Machine for forming filter bags for infusion products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10793347-B2
Application number	US-201716074500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2017
Priority date	Feb 24, 2016
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A machine for forming filter bags for infusion products including a first movement carousel rotating continuously about a first axis of rotation; a plurality of first gripping means positioned along, and movable continuously with, the first carousel; a plurality of first operating stations positioned along, and movable continuously with, the first movement carousel; each first operating station is associated with a corresponding first gripping means; each first operating station is configured to operate on the piece of filter material in order to form, at least partly, a filter bag along a predetermined angular stretch of rotation of the first movement carousel; and a plurality of first translation devices, associated with the first movement carousel and configured for translating, mutually, the first operating stations and the corresponding first gripping means along a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for making filter bags for infusion products starting from individual pieces of filter material, each of the filter bags containing at least one dose of infusion product and advancing along a feed line, comprising:
a first movement carousel for continuous rotary movement about a first axis of rotation;
a plurality of first gripping devices including grippers positioned along, and continuously movable with, the first movement carousel, each of the first gripping devices being configured for holding a respective piece of filter material being formed;
a plurality of first operating stations positioned along, and continuously movable with, the first movement carousel, each first operating station including a corresponding one of the first gripping devices and being configured to operate on the piece of filter material in order to form, at least partly, a filter bag along at least one predetermined angular stretch of rotation of the first movement carousel;
a plurality of first translation devices, associated with the first movement carousel and configured for translating, mutually, the first operating stations and the corresponding ones of the first gripping devices along a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation, the first translation devices including at least one chosen from a cam mechanism and an electric motor for performing the translating.

2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first movement carousel has a circumferential surface extending parallel to the first axis, and wherein each first operating station is positioned on a first part of the circumferential surface and close to an edge of the first movement carousel, and wherein each of the first gripping devices is positioned along a second part of the circumferential surface of the first movement carousel; each first operating station and the corresponding one of the first gripping devices being positioned on different vertical planes, in reference to the circumferential surface of the first movement carousel, at least for a stretch of the feed line for feeding the pieces of filter material being formed.

3. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein each first translation device is configured to translate the corresponding one of the first gripping devices along a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation of the first movement carousel to bring the piece of filter material, positioned on the corresponding one of the first gripping devices to the corresponding first operating station.

4. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first translation devices are configured to translate the first operating stations along a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation of the first movement carousel to bring the first operating stations to the respective pieces of filter material at least for a stretch of the feed line.

5. The machine according to claim 1 , and further comprising cutting devices including cutting blades positioned on, and movable in rotation with, the first movement carousel, each of the cutting devices being positioned between, and associated with, one of the first operating stations and the corresponding one of the first gripping devices for separating from a continuous strip of filter material the individual pieces of filter material.

6. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising a forming unit configured for forming, and feeding to the first movement carousel, the individual pieces of filter material each containing at least one dose of product along the feed line.

7. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein each first operating station is configured to operate on one of the individual pieces of filter material in order to form a complete filter bag along at least one predetermined angular stretch of rotation of the first movement carousel.

8. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first operating station is any one chosen from a station for applying string and tag, a station for folding and closing the piece of filter material, and a station for applying and sealing a sheet of overwrapping material.

9. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising:
a second movement carousel for continuous rotary movement about a second axis of rotation, positioned alongside the first movement carousel;
a plurality of second gripping devices including grippers positioned along, and continuously movable with, the second movement carousel, each of the second gripping devices being configured for receiving and holding one of the pieces piece of filter material being formed;
a plurality of second operating stations positioned along, and continuously movable with, the second movement carousel, each second operating station including a corresponding one of the second gripping devices and being configured to operate on the piece of filter material in order to further form, at least partly, a filter bag along at least one predetermined angular stretch of rotation of the second movement carousel; and
a plurality of second translation devices, associated with the second movement carousel and configured for translating, mutually, the second operating stations and the corresponding ones of the second gripping devices along a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation the second translation devices including at least one chosen from a cam mechanism and an electric motor for performing the translating.

10. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein the second movement carousel has a circumferential surface extending parallel to the second axis, and wherein each second operating station is positioned on a first part of the circumferential surface and close to an edge of the second movement carousel, and wherein each of the second gripping devices is positioned along a second part of the circumferential surface of the second carousel; each second operating station and the corresponding one of the second gripping devices being positioned on different vertical planes, in reference to the circumferential surface of the second movement carousel, at least for a stretch of the feed line for feeding the pieces of filter material being formed.

11. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein each second translation device is configured to translate the corresponding one of the second gripping devices along a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation of the second movement carousel to bring a piece of filter material, positioned on the corresponding one of the second gripping devices, to the corresponding second operating station.

12. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein the second translation devices are configured to translate the corresponding second operating stations along a direction parallel to the second axis of rotation of the second movement carousel to bring the corresponding second operating stations to the pieces of filter material at least for a stretch of the feed line.

13. The machine according to claim 9 , and further comprising a first transfer device including a first rotatable wheel synchronized between the first movement carousel and the second movement carousel to transfer the pieces of filter material from the first movement carousel to the second movement carousel.

14. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein the second operating stations are configured to operate on a respective piece of filter material and form a complete filter bag along at least one predetermined angular stretch of rotation of the second movement carousel, wherein the second operating stations are any one chosen from stations for applying string and tag and stations for applying and sealing a sheet of overwrapping mat

Assignees

• Ima Spa

Inventors

• Rea Dario
• Rivola Sauro
• Pasini Fabio

Classifications

• B65B43/50 Primary

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

• B65B43/60

  rotatable · CPC title

• B65B29/028

  packaging infusion material into filter bags · CPC title

• B65B29/04

  Attaching, or forming and attaching, string handles or tags to tea bags · CPC title

• B65D85/808 Primary

  for immersion in the liquid {to release part or all of their contents}, e.g. tea bags · CPC title