Unit and method for filling containing elements of single-use capsules for extraction or infusion beverages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10138007-B2
Application number	US-201414787282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2014
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

Described is a unit for filling containing elements ( 2 ) of single-use capsules ( 3 ) for extraction or infusion beverages, comprising: a line ( 4 ) for transport of containing elements ( 2 ) designed to contain a dose ( 33 ) of product; a station (SR) for filling the containing elements ( 2 ) comprising: at least a first containing seat (S 1 ) designed to receive a dose ( 33 ); a substation (ST 1 ) for forming a dose ( 33 ) inside the first containing seat (S 1 ); at least a second containing seat (S 2 ) designed to receive the dose ( 33 ) from the first containing seat (S 1 ); a substation (ST 2 ) for transferring the dose ( 33 ) from the first containing seat (S 1 ) to the second containing seat (S 2 ); devices ( 7 ) for moving the first containing seat (S 1 ) between the forming substation (ST 1 ) and the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and vice versa; a substation (ST 3 ) for releasing the dose ( 33 ) from the second containing seat (S 2 ) to a containing element ( 2 ); further devices ( 8 ) for moving the second containing seat (S 2 ) between the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and the release substation (ST 3 ) and vice versa.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A filling unit for filling containing elements ( 2 ) of single-use capsules ( 3 ) with a dose ( 33 ) of product for extraction or infusion beverages, comprising:
a transport line ( 4 ) for transporting the containing elements ( 2 ) extending along a first movement path (P) and provided with a plurality of supporting seats ( 5 ) for the containing elements ( 2 ) arranged in succession along the first movement path (P);
a filling station (SR) for filling the above-mentioned containing elements ( 2 ) with a dose ( 33 ) of product;

characterised in that the filling station (SR) comprises:
at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) designed to receive a dose ( 33 ) of product and movable along a second movement path (P 1 );
a forming substation (ST 1 ) for forming the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ), provided with a releasing device ( 6 ) for releasing a predetermined quantity of product forming the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 );
at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) designed to receive the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) and movable along a third movement path (P 2 );
a transfer substation (ST 2 ) for transferring the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to the at least one second containing seat (S 2 );
first devices ( 7 ) for moving the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) between the forming substation (ST 1 ) and the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and vice versa;
a release substation (ST 3 ) for releasing the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to a containing element ( 2 ) transported by the transport line ( 4 );
further second devices ( 8 ) for moving the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ), designed to move the second containing seat (S 2 ) along the third movement path (P 2 ) from the transfer substation (ST 2 ) to the release substation (ST 3 ) and vice versa, the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and the release substation (ST 3 ) being positioned at a predetermined distance from one another along the third movement path (P 2 ), the third movement path (P 2 ) being parallel to the first movement path (P) of the transport line ( 4 ) at the release substation (ST 3 );

wherein the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) is defined by lateral walls of a cavity ( 18 ) and by a bottom wall (F), the filling unit comprising, for each first containing seat (S 1 ):
a piston ( 13 ) movable between a lower position where it defines the bottom wall (F) of the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) and an upper position where it closes the top of the cavity ( 18 );
means ( 14 ) for moving the piston ( 13 ), for moving the piston ( 13 ) between the lower and upper positions; and

wherein the means ( 14 ) for moving the piston ( 13 ) are designed to position the piston ( 13 ) in a compacting position, which is intermediate between the lower position and the upper position, in a compacting region (R 4 ), to compact the dose ( 33 ) of product; the filling unit further comprising a control and drive unit ( 15 ), connected to the means ( 14 ) for moving the piston ( 13 ) and configured for moving the piston ( 13 ) from the lower position to the upper position at the transfer substation (ST 2 ) so as to transfer the dose ( 33 ) from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ).

2. The filling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first devices ( 7 ) for moving the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) comprise a first element ( 9 ) rotating about a first axis (X 1 ) of rotation which is substantially vertical, on which is connected the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to be rotated about the first axis (X 1 ) of rotation.

3. The filling unit according to claim 2 , comprising a plurality of first containing seats (S 1 ), connected radially to the first rotary element ( 9 ) to be rotated so as to cyclically engage the forming (ST 1 ) and transfer (ST 2 ) substations.

4. The filling unit according to claim 3 , wherein the forming (ST 1 ) and transfer (ST 2 ) substations are positioned about the first rotary element ( 9 ), so as to be cyclically engaged by the first containing seats (S 1 ) rotating about the first axis (X 1 ) of rotation.

5. The filling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the further second devices ( 8 ) for moving the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) comprise a second element ( 10 ) rotating about a second axis (X 2 ) of rotation which is substantially vertical, on which is connected the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to be rotated about the second axis (X 2 ) of rotation.

6. The filling unit according to claim 5 , comprising a plurality of second containing seats (S 2 ), connected radially to the second rotary element ( 10 ) to be rotated so as to cyclically engage the transfer (ST 2 ) and release (ST 3 ) substations.

7. The filling unit according to claim 6 , wherein the second containing seats (S 2 ) are connected to the second rotary element ( 10 ) so as to be movable at least radially relative to the second rotary element ( 10 ).

8. The filling unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a compacting substation (ST 4 ) for compacting the dose ( 33 ), the compacting substation (ST 4 ) being positioned along the second movement path (P 1 ) of the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) between the forming substation (ST 1 ) and the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and being provided with compacting means ( 11 ) configured to compact the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ).

9. The filling unit according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one pushing element ( 26 ), which is movable for pushing, from the top of the at least one second containing seat downward, the dose ( 33 ) from the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to a corresponding containing element ( 2 ) at the release substation (ST 3 ).

10. A packaging machine ( 100 ) designed to package single-use capsules ( 3 ) for extraction or infusion beverages comprising a filling unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ; a station (SA) for feeding containing elements ( 2 ) of the single-use capsules ( 3 ) in corresponding supporting seats ( 5 ) of a transport line ( 4 ) of the filling unit ( 1 ); a station (SC) for closing the containing element ( 2 ) with a lid ( 34 ); and an outfeed station (SU) which picks up the capsules ( 3 ) from the supporting seats ( 5 ) of the transport line ( 4 ).

11. A method for filling containing elements ( 2 ) of single-use capsules ( 3 ) for extraction or infusion beverages with a dose ( 33 ) of product, the method being characterised in that it comprises the following steps:
moving a transport line ( 4 ) for transport of containing elements ( 2 ) along a first movement path (P);
releasing a dose ( 33 ) of product in a first containing seat (S 1 ) movable along a second movement path (P 1 ) in a forming region (R 1 ) of forming the dose ( 33 );
moving the first containing seat (S 1 ) from the forming region (R 1 ) to a transfer region (R 2 );
transferring at the transfer region (R 2 ) the dose ( 33 ) of product from the first containing seat (S 1 ) to a second containing seat (S 2 );
moving the second containing seat (S 2 ) from the transfer region (R 2 ) to a release region (R 3 ) along a third movement path (P 2 ) and parallel to the transport line ( 4 ) at the release region (R 3 );
transferring, at the release region (R 3 ), the dose ( 33 ) of product from the second containing seat (S 2 ) to a containing element ( 2 ) advancing along the firs

Assignees

• Ima Spa
• Gima Spa

Inventors

• Rubbi Emanuele
• Castellari Pierluigi
• Rea Dario

Classifications

• B65B1/385

  moving in an endless path · CPC title

• B65B29/02

  Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package · CPC title

• B65B43/50

  using rotary tables or turrets {(B65B43/46 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65B29/022

  packaging infusion material into capsules · CPC title

• B65B1/04 Primary

  Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles · CPC title