EP0965538A1 - One - compartment infusion bag, especially for tea, and process for its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

The teabag (1) has tea in a chamber formed by two walls (2, 3) connected along the long sides (4, 5) and transverse sides (6, 7). At least one, preferably both long sides have an enlarging accordion or bellows fold by which the chamber volume can be increased for the same width. The production process involves moving strips of the same width, stamping them, and connecting them in sequence in the form of an accordion or bellows fold.

Description

The invention relates to a single-chamber infusion bag, in particular for tea, with a chamber containing a substance quantum, consisting of a pair oppositely arranged walls are formed, which on their Circumference along their long and short sides are interconnected and form an enclosed space containing the substance quantum, where at least one, preferably both long sides with one that Chamber volume with the same fold-out width increasing the fold are provided. The invention further relates to a method for continuous Manufacture, fill and seal of such single-chamber infusion bags, especially for tea.

Tea infusion bags are used in various forms, in particular the use of double-chamber infusion bags has prevailed, the two arranged side by side have lying chambers, each containing a quantity of dried and crushed tea leaves included. Because of the complicated manufacture but continue to use simple single-chamber infusion 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, especially by heat sealing, is closed or from two Filter paper webs into a four-sided sealed or round bag be sealed by heat sealing. The disadvantage of these single-chamber infusion bags the folding process to be carried out in the course of production and especially the small chamber volume, which is only a limited one Provides expansion when the tea swells, so that the valuable tea substances are only insufficiently removed from the substance and can be transferred to the surrounding tea water. By the In addition, small leaf volumes also do not allow leaf tea varieties as a 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 bag has and in length approximately the inner height of a glass or the jug in which the bag is inserted.

EP 0 806 351 A1 describes a double-chamber infusion bag, in particular known for tea, in which the long sides by a longitudinal edge seal are closed. To increase the chamber volume is already there proposed to fold the longitudinal edge seal inwards, whereby the Teabag gets smaller in width. The disadvantage is that with this measure Sufficient for a double-chamber bag, but in principle only in limited chamber enlargement is possible.

In view of the prior art dealt with above, the invention is based on the object of developing a single-chamber infusion bag which is far easier to manufacture and which, while maintaining the usual external dimensions without increasing its length or width in the packaging state, provides a chamber volume which is considerably larger than that of simple folding, which enables the infusion liquid to excellently digest the leached substance, in particular the tea, and to dissolve the substances contained therein, which should be technically simple, continuous producibility.

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 object is inventively achieved in a single-chamber infusion bag of the type mentioned in that the folding concertina or bellows is formed. In this way, it is possible to considerably increase the chamber volume via the accordion or bellows-like design of the long sides of the single-chamber infusion bag without increasing the outside dimensions of the bag, which, as in the prior art, remain in the following areas:

Width:

W = approx. 4 cm to 7 cm,

Height:

H = approx. 6 cm to 8 cm,

preferably

W = 4 cm x H = 6 cm.

Depending on the desired chamber size, the accordion or bellows-like folding of one or both long sides at least five, preferably has seven fold lines. In addition to the flexibility of Training the bag strength of the additional advantage associated with that worked little depth into the interior of the bag can be and thus increases the effective filling volume for the substance can be. With a simple fold, which is essentially V-shaped, the depth of the fold into the chamber becomes too great considering the prepositioned substance so that either the amount of substance decreases must be or the folding process is disturbed by the substance.

In general, the single-chamber infusion bag according to the invention consists of a easily permeable, heat sealable filter paper material, which it the Infusion liquid allows the substance to be leached, especially the Tea that is easy to digest and that is suitable on the other hand Long side connections and transverse side connections by heat sealing to manufacture.

The two mutually opposite chamber walls are preferably of the single-chamber infusion bag to produce the folding with linear congruent knockouts parallel to Provide longitudinal side connection, expediently a plurality mutually parallel, spaced congruent Pairs of line-shaped knockouts according to the number of intended Folding processes are arranged side by side. You can interacting pairs of knockouts same folding forces and not interacting pairs need different folding forces by the Knockouts are of different depths. Instead of Knockouts can also be linear mini perforations or Reduced thickness of the material according to the type of film hinge formation be applied. With the help of the knockouts on the opposite arranged walls of the chamber, it is possible in a simple manner Insert the long side connection into the chambers in the zigzag shape Folding at the predetermined points reliably and reproducible, preferably on both long sides, to make the bag width can also be determined with this.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a thread with a Label attached to the infusion bag, the label thread preferably is loop-shaped inside the chamber and by means of the Pull out label 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 uniformly advanced flat first web of heat sealable Filter paper material with a series of identical substance quanta in uniform Spacing is provided that a second upper path over the first path is made of heat-sealable filter paper material of the same width that the lower and upper lanes coincide in the longitudinal direction with a width the embossing defining the finished bag on one or both Long sides is provided that the lower and upper web are brought together be and by means of longitudinal heat sealing on their Long sides are connected together to form a hose that one or both longitudinal sides are folded in accordion or bellows-like that the tube in regular, each quantum substance Distances - according to the height of the bags to be produced - in Transverse direction is heat sealed and that the transverse Heat seals are cut in the middle and such tube parts are formed are each a chamber containing a substance quantum exhibit.

To an accordion-like or bellows-like folding in simple How to produce is in an expedient embodiment of the invention proposed pairs of congruent linear knockouts according to the number of intended folding processes next to each other and me Form distance from each other. The process step of Folding the long sides can be carried out in several stages by first in a first fold the longitudinal sides provided with longitudinal edge seals be pressed inwards so that a right-angled bend on the Internal knockouts are made and the tube has a cross-section gets rectangular shape and that then in further folding operations Longitudinal edge seals pressed further into the chamber and be brought out again, so that according to the knockouts zigzag-shaped Folding operations are carried out, preferably the Longitudinal edge seals are positioned in the median plane of the hose.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention The process is proposed, together with the process step of Cross seal a thread with a label on each cross seal in this way attach that each one after cutting the cross seal individually present bag has a sealed label thread that preferably pulled out in a loop shape inside the chamber is arranged.

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 in that on a correspondingly broadened first web two Rows of substance quanta are placed symmetrically next to each other, that over the first track a correspondingly broadened second upper track is carried out that the knockouts are then made, the upper and lower web brought together and by means of two outer, in Longitudinal heat seals and a central, in Longitudinal heat seal together to form two tubes are connected, which are then cut centrally in the longitudinal direction and finally in the same way as with the simplex process the long sides folded in accordion or bellows shape, in Transversely heat sealed and in the transverse seals in a transverse direction Direction to be cut.

Fig. 1

einen Einkammer-Aufgußbeutel im Abpackzustand, perspektivisch;

Fig. 2

den Einkammer-Aufgußbeutel der Fig. 1 im Querschnitt;

Fig. 3

drei Herstellungsstadien I, II und III des Einkammer-Aufgußbeutels der Fig. 1 und 2 im Querschnitt;

Fig. 4

die Herstellungsstadien I, II und III in einer Draufsicht sowie einer zugeordneten Querschnittansicht entsprechend Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

einen Teil einer kontinuierlichen zweibahnigen Herstellung von Einkammer-Aufgußbeuteln gemäß Fig. 1, schematisch in perspektivischer Darstellung und

Fig. 6

eine Duplex-Anordnung zur Herstellung von Einkammer-Aufgußbeuteln mit nur einer seitlichen Einfaltung in Draufsicht mit darüber angeordneter Querschnittsansicht.

The knockouts can also be provided at the beginning of the process on the first and second webs before loading with substance quanta. 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 pack state, in perspective;

Fig. 2

the single-chamber infusion bag of Figure 1 in cross section.

Fig. 3

three manufacturing stages I, II and III of the single-chamber infusion bag of Figures 1 and 2 in cross section.

Fig. 4

the stages of manufacture I, II and III in a plan view and an associated cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3;

Fig. 5

part of a continuous two-lane production of single-chamber infusion bags according to FIG. 1, schematically in perspective and

Fig. 6

a duplex arrangement for the production of single-chamber infusion bags with only one side folding in plan view with a cross-sectional view arranged above.

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 on their circumference connected to one another along their long sides 4, 5 and transverse sides 6, 7 are and such an enclosed space to form a chamber 8th form, which a substance quantum 9, namely a portioned amount of tea, contains. The one-chamber infusion bag 1 is therefore on its four sides sealed by heat sealing, namely by longitudinal edge seals 10, 11 on the long sides 4, 5 and two cross seals 12, 13 on the short sides 6, 7.

The volume of the chamber 8 of such a single-chamber infusion bag 1 is significantly increased by the fact that on both longitudinal sides 4, 5 one Folding 14, 15 is formed, which is accordion-shaped in cross section, the longitudinal edge seals 10, 11 approximately in the central plane 18 of the Bags are and are inserted into the chamber 8 such that the usual external dimensions of such single-chamber bags are maintained and thus, despite the increase in chamber volume, no increase in it Length or width in the packaging state is given. So that is achieved that the substance quantum of tea in the chamber is outstanding due to the Infusion liquid is to be digested and the substances contained in it solve optimally.

The single-chamber infusion bag 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing has a width W = 4 cm and a height H = 6 cm in the from the stand known in the art. However, the chamber volume is more than 30% compared to a conventional single-chamber infusion bag without Enlargement enlarged, with the zigzag-shaped folding 14, 15 each according to the number of folds - at least five folds on one side - one greater variability in the design of the chamber volume can be achieved.

In a manner known per se, the single-chamber infusion bag 1 has one on it attached thread 16 provided with label 17, the hanging of the bag into a cup, jug or similar vessel.

The manufacture of such a single-chamber infusion bag 1 is as follows based on the description of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing. 3 and 4 illustrate a single-row or simplex production, while Fig. 5 of the drawing a bag production in two parallel rows continuous, also called duplex production.

The starting point for the production of single-chamber infusion bags 1 is a first one heat-sealable filter paper web 19 by a not shown Material roll drawn off by a pulling device and as a web one Dosing device for tea is supplied. From this are positioned Substance quanta 9, i.e. piles of tea, at regular intervals in one Row placed on the filter paper web 19. From a not shown Another roll of material is a second, upper heat-sealable from above Filter paper web 20 of identical size and transport speed lower filter paper web 19 and fed in parallel by means of a roller this arranged so that there is a uniform forward movement of the Filter paper web 19 and the filter paper web 20 arranged one above the other and gives each other opaque.

Both the lower sheet 19 and the upper sheet 20 are pre-dosed or before merging in an embossing device in the longitudinal direction one or more knockouts 21 on both long sides congruent provided whose positions are made so that they ultimately the Determine the width B of the finished single-chamber infusion bag 1. The line-shaped Knockouts 21 represent crease edges that form the folds 14, 15 in the later stage of the procedure.

In the next stage of the process, the lower web 19 and upper web 20 in a device having heat sealing rollers brought together and by means of the longitudinal Longitudinal edge seals 10 and 11 to each other at the web edges a hose 22 connected at regular intervals in a row contains the substance quanta 9. 3 and 4 of the drawing reached stage of manufacture I.

Then the process step of folding the long sides 4 and 5 done in two stages. This will be done first in a first convolution the provided with the longitudinal edge seals 10, 11 longitudinal sides 4, 5 of Hose 22 pressed inward so that a right-angled kink The knockouts 21 are carried out and the tube has a cross section rectangular shape according to manufacturing stage II in Fig. 3 and 4 of the drawing receives. Then the longitudinal edge seals 10, 11 continue to inside in the chamber 8 in a second folding according to manufacturing stage III pressed in and for example by folding swords, rollers and the like performed until the folds 14, 15 the desired zigzag Have cross-section, the longitudinal edge seals 10, 11 approximately in the Middle plane 18 of the chamber 8 are positioned in the finished bag.

The hose 22 created in this process stage with the bellows Folds 14 and 15 are then in with a cross sealer regular intervals, each covering a quantity of substance 9 - according to the height H of the bags to be produced - in the transverse direction heat-sealed and the transverse heat seals are centered cut so that hose parts are formed, each one Have chamber 8 containing substance quantum, on the long sides with Longitudinal edge seals 10, 11 and on the transverse sides with transverse seals 12, 13 provided and are closed on all sides.

Together with the procedural step of cross sealing, the thread 14 previously laid out with label 17 for each single-chamber infusion bag 1 to attach to one of the cross seals, including a loop Removable label thread 16 is provided from inside the chamber 8 can be.

To double the number of single-chamber infusion bags that can be produced at the same time To achieve 1, is a duplex process according to FIG. 5 of the drawing proposed at the correspondingly widened first web 23 made of heat-sealable filter paper material accordingly widened second upper web made of heat-sealable filter paper material to be led. It is then with an embossing device 27 outer and central knockouts 21 in several parallel and at a distance from each other arranged rows made on both sides of the substance quanta 9, which in two rows 24, 25 symmetrically side by side on the lower one Lane 23 are filed. Then first web 23 and second web 26 brought together and by means of two outer, running in the longitudinal direction Heat seals 28, 29 and a central longitudinal one Heat seal 30 joined together to form two tubes that then in the middle in the longitudinal direction by means of a cutting device can be cut and separated.

In the subsequent process step, the same procedure as for Simplex process on the long sides of the two hoses accordion-shaped folds corresponding to Fig. 3 of the drawing and then the individual single-chamber infusion bags created by moving in a transverse direction into one substance quantum of each row distances according to the length dimensions of transverse heat seals 31 and finally with one Cutting device the separation by cutting in the cross seals is made in the transverse direction.

A variant of the duplex method is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. In order to simplify production, there is only an outer fold 32, 33 are provided, which follow the longitudinal heat sealing process step is made. Only after the transverse heat seals have been formed is then the cutting both in longitudinal and in Transverse direction.

Reference list

1

Single chamber tea bags

2nd

Chamber wall

3rd

Chamber wall

4th

Long side

5

Long side

6

Short side

7

Short side

8th

chamber

9

Substance quanta

10th

Longitudinal edge sealing

11

Longitudinal edge sealing

12th

Cross sealing

13

Cross sealing

14

Folding

15

Folding

16

thread

17th

label

18th

Middle plane

19th

Filter paper web

20th

Filter paper web

21

Knockout

22

tube

23

first lane

24th

Substance quantum series

25th

Substance quantum series

26

second lane

27

Embossing device

28

Heat seal

29

Heat seal

30th

central heat seal

31

Cross heat sealing

32

outer fold

33

outer fold

H

Bag height

B

Bag width

Claims (11)

Single-chamber infusion bag (1), in particular for tea, with a chamber (8) containing a quantity of substance (9), which is formed from a pair of walls (2, 3) arranged opposite one another, which on its circumference along its long sides (4, 5) and transverse sides (6, 7) are connected to one another and form an enclosed space containing the substance quantum (9), at least one, preferably both longitudinal sides (4, 5) with a fold-in (increasing the chamber volume while the bag width (B) remains the same). 14, 15) are provided,
characterized,
that the folding (14, 15) is accordion or bellows-shaped. Single-chamber infusion bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the accordion or bellows-like folding (14, 15) of the one or both long sides (4, 5) at least five, preferably seven Has fold lines. Single-chamber infusion bag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized characterized in that the two are opposite each other Chamber walls (2, 3) with linear, congruent knockouts (21) are provided parallel to the long side connection. Single-chamber infusion bag according to claim 3, characterized by a A plurality of mutually parallel, spaced corresponding pairs of line-shaped knockouts (21) accordingly the number of folds envisaged in an arrangement side by side. Single-chamber infusion bag according to claim 4, characterized in that interacting pairs of knockouts (21) same folding forces and non-interacting pairs different folding forces for the The folding process does not require the knockouts (24) interacting pairs are of different depths. Single-chamber infusion bag according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized characterized in that a thread (16) with a label (17) on it is attached, the label thread preferably loop-shaped housed inside the chamber (8) and on the label for use is extractable. Process for the continuous production, filling and sealing of single-chamber infusion bags according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that a uniformly forward-moving flat first web (19) made of heat-sealable filter paper material is provided with a row of identical substance quanta (9) at regular intervals, that a second upper web (20) made of heat-sealable filter paper material of the same width is guided over the first web (19), that the lower (19) and upper web (20) are provided in the longitudinal direction with a knockout (21) determining the width (B) of the finished bag on one or both long sides (4, 5), that the lower (19) and upper web (20) are brought together and connected in the longitudinal direction by heat sealing on their long sides (4, 5) to form a tube (22) that one or both long sides (4, 5) are folded in accordion or bellows-like manner, so that the Hose (22) at regular intervals, each measuring a quantity of substance (9) - corresponding to the height (H) of the bags to be produced - in Is heat-sealed in the transverse direction and that the transverse heat seals (31) are cut in the middle and tubular parts are formed in this way, each having a chamber (8) containing a quantity of substance (9). Method according to claim 7, characterized in that pairs congruent, line-shaped knockouts (21) corresponding to the Number of folding operations next to each other and at a distance are trained to each other. A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the Process step of folding the long sides carried out in several stages is done by first folding in with Longitudinal edge seals (10) provided longitudinal sides (4, 5) inwards be pressed so that a right-angled bend on the Knockouts (21) take place and the tube (22) has a cross section rectangular shape, and that then in a second fold Longitudinal edge seals (10, 11) further inwards into the chamber (8) be pushed in until the folds (14, 15) the desired have accordion or bellows-like cross section, the Longitudinal edge seals (10, 11) in the central plane (18) of the hose (8) are positioned. A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that together with the process step of transverse sealing, a thread (16) with label (17) attached to each cross seal (31) in such a way that each present individually after cutting the cross seal (31) Bag has a sealed label thread (16, 17). Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that that on a widened first web (23) two rows (24, 25) of Substance quanta (9) are placed symmetrically next to each other that via the first web (23) a correspondingly broadened second upper Web (26) is guided so that the knockouts (21) be made, the upper (26) and lower web (23) brought together and by means of two outer, in the longitudinal direction running heat seals (28, 29) and a central, in Longitudinal heat seal (30) together to form two Hoses are connected, which are then centered lengthways are cut and finally on the long sides accordion or folded like a bellows, heat-sealed in the transverse direction and in the Cross seals (31) are cut in the transverse direction.

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