Machine and method for making a continuous tubular element with filling having a spacer and/or filter function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12133548-B2
Application number	US-202117798371-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2021
Priority date	Feb 26, 2020
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 2024

Abstract

A machine for making a continuous tubular element with filling from web material, including first and second means for feeding respective continuous webs, a forming station configured to perform a folding and/or deformation of a first continuous web in a shaped configuration, and a wrapping station wherein the second continuous web is wound in a tubular shape around the first continuous shaped web to obtain the continuous tubular element. Upstream of the wrapping station there is a first gluing device configured to apply at least one longitudinal line of glue on at least one of the continuous webs in such a way as to define at least one gluing zone, said longitudinal line of glue being positioned in such a way as to coincide with a zone of superposing and contact between the two continuous webs feeding out of the wrapping station.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for making a continuous tubular element with filling having at least one chosen from a spacer function and a filter function, comprising:
a first feed mechanism configured for feeding a first continuous web and configured to feed the first continuous web along at least a first feed path;
a second feed mechanism configured for feeding a second continuous web and configured to feed the second continuous web along a respective second feed path, said first and second feed paths converging towards a superposing zone;
a forming station positioned on the first feed path and configured to perform at least one chosen from a folding and a deformation of the first continuous web in a shaped configuration wherein said first continuous web adopts a predetermined non-circular shape, that is at least one chosen from three-dimensional and curved, in section transversal to the first feed path;
downstream of said superposing zone, a wrapping station wherein said second continuous web is wrapped in a tubular shape around said first continuous web, obtaining a continuous tubular element,
a first gluing device positioned on at least one chosen from the first feed path and the second feed path upstream of said superposing zone and configured for applying at least one longitudinal line of glue respectively on at least one chosen from said first continuous web and said second continuous web to define at least one gluing zone, said at least one longitudinal line of glue being positioned to coincide with a zone of superposing and contact between said first continuous web and second continuous web feeding out from the wrapping station;
wherein the wrapping station comprises a forming beam, configured for a progressive wrapping of the second continuous web around the first continuous web in the shaped configuration;
wherein said forming station allows continuous forming of the first continuous web such that, as the first continuous web feeds out of the forming station, the first continuous web is shaped and ready to be introduced as an insert into the continuous tubular element.

2. The machine according to claim 1 , also comprising a second gluing device positioned in said wrapping station and configured for applying at least one line of glue along a first lateral edge of said second continuous web and, downstream of the second gluing device, a pressing unit configured for keeping superposed a second lateral edge of said second continuous web on said first lateral edge of the second continuous web to close said continuous tubular element.

3. The machine according to claim 2 , comprising, downstream of the second gluing device, an activation device configured for promoting a heat exchange with the continuous tubular element to vary a temperature of said at least one line of glue released by the second gluing device.

4. The machine according to claim 3 , comprising, downstream of said wrapping station and downstream of or at at least one chosen from said pressing unit and said activation device, a cooling/heating station comprising a cooling/heating element positioned facing at least one portion of the continuous tubular element having the overlapped edges of the second continuous web.

5. The machine according to claim 4 , wherein said cooling/heating element has an integrated cooling/heating system and has a shape with at least one plate shaped to match said continuous tubular element, having a concavity facing downwards and facing said continuous tubular element.

6. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said first gluing device is adjustable at least in a relative lateral positioning.

7. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first gluing device comprises two or more dispensing nozzles for applying two or more longitudinal lines of glue.

8. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said wrapping station comprises at least one guide bar, extending longitudinally along said first feed path and about which is guided said first continuous web during the wrapping of the second continuous web.

9. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said first gluing device is adjustable at least in a relative lateral positioning, perpendicular to the first feed path or to the second feed path, to allow an adaptation in a case of size changeover.

10. The machine according to claim 3 , wherein the activation device is integrated in said pressing unit.

11. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the wrapping station comprises a forming beam, configured for a progressive wrapping of the second continuous web around the first continuous web in the shaped configuration, using a guide and folding belt for the second continuous web, and a shaped body with a hollow structure having an inner cavity for housing the pre-shaped first continuous web and an outer surface forming a folding reference surface for the second continuous web wrapped around the first continuous web in the shaped configuration, and wherein said second gluing device is positioned to arrange the respective line of glue in a zone of the second continuous web configured to be pressed against said outer surface of the shaped body.

12. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first gluing device comprises two or more dispensing nozzles for applying two or more longitudinal lines of glue parallel on the second continuous web to define two or more gluing zones.

13. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the second continuous web is wrapped in a tubular shape around the predetermined non-circular shape of the first continuous web.

Assignees

• Gd Spa

Inventors

• Eusepi Ivan
• Baldanza Nicola
• Esposti Marco
• Rizzo Gennaro
• Gamberini Giuliano

Classifications

• B31C5/00 Primary

  Making tubes or pipes without using mandrels · CPC title

• A24D3/0245

  by winding, e.g. spirally · CPC title

• A24C5/465 Primary

  the paper tubes partially containing a filter element · CPC title

• A24C5/24

  Pasting the seam · CPC title

• A24C5/1807

  with compressing means, e.g. garniture · CPC title