PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF DUAL-CHAMBER CONTAINERS FOR FLUID PRODUCTS OF THE MEDICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL, COSMETIC TYPE OR THE LIKE, AND RELATED STRIP

1 . Process for the manufacture of dual-chamber containers ( 1 ) for fluid products of the medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic type or the like, comprising steps of:

shaping through a die (F) at least one layer of a plastic material to form at least one substantially tubular semi-finished product ( 2 ) provided with a first extremity ( 2 a ) and with a second extremity ( 2 b );

closing said semi-finished product ( 2 ) inside a forming mould ( 3 ) which comprises at least two half-shells ( 4 , 5 ), said half-shells ( 4 , 5 ) being shaped in such a way that, when said semi-finished product ( 2 ) is closed in the forming mould, the first extremity ( 2 a ) of the semi-finished product ( 2 ) is closed while the second extremity remains in fluidic connection with a pneumatic nozzle (P);

blowing an expansion gas through said second extremity ( 2 b ) to make said semi-finished product ( 2 ) adhere to said forming mould ( 3 ) to form at least one strip ( 6 ) comprising at least one pair of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ), wherein each of said vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) is provided with:

at least one hollow body ( 9 ), defining at least one containment chamber ( 10 ) of a fluid product and comprising a substantially flat first wall ( 8 a ) and a substantially curved second wall ( 8 b );

at least one closed delivery neck ( 12 ); and

at least one open bottom tang ( 14 );

and wherein said hollow bodies ( 9 ) are joined together through a folding attachment portion ( 11 );

introducing said fluid product into said containment chambers ( 10 ) through said bottom tangs ( 14 );

sealing said bottom tangs ( 14 );

folding said pair of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) around said folding attachment portion ( 11 ) between an extended configuration, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) are substantially coplanar, and a configuration of use, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) are facing each other and brought close to each other to obtain at least one dual-chamber container ( 1 ).

2 . Process according to claim 1 , wherein said forming mould ( 3 ) is shaped so as to provide each of said vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) with a closure cap ( 13 ) that can be removed by tearing it off from said delivery neck ( 12 ).

3 . Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said forming mould ( 3 ) is shaped so as to form a strip ( 6 ) comprising a plurality of said pairs of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ).

4 . Process according to claim 3 , wherein said forming mould ( 3 ) is shaped in such a way as to provide said strip ( 6 ) with at least one breakable attachment portion ( 16 ) positioned between one of said pairs of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) and at least one adjacent pair of vials.

5 . Process according to claim 4 , including a step of removing a pair of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) from said strip ( 6 ) by tearing said at least one breakable attachment portion ( 16 ).

6 . Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said shaping comprises extruding said at least one layer of plastic material through said die (F).

7 . Process according to claim 6 , wherein said shaping comprises extruding at least two plastic materials through said die (F) to obtain a multilayer semi-finished product ( 2 ).

8 . Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said introducing comprises the step of introducing two separate fluid products in said pair of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ).

9 . Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing comprises the step of welding said vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) by pressing said bottom tangs ( 14 ) between at least two welding elements.

10 . Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the following said steps are performed in the following order:

introducing said fluid product into said containment chambers ( 10 ) through said bottom tangs ( 14 );

sealing said bottom tangs ( 14 );

folding said pair of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) around said folding attachment portion ( 11 ) between an extended configuration, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) are substantially coplanar, and a configuration of use, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) are facing each other and brought close to each other to obtain at least one dual-chamber container ( 1 ).

11 . Process according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 9 , wherein the following said steps are performed in the following order:

folding said pair of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) around said folding attachment portion ( 11 ) between an extended configuration, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) are substantially coplanar, and a configuration of use, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) are facing each other and brought close to each other to obtain at least one dual-chamber container ( 1 );

introducing said fluid product into said containment chambers ( 10 ) through said bottom tangs ( 14 ); and

sealing said bottom tangs ( 14 ).

12 . Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) of said pair of vials include interlocking portions ( 20 , 21 ), and said interlocking portions are brought into engagement for joining said pair of vials in the configuration of use.

13 . A strip ( 6 ) of containers for fluid products of the medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic type or the like, the strip comprising at least one pair of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ), in which each of said vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) is provided with:

at least one hollow body ( 9 ), defining at least one containment chamber ( 10 ) of a fluid product and comprising a substantially flat first wall ( 8 a ) and a substantially curved second wall ( 8 b );

at least one closed delivery neck ( 12 ); and

at least one bottom tang ( 14 ) for the introduction of said fluid product in said containment chamber ( 10 );

and wherein said hollow bodies ( 9 ) are joined together along a folding attachment portion ( 11 ) around which said pair of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) is foldable between an extended configuration, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) are substantially coplanar, and a configuration of use, wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) are facing each other and brought close to each other to obtain at least one dual-chamber container ( 1 ).

14 . Strip ( 6 ) according to claim 13 , wherein each of said vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) is provided with a closure cap ( 13 ) that can be removed by tearing it off from said delivery neck ( 12 ).

15 . Strip ( 6 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims 13 to 14 , wherein said bottom tangs ( 14 ) are sealed by corresponding welding lips ( 15 ).

16 . Strip ( 6 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims 13 to 15 , wherein the strip comprises a plurality of said pairs of vials ( 7 a, 7 b ) associated with each other at at least one breakable attachment portion ( 16 ).

17 . Strip ( 6 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims 13 to 16 , wherein the strip is made of a multilayer plastic material.

18 . Strip ( 6 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims 13 to 17 , wherein said first walls ( 8 a ) of said pair of vials include interlocking portions ( 20 , 21 ) for joining said pair of vials in the configuration of use.