EP2628683A1 - Verfahren und Maschine zur Behandlung von Kapseln, die zu einer Verpackungsmaschine übertragen werden - Google Patents

Verfahren und Maschine zur Behandlung von Kapseln, die zu einer Verpackungsmaschine übertragen werden Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2628683A1
EP2628683A1 EP13155551.8A EP13155551A EP2628683A1 EP 2628683 A1 EP2628683 A1 EP 2628683A1 EP 13155551 A EP13155551 A EP 13155551A EP 2628683 A1 EP2628683 A1 EP 2628683A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
capsules
tunnel
machine
track
process according
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP13155551.8A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Aldo ABLUTON
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.)
Carle and Montanari OPM SpA
Original Assignee
Carle and Montanari OPM SpA
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
Application filed by Carle and Montanari OPM SpA filed Critical Carle and Montanari OPM SpA
Publication of EP2628683A1 publication Critical patent/EP2628683A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B65B9/067—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 the web advancing continuously
    • 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
    • B65B29/022—Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package packaging infusion material into capsules
    • 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
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the treatment of capsules transferred to a packaging machine. More precisely, the present invention relates to capsules that are filled with a food product powder, for example coffee, tea or other soluble products, and which will then be used in machines for preparing hot or cold beverages.
  • a food product powder for example coffee, tea or other soluble products
  • said capsules are packaged in groups of two within a sealed envelope, made of plastic material.
  • Said envelope may be produced by packaging machines of the type generally known by the term "flow-pack".
  • the capsules to be packaged are transferred in a line and in positions spaced from one another within a packaging tube, which is formed by winding a continuous film of plastic material around the line of capsules and by heat-sealing a longitudinal edge of said film.
  • the packaging tube while advancing with the capsules, is then heat-sealed crosswise and cut to form the various packages.
  • nitrogen or another gas is blown into the packaging tube, so as to reduce the amount of oxygen and form a protective atmosphere inside the envelope around the capsules.
  • the advancement speed of the capsules is around 130 products per minute, but the tendency is to increase the transfer and packaging speed.
  • increasing the packaging speed there is an actual risk of not having enough time to create an optimal protective atmosphere within the envelopes. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt methods that make it possible to always provide a protective optimum condition despite the increase in speed.
  • the purpose of the present invention is to provide a process for treating capsules transferred to a packaging machine, which allows to fulfill the need referred to above and that is relatively simple.
  • a process for treating capsules transferred to a packaging machine, as defined in claim 1 is provided.
  • a machine for treating capsules transferred to a packaging machine, as defined in claim 9 is also provided.
  • the reference number 1 indicates a machine for forming a protective atmosphere around capsules 2 which are transferred in a line along a longitudinal horizontal track 3 towards a packaging machine 4 (partially illustrated), of the type called "flow-pack".
  • the machine 4 comprises a device 5 that forms a packaging tube by winding a continuous film 6 of plastic material around the line of capsules 2 and by heat-sealing a longitudinal edge of the film 6.
  • the packaging tube is then heat-sealed crosswise and cut during its longitudinal advancement, so as to form packages in series.
  • the machine 1 comprises a conveyor 7 (partially illustrated) having a ring-like transport member 8 (defined by a chain or a belt), which is wound on toothed pulleys (driving and driven) and supports a plurality of pusher teeth 9, colloquially referred to as "porters".
  • the teeth 9 are vertical and are coupled, each, to a respective capsule 2, as the capsules 2 arrive in a line by a conveyor 10 (partially illustrated).
  • the teeth 9 are spaced, along the annular path of the organ 8, with the same pitch between the capsules 2 at the end of the conveyor 10.
  • the teeth 9 are inserted from below through a vertical slit 11 of the conveyor 10 so as to protrude above a surface 12 on which the capsules 2 slide.
  • the conveyors 10 and 7 are controlled in a synchronized manner, so as to:
  • the machine 1 comprises a fixed structure 13 (partially illustrated), in turn comprising two walls 14a, 14b having a top surface 15 that is coplanar with the surface 12 and which supports the capsules 2 during the transfer thereof.
  • the walls 14a, 14b are separated by a slit 16, which is aligned with the slit 11 to be engaged by the teeth 9 while the latter push the capsules 2.
  • the surface 15 is the base of a tunnel 17 wherein a protective atmosphere is formed and wherein the capsules 2 pass before arriving to the device 5.
  • the tunnel 17 is defined by a unit 20, which rests on the walls 14a, 14b and is movable with respect to the structure 13 so that it can be moved away from the track 3.
  • the unit 20 comprises an arm 21 hinged to the structure 13 around a horizontal axis 22.
  • gaskets 23 are provided between the walls 14a, 14b and the unit 20.
  • the gaskets 23 are parallel to the track 3 and are fitted on the lower edge of two walls 25, 26 substantially vertical, defining the sides of the tunnel 17.
  • the unit 20 comprises a supporting member 27, defined in particular by a vertical plate and fixed, on one hand, to the arm 21 and, on the other, to a box-shaped structure 28.
  • the structure 28 defines a manifold 29, which is longitudinally elongated and communicates with a gas source or a vacuum source through a pipe 30 (partially shown).
  • the base of the structure 28 has one or more slits 32, to put in communication the manifold 29 with the tunnel 17, and is covered at the bottom by a portion of a belt 34, forming part of a distributor device 35.
  • the device 35 is supported by the member 27 and comprises: a motor 36, arranged for example on the side of the arm 21; and a pulley driving system 37, on which the belt 34 is wound.
  • the system 37 is arranged on the side of the structure 28, is operated by the motor 36, and is configured so as to be able to adjust the tension of the belt 34.
  • one of the driven pulleys of the system 37 has an adjustable position with respect to member 27.
  • the belt 34 forms an annular path around the structure 28 and passes through the tunnel 17 above the track 3.
  • the distance of the belt 34 from the surface 15 is substantially equal to the height of the capsules 2, therefore the belt 34 rests against a top face 39 of the capsules 2.
  • Said distance is adjustable by a screw system 40 (partially illustrated in Figure 1 ) that defines a support point for the unit 20 when it is lowered.
  • the belt 34 comprises two lateral bands 41, which are toothed, mesh with the pulleys of the system 37, and slide on the base of the structure 28 on opposite sides of the slits 32.
  • the belt 34 also comprises an intermediate region 42, which has a smaller height so as to remain spaced from the base of the structure 28, is aligned with the slits 32, and has a plurality of holes 44.
  • the holes 44 in use, direct respective gas flows towards the track 3 so as to form the protective atmosphere directly around the capsules 2.
  • the holes 44 are spaced from one another along the belt 34 by an equal pitch (or sub-multiple) with respect to that between the teeth 9, and therefore to that between the capsules 2. Furthermore, the motor 36 is controlled so as to synchronize the belt 34 with the member 8 and arrange each hole 44 on a respective face 39: therefore, when feeding a gas (e.g. nitrogen) in the manifold 29, such gas tends to enter the capsules 2, through an appropriate filter arranged at the face 39, so as to reduce the oxygen concentration around the food product.
  • a gas e.g. nitrogen
  • the tunnel 17 houses two guides 50, 51, which laterally delimit the track 3 so as to guide the capsules 2.
  • the guide 50 is fixed to the wall 25, while the guide 51 is fixed to the wall 14b, in an intermediate position between the wall 26 and the slit 16.
  • the machine 1 has a chamber 52, which is crossed by the member 8 and is defined, below and laterally, by a structure 53 arranged in a fixed position.
  • the structure 53 is coupled in fluid-tight manner to the walls 14a, 14b by way of gaskets 54, and has one or more inlets 55 communicating with the gas source or with the vacuum source so as to form a protective atmosphere also in the chamber 52, which thus facilitates the formation of a protective atmosphere in the tunnel 17 thanks to the slit 16.
  • the chamber 52 defines an additional manifold for gas entering into the tunnel 17 or for sucking air from the tunnel 17.
  • a structure 56 is provided as a junction between the tunnel 17 and the device 5.
  • the structure 56 defines a duct 57 which puts into communication the outlet of the tunnel 17 with the packaging tube while the latter is formed.
  • the base of the structure 56 defines an extension of the walls 14a, 14b and has a slit (not shown), which is aligned with the slit 16 to be engaged by the teeth 9 which push the capsules 2.
  • the structure 56 also comprises: two lateral guides 60 adjacent to, and longitudinally aligned with, the guides 50, 51, for continuing the track 3; and a block 61 having a lower face which superiorly closes the duct 57.
  • the duct 57 in cross section, has a closed outer perimeter or with minimal spaces, except for the inlet thereof where the guides 60 are divergent and open said perimeter.
  • the ends 62, 63 of the block 61 are close to the belt 34, at one of the pulleys of the system 37, and respectively to the film 6, at its inlet into the device 5, so as to leave as little space as possible and limit the leakage from the duct 57.
  • the ends 62, 63 have a shape that is the negative of the path of the belt 34 and of the path of the film 6.
  • the film 6, before being folded by the device 5 to form the packaging tube, rests on the faces 39 of the capsules 2 as an extension of the lower face of the block 61.
  • the structure 56 is carried by the machine 4, but could possibly be carried, in part or completely, by the machine 1.
  • the above process and the machine 1 allow to form a protective atmosphere in the packages of the capsules 2 in an effective manner, also if the transfer and packaging speed is increased, as the protective atmosphere is already formed before entering the capsules 2 in the packaging tube.
  • the capsules 2 are not slowed down or stopped in the transfer towards the machine 4, and the gas is blown directly towards the track 3.
  • the device 35 it is possible to generate gas flows which move together with the capsule 2, and therefore direct said flows directly on the filters of the capsules 2, so as to reduce the percentage of oxygen surrounding the food product.
  • the chamber 52 contributes in maintaining the protective atmosphere of the tunnel 17, since it avoids a direct communication between the slit 16 and the external environment and performs a function of manifold for supplying gas to the tunnel 17.
  • the solution is then relatively simple to be made, to be assembled and disassembled.
  • the capability to move the unit 20 enables easy assembly and maintenance operations of the machine 1.
  • the device 35 may be absent if the pressure in the tunnel 17 would be sufficiently high to avoid directing the gas on the capsules 2.
  • the unit 20 could have different structural characteristics with respect to those illustrated; and/or holes 44 may be configured as tubes or as another type of channel, and transported along the track 3 for blowing gas into the capsules 2; and/or the channels for bringing and/or forming the protective atmosphere inside the tunnel 17 might have a configuration and/or position different from what illustrated by way of example.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
EP13155551.8A 2012-02-16 2013-02-15 Verfahren und Maschine zur Behandlung von Kapseln, die zu einer Verpackungsmaschine übertragen werden Withdrawn EP2628683A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000135A ITTO20120135A1 (it) 2012-02-16 2012-02-16 Procedimento e macchina per il trattamento di capsule trasferite ad una macchina di confezionamento

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2628683A1 true EP2628683A1 (de) 2013-08-21

Family

ID=46001466

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13155551.8A Withdrawn EP2628683A1 (de) 2012-02-16 2013-02-15 Verfahren und Maschine zur Behandlung von Kapseln, die zu einer Verpackungsmaschine übertragen werden

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2628683A1 (de)
IT (1) ITTO20120135A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022023922A1 (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-02-03 G.D S.P.A. Feed unit for articles

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5109654A (en) * 1989-10-09 1992-05-05 Ibaraki Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. Gas feed arrangement for supply of gas into bags in a packaging machine
WO2008146166A2 (en) * 2007-05-29 2008-12-04 Mars, Incorporated Packaged food products
WO2010131063A1 (en) * 2009-05-15 2010-11-18 Aroma System Srl Device for equispaced conveying of objects into a packaging machine

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5109654A (en) * 1989-10-09 1992-05-05 Ibaraki Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. Gas feed arrangement for supply of gas into bags in a packaging machine
WO2008146166A2 (en) * 2007-05-29 2008-12-04 Mars, Incorporated Packaged food products
WO2010131063A1 (en) * 2009-05-15 2010-11-18 Aroma System Srl Device for equispaced conveying of objects into a packaging machine

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022023922A1 (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-02-03 G.D S.P.A. Feed unit for articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO20120135A1 (it) 2013-08-17

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