DE102015115732A1 - A method of forming packaging stacks of reduced dimensions containing an infusion substance and a unit for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of forming stacks of packages containing an infusion substance, comprising the steps of: sequentially feeding individual packages (11) to a first confining member (22) to form a stack (36) having a certain number of packages (11); stacked with respect to each other and subsequently feeding the thus prepared stack (36) to a packaging box, in addition to the following further intermediate phases: feeding at least one package (11) to a second intermediate confining element (21) and releasing the at least one package ( 11) in the first confining element (22); Feeding at least one second package (11) to the second intermediate confining member (21); Subjecting the second intermediate confinement member (21) containing the at least second package (11) to rotation at a predetermined angle; Releasing the at least second package contained in the rotated second intermediate confining member (21) into the underlying first confining member (22) above the at least one package, repeating the sequence of feeding, releasing, feeding, rotating and releasing at least one individual package ( 11) until the predetermined number of packages is reached to form a stack (36) of packages which are rotated at a predetermined angle to each other for insertion into a packaging box.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for forming packaging stacks of reduced dimensions containing an infusion substance and a unit for carrying out the method.

In the field of packaging containing an infusion, such as filter bags or envelopes, for example, tea, chamomile or other vegetable products, their packaging is not without its drawbacks.

In fact, it should be noted that this type of packaging, generally in the form of a flattened prism, actually has differentiated dimensions. This is because the substance contained therein tends to settle near the bottom of the package in a position opposite to a label intended to grip the package manually and hold the bag that forms it submerged in water ,

At present, using automatic packaging, a number of the packages are placed in a box with all packages pointing in the same direction. For example, the bottom of the packages, which, as already indicated, has a bulge due to the presence of the substance, faces the bottom of the box.

As a result, the box has a non-homogeneous filling, as the lower part is filled with the bulged bottom portions of the packages, whereas the upper part of the box is relatively empty and receives the upper empty flattened ends of the packages, which in turn carry the aforementioned label.

For economy, the production and the formation of a packaging of this kind currently take place on a production line.

In fact, a conveying means in the form of a continuous tubular casing is provided which contains portions of the infusion material which forms portions of a casing, each containing a corresponding portion of tea and provided with a label.

In particular, the tubular casing, made of filter paper and containing portions of a substance, for example tea, is moved in a known manner in steps along a conveying path until a cutting device engages and produces and separates the individual packages.

The individual packages are then dropped and fed into a hopper or vertical confining element. Once the hopper has been filled with the preselected number of packages, it conveys the stack thus formed to the packaging area. The patents EP 841249 and EP 945344 the same applicant disclose suitable devices for this activity.

Another example of such a known device is in WO 99/37542 A1 wherein carriers are used which contain a series of stacked packing stacks.

It is therefore easy to understand how packages produced on the assembly line are currently all oriented in the same way. In fact, the baggy bottom portion of each package faces one side and its upper flattened empty end carrying the label faces the other. Therefore, the above-described non-homogeneous packaging is produced in the packaging box.

There is no solution for obtaining alternate packages to occupy less space, i. H. one is positioned with its baggy bottom portion positioned on one side facing the upper flattened empty, label bearing end of the other, or the subsequent one. At present, this can only be achieved by manual packaging with a consequent increase in the times and costs of the product.

According to another known device, which in the US 5263302 A is described, discharge means are provided which have a flap system which cooperates with a rotatable receiving housing having two tiltable bottom halves.

A general object of the present invention is to solve the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior art in an extremely simple, economical and in particular functional way.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming packaging stacks containing an infusion substance and having a minimum system height.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming packaging stacks containing an infusion substance and having a minimum system height without the intervention of any operator completely automatic.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming packaging stacks containing an infusion substance, wherein an arrangement of the package in groups has a limited number with an alternately arranged arrangement with respect to their baggy bottom portions containing the infusion substance.

In view of the above objects, according to the present invention, there are provided a method of forming packing stacks having reduced dimensions and containing an infusion substance and a unit for carrying out the method having the features specified in the appended claims.

The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the prior art will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, inter alia, an embodiment of a unit implementing the method according to the same invention ,

In the drawings:

1 Fig. 3 is an elevated schematic side view of part of a plant or unit for forming packing stacks containing an infusion substance according to the method of the present invention;

2 is a schematic plan view from the top of what is in 1 is shown;

3 is a perspective view of the part of the plant or unit that is in 1 and 2 shown in a different working position;

4 is a perspective view of the part of the plant or unit that is in 1 and 2 is shown in a second working position;

5 is a perspective view of the part of the plant or unit that is in 1 and 2 is shown, according to another orientation in another working position;

6 is a perspective view identical to that in FIG 5 with some elements in partial cross-section to better illustrate the operation of some elements;

7 and 8th schematically show two phases of the process of the invention in the presence of only one bag;

9 and 10 schematically show two phases of the process of the invention in the presence of pairs of pouches which are rotated relative to each other as in the preceding ones 1 to 6 is shown.

With reference to the preceding drawings, a process is described for forming stacks of packaging containing an infusion, in particular, but not limited to, filter bags or envelopes, such as tea, chamomile or other vegetable products, with the packages superimposed and mutually adjacent are rotated and produce a minimum system height.

In the illustrated example, a package comprises 11 a filter bag 12 , a label 13 and a thread therebetween which is not shown since it is not of interest to the present invention. In particular, the packaging comprises 11 a filter bag 12 for containing a portion of an infusion, and the label 13 is for manual gripping of the package and for keeping the bag submerged in the water 12 intended.

The process for forming stacks of the above-mentioned packages provides a series of phases, some of which are shown in the preceding drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of a part of a plant or unit for carrying out the method of the present invention.

The section of unit or unit shown is suitable to move over a conveyor 14 in the form of a band, a continuous tubular casing 15 containing portions of an infusion material in respective portions of the wrapper, each containing a respective portion of tea and with a label 13 is provided.

In particular, there is the tubular cover 15 in a known manner, and therefore not shown, in steps along a conveying path according to arrow F to a cutting device 16 the individual packaging 11 made of filter paper and contains individual portions of tea spaced on arrival. Analogously, the individual packaging 11 previously from continuous wrapping 15 have been separated and successively through the underlying funding 14 be moved forward.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the cutting device comprises 16 for example, a rotating cylinder 17 that with a cutting edge 18 equipped radially from the same cylinder 17 exit. The cutting edge 18 is for sequentially cutting the continuous wrap 15 suitable and acts above an underlying counter-blade or plate 19 together to form a series of sections or packages of the same envelope, each section or package 11 contains a serving of tea and the aforementioned label 13 wearing. It should be emphasized that the series of packaging 11 originally in one piece with each other in conjunction with transverse sections 20 the serving 15 which, when cut in the middle, are side ends of the respective envelope 12 the packaging 11 define.

After the separation of the individual packaging 11 is normally a vertical containment hopper element for receiving the individual packages 11 and for forming a stack of a certain number of packages superimposed with respect to each other. The vertical confining member may subsequently be moved or rotated, for example in a horizontal position (FIG. 1 ) to supply the stack thus formed to a packaging box (not shown).

According to the present invention, the above-indicated arrangement is completely different, but so as to carry out the new method as described below.

In particular, at least one packaging 11 by means of the cutting device 16 is formed, a second vertical Zwischeninrenzungselement 21 ( 7 ), which is located between the conveyor 14 the packaging 11 and a first underlying confining element 22 which is also vertical, but beatable. Subsequently, in a first phase of the process, the at least one package 11 in the aforementioned first confining element 22 ( 8th ) with respect to the second vertical confining element 21 is arranged vertically and underneath.

In the example shown in the drawings, the packaging 11 through the cutting edge 18 separated, which on the rotating cutting cylinder 17 is positioned. The thus separated packaging 11 tends to enter the second vertical intermediate confinement element 21 in the example, in the form of a cylinder, having in its interior a vertical cavity 23 has to pass down, which has the shape of a prism. The bottom of this passage cavity 23 is at the lower end by a pair of sliding surfaces 24 closed, if necessary, a bottom opening 25 the cavity 23 selectively open or close. Alternatively, only one sliding surface can be used to close the opening 25 be provided.

An articulated arm 26 that over the second intermediate confinement element 21 positioned at its end inside the Durchreichkavität 23 a slider 27 the packaging 11 until it reaches its correct position over the aforementioned pair of sliding surfaces 24 reached.

The slider 27 is by a crank mechanism 28 supports it, which allows it to alternate inside the cavity 23 of the second intermediate confinement element 21 to be moved. The slider 27 works in phase coordination with the supply of individual packaging 11 to intercept these individually when separated and the individual packaging 11 into the underlying cavity 23 of the second confining element 21 to press.

The crank mechanism 28 is designed with articulated, mutually movable elements. The lengths of these elements and their relative angular positions are such that they are associated with a rotating motion for which a rotating actuator 29 at the input, which moves synchronously with the rest of the system, causes an angular oscillation causing a predetermined amplitude at the output of the slider 27 having.

Once the first packaging 11 in the cavity 23 of the second confining element 21 has been positioned, the packaging is 11 into a first underlying confining element 22 issued. This is done by shifting the pair of sliding surfaces 24 allows moving away from each other (as indicated by the arrows P of 8th ) the bottom opening 25 the cavity 23 of the second confining element 21 release and with the intervention of the slider 27 that's the packaging 11 above a flat end 30 an underlying piston 31 in the first confining element 22 accompanied (according to the arrow S of 8th ). At the end of this phase, the slide moves 27 back and the pair of sliding surfaces 24 is returned to the bottom opening 25 of the second intermediate confinement element 21 close.

Only at this point, according to the method of the present invention, can at least a second package 11 the cavity 23 of the second intermediate confinement element 21 be supplied.

The second restriction element 21 which is a second packaging 11 contains, is a rotation corresponding to the arrow R of 4 subjected to the alternate positioning of the individual opposed packages 11 to effect, ie, that in the first underlying delimiting element 22 with its baggy bottom portion is arranged so that on one side the upper flattened empty, the label 13 the load-bearing end of the other or subsequent facing is positioned.

The rotation is effected according to a predetermined arbitrary angle. In the illustrated embodiment, the packages are 11 arranged alternately and rotated 180 ° to each other, since an expanded bottom of a package with respect to the flattened top of the other packaging must be superimposed. The rotation can be accomplished by turning the second intermediate confining element back and forth 21 180 ° or by successive rotations by 180 ° in the same direction be brought about.

For this purpose, the second vertical intermediate confinement element sees 21 a with respect to its cylindrical shape externally encircling teeth 32 before, which is suitable to fit in a complementary rotating gear 33 intervene, which is to that of a rotary or Schwingaktuator 35 , such as As an electric motor, emergent end of a shaft 34 located. This becomes the second vertical intermediate confinement element 21 alternately and selectively rotated.

Once the rotation has been effected, the at least one second package becomes 11 in the second rotated intermediate confining element 21 is included in the first underlying confining element 22 above the at least first packaging 11 released, which is already in it and on the flat end 30 of the underlying piston 31 is positioned, which is lowered and the correct lowering of the compacted and aligned packaging 11 leads.

Also during this release phase, the slider accompanies 27 the at least one second packaging 11 in the first confining element 22 above the at least one packaging 11 , previously on the flat end 30 of the piston 31 was positioned.

To the desired number of packages 11 in a packaging box, the feeding, releasing, feeding, rotating and releasing sequence of at least a single package must be repeated. In addition, if necessary, the parallel accompanying phases must be repeated until the predetermined number of packages 11 is reached and you get a stack 36 of packaging 11 receives, which are rotated to each other to be inserted into a (not shown) packaging box.

Once the predetermined number has been reached, the first confining element becomes 22 rotated, for example, to the stack contained therein 36 to supply the packaging box (see 1 ). The unloading of the first containment element 22 may simply be a simple rotation or another suitable movement for this purpose.

In the meantime, the process continues uninterrupted as the incoming packages 11 inside the opening 23 of the second confining element 21 above the arranged for closing two sliding surfaces 24 be positioned.

The alternating arrangement of the packages can be effected not only with each individual package but also in a desired number with two ( 9 and 10 ), three, four packages, etc., and in particular so as to form a stack having the least possible system height.

Positioning rotated through 180 ° between successive packages has been described, but of course the amount of rotation may vary if the packages are also tetrahedral, cubic or other in shape rather than flat and prismatic as described and illustrated ,

The task specified in the introduction has thus been solved.

The forms of the structure for providing a method of forming stacks of packages having reduced dimensions and containing an infusion substance, and a unit for carrying out the method of the invention, as well as the materials and arrangement types may, of course, deviate from those illustrated purely by way of illustration in the drawings for non-limiting purposes.

The scope of the invention is therefore defined by the appended claims.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 841249 [0009]
• EP 945344 [0009]
• WO 99/37542 A1 [0010]
• US Pat. No. 5,263,302 A [0013]

Claims (12)

A method of forming stacks of packages containing an infusion substance, the method comprising phases for sequentially feeding individual packages ( 11 ) to a first confining element ( 22 ), thereby a stack ( 36 ) with a certain number of superimposed packages ( 11 ), and subsequently feeding the thus prepared stack ( 36 ) to a packaging box, the method comprising the following further intermediate phases: feeding at least one packaging ( 11 ) to a second intermediate confinement element ( 21 ) and releasing the at least one package ( 11 ) into the first confining element ( 22 ), - feeding at least one second package ( 11 ) to the second intermediate confinement element ( 21 ), - releasing the at least one second packaging, which in the second intermediate confining element ( 21 ), into the underlying first confining element ( 22 ) above the at least one package, - repeating the sequence of feeding, releasing, delivering and releasing at least one individual package ( 11 ) until a predetermined number of packages have been reached to form a package stack ( 36 ), which is to be introduced into the packaging box, - the method is characterized by the further phase: - subjecting the second intermediate confining element ( 21 ), at least one second package ( 11 ), a rotation corresponding to a predetermined angle prior to the phase of releasing the at least one second package contained in the second intermediate confinement element (10). 21 ) is received in the underlying first confining element ( 22 ) above the at least one package so that the at least one second package ( 11 ) and the at least one packaging ( 11 ) are rotated one above the other. Method according to claim 1, characterized by subjecting a rotation of the second intermediate restricting element ( 21 180 °, the at least one second package ( 11 ) contains. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, before the aforementioned phase, feeding onto a conveying means ( 14 ) of a continuous tubular casing ( 15 ), the portions of an infusion material in relative sections of the casing ( 15 ), cutting the sections of the sheath ( 15 ) so as to provide individual packages ( 11 ) forming the second intermediate confining element ( 21 ) are to be supplied. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the feeding phase there is a phase for accompanying the at least one package ( 11 ) in the first and / or second confining element ( 22 . 21 ). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that inside the first confining element ( 22 ) a piston ( 31 ), which has a flat end ( 30 ) for receiving the at least one package ( 11 ) suitable is. Unit for carrying out the method according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 5, comprising: a conveying means ( 14 ) suitable for successive packages ( 11 ) to a first confining element ( 22 ) to promote a stack ( 36 ) of a certain number of packages ( 11 ), which are superimposed with respect to each other, the unit also comprising a second intermediate confining element ( 21 ) associated with the first confining element ( 22 ) and a cavity ( 23 ) for passing down, wherein a bottom opening ( 25 ) of the cavity ( 23 ) with regard to the first containment element ( 22 ) is selectively closed, characterized in that the second intermediate confining element ( 21 ) is rotatable by a predetermined angle. Unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the second confining element ( 21 ) comprises a cylinder with an external circumferential toothing ( 32 ) which is adapted to engage with a complementary gear ( 33 ) engaging at the end of a shaft ( 34 ) of a rotary or oscillation actuator ( 35 ) is located. Unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises a slider ( 27 ) the packaging ( 11 ) inside the pass-through cavity ( 23 ) of the second containment element ( 21 ) or inside the first confining element ( 22 ). Unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the slide ( 27 ) by a crank mechanism ( 28 ) supporting it inside the cavity ( 23 ) of the second intermediate confinement element ( 21 ) and / or the first containment element ( 22 ) alternately movable. Unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is in connection with the bottom opening ( 25 ) of the cavity ( 23 ) of the second containment element ( 21 ) also at least one sliding surface ( 24 ) includes the opening ( 25 ) selectively closes or opens. Unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a piston ( 31 ), which is lowered when removing the packaging ( 11 ) and the correct lowering of the packaging ( 11 ), inside the confining element ( 22 ) is positioned. Unit according to claim 11, characterized in that the piston ( 31 ) inside the first confining element ( 22 ) between an aligned position below the second confining element ( 21 ) and a position aligned with the packaging box.

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