EP1476371B1 - Conditionnement pour infusion - Google Patents

Conditionnement pour infusion Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1476371B1
EP1476371B1 EP03706727A EP03706727A EP1476371B1 EP 1476371 B1 EP1476371 B1 EP 1476371B1 EP 03706727 A EP03706727 A EP 03706727A EP 03706727 A EP03706727 A EP 03706727A EP 1476371 B1 EP1476371 B1 EP 1476371B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
web
sealing
infusion package
support
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03706727A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1476371A2 (fr
Inventor
Thomas William Bailey
Paul Davis
David Robert Seaward
Peter John Whitlock
Brian Hill
Euan Andrew Henderson Seaton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mpac Group PLC
Original Assignee
Molins Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0204189A external-priority patent/GB0204189D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0209252A external-priority patent/GB0209252D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0215871A external-priority patent/GB0215871D0/en
Application filed by Molins Ltd filed Critical Molins Ltd
Priority to EP05077039A priority Critical patent/EP1634821A1/fr
Priority to EP05077040A priority patent/EP1634822A1/fr
Priority to EP05077038A priority patent/EP1642845A1/fr
Publication of EP1476371A2 publication Critical patent/EP1476371A2/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1476371B1 publication Critical patent/EP1476371B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
    • B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
    • B65D85/8043—Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B29/00—Packaging of materials presenting special problems
    • B65B29/02—Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package
    • B65B29/028—Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package packaging infusion material into filter bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/06—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it
    • B65B9/08—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing
    • B65B9/093—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing the web having intermittent motion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D31/00—Bags or like containers made of paper and having structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B65D31/12—Bags or like containers made of paper and having structural provision for thickness of contents with two or more compartments
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
    • B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
    • B65D85/808—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package for immersion in the liquid to release part or all of their contents, e.g. tea bags
    • B65D85/812—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package for immersion in the liquid to release part or all of their contents, e.g. tea bags with features facilitating their manipulation or suspension

Definitions

  • This invention relations to infusion packages and particularly, but not exclusively to infusion packages for coffee, and also to their formation.
  • Conventional infusion packages for tea or coffee comprise a porous walled container into which has been charged the coffee or tea. In use such containers are immersed in hot liquid such as water. It is known to suspend an open container such as a bag in the liquid and this has been achieved using a hanging string.
  • a filter bag is provided with holding members which enable the filter to be support from the rim of a container for the hot liquid.
  • EP-A-0463181 One such arrangement is described in EP-A-0463181, but this arrangement can be difficult to use and manufacture.
  • An infusion package which is simpler to manufacture is described in WO-A-01/51383, but it has been found particularly with coffee that such an arrangement does not produce a satisfactory flavour in an acceptable time.
  • WO-A-9836991 Another known infusion package is described in WO-A-9836991.
  • This package comprises a bag member for containing drink material to be extracted and a support member attached to the top of the bag member for supporting the package in a cup.
  • an infusion package comprising a semi-porous open container for an infusible material and a support for supporting the container from the rim of a vessel, said support being capable of defining an opening through which liquid can be poured into the container, said container comprising opposite side walls and divider means which divides the container into two compartments such that infusible material in one compartment is separated from that in the other compartment by said divider means.
  • the divider means may comprise a gusset formed between the side walls.
  • the gusset may be formed integrally with the side walls.
  • the support may comprise a pair of juxtaposed members which are sealed at opposite ends.
  • the sealing of the two members may be by means of a heat seal.
  • the upper end portion of the container may be sandwiched between the juxtaposed members of the support and sealed thereto by a heat seal.
  • the support means may be foldable so that it can lie alongside the container to act as a closure which closes the open container until it is ready for use.
  • an apparatus for forming an infusion package from a web of material comprising folding means for folding the web of material into substantially a W-shape, means for sealing the material at positions corresponding to edges of the package, one limb of the W-shape defining a first compartment and the other limb defining a second compartment, means for cutting the material to form from the web individual container parts, means for securing a support member to the upper open end portion of each container part to form the infusion package, filling means for filling each infusion package, and means for maintaining a separation between two compartments of the container part at the filling means.
  • the apparatus may include second folding means for folding each support member to a position in which it closes the infusion package.
  • the apparatus may include a reel on which the web of material is wound.
  • the apparatus may include means for feeding the material from the reel to the folding means.
  • the feeding means may include tension and/or tracking control means for controlling the tension in the web of material.
  • the folding means may comprise means for farming the web of material into substantially a U-shape and means for forming a gusset into the base of the U-shape in order to create the W-shape.
  • the sealing means may comprise heat sealing means.
  • the heat sealing means may include electrically heated jaws which engage opposite sides of the folded web.
  • the jaws may be pneumatically operated.
  • the seal may be formed by crimping.
  • the cutting means may be designed to form a generally vertical cut along the sealed portions of the folded web.
  • the apparatus may include a source of pre-formed support members disposed downstream of the cutting means.
  • the support members may be formed from a web of material which is fed from a reel.
  • the apparatus may include a walking beam assembly for advancing the container parts and their accompanying support member through a support member sealing section.
  • the support member sealing section may comprise one or more sealing stations for heat sealing each support member to the upper open end of its associated container part.
  • the filling means may include a hopper disposed above the path of each formed infusion package, said hopper containing material to be delivered to each container part of each infusion package.
  • the hopper may contain coffee.
  • the mouth of the hopper may include an auger for delivering a predetermined quantity of material to each package.
  • the separation maintaining means may comprise an elongate beam which is straddled by said compartments.
  • the beam may extend from a position close to said cutting means along the path of the container parts to said filling means in order to maintain separated the two compartments defined by the W-shape of each container part.
  • the separation maintaining means may comprise a finger locatable between said two compartments at the filling means.
  • the finger may be disposed beneath the filling means and be movable upwardly to locate between said compartments.
  • the finger can pneumatically or cam actuated.
  • the apparatus may include a sachet forming portion disposed downstream of the support member folding section.
  • a method of forming an infusion package from a web of material characterised by comprising folding the web of material into substantially a W-shape, sealing the folded web at positions corresponding to edge portions of a container part of the package, cutting the web along the sealed portions to form individual container parts, attaching a support to each container portion, and filling the two compartments defined by the W-shape of each container part whilst holding apart said compartments to ensure equal distribution of the filled material into each compartment.
  • an infusion package (10) comprises a container (12) and a support (14) for the container.
  • the support comprises two support members (14) by means of which the container can be mounted on a rim of a drinking vessel such as a mug or cup (15) as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.
  • the support elements can each comprise of a strip of plastics coated board which are disposed opposite one another.
  • Each support member is notched at one of its ends (16) to define a projection (18).
  • the projection (18) lies in the plane of the support member and projects in the lengthwise direction of the member perpendicular to the ends (16).
  • the recesses (22) are aligned with and correspond in shape to the respective projections (18).
  • the support members are sealed to one another and to the container (12). These seals can be heat seals.
  • the arrangement of the support members is such that the end (16) of one member is disposed opposite the end (20) of the other member so that the respective projections project in opposite directions.
  • Each support member has a series of score lines (24) disposed between the ends (16) and extending perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the member and parallel to the end (16, 20). The score lines enable the support members to be moved from a closed position ( Figure 2) to an open position as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.
  • the container is in the form of an open ended sack or bag (12).
  • the bag is formed from a web of porous heat sealable material which is folded to produce a cross section which is generally W-shaped as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the central part of the W forming a deep gusset.
  • the long sides (30) of the W are sealed to each other by edge seals (32) which extend from the upper to the lower end of the bag.
  • the lower corners are rounded as shown at (35) in order to minimise drippage of liquid from the bag.
  • the central gusset (34) forms a divider means which divides the bag or container into two compartments (36, 38). Coffee in each of these compartments is separated by the central gusset. It has been found that this type of arrangement creates a coffee drink of enhanced flavour in an acceptable time. It will be appreciated that a minimum infusion time is achieved when each compartment has substantially equal amounts of coffee therein.
  • the upper open end of the bag (12) is sandwiched between the support members (14).
  • the external surfaces of the bag at the open end are secured to the opposed inwardly facing surface of the support members in such a manner that the bag can be left open at the upper end as shown in Figure 3.
  • the support members are sealed to one another at their ends (16, 20) by heat seals which extend parallel to the score lines (24).
  • the support member (14) can be folded over so that it is disposed alongside the upper end of the bag (12). This has the advantage that the size of any sachet containing the infusion package is reduced and the open end of the bag is effectively closed so that the coffee will not spill out in transit.
  • the bag In use the bag is removed from a sachet in which it has been stored and the support members are folded upwardly to bring the infusion package into the condition shown in Figure 1. A compressive force is applied to the opposite ends of the support member causing the members to bow outwardly in the region of the score lines (24). As shown in Figure 3 the result is that the support members adopt a generally oval configuration allowing the projections (18) to sit on the rim of a drinking vessel (15). In addition the bowing of the support members opens the upper end of the bag and provides as opening through which water can be poured onto the coffee contained in the two compartments (36, 38) of the bag.
  • the design allows the bag to be supported from the rim of the vessel so that the coffee containing portion sits in the liquid in the vessel once the water has been poured into the bag.
  • the support members (14) can be formed by the method described in WO 01/51383, but their formation is not in any way restricted to this method.
  • FIG. 5 Another embodiment of the infusion package is shown in Figures 5 to 7. Elements common to the first embodiment are shown by the same reference numerals.
  • each support member has a crease (25) formed therein.
  • the crease extends perpendicularly to the long dimension of each support member.
  • Each support member has on its internal surface a series of score lines (24) disposed between the ends (16) and extending perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the member and parallel to the end (16, 20).
  • the creases (25) facilitate the movement of the support members from a closed position ( Figure 5) to an open position as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.
  • the score lines results in an eye shaped opening in the open condition.
  • the support members can be produced essentially as a single flat element as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings.
  • the two members are foldable about an axis (28) to the position in Figure 1.
  • the axis is principally a cut line but the portions defining the two members are joined at relatively short sections 29. It will be seen that these are spaced inwardly a short distance from the end of each member so that there is a relatively long central cut line (26) and two short end cut lines (27). This design facilitates folding of the support member to a juxtaposed condition.
  • the bag is removed from a sachet in which it has been stored and the support members are folded upwardly to bring the infusion package into the condition shown in Figure 5.
  • a compressive force is applied to the opposite ends of the support member causing the members to bow outwardly in the region of the score lines (24). This movement is facilitated by the crease (25).
  • the support members adopt a generally eye shaped configuration allowing the projections (18) to sit on the rim of a drinking vessel (15).
  • the bowing of the support members opens the upper end of the bag and provides as opening through which water can be poured onto the coffee contained in the two compartments (36, 38) of the bag.
  • the design allows the bag to be supported from the rim of the vessel so that the coffee containing portion sits in the liquid in the vessel once the water has been poured into the bag.
  • the side edges (32) of the bag are parallel. It will be appreciated that this is not essential and they could for example taper towards the bottom edge.
  • apparatus for forming an infusion package of the type described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 comprises a housing 90.
  • a reel 100 on which is wound a web of material for forming the container part 12 of the infusion package.
  • This material may comprise any suitable porous heat sealable material used for forming infusion packets.
  • the reel is carried on a cantilevered shaft 102 mounted on the housing 90.
  • the web of material is fed from the reel 100 along a path 101, which can include a pivoted guide roller assembly, and a spring loaded dancing arm 103 to a forming section 108.
  • the guide roller assembly allows fine adjustment of the web during operation.
  • the dancing arm 103 controls web tension and can govern material unwind through a pneumatic brake.
  • the forming section 108 includes a fixed plate type flow former 104 which converts the flat web into a U-shape.
  • a fixed blade 106 then creates in the U-shape the gusset 34 which has been described above with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.
  • the arrangement is such that one downwardly depending portion of the W-shape, which defines one compartment of the container part, lies on one side of the blade and the other compartment lies on the other side of the blade. Guide bars are used to control the vertical alignment of the web.
  • the folded material is then fed into a sealing section 110.
  • two sealing operations are carried out by means of electrically heated movable jaws which are positioned on opposite sides of the folded web of material.
  • a heated fixed plate 112 is located centrally in the sealing section and the limbs of the W-shape locate so that they straddle the plate 112.
  • the sealing jaws create a seal profile of the form shown at 114 in Figure 6 and at a second sealing position another set of sealing jaws create the profile 115.
  • Each movable jaw operates such that it nips the web between it and the fixed plate 112 in order to form the seal profile 114 in each limb of the W-shape.
  • a similar operation creates the seal profile 115.
  • the seals are carried out in such a way as to retain the position of the gusset formed in the forming section. It will be appreciated that the use of a heated blade provides relatively rapid heat sealing.
  • the sealing jaws can be operated pneumatically or by way of cams to provide the necessary sealing force.
  • the web is fed into a cutting section 118 which is designed to form a cut along the line 120 through each previously formed sealed portion so that the seal formed in the sealing section forms the trailing edge of one container part and the leading edge of the next container part.
  • the long edges of each compartment defined by the W-shape are not sealed to each other so that the bag part defined by the seals has a saddle like configuration.
  • the cutting section is shown at 118 in Figure 8 of the drawings.
  • the cutting section operates to cut a single container part from the leading edge of the web, that cut line being central to the vertical seal as just explained.
  • the profile of the cut effected by the cutting section is shown at 120 in Figure 9 of the drawings.
  • the cutting section 118 includes an anvil and knife which are loaded together pneumatically, or via cams, in order to provide the necessary cutting force.
  • the leading container part (122) is separated from the web in a subsequent operation by advancing that container part a greater distance than the web.
  • a mechanism (124) ( Figure 11) for moving apart the two compartments of each container part.
  • This mechanism comprises a pair of juxtaposed plates 125 which can be moved upwardly to locate in the gusset between the two compartments of each container part. The plates are expandable laterally to move apart those compartments to ensure that as the container part is advanced the container parts locate one on each side of and straddle the forward part 126 of an elongate beam 127.
  • the web advance gripper includes a pneumatically or cam actuated clamp mounted on a linear slide which grips the web.
  • the clamp and slide are driven by a cam actuated lever (125a).
  • the clamp is designed to release the web and the gripper and slider are returned to their start position. Whilst the web is not being indexed forward the web is held in position by a clamp.
  • the next process carried out by the apparatus is to apply support elements or tags 14 to the just formed container part.
  • the machine includes a magazine 130 in which are loaded a plurality of pre-cut blanks of the type shown in Figure 7 each of which is to form a support element.
  • This magazine typically has a capacity for 600 blanks. As can be seen the magazine is disposed vertically and the lowest blank is supported by a lip at the bottom end of the magazine. Suction cups operate to draw the lowest blank vertically from the stack so that the lip then supports the next blank in the stack. These suction cups are actuated pneumatically and position a blank just above the top of a container portion. Each blank is located by means of side guides and supported on its base.
  • the blank is then released above the container part and driven forward with the container part by drive pins on a walking beam assembly shown generally at 132.
  • the blanks are folded from their flat condition into a V-shape by means of a folding shoe. An initial fold is made over a central support to an included angle of approximately 50° The shoe holds the fold in this position until at a support element sealing section yet to be described completes the folding operation.
  • the folding shoe is driven pneumatically or via cams.
  • Each container part and its associated, partly folded, tag or support element 14 is then moved through a sealing section 135 which comprises a series of four sealing stations by means of a walking beam assembly.
  • each container part and its associated tag undergo four sealing operations. These sealing operations are designed to seal the tag to the upper open end of the container part.
  • the sealing section 135 includes four sets of electrically heated jaws spaced longitudinally therealong on both sides of the tag. The sealing jaws are actuated pneumatically or via cams to provide the necessary sealing force.
  • the walking beam assembly is designed to advance the container parts and tags from the bag cutting section to a filling station and during each machine cycle the containers parts with their tags are advanced approximately 130 millimetres. Beams provide a system for gripping and releasing the bags.
  • a cam driven lever provides the forward and return motion to the beam.
  • sealing positions are shown in Figures 9 to 12 of the drawings at 140, 141, 142 and 143.
  • sealing station 140 sealing occurs along area 150
  • sealing station 141 sealing occurs at areas 151
  • at station 142 creases 25 are formed.
  • the compartments of each container part are held apart by a relatively deep part 128 of the beam 127.
  • the beam 127 has a relatively shallow part 129. This is to enable the upright edges of each compartment to be sealed together at 152 except at the part where the beam part 129 passes therethrough.
  • the tag is securely sealed to its container part to form an infusion package.
  • the filling section Downstream of the tag sealing section is a filling section 145.
  • the filling section includes a hopper 146 disposed above the path of the infusion packages.
  • the mouth of the hopper includes a servo driven auger which is arranged to deliver an accurate amount of coffee which is stored in the hopper 146 to each infusion package as it passes below the mouth of the hopper.
  • each package is opened by means of pneumatically or cam actuated suction cups in order to allow coffee to enter through the mouth of the package.
  • the two compartments defined by the W section of the container part 12 are still disposed on opposite sides of the beam part 129 at this stage and hence coffee delivered from the hopper 146 enters both of these compartments substantially in equal quantities.
  • the compartment separating means which in this embodiment is the beam part 129 plays an important function in ensuring that the two compartments receive equal quantities of coffee.
  • Sensors can be provided to check that each infusion package is correctly positioned and open and the compartments of the container part can be opened by means of an air blast prior to the coffee being dispensed therein.
  • the apparatus can include a vibrator for vibrating the package in order to prevent coffee bridging in the container part.
  • the reject station 160 is designed to provide for automatic rejection of the packages if they do not meet certain criteria.
  • the next stage in the apparatus is a tag or support element folding section shown at 170.
  • each tag or support element is folded over so that is lies alongside its associated container part the fold line occurring in the container part material. This act of folding the tag over securely closes the infusion package and maintains the coffee in the container part during transit.
  • a plough can be used to fold the tag towards the inside of the apparatus and guides support the tag and container part as it is transferred to the next section.
  • the final section of the apparatus is a sachet forming section 180 which is designed to enclose each filled infusion package in a sealed sachet.
  • the apparatus includes a reel 200 on which a web of material for forming the sachet is wound. Material is fed from the reel 200 along a path 201 past a spring loaded dancing arm 202 to the sachet forming section 180.
  • a sachet advance gripper draws material from the reel 200 up to a sachet seal and cut module 204 which carries out the operation shown at 205 and 206 in Figure 9. The material is sealed vertically and then the sachets are then cut by forming a cut in the leading edge of the web that cut line being central to the formed vertical sachet seal.
  • the heated blade (112) of the sealing section (110) comprises two side by side electrically conductive blade parts which are separated by electrically insulating material. Electrical current can be supplied to the blade parts via leads (210) shown in Figure 12.
  • the blade end portion (112a) is relatively thick whilst the blade end portion (112b) is relatively thin and therefore becomes hotter because of its higher resistance.
  • the blade (112) is made of high resistance material such as titanium.
  • the sealing section 135 also includes a centrally located heated blade (220).
  • the support elements after being dispensed from hopper (130) are folded so that they straddle this blade (220)
  • the blade comprises a first part (221) which is formed from phosphor bronze and a second part (222) which is formed from titanium.
  • the transversely movable sealing jaws of the sealing stations in the sealing section (135) press the folded support element against the blade (220) with the upper part of a container being sandwiched between the blade (220) and the support element. Heat from the blade head seals the support element to the container upper or mouth part.
  • the station shown at (225) in Figure 12 includes creasing jaws which have cooperating grooves and ridges. These jaws are actuable to engage opposite sides of the support element (14) in order to form the creases (25) described above with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Forming the creases (25) at this stage in the process rather than in the preformed blank ensures that the creases are accurately aligned.
  • the support elements or tags 14 are formed from pre-cut blanks stored in a magazine 130. It is possible to also form the tags from a continuous web of material fed from a reel such as that shown at 210.
  • compartment separating means at the filling station comprises a beam part 129.
  • Alternative arrangements are possible.
  • a finger could be provided below the filling station 145, the finger being actuable to locate between the two compartments of each container part to hold apart those compartments.
  • the finger can be movable upwardly to its operative position by pneumatic or cam actuating means.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Tea And Coffee (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Plant Substances (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)

Claims (32)

  1. Conditionnement pour infusion comprenant un contenant semi-poreux ouvert (12) destiné à recevoir une matière à infuser et un support (14) servant à soutenir le contenant sur le bord d'un récipient, ledit support étant capable de définir une ouverture à travers laquelle un liquide peut être versé dans le contenant, caractérisé en ce que ledit contenant (12) comprend des parois latérales opposées et un moyen de séparation (34) qui divise le contenant en deux compartiments (36, 38) de telle façon que la matière à infuser contenue dans un compartiment est séparée de celle qui est dans l'autre compartiment par ledit moyen de séparation.
  2. Conditionnement pour infusion selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de séparation (34) comprend un soufflet formé entre les parois latérales.
  3. Conditionnement pour infusion selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le soufflet (34) est formé de manière à faire bloc avec les parois latérales.
  4. Conditionnement pour infusion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le support (14) comprend une paire d'éléments juxtaposés (14) qui sont soudés aux extrémités opposées.
  5. Conditionnement pour infusion selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le soudage des deux éléments est réalisé au moyen d'un thermosoudage.
  6. Conditionnement pour infusion selon la revendication 4 ou la revendication 5, dans lequel la partie d'extrémité supérieure du contenant (12) est prise en sandwich entre les éléments juxtaposés (14) du support et soudée à ceux-ci par un thermosoudage.
  7. Conditionnement pour infusion selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le moyen de support (14) est pliable de manière à pouvoir être couché le long du contenant (12) pour agir en tant que fermeture qui ferme le contenant ouvert jusqu'à ce qu'il soit prêt à l'utilisation.
  8. Dispositif de fabrication d'un conditionnement pour infusion à partir d'une bande de matériau, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens de pliage (104, 106) pour plier la bande de matériau sensiblement en forme de W, un moyen (114) pour souder le matériau aux positions correspondant aux bords du conditionnement, un bras du pli en forme de W définissant un premier compartiment et l'autre bras définissant un deuxième compartiment, un moyen (118) pour couper le matériau de manière à former à partir de la bande des pièces individuelles du contenant, un moyen (135) pour fixer un élément de support à la partie d'extrémité ouverte supérieure de chaque partie du contenant pour former le conditionnement pour infusion, un moyen de remplissage (145) pour remplir chaque unité du conditionnement pour infusion, et un moyen (129) pour maintenir une séparation entre les deux compartiments du contenant au moyen de remplissage.
  9. Dispositif selon la revendication 8 comprenant un deuxième moyen de pliage (170) pour plier chaque élément de support à une position dans laquelle il ferme le conditionnement pour infusion.
  10. Dispositif selon la revendication 8 ou la revendication 9 comprenant une bobine (100) sur laquelle la bande de matériau est enroulée.
  11. Dispositif selon la revendication 10 comprenant un moyen (103) pour alimenter le matériau de la bobine aux moyens de pliage.
  12. Dispositif selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le moyen d'alimentation comprend un moyen de commande de la tension et/ou de l'alignement (103) pour commander la tension dans la bande de matériau.
  13. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 12, dans lequel les moyens de pliage comprennent un moyen (104) pour former la bande de matériau sensiblement en forme de U et un moyen (106) pour former un soufflet dans la base de la partie en forme de U afin de créer le pli en forme de W.
  14. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 13, dans lequel le moyen de soudage comprend un moyen de thermosoudage.
  15. Dispositif selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le moyen de thermosoudage comprend des mâchoires chauffées électriquement (114) qui sont en engagement avec les côtés opposés de la bande pliée.
  16. Dispositif selon la revendication 15, dans lequel les mâchoires sont actionnées pneumatiquement ou par une came.
  17. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 13, dans lequel le moyen de soudage comprend un moyen de sertissage.
  18. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 17, dans lequel les moyens de coupe (118) sont conçus de manière à produire une coupe généralement verticale le long des parties soudées de la bande pliée.
  19. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 18, comprenant une source (130) d'éléments de support préformés disposée en aval des moyens de coupe (118).
  20. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 18, dans lequel les éléments de support sont formés dans une bande de matériau qui est alimentée à partir d'une bobine.
  21. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 20, comprenant un ensemble de tablier mobile (132) servant à faire avancer les pièces de contenant et leur élément de support associé à travers une section de soudage d'éléments de support.
  22. Dispositif selon la revendication 21, dans lequel la section de soudage d'éléments de support comprend un ou plusieurs postes de soudage (140, 141, 142, 143) pour thermosouder chaque élément de support à une extrémité ouverte supérieure de la partie du contenant qui lui est associée.
  23. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 22, dans lequel le moyen de remplissage comprend une trémie (146) disposée au-dessus du chemin de passage de chaque élément de conditionnement pour infusion qui a été formé, ladite trémie contenant le matériau devant être délivré dans chaque partie de contenant de chaque conditionnement pour infusion.
  24. Dispositif selon la revendication 23, dans lequel la trémie (146) contient du café.
  25. Dispositif selon la revendication 23 ou la revendication 24, dans lequel la bouche de la trémie (146) comprend une vis de transport pour distribuer une quantité prédéterminée de matière dans chaque contenant de conditionnement.
  26. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 25, dans lequel les moyens servant à maintenir la séparation comprennent un longeron allongé (127) qui est chevauché par lesdits compartiments.
  27. Dispositif selon la revendication 26, dans lequel le tablier (127) s'étend à partir d'une position proche desdits moyens de coupe (118) le long du chemin de passage des pièces de contenant jusqu'audit moyen de remplissage (145) afin de maintenir à l'état séparé les deux compartiments définis par la forme en W de chaque partie de contenant.
  28. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 25, dans lequel les moyens servant à maintenir la séparation comprennent un doigt pouvant se disposer entre lesdits deux compartiments au moyen de remplissage.
  29. Dispositif selon la revendication 28, dans lequel le doigt est disposé sous le moyen de remplissage et peut se déplacer vers le haut pour se situer entre lesdits compartiments.
  30. Dispositif selon la revendication 29, dans lequel le doigt est actionné pneumatiquement ou par une came.
  31. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 30, comprenant une partie de formation de sachets (180) disposée en aval de la section de pliage d'éléments de support.
  32. Procédé de fabrication d'un conditionnement pour infusion à partir d'une bande de matériau (101), caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend le pliage de la bande de matériau sensiblement en forme de W, le soudage de la bande pliée à des positions (114) correspondant aux parties de bord d'une partie contenant du conditionnement, la coupe de la bande le long des parties soudées pour former des parties individuelles de contenant (122), la fixation d'un support (14) à chaque partie de contenant (122), et le remplissage des deux compartiments (36) définis par la forme en W de chaque partie de contenant tout en maintenant lesdits compartiments séparés pour assurer une distribution égale de la matière remplie dans chaque compartiment.
EP03706727A 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Conditionnement pour infusion Expired - Lifetime EP1476371B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05077039A EP1634821A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Sachet pour infusion
EP05077040A EP1634822A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Dispositif pour la fabrication d'un sachet pour infusion
EP05077038A EP1642845A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Sachet pour infusion

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0204189A GB0204189D0 (en) 2002-02-22 2002-02-22 Infusion package
GB0204189 2002-02-22
GB0209252 2002-04-23
GB0209252A GB0209252D0 (en) 2002-04-23 2002-04-23 Infusion package and its manufacture
GB0215871 2002-07-09
GB0215871A GB0215871D0 (en) 2002-07-09 2002-07-09 Infusion package
PCT/GB2003/000769 WO2003070583A2 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Conditionnement pour infusion

Related Child Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05077038A Division EP1642845A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Sachet pour infusion
EP05077040A Division EP1634822A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Dispositif pour la fabrication d'un sachet pour infusion
EP05077039A Division EP1634821A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Sachet pour infusion

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1476371A2 EP1476371A2 (fr) 2004-11-17
EP1476371B1 true EP1476371B1 (fr) 2006-06-07

Family

ID=27761099

Family Applications (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05077038A Withdrawn EP1642845A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Sachet pour infusion
EP05077040A Withdrawn EP1634822A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Dispositif pour la fabrication d'un sachet pour infusion
EP05077039A Withdrawn EP1634821A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Sachet pour infusion
EP03706727A Expired - Lifetime EP1476371B1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Conditionnement pour infusion

Family Applications Before (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05077038A Withdrawn EP1642845A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Sachet pour infusion
EP05077040A Withdrawn EP1634822A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Dispositif pour la fabrication d'un sachet pour infusion
EP05077039A Withdrawn EP1634821A1 (fr) 2002-02-22 2003-02-24 Sachet pour infusion

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US20050224373A1 (fr)
EP (4) EP1642845A1 (fr)
JP (2) JP4083687B2 (fr)
AT (1) ATE328812T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2003208439A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2476875A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60305883T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003070583A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8578685B2 (en) * 2008-12-05 2013-11-12 Momentive Performance Materials Inc. Apparatus for forming and filling a flexible package
CN101879948B (zh) * 2010-06-18 2011-11-30 汕头市高雄海包装机械有限公司 全自动咖啡填充压实包装机
EP2678244B1 (fr) * 2011-02-24 2016-07-06 Unilever PLC Paquet d'infusion et sa fabrication
KR101254937B1 (ko) * 2011-12-05 2013-04-23 주식회사 티레모 스틱형 티백의 제조방법
ITBO20120337A1 (it) * 2012-06-20 2013-12-21 Ima Ind Srl Procedimento e macchina per formare capsule monouso per bevande
ITBO20120338A1 (it) 2012-06-20 2013-12-21 Ima Ind Srl Procedimento e macchina per formare componenti intermedi di capsule monouso per bevande
TWM522674U (zh) * 2015-10-20 2016-06-01 ying-yan Zhang 可拋式飲液用濾套及其使用裝置
RU2643634C1 (ru) * 2017-02-15 2018-02-02 Алексей Ильич Нониашвили Одноразовое средство для приготовления напитка
JP7079653B2 (ja) * 2018-05-17 2022-06-02 シブヤパッケージングシステム株式会社 充填包装機
CN110588055A (zh) * 2019-08-26 2019-12-20 泉州丰泽德高工业科技有限公司 一种夹片揪盒角提拉塑型压平且滑削的屋顶纸盒包装机
IT201900017486A1 (it) * 2019-09-30 2021-03-30 Ima Spa Macchina confezionatrice per la produzione di sacchetti-filtro con prodotti da infusione.
JP7504385B2 (ja) * 2020-01-17 2024-06-24 株式会社古川製作所 袋供給装置
CN112573023A (zh) * 2020-12-09 2021-03-30 江门市新会区金康宝陈皮食品有限公司 一种陈皮白茶包装结构
USD952286S1 (en) 2021-01-07 2022-05-24 Veriant LLC Tea bag
USD961404S1 (en) 2021-01-07 2022-08-23 Veriant LLC Double tea bag
KR102370676B1 (ko) * 2021-06-03 2022-03-03 주찬 음료 추출용 드립 필터 제작 장치 및 방법

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US2873905A (en) * 1955-10-03 1959-02-17 Harvey R Denton Bag and header therefor including bag supporting means
JPH03423U (fr) * 1989-02-21 1991-01-07
EP0463181B1 (fr) 1990-01-16 1998-05-13 Yamanaka Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha Sachet d'extraction
JPH0413568U (fr) * 1990-05-18 1992-02-04
JPH0810172A (ja) * 1994-04-27 1996-01-16 Nagai Jinzai Kaihatsu Kenkyusho:Kk 使い捨ての茶漉し
JP3838376B2 (ja) * 1995-11-17 2006-10-25 ユニリーバー・ナームローゼ・ベンノートシャープ 抽出パケットとその製造法
JPH10165309A (ja) * 1996-12-10 1998-06-23 Kataoka Bussan Kk コーヒー，茶等の濾過器
JP3664574B2 (ja) * 1997-02-21 2005-06-29 キーコーヒー株式会社 カップ上載置式支持具付嗜好飲料抽出バッグ
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GB0000921D0 (en) * 2000-01-14 2000-03-08 Molins Plc Infusion packages

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003070583A2 (fr) 2003-08-28
JP4083687B2 (ja) 2008-04-30
EP1634821A1 (fr) 2006-03-15
ATE328812T1 (de) 2006-06-15
JP2008162696A (ja) 2008-07-17
DE60305883T2 (de) 2006-10-19
WO2003070583A3 (fr) 2003-12-31
EP1634822A1 (fr) 2006-03-15
AU2003208439A1 (en) 2003-09-09
EP1642845A1 (fr) 2006-04-05
JP2005517514A (ja) 2005-06-16
CA2476875A1 (fr) 2003-08-28
DE60305883D1 (de) 2006-07-20
US20050224373A1 (en) 2005-10-13
EP1476371A2 (fr) 2004-11-17

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