WO2006125663A1

WO2006125663A1 - Filling nozzle

Info

Publication number: WO2006125663A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/005050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Bourner; James Hartland; Philip Stefan Jasiewicz; Edward Graham Owen; Kevin Rose
Original assignee: Glaxo Group Limited
Priority date: 2005-05-26
Filing date: 2006-05-23
Publication date: 2006-11-30
Also published as: GB0510779D0

Abstract

A filling nozzle (10) suitable for filling a multi-phase viscous fluid material into a container comprises a tubular body (11) having an internal tubular primary conduit (12) for flow of a primary phase, bounded by a peripheral wall, adapted for the introduction of a viscous fluid primary phase at an upstream position of the conduit, having a downstream end (15) adapted to be inserted into a container (20) to be filled, an outlet opening (16) at a downstream end of the conduit via which fluid may flow from the conduit into a container, within the conduit at least one secondary conduit (17, 18) for the flow of a viscous fluid secondary phase, adapted for the introduction of the secondary phase at an upstream part of the secondary conduit, the secondary conduit having at least one outlet nozzle (113, 114 ,115, 116) adjacent a downstream end of the secondary conduit configured to introduce a stream of the secondary phase into a flow of the primary phase in the primary component .

Description

FILLING NOZZLE

This invention relates to a novel device being a filling nozzle for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material into a container. In particular the invention relates to a filling nozzle for filling a viscous multi-component fluid toothpaste material into a container being a toothpaste dispensing pump or a collapsible toothpaste tube.

Multi-phase toothpastes contained in pumps and tubes from which they are dispensed and in which the phases are present as separate adjacent phases, are known. In such toothpastes it is known to have phases of different colours, and for example to dispense the multi-phase toothpaste from the pump or tube in multi- coloured stripes of the phases longitudinally aligned along the dispensing flow direction. Often such a multi-phase toothpaste comprises a primary phase forming the bulk of the toothpaste, with secondary phases present in lesser amounts. A toothpaste of this type is sold by the Applicant under the name "Aquafresh™" which comprises a primary phase of a white toothpaste material, with secondary phases of red and blue or red and green toothpaste material. In a cylindrical pump or tube the secondary phases are disposed in segments around the circumference of the pump or tube so that when the toothpaste is dispensed the red and blue or green segments are visible as correspondingly coloured stripes separated by stripes of the white primary phase. A filling nozzle to fill such a toothpaste into the pump or tube comprises a tubular body having an internal primary conduit bounded by peripheral walls for the primary phase, and secondary conduits corresponding to the number and disposition of secondary phases.

A typical toothpaste pump of this type is disclosed for example in GB-A- 2152152. Typically such a pump comprises a cylindrical barrel with an upper pump head. Typically the internal diameter of such a pump barrel is ca. 35-37 mm, and the pump dispenses ca. 2g of its toothpaste contents through its outlet nozzle typically having an internal bore diameter of ca. 7mm at each operation of the pump.

It is useful to be able to arrange the phases of such multi-phase toothpastes in other dispositions than stripes. US-A-2003/0111130 (Thibiant) discloses a filling nozzle system whereby multi-phase viscous fluid materials can be filled into a container with one or more of the phases disposed in a helical shape. However the system disclosed in US-A-2003/0111130 is not convenient for high volume operation and suffers from the problem of "stringing" . "Stringing" is caused by continued flow of the fluid material when the filling nozzle is withdrawn from a filled container, resulting in undesirable spillage of the material down the outer sides of the container.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved filling nozzle for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material, particularly a viscous multi-component fluid toothpaste material into a container particularly being a toothpaste dispensing pump or a collapsible toothpaste tube. It is a particular object to provide an improved filling nozzle for filling a multi-phase toothpaste material into a dispensing container such as a pump or tube with phases disposed in a helical arrangement. The invention also addresses the problem of providing a multi-phase toothpaste material for a dispensing container such as a pump or tube with phases disposed in a helical arrangement and having improved characteristics. Other advantages of the invention, problems addressed by the invention and solutions offered to these problems will be apparent from the following description.

According to this invention a filling nozzle suitable for filling a multi-phase viscous fluid material into a container comprises, a tubular body having an internal tubular primary conduit for flow of a primary phase, bounded by a peripheral wall, adapted for the introduction of a viscous fluid primary phase at an upstream position of the conduit, having a downstream end adapted to be inserted into a container to be filled, an outlet opening at a downstream end of the conduit via which fluid may flow from the conduit into a container, within the conduit at least one secondary conduit for the flow of a viscous fluid secondary phase, adapted for the introduction of the secondary phase at an upstream part of the secondary conduit, the secondary conduit having at least one outlet nozzle adjacent a downstream end of the secondary conduit configured to introduce a stream of the secondary phase into a flow of the primary phase in the primary component. Preferably the body has a cylindrical outer surface. Preferably the primary tubular primary conduit has a cylindrical internal cross section. The downstream end of the body is suitably truncated conical, with a circular outlet opening at the truncated apex, the outlet opening preferably having a diameter ca 0.4 - 0.7 of the internal diameter of the conduit, the height of the cone to its truncated apex preferably being 0.4-0.3 of the internal diameter of the conduit. The body and its conduits may be adapted for the introduction of primary and secondary viscous fluid phase by adaptation of the upstream end of the body to engage with standard manifolds suitable for known types of toothpaste filling machine such as made by Norden or IWK. Suitably the body is made of robust metal not affected by the components of the phases, such as stainless steel.

Preferably at the outlet opening of the primary conduit there is a cut-off valve. Such a cut-off valve may be operated during use of the filling nozzle between withdrawal of the filling nozzle from a filled container and insertion of the filling nozzle into another container for filling. A suitable type of cut off valve is a conical valve member pointing upstream which can be engaged against the rim of the outlet opening. Preferably there are two secondary conduits, preferably these are disposed

180° apart on radii from the centre axis of a cylindrical conduit. Suitably there is a void between the secondary conduit and the inside surface of the peripheral wall of the conduit in which primary phase may flow.

Each secondary conduit may have one or more, for example two outlet nozzles. A particular construction has two secondary conduits each with two outlet nozzles. Plural, e.g. two, outlet nozzles may be arranged on radii from the centre axis of a cylindrical conduit. Preferably the outlet nozzle(s) is/are an orifice at the downstream end of the secondary conduit which is elongated in a direction which is a tangent of a circle centered on the central axis of a cylindrical conduit. For example the outlet nozzle(s) may be in the form of an elongate generally rectangular slot. The outlet nozzle(s) may be set back in the upstream direction from the outlet opening of the primary conduit so that there is a length of primary conduit between the outlet nozzle(s) and the outlet opening. Such a length may for example correspond to ca. 50-100% of the internal diameter of the primary conduit. The secondary conduit(s) may for example be made of robust metal not affected by the components of the phases, such as stainless steel. The dimensions of the parts of the filling nozzle of the invention will depend upon the size of the container to be filled with the fluid material and the relative volumes. Typically toothpaste pumps and tubes are cylindrical and have an internal diameter of ca. 35-40mm, and the outer dimensions of the body are such that the body is a smooth fit into the cylindrical barrel of such a pump or tube without touching the internal sides of the pump or tube.

A particular use of the filling nozzle of this invention is in filling a multiphase fluid such as a toothpaste into a container such as a pump barrel or toothpaste tube in which one or more secondary phase is disposed as a one or more respective helix within a bulk matrix of a primary phase. When the primary phase is transparent or translucent and the secondary phase is less translucent than the primary phase, opaque, or coloured, so that the secondary phase is visible through the primary phase, this can produce an attractive visual appearance. For example the primary phase may be a clear gel and plural secondary phases may be red and blue. It is found that an outlet nozzle of the secondary conduit which is elongated in a direction which is a tangent of a circle centered on the central axis of a cylindrical conduit can help to prevent an undesirable amount of flattening of helical threads of secondary component into thin strips.

The invention therefore provides an apparatus for filling a viscous multi- phase fluid material, particularly a viscous multi-component fluid toothpaste material into a container particularly being a toothpaste dispensing pump or a collapsible toothpaste tube, comprising; a filling nozzle as described above, a support for the container, means to move the support and filling nozzle relatively toward each other so that the downstream end of the filling nozzle may be inserted into the container, means to introduce primary and secondary phases into the respective primary and secondary conduits such that the phases flow out of the outlet opening of the filling nozzle into the container, means to move the support and filling nozzle relatively apart as the fluid material flows into the container, and means to cause relative rotation of the filling nozzle and container about the upstream-downstream axis as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart. The relative rotation of the filling nozzle and container as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart as the fluid material flows into the container causes the flow of secondary phase into the container to form into a number of helical threads of the secondary phase corresponding to the number of outlet nozzles from the secondary conduits.

The support for the container, for example the barrel of a toothpaste pump or the body of a toothpaste tube, may comprise a conventional support, e.g. a "puck" , ^• as used in conventional filling machines.

The means to move the support and filling nozzle relatively toward each other so that the downstream end of the filling nozzle may be inserted into the container may comprise a conventional, e.g. hydraulic or electric motor operated system as conventionally used to move conventional toothpaste filling nozzles and pump barrels or tube bodies in such a manner. The means to move the support and filling nozzle relatively apart as the fluid material flows into the container may comprise the same means operating in reverse. Suitably these respective movements are respective reciprocal up-down movements. Suitably the filling nozzle may be fixed and the container may be moved upwardly toward the filling nozzle.

The means to introduce primary and secondary phases into the respective primary and secondary conduits such that the phases flow out of the outlet opening of the filling nozzle into the container may comprise conventional toothpaste phase pumping machinery, particularly if the upper part of the filling nozzle is adapted to engage with such conventional, e.g. Norden or IWC toothpaste processing machinery.

The means to cause relative rotation of the filling nozzle and container about the upstream-downstream axis as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart may comprise means to rotate the container as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart in the up-down direction. For example the above-mentioned support or "puck" may be rotated about the up-down axis as the filling nozzle and container move apart.

Suitably this apparatus incorporates a conveyor line along which the containers may be moved in a conveying direction, and from which they may be moved upwardly toward the filling nozzle. The filling speed of a container is between 100 and 150 units per minute on a standard filling line. A standard 100ml pump pack containing 138grams of product would be filled at about 120 units per minute.

The invention further provides a process for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material, particularly a viscous multi-component fluid toothpaste material into a container particularly being a toothpaste dispensing pump or a collapsible toothpaste tube, comprising the steps of; providing an apparatus as described above, providing a container, moving the container and filling nozzle relatively toward each other so that the downstream end of the filling nozzle becomes inserted into the container, introducing primary and secondary phases into the respective primary and secondary conduits such that the phases flow out of the outlet opening of the filling nozzle into the container, moving the container and filling nozzle relatively apart as the fluid material flows into the container, and relatively rotating the filling nozzle and container about the upstream-downstream axis as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart, to thereby form a number of helical threads of the secondary phases corresponding to the number of outlet nozzles in a bulk matrix of the primary phase.

In this process the primary phase is preferably transparent or translucent and the secondary phase(s) is/are less translucent than the primary phase, opaque, or coloured, so that the secondary phase is visible through the primary phase. For example the primary phase may be a clear gel and plural secondary phases may be red and blue. The viscosity of the phases is preferably selected such that this helical disposition of phases is stable for a suitable length of time on storage, e.g. 3 months at least, and the composition of the phases is preferably selected such that relatively little inter-diffusion of the phases occurs on storage so that the visual appearance of the secondary phases remains sharply defined.

The invention further provides improved multi-phase toothpaste materials which may be produced using the filling nozzle and process of this invention. These materials have a secondary phase disposed in a helical thread in a bulk matrix of primary phase, but are dispensed from the dispensing nozzle of a pump with the secondary phase disposed in a stripe aligned with the dispensing direction. The materials of the invention enhance the formation of such stripes, and also in the case of a pump with walls of a material through which the helical disposition can be seen, reduce disruption of the helix of secondary phase as the material is progressively dispensed.

Accordingly the invention provides a cylindrical dispensing container, containing a multi-phase toothpaste material comprising a viscous fluid primary phase and a viscous fluid material secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase is present in the form of one or more helical thread in a bulk matrix of the primary phase, and the volume ratio of primary phase : secondary phase is in the range 90 : 10 - 99 : 1. Suitably the cylindrical dispensing container is a known type of toothpaste pump having a barrel with a wall of a material through which the helical arrangement of the secondary phase may be seen. The translucent plastics material commonly used for such pumps is suitable. Typically such a pump has an inner diameter 35-37 mm. The helical axes of the helical threads are preferably aligned with the cylindrical axis of the container.

The primary and secondary phases may have a viscosity similar to that commonly used for toothpastes intended for pumps. Preferably the primary phase is transparent or translucent and the secondary phase is less translucent than the primary phase, opaque, or coloured so that the secondary phase is visible through the primary phase, as this can produce an attractive visual appearance. For example the primary phase may be a clear gel and plural secondary phases may be red and blue.

Preferably the volume ratio of primary phase : secondary phase is in the range 97+/-1 :3.0+/- 1. It is found that the range described is optimum to avoid disruption of the helical arrangement of the secondary phase as the material is progressively pumped out. The range described may also enhance the dispensing of the material with a striped appearance.

Suitably there may be two secondary phases, e.g. of different colours, e.g. red/blue or red/green. Suitably each secondary phase may be present as two coaxial helical threads. Further the invention provides a cylindrical dispensing container, containing a multi-phase toothpaste material comprising a viscous fluid primary phase and a viscous fluid material secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase is present in the form of one or more helical thread in a bulk matrix of the primary phase, and the helical thread is spaced 0.5mm or more from the inner wall surface of the container.

It is found that with primary and secondary phases of toothpaste materials having the viscosity and flow characteristics of typical toothpaste materials, the described spacing is found desirable to avoid drag of the helical thread resulting from the thread's contact with or proximity to the inner wall surface of the container, which can disrupt the helical thread during progressive dispensing of the material from the pump.

Preferably the helical thread is spaced more than 1.0 mm from the inner wall surface of the container, e.g. 1 - 2mm. Preferably if there are plural concentric helical threads they are spaced apart radially by 3mm or more, preferably 5mm or more. This spacing can help to prevent drag between the helical threads, which can disrupt the helical thread during progressive dispensing of the material from the pump.

Further too, the invention provides a cylindrical dispensing container, containing a multi-phase toothpaste material comprising a viscous fluid primary phase and a viscous fluid material secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase is present in the form of one or more helical thread in a bulk matrix of the primary phase, and the ratio of the pitch of the helical thread : internal diameter of the container is in the range 0.5 - 1.0 : 1.0. The helical pitch is the longitudinal distance along the helical axis in which the helix performs one full revolution. It is found that with primary and secondary phases of toothpaste materials having the viscosity and flow characteristics of typical toothpaste materials, the described ratio of pitch : diameter may enhance the preservation of the shape of the helical thread during progressive dispensing of the material from the pump and can enhance the dispensing of material with a striped appearance of material through the dispensing nozzle of the pump. A suitable ratio of the pitch of the helical thread : internal diameter of the container is in the range 0.75 +/- 0.05 : 1.0.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings. Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a filling nozzle of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view across the filling nozzle of Fig. 1 at line A- -A of Fig. 1 , looking upwards.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a filling nozzle of the invention in use in filling a toothpaste pump. Fig. 4 schematically shows a filling apparatus using the filling nozzle of Figs

1, 2 and 3.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a filling nozzle is shown overall 10. This comprises a tubular body 11 made of stainless steel, with a cylindrical outer surface, and having an internal cylindrical tubular primary conduit 12 bounded by a peripheral wall 13. At its upper end body 11 has an inlet 14 for the introduction of a primary viscous fluid phase. The downstream end 15 of body 11 is adapted to be inserted into a container 20 to be filled. As shown in Fig. 3 container 20 is the open-ended barrel of a toothpaste pump with a conventional pump head 21 at its outlet end, typically such a pump barrel holds ca.75 ml. Body 11 has an outlet opening 16 at the downstream end of the conduit 12 via which fluid may flow from the conduit 12 into container 20. Body 11 is ca. 25- 30 mm od. , and outlet opening 16 is ca 15 mm diameter. The downstream end 15 of the body 11 is truncated conical in shape, with the circular outlet opening 16 at the truncated apex. The height of the cone from its base where it meets the cylindrical part of body 11 is ca 10 mm.

Within conduit 12 are two secondary conduits 17, 18 for the flow of a secondary phase. Conduits 17, 18 are stainless steel tubular conduits, disposed 180° apart on radii from the centre axis of the cylindrical conduit 12. There is a void 19 of ca. 1.5mm between each of the secondary conduits 17, 18 and the inside surface of the peripheral wall 13 of the conduit 12. At their upstream end the two secondary conduits 17, 18 have inlets 110, 111 for the introduction of a secondary phase into the secondary conduits 17, 18. The upper part of the body 11 , including the inlets 14, 110, 111 is adapted by a fitting 112 to engage with a conventional manifold of a Standard type of toothpaste filling machine.

Each of the two secondary conduits 17, 18 has two outlet nozzles 113, 114, 115, 116 at their downstream end, which are arranged on radii from the centre axis of the cylindrical conduit 12. As seen in Fig. 2 each outlet nozzle 113, 114, 115, 116 is a generally rectangular slot shaped orifice elongated in a direction which is a tangent of a circle centered on the central axis of the cylindrical conduit 12, with dimensions ca. 2 x 0.5 mm, the nozzles of each secondary conduit being typically spaced 5-6 mm apart in the radial direction, the innermost nozzles 114, 115 being ca. 11-12 mm apart across the centre of the conduit 12. Outer nozzles may have a larger cross sectional area because the larger radius of the so-formed outer thread may require more thread material. The outlet nozzle(s) 113, 114, 115, 116 are set back in the upstream direction from the outlet opening of the primary conduit 12 by ca. 20mm. At the outlet opening 16 of the primary conduit there is a cut-off valve 117, being a conical valve member pointing upstream which can be engaged against the rim of the outlet opening 16 to close the opening 16. In Fig. 1 this valve 117 is shown in a closed configuration, in Fig. 3 in an open configuration.

The operation of the filling nozzle 10 in filling the container 20 will now be described. As seen in Fig. 3 the container 20 and filling nozzle 10 have been moved relatively toward each other along the up-down axis as seen, so that the downstream end 15 of the filling nozzle 10 becomes inserted into the container 20. The container 20 is the barrel plus pump head 21 of a conventional toothpaste pump. Normally such pump barrels are filled via their open end opposite the pump head. The filling nozzle 10 is inserted to the extent that the outlet opening is adjacent the pump head 21, and with the cut-off valve 117 closed. The cut-off valve 117 is now opened, and the primary phase, being a clear gel toothpaste, and two respective secondary phases, being respectively red and blue gel toothpastes, are introduced respectively via the primary conduit 12 and the two secondary conduits 17, 18, such that the phases flow out of the outlet opening 16 of the filling nozzle 10 into the container 20. As the phases flow into the container 20, the container 20 is lowered so that the container 20 and filling nozzle 10 are thereby moved relatively apart. At the same time the container is rotated relative to the filling nozzle 10. This combined longitudinal and rotational motion causes the secondary phases to form four helical threads of the secondary phases corresponding to the number of outlet nozzles 113, 114, 115, 116 in a bulk matrix of the primary phase deposited in the container 20. As the open end 16 of the reaches a suitable point in the container 20 above the pump head, the cut-off valve 117 is closed to cut-off the flow of the phases. The filled container 20 can then be moved horizontally clear of the filling nozzle 10, and a new container 20 can be moved into position under closed filling nozzle 10 ready for a repeat of the above described operation. Suitable flow rates for the respective phases will depend upon the particular application. It is found that the slot shape of outlet nozzles 113, 114, 115, 116 reduces the tendency of the flowing secondary phases to "curtain" i.e. form flat strip shaped threads, the slot shapes encouraging the flowing second phases to form rounded sectioned threads of an attractive visual appearance. Fig. 4 schematically shows an apparatus for filling a viscous multi- component fluid toothpaste material into toothpaste dispensing pumps. A filling nozzle 10 as described above is provided, mounted above a conveyor line 30 on which are mounted plural supports 31 , each for a respective toothpaste pump 20, supported with the open end of its barrel uppermost. The conveyor 30 transports the containers 20 in the conveying direction indicated by the arrow. At a point on conveyor 30 below filling nozzle 10 is located machinery 32. As each support 31 reaches machinery 32, this machinery 32 moves the support 31, designated 31', and the container 20 it is supporting upward toward filling nozzle 10 so that the downstream end 15 of the filling nozzle 10 becomes inserted into the container 20 so that the filling nozzle 10 and container 20 are in the configuration shown in Fig. 3. As seen in Fig. 4 the container 20' is part way toward the configuration of Fig. 3. The primary and secondary phases are then introduced into the container as described above. As the phases flow out of the outlet opening 15 of the filling nozzle into the container, the machinery 32 lowers the support 31 ' and the container 20' so the support 31 ' and filling nozzle 10' move relatively apart. At the same time the machinery 32 rotates the support 31' and the container 20' it supports about the upstream-downstream axis. The apparatus also incorporates suitable machinery 33 to operate the cut-off valve (not shown) at appropriate times as described above. Suitable machinery 32,33 to operate in this way, and a suitable construction of conveyor 30 will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

After the pump barrels 20 have been filled with a suitable quantity of the multi phase toothpaste material 40 the conveyor 30 may transport them to conventional machinery (not shown) to close their open ends with a known type of follower piston, and for further processing such as labeling.

The following example shows a composite formulation (primary and secondary phases) of the present invention.

Below is a table showing viscosity levels (cP) of various composite batches of the formulation taken both initially and 24 hours and 96 hours.

Relative

Viscosit y(cP)

Thickening silica Initial 24 hr 96 hr level (%)

3.5 62000 110500 148500

3.5 67500 103000 170000

3.5 62000 121000 162000

4.0 140000 160000 339000

4.5 148000 203500 227500

4.5 112000 163000 204000

4.5 89000 179000 _

6.0 285000 468000 -

6.0 350000 430000

It can be seen from these results that there is a rapid increase in viscosity over 24 hrs that plateaus at 96 hr

Claims

Claims.

1. A filling nozzle suitable for filling a multi-phase viscous fluid material into a container comprises a tubular body having an internal tubular primary conduit for flow of a primary phase, bounded by a peripheral wall, adapted for the introduction of a viscous fluid primary phase at an upstream position of the conduit, having a downstream end adapted to be inserted into a container to be filled, an outlet opening at a downstream end of the conduit via which fluid may flow from the conduit into a container, within the conduit at least one secondary conduit for the flow of a viscous fluid secondary phase, adapted for the introduction of the secondary phase at an upstream part of the secondary conduit, the secondary conduit having at least one outlet nozzle adjacent a downstream end of the secondary conduit configured to introduce a stream of the secondary phase into a flow of the primary phase in the primary component.

2. A filling nozzle according to claim 1 wherein the tubular primary conduit has a cylindrical internal cross section.

3. A filling nozzle according to claim 2 wherein the tubular primary conduit is adapted to receive a primary viscous fluid.

4. A filling nozzle according to claim 3 wherein the primary conduit has circular outlet opening with a diameter ca 0.4 - 0.7 of the internal diameter of the conduit.

5. A filling nozzle according to claim 4 wherein the primary conduit has two secondary conduits disposed 180° apart on radii from the centre axis of a cylindrical conduit.

6. A filling nozzle according to claim 5 wherein the two secondary conduits are adapted to receive a secondary viscous fluid.

7. A filling nozzle according to claim 5 wherein the two secondary conduits each have two outlet nozzles.

8. A filling nozzle according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the secondary conduit has an outlet nozzle being an orifice at the downstream end of the secondary conduit which is elongated in a direction which is a tangent of a circle centered on the central axis of a cylindrical conduit.

9. An apparatus for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material, particularly a viscous multi-component fluid toothpaste material into a container particularly being a toothpaste dispensing pump or a collapsible toothpaste tube, comprising; a filling nozzle as described above, a support for the container, means to move the support and filling nozzle relatively toward each other so that the downstream end of the filling nozzle may be inserted into the container, means to introduce primary and secondary phases into the respective primary and secondary conduits such that the phases flow out of the outlet opening of the filling nozzle into the container, means to move the support and filling nozzle relatively apart as the fluid material flows into the container, and means to cause relative rotation of the filling nozzle and container about the upstream-downstream axis as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart.

10. An apparatus for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material according to claim 9 wherein the relative rotation of the filling nozzle and container as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart as the fluid material flows into the container causes the flow of secondary phase into the container to form into a number of helical threads of the secondary phase corresponding to the number of outlet nozzles from the secondary conduits.

11. An apparatus for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the filling nozzle is fixed and the container is moveable upwardly toward the filling nozzle.

12. An apparatus for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material according to any one of claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein the means to cause relative rotation of the filling nozzle and container about the upstream-downstream axis as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart comprises means to rotate the container as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart in the up-down direction.

13. A process for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material, particularly a viscous multi-component fluid toothpaste material into a container particularly being a toothpaste dispensing pump or a collapsible toothpaste tube, comprising the steps of; providing an apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 - 12, providing a container, moving the container and filling nozzle relatively toward each other so that the downstream end of the filling nozzle becomes inserted into the container, introducing primary and secondary phases into the respective primary and secondary conduits such that the phases flow out of the outlet opening of the filling nozzle into the container, moving the container and filling nozzle relatively apart as the fluid material flows into the container, and relatively rotating the filling nozzle and container about the upstream-downstream axis as the filling nozzle and container move relatively apart, to thereby form a number of helical threads of the secondary phases corresponding to the number of outlet nozzles in a bulk matrix of the primary phase.

14. A process for filling a viscous multi-phase fluid material, according to claim

13, wherein the primary phase is transparent or translucent and the secondary phase(s) is/are less translucent than the primary phase, opaque, or coloured, so that the secondary phase is visible through the primary phase.

15. A cylindrical dispensing container containing a multi-phase toothpaste material comprising a viscous fluid primary phase and a viscous fluid material secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase is present in the form of one or more helical thread in a bulk matrix of the primary phase, and the volume ratio of primary phase : secondary phase is in the range 90 : 10 - 99 : 1.

16. A cylindrical dispensing container according to claim 15, wherein the helical axes of the helical threads are aligned with the cylindrical axis of the container.

17. A cylindrical dispensing container according to claim 16, wherein the volume ratio of primary phase : secondary phase is in the range 97+/-1 : 3.0+/- 1.

18. A cylindrical dispensing container according to claim 17, wherein the secondary phase is present in the form of one or more helical thread in a bulk matrix of the primary phase, and the helical thread is spaced 0.5mm or more from the inner wall surface of the container.