristics, the risk that, for example, air may be inserted between the protected surface of the container 200 and the protection device 100, even in case of long stays in storage areas and in improper storage conditions, is further reduced.

The elastoplastic properties of the film 300 are adapted to generate a centripetal radial force which preferably acts at the outer edge 213 and/or the interspace 222 and/or the portion of the side surface 221. This further prevents an accidental removal of the protection device 100.

The package 600 is preferably shaped so that the film 300 comprises predetermined breaking points arranged preferably between a container 200 and the other one, adapted to facilitate the release of the single container 200 from the package 600.

For example, said predetermined breaking points can be punctures performed by laser or by mechanical cutting systems, on the film 300 before or after its application on the containers 200 to be packaged.

A first preferred embodiment provides that said predetermined breaking points of the film 300 are arranged so that, once the single container 200 has been released, it maintains the adhesion portion 301 of the film 300 which extends to cover the whole upper surface 211 of the closing member 210 of said container 200 adherent.

This provides an important advantage which is that of allowing the maintenance of the hygienic protection provided by the adhesion portion 301, even on the single container 200, once it is withdrawn from the package 600. Therefore the container 600 remains hygienically protected until it is opened and consumed.

Furthermore, the adhesion/bonding on the whole upper surface 211 and on the opening member 212 together with the characteristic of the adhesion portion 301 and therefore of the device 100 of not being resealable gives the device 100 itself an accessory function as a tamper-proof seal against any accidental or malicious damage.

It can also be provided for exploiting the adhesive properties of the film 300 also in order to achieve preferential points of higher anchoring of the adhesion portion 301 to the container 200, for example by means of differentiated heating. This has also the purpose of preventing once the container 200 has been withdrawn from the package 600 and opened, that the complete detachment of the adhesion portion 301 from the container 200 leads to its dispersal in the environment.

A second alternative embodiment, in which no predetermined breaking points are provided, can provide that when the container 200 is withdrawn from the package 600, it is completely released from the film 300 which remains anchored to the remaining package 600.

This guarantees the hygienic protection of the container 200 until such time as said container 200 is an integral part of the package 600. When it is withdrawn it is no longer protected by the adhesion portion 301 which was glued to the upper surface 211.

Therefore, the first embodiment can be more suitable, for example, for bulk containers 200 which are supplied to the end user by bars or restaurants or in general by public establishments, where once again the storage of the container can undergo significant contamination.

The second embodiment instead can be more suitable for packages 600 for domestic use, in which the container 200 is withdrawn from the package 600 directly by the end user and therefore is no longer subjected to important uncontrolled external contaminations.

In both the embodiments described above, to facilitate the removal by tearing of the film 300 at the time of the withdrawal of the container 200 from the package 600 or at the moment of consumption, a preferred embodiment provides that the side covering surface 301' comprises an appendix 302 which remains detached from the side surface 221.

Said appendix 302 offers a holding point to facilitate the release of the film 300 from the container 200 before its withdrawal from the package 600 or its opening for consumption.

According to an aspect of the invention, the package 600 can further comprise connection members 400 to connect the body 220 and/or the bottom 230 of each container 200 with at least the body 220 and/or the bottom 230 of the adjacent container 200, respectively.

In fact, the protection device 100 holds the upper part of the containers 200 which form the package 600 in place.

In the case in which the containers 200 are particularly high or in the case in which it is preferable to manufacture a package 600 which guarantees greater blocking of the containers 200, one or more connection members 400 can be inserted, said members are preferably positioned in the proximity of the bottom 230 of the container 200.

For example, points of glue or of adhesive material can be inserted on the body 220 to connect said container 200 to one or more adjacent containers 200.

A preferred solution can provide that said connection member 400 is a lower film 410; said lower film 410 can provide for at least one adhering surface 411 which extends to adhere to at least one portion of the bottom 230 of the containers 200 composing the package 600.

In the case of solution that are cheaper and easier to implement, for example, the lower film 410 can adhere only to the resting portion 231 of said containers 200. In this case the lower film 410 can be a plastic film, or even a sheet of paper or cardboard.

Alternatively, in the case of solutions adapted to guarantee a more robust packaging, the lower film 410 can adhere to the entire surface of the bottom 230 of the container 200.

The adhering surface 411 is preferably glued by adhesive properties, as to make that the lower film 410 bonds to the containers 200 and is removable/peelable by tearing.

Like with the film 300, the adhesive and shapeability properties, of the lower film 410 can be preferably actuatable by heating.

Equally like with the film 300, also the lower film 410 can comprise predetermined breaking points arranged preferably between a container 200 and the other one, adapted to facilitate the release of the single container 200 from the package 600.

The process for manufacturing one or more packages 600 of containers 200 for food products or beverages, in particular cans, arranged in parallel or in quinconce rows, by a protection device 100 comprising a film 300 forms the object of the invention.

Said process provides for arranging the film 300 at the upper surface 211 of each closing member 210 of the plurality of the containers 200 to be packaged, and for shaping and adhering each respective part or zone of the adhesion portions 301 of the covering surface 310 of said film 300 to the opposite part or zone of each upper surface 211 by means of shapeability properties and by adhesive properties, such that the film 300 bonds to each container 200 and is removable/peelable by tearing.

According to a possible embodiment, the process provides for applying the protection device 100 according to at least the following steps:

• positioning step: - producing a layer 601 composed of a plurality of containers 200 arranged in parallel or in quinconce rows said layer 601 adapted to define one or more packages 600;

-positioning and holding the film 300 above the layer 601 of containers 200 to be packaged and in the proximity of the respective closing members 210;

• preparation step:

- gradually creating a vacuum on both sides of the film 300, balancing the pressure values so that the same film 300 does not contact the closing member

210 of the containers 200;

- preferably simultaneously making the film 300 suitably shapeable by means of a step of irradiation and/or contact and/or convection heating and preferably until activating its thermo-adhesive properties and/or its thermoplastic properties; · application step:

- approaching the film 300 to the closing members 210 of the layer 601 of containers 200 or vice versa, preferably until bringing said film 300 in contact with the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210 to implement the adhesion/welding/bonding thereof;

- restoring the atmospheric pressure or a balanced temporary overpressure that is preferably the same above and below the film 300 so as to keep the film 300 in place between a container 200 and the other one, and to push, press, and adhere the adhesion portion 301 of the covering surface 310 against the upper surface 211, and preferably to push, press, and adhere the covering side portion 301' about the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210 and preferably on a portion of the side surface 221 of the body 220 below the closing member 210, and further preferably to insert said covering side portion 301' into the interspace 222 that is present between the side surface 221 and the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210.

As will be further described below, a characteristic of the invention provides that the process is in particular carried out within an apparatus configured to work with controlled pressure and/or vacuum, so as to be able to carry out the steps described above relating to the differentiated generation of the vacuum or the application of any back pressure.

According to a preferred embodiment, during the positioning step, the process provides for producing a layer 601 formed by a plurality of containers 200 arranged in parallel or in quinconce rows.

Said layer 601 is adapted to allow manufacturing one or more packages 600, that is to say, it can be subsequently subdivided into more packages 600.

Therefore the application of the protection device 100 can take place directly on a number of containers 200 which define a single package 600, or on a greater number of containers 200 which define a layer 601 which will subsequently be subdivided into several packages 600, as shown in figure 6.

Figure 6 in fact shows a non-limiting example in which the layer 601 is composed of 24 containers 200. Possible cutting lines for the subdivision of said layer 601 into several packages 600, also of different formats: 4x1, 2x2, 2x1, 2x3 are also represented.

The apparatus in which to carry out said process, which will not be described in detail, must be able to contain the layer 601 and of this at least the portion of the container 200 to be protected, comprising the closing member 210 and in particular a portion of the body 220 below it. The film 300 is also positioned and held within the apparatus above the layer 601 of containers 200 to be packaged and in the proximity of the respective closing members 210.

The preparation step in particular provides for eliminating the air between the film 300 and the containers 200, preferably reaching the vacuum in the spaces below and above the film 300 according to a suitable synchronism; this has as main purposes: - extracting the residual humidity present on the containers 200, extracting the air.

Preferably the application process can provide for heating the protection device 100 to make the film 300 suitably shapeable.

Thanks to said heating, thermoplastic properties of the film 300 can be activated which allow to effectively shape said film 300 to the surface to be covered; furthermore, in the subsequent cooling, elastic properties of the film 300 can also be exploited so as to generate a centripetal radial force which further prevents the accidental removal of the protection device 100 and which acts preferably at the outer edge 213 and/or the interspace 222 and/or of the portion of the side surface 221.

In the case where the film 300 is thermoadhesive, it is preferably provided for heating the same film until the adhesive properties are also activated.

Said heating is preferably carried out even before the application step, so that the thermoadhesive and/or thermoplastic properties of the film 300 are already activated at the start of the application.

So the film 300 is made to enter and adapt in the interspace 222 thanks to the effect of heat and vacuum; the film 300 takes the shape of the interspace 222, which shape the film 300 maintains when cooled creating a further mechanical and adhesive grip/anchoring, guaranteeing further safety against side infiltrations and removals of the protection device 100.

A possible embodiment provides for carrying out a differentiated heating, only on certain zones of the film 300 in order to increase the adhesive properties by defining preferential points of higher anchoring of the film 300 to the container 200. In this way, the complete removal of the film 300 from the container 200 can be prevented avoiding dispersal in the environment.

Said heating of the film 300, for example, is obtained by irradiation, and/or contact and/or hot air.

To improve the subsequent application step, the heating step can provide for keeping the film 300 in a tensioned position, by tensioning or abutting means, preferably until the application step thereof.

In this way, excessive deformation or wrinkling of the film

300 is avoided, which subsequently affects the correct adhesion to the container 200. A non-limiting example may provide that the abutting means comprise a plate on which a plurality of holes are made from which the film 300 is held resting by the vacuum. The vacuum generated at the holes generates blocking points of the film 300.

Alternatively or simultaneously, tensioning means such as springs or pneumatic actuators, etc., suitably calibrated, which exert a traction on the film 300 to prevent its uncontrolled deformation following heating, can also be present.

It is understood however that what is described above has a value of non-limiting example, therefore, possible variants of detail that may be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons, are considered from now falling within the same protective scope.

Once the preparation step is terminated, upon reaching the vacuum and correct heating, the application step begins.

This in particular provides for approaching the film 300 to the closing members 210 of the layer 601 of containers 200 or vice versa. In fact, it can be provided both to lift the containers 200 towards the film 300 and to lower the film 300 towards the containers 200.

Preferably, said approaching continues until bringing said film 300 in contact with the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210 to implement the adhesion/welding/bonding thereof.

In fact, the contact between the suitably heated film 300 and the container 200 at a lower temperature generates the adhesion/welding/bonding thereof.

The apparatus in which said process is carried out can therefore provide, for example, for shaped members for bringing the film 300 simply resting on the edge 213 or members shaped with suitable recesses suitable for receiving the lid 210 so that the film 300 not only rests on the outer edge 213, but also surround it on its outside.

An example of said elements can be a plate adapted to hold and possibly heat the film 300. Said plate can have a number of recesses that is at least the same as the number of containers 200 of the layer 601 on which the protection device 100 is to be applied.

Said recesses can be shaped so as to engage on the upper portion of the container 200 surrounding the outer edge 213.

What is described above has a value of non-limiting example, therefore, possible variants of detail that may be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons, are considered from now falling within the same protective scope.

Once said contact has taken place, between film 300 and containers 200, the atmospheric pressure or alternatively a balanced temporary overpressure that is preferably the same above and below the film 300 is restored.

This allows the film 300 that is present between one container 200 and the other one, to be kept in place. In fact, if the pressure is not balanced, the side covering surface 301' of the adhesion portion 301 which extends past the outer edge 213, and which therefore is not located above the single container 200, but which is located in the spaces between a container 200 and the adjacent one, would tend to deform, not having a reference surface on which to rest.

Therefore, a preferred embodiment can provide that before the application step, the side covering surface 301' of the adhesion portion 301 which extends past the outer edge 213, is supported by resting means that are configured not to generate an adhesion with the film 300 and that are configured to be able to be withdrawn, once the one or more packages 600 have been manufactured.

Once the adhesion/welding/bonding has taken place by means of said contact, between film 300 and containers 200, the restoration of atmospheric pressure or alternatively a balanced temporary overpressure that is preferably the same above and below the film 300 also has the purpose of shaping, pressing and adhering/bonding the adhesion portion 301 to the upper surface 211 avoiding the formation of air bubbles, which would prevent the "skin effect" described above.

In fact, the adhesion/welding/bonding between film 300 and containers 200 traps the vacuum between said adhesion portion 301 and said upper surface 211.

The combined action of the vacuum in the space between the adhesion portion 301 and the upper surface 211, and a pressure higher than or equal to the atmospheric pressure above film 300, are functional to optimize the application described above: in fact the attraction of the film 300 towards the surface of the container 200 is combined with the pushing action of said film 300 towards the container.

Similarly, said application step of the process allows shaping and pressing and adhering/bonding the side covering surface 301' about the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210. According to a preferred form, the side covering surface 301' is also shaped adhering to the portion of the side surface 221 of the body 220 below the closing member 210.

Further preferably the side covering surface 301 thanks to the combined action of the pressure and the vacuum manages to insert itself into the interspace 222 that is present between the side surface 221 and the outer edge 213 of the closing member 210.

This occurs preferably with the aid of resting means described above and configured to support the side covering surface 301' of the adhesion portion 301 which extends past the outer edge 213.

The advantages of said application are due to the fact that the adhesion portion 301 completely follows the profile of the container 200 like a skin, being thus inserted in interspaces and recesses without leaving air bubbles or free spaces between the protected surface of the container 200 and the protection device 100.

To complete the process, a cutting step can also be provided in which the film 300 which remains in excess after application, is cut and removed.

The cutting step can provide for cutting the film 300 between one container 200 and the other one for the subdivision of the layer 601 into packages 600 containing subsets of containers 200 adjacent to each other.

In particular, the portion of film 300 in which to make the cut is the one which for example is supported by the resting means, that is to say, the side covering surface 301' which extends past the outer edge 213; said portion does not adhere to the container 200 therefore it remains detached from it and so it is preferable to eliminate it totally or partially.

A preferred embodiment provides that the film 300 is cut leaving an appendix 302 that remains detached from the container 200 and which is functional to defining a holding point for the user who will have to remove the protection device before opening the can.

According to an aspect of the invention after the application step, an incision step can be provided in which the film 300 and the lower film 410 are incised to create predetermined breaking points preferably arranged between a container 200 and the other one, adapted to facilitate the release of the single container 200 from the package 600.

Preferably, the predetermined breaking points are created arranged so that once the single container 200 has been released, it maintains the adhesion portion 301 of the covering surface 310 which extends to cover the whole upper surface 211 of the closing member 210 of said container 200 adherent.

Said incision step can for example provide for creating a plurality of holes at such a distance from one another both to guarantee the strength of the package 600 and to allow an easy withdrawal of the single container 200 from the package 600. Said holes or more generally incisions can be made by mechanical cutting systems, or by laser systems.

Therefore, summing up a preferred process of application of the device 100 to the container 200, it can provide for the following steps: positioning step;

preparation step;

application step; cutting step

incision step.

In the case in which the containers 200 are particularly high or in the case in which it is preferable to manufacture a package 600 which ensures greater blocking of the containers 200, the process can provide for connection members 400 to connect the body 220 and/or the bottom 230 of each container 200 with at least the body 220 and/or the bottom 230 of the adjacent container 200, respectively.

As previously described, for example, points of glue or of adhesive material can be inserted on the body 220 to connect said container 200 to one or more adjacent containers 200.

A preferred solution can provide that said connection member 400 is a lower film 410; said lower film 410 can provide for at least one adhering surface 411 which extends to adhere to at least one portion of the bottom 230 of the containers 200 composing the package 600.

In this case the process provides for arranging a lower film 410 at the bottom 230 of the plurality of the containers 200 forming the layer 601 to be packaged and which provides for adhering the adhering surface 411 to at least one portion of the bottom 230 by adhesive properties of said adhering surface 411, such that the lower film 410 bonds to each container 200 and is removable/peelable by tearing.

In the case of solutions adapted to guarantee a more robust packaging, the lower film 410 can adhere to the whole surface of the bottom 230 of the container 200.

In this case, the process preferably provides for applying the lower film 410 according to at least the following steps: positioning step: - producing a layer 601 composed of a plurality of containers 200 arranged in parallel or in quinconce rows said layer 601 adapted to define one or more packages 600;

-positioning and holding the lower film 410 below the layer 601 of containers 200 to be packaged and in the proximity of the respective bottoms 230;

• preparation step:

-gradually creating a vacuum on both sides of the lower film 410, balancing the pressure values so that the same lower film 410 does not contact the bottom 230 of the containers 200;

- preferably simultaneously making the lower film 410 suitably shapeable by means of a step of irradiation and/or contact and/or convection heating and preferably until activating its thermo-adhesive properties and/or its thermoplastic properties;

• application step:

- approaching the lower film 410 to the bottoms 230 of the layer 601 of containers 200, or vice versa, until bringing said lower film 410 in contact with the resting portion 231 of the bottom 230 to implement the adhesion/welding/bonding thereof;

- restoring the atmospheric pressure or a temporary overpressure above and below the lower film 410 so as to push, and adhere the adhering surface 411 against at least the resting portion 231 of the bottom 230.

Said process being substantially the same as the one implemented for the application of the protection device 100, preferably provides for carrying out the positioning, preparation and application steps of the lower film 410 simultaneously with the respective positioning, preparation and application steps of the film 300.

This allows optimizing the costs and production cycles of the apparatus manufacturing the package 600.

Furthermore, said process can provide that during the heating step the lower film 410 is kept in a tensioned position, by tensioning or abutting means, preferably until the application step thereof.

In this case, the same considerations made previously for the film 300 apply.

After the application step, a cutting step can be provided in which the excess lower film 410 is cut after the application and/or cut between one container 200 and the other one for the subdivision of the layer 601 into packages 600 containing subsets of containers 200 adjacent to each other.

The process, like with the film 300, can provide an incision step in which the lower film 410 is incised to create predetermined breaking points preferably arranged between a container 200 and the other one, adapted to facilitate the release of the single container 200 from the package 600.

It is understood however that what is described above has a value of non-limiting example, therefore, possible variants of detail that may be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons, are considered from now falling within the same protective scope defined by the claims indicated below.