Device and method for feeding and dosing filter bags with infusion or extraction products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10450097-B2
Application number	US-201515510739-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2015
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

Described is a device for feeding and dosing infusion or extraction product of a machine (100) for making filter bags (S) containing the infusion or extraction product comprising a space (2) for containing infusion or extraction product defined by an outer lateral wall (3) and by an inner lateral wall (4) comprising openings (7) for the passage of the product; a feeding chamber (6) made inside the inner lateral wall (4), communicating through the openings (7) with the containment space (2) and equipped with an outlet (8) leading outside the containment space (2); a shutter (9), which is movable inside the feeding chamber (6) at least between a closed lower end position (P1), wherein it occludes the openings (7), and an open upper end position (P2), wherein it allows the passage of the product from the containment space (2) to the feeding chamber (6) through the openings (7) towards the outlet (8) to fill the filter bags (S) being formed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for feeding and dosing infusion or extraction product for a machine for making filter bags containing infusion or extraction product, wherein it comprises:
a containment space for containing infusion or extraction product defined by an outer lateral wall and by an inner lateral wall which has openings for the passage of the product;
a feeding chamber made inside the inner lateral wall, communicating through the openings with the containment space and equipped with an outlet leading outside the containment space;
a shutter, movable along a predetermined direction of movement inside the feeding chamber between a lower end closing position, wherein it occludes the openings, and an upper end open position, wherein it allows the passage of a dose of product from the containment space to the feeding chamber through the openings and from the feeding chamber to a filter bag being formed through the outlet.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the outer lateral wall is a cylindrical wall.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the outer lateral wall is made in a first tubular element.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the inner lateral wall is a cylindrical wall.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the outer lateral wall is made in a first tubular element and wherein the inner lateral wall is made in a second tubular element, located inside the first tubular element.

6. The device according to claim 1 , comprising a rotary member, positioned inside the containment space and rotated to push the product inside the containment space towards the openings.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the rotary member comprises a spiral, positioned between the outer lateral wall and the inner lateral wall.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the outer lateral wall is made in a first tubular element having a relative longitudinal axis of extension and wherein the inner lateral wall is made in a second tubular element, located inside the first tubular element and having a relative longitudinal axis of extension, and wherein the spiral extends along, and rotates relative to, a longitudinal axis of extension parallel to the longitudinal axes of extension, respectively, of the first tubular element and of the second tubular element.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the axes of longitudinal extension of the spiral, of the first tubular element and of the second tubular element are parallel to the direction of movement of the shutter.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter comprises a piston, having a lateral wall for closing the opening and a lower wall designed to define an upper wall of the feeding chamber.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the openings are defined by recesses made in the inner lateral wall and having a main extension along a direction for feeding the product.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the openings are made at a lower end of the inner lateral wall.

13. A machine for making filter bags containing infusion or extraction product, wherein it comprises:
a station for feeding a continuous strip of filter material;
a station for forming and joining the continuous strip into a closed tubular shape and feeding along a feed direction;
a station for feeding and dosing the infusion or extraction product positioned above the forming and joining station and comprising the feeding and dosing device according to claim 1 ;
a station for joining an open end of the continuous strip in the tubular shape, alternately forming, respectively, a top end of a filter bag being formed and a bottom end of the next filter bag, with the joining station positioned downstream of the forming and joining station relative to the feed direction of the continuous strip;
a station for separating a filter bag already formed from a next filter bag being formed positioned downstream of the forming and joining station relative to the feed direction of the continuous strip.

14. A method for feeding and dosing infusion or extraction product inside a continuous strip of filter material defining filter bags, wherein it comprises the following steps:
preparing a continuous strip of filter material and joining the continuous strip to define a closed tubular shape and feeding along a vertical feed direction;
preparing a feeding and dosing device according to claim 1 ;
moving the shutter of the feeding and dosing device from the closed position to the open position, to allow a dose of product to pass from the containment space to the feeding chamber through the openings and from the feeding chamber to a filter bag being formed through the outlet;
moving the shutter from the open position to the closed position, to favour an escape of the dose of product present inside the feeding chamber through the outlet, releasing the dose of product inside the joined continuous strip, and occluding the openings.

15. The method according to claim 14 , comprising a step of controlling the shutter for varying an opening time of the openings and adjusting a quantity of the product fed to the feeding chamber.

16. The method according to claim 14 , comprising a step of preparing a rotary member inside the containment space of the feeding and dosing device and a step of rotating the rotary member for moving the product present inside the containment space towards the openings.

17. The method according to claim 16 , comprising a step of controlling the rotation of the rotary member, for adjusting the dose of product fed to the feeding chamber through the openings.

18. The method according to claim 17 , comprising a step of rotating the rotary member in step mode and a step of controlling an angle of rotation of the rotary member for adjusting the dose of product fed.

19. The method according claim 17 , comprising a step of rotating the rotary member in continuous mode and a step of controlling a speed of rotation of the rotary member for adjusting the dose of product fed.

Assignees

• Ima Spa

Inventors

• Rivola Sauro
• Betti Claudio

Classifications

• B65B29/028

  packaging infusion material into filter bags · CPC title

• B65B37/08

  by rotary feeders · CPC title

• B65B1/36

  by volumetric devices or methods (checking volume of filled material B65B1/48) · CPC title

• B65B29/02 Primary

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

• B65B7/02

  Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks · CPC title