EP1002742A1 - Infusion bag with one compartment, especially for tea and process for its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

The teabag's longitudinal side(4), which is hot seal free, has an inwards fold(13) which is in V-form or concertina-form in cross section and which increases the chamber volume. The sides closed by hot sealing are the other longitudinal side(5), the top end(7) and the bottom end(9) of the teabag, and a thread is attached to a tag on the hot-sealed longitudinal side. The concertina or bellows-type fold in the longitudinal side has at least five and preferably seven fold lines. An Independent claim is included for a procedure for the continuous manufacture, filling and sealing of single-chamber teabags in which an inwards fold is made in the longitudinal side which is hot seal free.

Description

The invention relates to an infusion bag, in particular for the preparation of Tea, with a chamber containing a quantity of substance, consisting of a pair arranged opposite to each other by folding one in the middle rectangular filter paper strip formed walls, which at their three initially open pages including the substance quantum Heat seals are closed, with a thread at the head end with a Label is attached by means of the heat seal. The invention further relates to a Process for the continuous production, filling and sealing of such single-chamber infusion bags, especially for tea.

In addition to double-chamber infusion bags are becoming more complicated because of them Manufacturing continues to use simple single-chamber tea bags that are used in the Usually consist of a rectangular filter paper strip that is folded in the middle and including a quantum of substances at the three initially open Sides is sealed especially by heat sealing. The fold side is regularly the bottom or the foot end of the bag, so that the Heat seals on the two long sides and at the top of the bag must be made. This disadvantageously makes the free Surfaces over which the leaching liquid with the substance quantum in the Chamber can come into contact, greatly restricted, since only the seal-free floor area and the two chamber walls for Liquid passage into the chamber are available. The Chamber volume is also small, so only a limited one Expansion is available when the tea swells and the valuable tea substances are insufficiently extracted from the substance and can be transferred into the surrounding tea water. Because of the low Chamber volumes can also not be considered leaf tea types Quantum of substance, but only fine cuts, use their quality is less than that of leaf tea.

To counter these disadvantages, is according to the German utility model 91 04 897 a tea bag has already been proposed from tubular material is made through at its lower end Folding or welding is closed and over the top initially open end is filled with tea, after which a special closure part is used to seal the top of the bag. With a such a tubular bag, the chamber volume is significantly increased compared to known tea bags, but on the other hand is a complex Manufacturing with multiple operations required a continuous Hinder manufacture. Above all, it is disadvantageous that the known Tubular bags have much larger dimensions than the usual single-chamber infusion bags has and in length approximately the inner height of a glass or the jug in which the bag is inserted.

In view of this prior art, the invention is based on the object of improving the single-chamber infusion bag of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the surfaces available for passage of the leaching liquid into the chamber are enlarged, the chamber volume to improve the leaching capacity while maintaining the usual Outside dimensions is increased and at the same time there is a simple, continuous producibility from only one heat-sealable material web.

The object is inventively achieved in a single-chamber infusion bag of the type mentioned in that the heat sealing free folded side of the pouch is a longitudinal side that these longitudinal side magnification with a chamber volume, V-shaped in cross section, or accordion-shaped, extending up into the chamber Folding is provided that the sides sealed by heat sealing are the other long side as well as the head end and the foot end of the bag and that the thread is attached to the heat sealed long side with the label. By combining these features, a technically simple, continuous manufacturability is achieved, the infusion bag itself providing larger entry surfaces for the infusion liquid into the chamber by heat-sealing only one long side and the two shorter transverse sides of the bag and also on the A V-shaped or bellows-like fold-in is provided on the heat seal-free longitudinal side, which increases the chamber volume and the passage surfaces. Instead of the preferred thread label fastening on the heat-sealed long side, this fastening can also be carried out in a known manner on a heat-sealed transverse side, for example the head end.

To further increase the chamber volume without the Enlarging the outside dimensions of the bag may vary depending on the desired Chamber size the accordion or bellows-like folding of the Have at least five, preferably seven fold lines on the long side. In order to In addition to the flexibility in the design of the bag thickness, the additional Advantage associated with a lower depth of folding into the interior of the bag can be worked into and thus the effective Filling volume for the substance can be increased.

To make it easier to fold the two together opposite chamber walls of the single-chamber infusion bag line-shaped congruent knockouts parallel to the longitudinal fold be provided, expediently a plurality of mutually parallel, with congruent knockouts arranged at a distance from one another according to the number of intended folding operations side by side is arranged.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the label thread looped inside the chamber and by means of the label extractable for use.

For the continuous production, filling and sealing of single-chamber infusion bags of the type described above is according to the invention Proposed method, which is characterized in that a flat heat-sealable material web, in particular filter paper web, one Width that is slightly larger than twice the bag width, that a label thread on the flat material web by means of a thread layer the web half is placed on the next process step portioned substance quanta of the leached substance in uniform Spacing in a row, with the label thread from the Area of the chamber formed later on the one intended for heat sealing Is led out along the length of the material web and forms a Loop back into the chamber area of the material web at one point is introduced at which a cross in a further process stage ongoing heat sealing is carried out that subsequently to the Positioning the substance quanta around the other half of the material web Longitudinal central axis is folded and congruent over the label thread substance quantum half the material web is laid, after which by a Outer edge longitudinal heat seal is a continuous tube that is formed during tube formation or after tube formation long side folded without a heat seal with an inwardly extending side Folding is provided that then the hose in regular, each a substance quantum-spacing in the transverse direction heat sealed and that the cross heat seals are cut in the middle and such Tubing parts are formed, each a quantum of substance contain containing chamber. This is due to the longitudinal sealing ensures that the thread is fixed at the foot end and at the head end is pulled out through the longitudinal seal, the outside on the outside Label to be attached to the thread in a known manner by heat sealing can.

The line-shaped knockouts are advantageously made in accordance with the Number of folding operations next to each other and at a distance to each other on the flat material web in the not for positioning the Substantial quantum provided half made.

By doubling the number of single-chamber infusion bags that can be manufactured at the same time According to a further embodiment, the Invention proposed a duplex process control, thereby is characterized by a flat heat-sealable material web a larger fourfold loot width is assumed that on each half a label thread is placed on the material web by means of a thread layer, that in the next process step portioned substance quanta of leached substance in two rows parallel to each other in uniform Spaces on the material web adjacent to the longitudinal center symmetrically are placed side by side, with the label threads from each half of the web the area of the chamber to be formed later on for heat sealing provided longitudinal side of the material web are led out and under Form a loop back into the chamber area of the material web at one Are introduced at a later stage in a process ongoing heat sealing is carried out that subsequently to the Positioning the substance quantum rows the two outer quarters of the Material web are folded inwards to the folding axis and there on impact, however positioned leaving a gap and by means of a medium length heat seal be connected to the underlying material web, after which the material web is centered in the longitudinal direction within the gap is cut and thus two tubes arranged side by side are produced on the long side, which is folded without a heat seal, i.e. in each case outside, with an inward-extending fold, that then both tubes in regular, each a quantum of substance Detecting distances are heat sealed in the transverse direction and that the Cross heat seals are cut in the middle and such tube parts are formed, each a chamber containing a substance quantum exhibit.

The label threads that are led out of the material web are preferred already with labels when threading, after the folding process in an intermediate step before the formation of the central longitudinal section be folded back so as not to disturb the cutting process or when Cutting process not to be damaged.

Fig. 1

einen Einkammer-Aufgußbeutel im Abpackzusrand in einer Draufsicht und einer darunter angeordneten Querschnittsansicht;

Fig. 2

einen Teil einer kontinuierlichen einbahnigen Herstellung von Einkammer-Aufgußbeuteln gemäß Fig. 1, schematisch in einer Draufsicht;

Fig. 3

einen Teil einer kontinuierlichen zweibahnigen Herstellung von Einkammer-Aufgußbeuteln, schematisch in einer Draufsicht, wobei Fig. 3 I ein früheres Herstellungsstadium als Fig. 3 II verdeutlicht und

Fig. 4

zwei Einkammer-Aufgußbeutel in Duplex-Anordnung.

Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention result from the following description of the associated drawing, in which the single-chamber infusion bag for tea and the method according to the invention are shown schematically. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a single-chamber infusion bag in the packaging state in a plan view and a cross-sectional view arranged underneath;

Fig. 2

part of a continuous single-lane production of single-chamber infusion bags according to Figure 1, schematically in a plan view.

Fig. 3

a part of a continuous two-lane production of single-chamber infusion bags, schematically in a plan view, Fig. 3 I illustrates an earlier stage of manufacture than Fig. 3 II and

Fig. 4

two single-chamber infusion bags in a duplex arrangement.

The one-chamber infusion bag 1 shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing made of heat sealable filter paper material and has two each other oppositely arranged chamber walls 2, 3 through folding in the middle of a basically rectangular filter paper strip result, the folding taking place about a longitudinal side 4 of the bag 1. The opposite long side 5 is closed by a heat seal 6, as well as the head end 7 by a cross heat seal 8 and the foot end 9 through a cross heat seal 10. In this way, an enclosed one Space formed to form a chamber 11, which is a substance quantum 12, namely a portioned amount of tea. The single chamber infusion bag 1 is therefore at its one, on the left in the drawing Long side 4 heat seal-free, while the longitudinal heat seal 6 and the transverse heat seals 8 and 10 the closure at the head end 7 and Foot end 9 is done.

Breite:

B = ca. 4 cm bis 7 cm

Höhe:

H = ca. 6 cm bis 8 cm

vorzugsweise:

B = 4 cm x H = 6 cm

The heat-seal-free folded longitudinal side 4 of the single-chamber infusion bag is provided with a fold-in 13 to enlarge the receiving volume of the chamber 11, which is V-shaped to accordion-shaped in cross-section and extends approximately in the middle plane of the chamber 11 of the bag inwards into it . The folding 13 is carried out in such a way that the usual external dimensions of such single-chamber infusion bags are maintained and, despite the increase in the chamber volume, there is no increase in its length or width in the packaging state. The usual dimensions are as follows:

Width:

W = approx. 4 cm to 7 cm

Height:

H = approx. 6 cm to 8 cm

preferably:

W = 4 cm x H = 6 cm

By enlarging the chamber on the one hand by means of the folding 13 and the shorter length of heat seals on the bag ensures that the Substance quantum tea in chamber 11 excellent through the Infusion liquid is to be digested and the substances contained in it solve optimally.

In a manner known per se, the single-chamber infusion bag 1 with a attached thread 14 may be provided with label 15, which the Hang the bag in a cup, jug or similar container enable.

It follows from the manufacturing process described below that the thread 14 with its lower end close to the longitudinal heat seal 6 the foot end 9 is secured by sealing, then loop-shaped through the Interior of the chamber 11 is guided and out of the chamber 11 near the head end 7 is led out through the longitudinal heat seal 5, which is why the heat seal is interrupted at this point in order to pull it out to enable the thread 14 from the chamber 11. The thread 14 is outside then placed in the manner of an eyelet and welded to the label 15. This is temporarily next to the bag during the manufacturing process forming material web adjacent to the longitudinal heat seal 6 and becomes Packaging folded inwards to the bag dimensions according to FIG. 1 to be able to keep the drawing.

The manufacture of such a single-chamber infusion bag 1 is as follows based on the description of Fig. 2 of the drawing. Starting point the manufacture is a flat heat-sealable material web 15 in shape a filter paper web that has a width that is slightly larger than that double the width of the bag is also used to fold the material To have available. The flat material web 16 is not by means of a illustrated thread layer of the label thread 14 on the right in the drawing Half of the web deposited on which portioned in the next process step Substance quanta 12 of the leached substance in uniform Intervals can be arranged in series. As already described above the thread 14 from the area of the chamber to be formed later on Heat seal provided longitudinal side 5 of the material web 16 out is and again forming an eyelet in the chamber area of the Material web is introduced at a point in which in a later Process stage the cross heat seal 8 (at the head end of the bag) is carried out.

Following the positioning of the substance quanta 12, the other one Half of web 18 folded over the longitudinal central axis 19 and congruent placed over the label thread substance quantum half 17 of the material web 16, after which by the longitudinal heat seal 6 made on the outer edge continuous hose 20 is formed. During tube forming or after the tube is formed, the heat seal-free fold is made Long side 4 with the one extending inwards into the tube Fold 13 provided.

In the next process move, the hose 20 becomes regular, one at a time Substantially quantum-12 distances heat-sealed in the transverse direction and the transverse heat seals 8 and 10 are cut in the middle, so that Tubular parts 21 are formed, each having a substance quantum 12 contain containing chamber 11. It is described by the above Longitudinal heat seal 6 ensures that the thread 14 is fixed at the foot end 9 and is pulled out at the head end 7 through the longitudinal heat seal is, laterally outside the label 15 on the eyelet of the thread in known Is attached by heat sealing. The packaging then finds that Fold the label inside instead so that it is in the packaging condition rests on the wall 2 of the chamber 11.

In order to facilitate the production of the fold 13, are linear Knockouts 22, 23 (V-shape) according to the number of intended Folding processes side by side and at a distance from each other on the material web 16 in the not intended for the positioning of the substance quanta 12 Half of 18 made.

By doubling the number of single-chamber infusion bags that can be manufactured at the same time 3, 4 of the drawing Duplex procedure proposed in the case of a flat heat-sealable material web 24 is assumed a width that the four times the loot width corresponds to the material used for the Production of folds is needed. On each half 25, 26 the Material web 24 is made up of one label thread 27, 28 each by means of a thread layer looped in such a way that an introduction of outside of the thread into the chamber to be formed later and a lead-out for the purpose of attaching labels near the head end.

In the next process step, portioned substance quanta are 12 in two rows 29, 30 parallel to each other at equal intervals on both Halves 25, 26 of the material web 24 symmetrically adjacent to the longitudinal center L. placed side by side. After positioning the Substance quantum rows 29, 30 become the two outer quarters of the Material web 24 folded inwards about the respective folding axis 19 and in the longitudinal center L butt, but leaving a gap 31, the Fig. 3 II of the drawing can be removed, positioned and optionally pre-fixed. This is followed by the process step of creating a medium-length heat seal 32 with which the folded edges with the underlying parts of the material web are connected. Without Damage to the laid label threads 27 and 28 is then the Material web 24 centrally in the longitudinal direction in the central-longitudinal heat seal 32 cut within the gap 31 and are thus two side by side Arranged hoses 33, 34 made that are heat-seal-free folded long side, which is outside here, with an inside extending fold 35, 36 is provided according to FIG. 3 II of the drawing. To facilitate the formation of the folds 35 and 36 again at the beginning of the method, knockouts 37 on the material web 24 trained.

Finally, both tubes 33, 34 are then in regular, each heat-sealing distances in the transverse direction, the transverse heat seals 38 are cut in the middle and such Tube parts are formed, each containing a substance quantum 12 Have chamber 11. The labels 15 are in an intermediate step after the folding process and before the formation of the central longitudinal section has been folded back so as not to interfere with the cutting process or when Cutting process not to be damaged.

Fig. 4 of the drawing shows a perspective view in the duplex method manufactured single-chamber tea bags in the arrangement in which they Manufacturing machine at the end of the process to leave one Packaging to be fed.

Reference list

1

Single chamber tea bags

2nd

wall

3rd

wall

4th

Long side (folded without heat seal)

5

Long side (heat seal)

6

Heat seal, longitudinal heat seal (outer edge heat seal)

7

Cross side = head end

8th

Cross heat seal

9

Cross side = foot end

10th

Cross heat seal

11

chamber

12th

Substance quantum

13

Folding

14

thread

15

label

16

Material web / filter paper web

17th

Half of the web

18th

other half of the web

19th

Folding axis

20th

tube

21

Hose parts

22

Knockouts

23

Knockouts

24th

Material web

25th

half

26

half

27

Label thread

28

Label thread

29

Substance quantum series

30th

Substance quantum row outer quarter

31

gap

32

Medium-length heat seal

33

tube

34

tube

35

Folding

36

Folding

37

Knockouts

38

Cross heat seal tube parts labels

B

width

H

height

L

Longitudinal center

Claims (8)

Infusion bags, in particular for the preparation of tea, with a chamber containing a substance quantum, which consists of a pair of oppositely arranged walls formed by central folding of a rectangular filter paper strip, which are sealed on their three initially open sides, including the substance quantum, by heat sealing, whereby a thread with a label is attached to the head end by means of the heat seal,
characterized,
that the heat-seal-free folded side of the bag (1) is a long side (4), that this long side (4) is provided with a fold-in (13) which increases the chamber volume, has a V-shaped or accordion-shaped cross section and extends into the chamber, that the sides sealed by heat sealing are the other long side (5) and the head end (7) and the foot end (9) of the bag (1) and that the thread (14) is attached to the heat-sealed long side with the label (15). Infusion bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the accordion-like or bellows-like folding (13) of the long side (4) has at least five, preferably seven fold lines. Infusion bag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two opposite chamber walls of the single-chamber infusion bag with linear congruent knockouts (22, 23) are provided parallel to the longitudinal fold, whereby expediently a plurality of mutually parallel, at a distance mutually congruent knockouts (22, 23) according to the number of intended folding operations side by side are arranged. Infusion bag according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized characterized in that the label thread (14) is loop-shaped within the Chamber (11) housed and by means of the label (15) for use is extractable. Process for the continuous production, filling and sealing of Single-chamber infusion bags according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized characterized by a flat heat-sealable material web (16), in particular filter paper web, a width is assumed that is slightly larger than double the bag width that on the plane Material web (16) by means of a thread layer a label thread (14) on the Half of the web is placed on the next step portioned substance quanta (12) of the substance to be leached out in evenly spaced in a row, the Label thread (14) from the area of the chamber (11) formed later the long side (5) of the material web provided for heat sealing is led out and back in the formation of a loop Chamber area of the material web (16) is introduced at one point in a further stage of the process a transverse one Heat sealing is carried out after positioning the substance quanta (12) the other half (18) of the material web (16) is folded around the longitudinal central axis (19) and congruent over the label thread substance quantum half (17) of the material web (16) is then placed through an outer edge longitudinal heat seal (6) continuous hose (20) is formed that during the Hose forming or subsequent to the hose forming Long side (4) folded without a heat seal with one inward extending folding (13) is then provided that the hose (20) in a regular manner, each recording a quantity of substance (12) Gaps are heat sealed in the cross direction and that the cross heat seals (8, 10) are cut in the middle and such Tube parts (21) are formed, each of which is a substance quantum contain containing chamber. Infusion bag according to claim 5, characterized in that the line-shaped knockouts (22, 23) corresponding to the number of intended folding processes next to each other and at a distance from each other on the flat material web (16) in the not for the positioning of the Substantial quantum provided half (17) are made. Infusion bag according to claim 5 and 6, characterized in that a flat heat-sealable material web (24) is larger four times the bag width is assumed that on each half (25, 26) one Erikett thread (27,) each of the material web (24) by means of a thread layer 28) is imposed that portioned in the next process step Substance quanta (12) of the substance to be leached out in two rows (29, 30) parallel to each other at regular intervals on the material web (24) placed symmetrically next to each other adjacent to the longitudinal center (L) the label threads (27, 28) of each web half (25, 26) the area of the chamber to be formed later on for heat sealing provided along the longitudinal side of the material web and forming a loop back into the chamber area of the Material web are introduced at one point, in another Process step a transverse heat sealing is carried out, that after the positioning of the substance quantum rows (29, 30) the two outer quarters of the material web to the inside Longitudinal center (L) are folded over there butt but below Leaving a gap (31) positioned and by a longitudinal medium heat seal (32) connected to the underlying material web be, after which the material web (24) in the middle in the longitudinal direction inside of the gap (31) is cut and thus two side by side arranged hoses (33, 34) are produced, which on the heat-seal-free folded long side, i.e. outside, with one after inside folding (35, 36) are provided that then both tubes (33, 34) in regular, one each Quantities of substance (12) in the transverse direction be heat sealed and that the cross heat seals (38) in the middle are cut and such hose parts are formed, each have a chamber containing a substance quantum. Infusion bag according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized characterized in that the led out of the material web Provide label threads (27, 28) with labels (15) already when threading be after the folding process in an intermediate step before Form the central longitudinal section can be folded back.

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