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
  • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
  • B65D75/40—Packages formed by enclosing successive articles, or increments of material, in webs, e.g. folded or tubular webs, or by subdividing tubes filled with liquid, semi-liquid, or plastic materials
  • B65D75/44—Individual packages cut from webs or tubes
  • B65D75/46—Individual packages cut from webs or tubes containing articles
• • 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
  • B65D31/10—Bags or like containers made of paper and having structural provision for thickness of contents with gusseted sides
• • 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
  • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
  • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
  • B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
  • B65B51/30—Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
  • B65B51/306—Counter-rotating devices
• • 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
  • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
  • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
  • B65B9/2014—Tube advancing means
  • B65B9/2028—Rollers or belts
• • 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
  • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
  • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
  • B65B9/2042—Means for altering the cross-section of the tube filling opening prior to transversal sealing, e.g. tube spreading devices
• • 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
  • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
  • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
  • B65B9/207—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles the web advancing continuously
• • 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
• • 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
  • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
  • B65B2220/08—Creating fin seals as the longitudinal seal on horizontal or vertical form fill seal [FFS] machines

Definitions

• the present invention relates to infusion packets, particularly infusion packets containing infusible material such as tea, and to apparatus and methods for producing such infusion packets.
• infusion packets e.g. tea bags
• infusible material e.g. leaf tea, herbal mixtures
• double- chamber infusion packets such as those described in US 2,593,608 (A.G.F. Rambold) have become popular.
• the infusible material is contained in two chambers, with each chamber being attached to the other at the base and apex.
• This type of infusion packet is thought to enable faster infusion by allowing an increased flow of water around the infusible material.
• a drawback of double-chamber infusion packets is that they require significantly more packet material than their single-chamber counterparts.
• the invention in a first aspect relates to an infusion packet comprising a single sealed compartment, the compartment having a top and a bottom defined by two transverse seals that are separated by a distance D, the transverse seals being at opposite ends of the compartment, the distance D being in the range of 40 to 70 mm, wherein the compartment comprises at least one side gusset, the side gusset consisting of two gusset panels and three gusset creases.
• packaging infusible material in a single-chamber infusion packet comprising one or more side gussets allows the infusible material more room to move and/or improves the flow of water around the infusible material compared to a conventional single-chamber infusion packet.
• a gusseted single chamber infusion packet can contain less infusible material per packet and still achieve the same infusion performance as a conventional single chamber infusion packet.
• the size of the infusion packet is such that it has outer dimensions that are similar to those of a conventional infusion packet. This means that the infusion packet can be conveniently used by consumers in the usual manner. Therefore, the distance D which separates the transverse seals is in the range of 40 to 70 mm, more preferably from 45 to 65 mm and most preferably from 50 to 60 mm.
• the invention relates to an apparatus for producing infusion packets, the apparatus comprising a longitudinal sealer for forming a web of packaging material into a tube and a means for drawing the tubular web past an outlet of a conduit, wherein the outlet of the conduit has an external cross-section comprising at least two vertices and wherein the apparatus comprises at least one forming member for indenting the tubular web between the vertices and additionally comprises sealing elements for compartmenting the tubular web at intervals along its length, wherein the sealing elements form transverse seals across the width of the indented tubular web and are adapted such that the distance D between successive transverse seals is in the range of 40 to 70 mm.
• the invention relates to a method of manufacturing an infusion packet from a web of packaging material comprising the steps of:
• first and second transverse seals define an individual compartment that contains a dose of infusible material, and wherein the first and second transverse seals are formed such that they are separated by a distance D, the distance D being in the range of 40 to 70 mm.
• infusible material refers to any infusible or soluble material which can be immersed in liquid to prepare an infusion. This process is referred to as brewing.
• the infusible material preferably comprises plant material.
• infusible material may comprise plant material derived from Camellia sinensis, Aspalathus linearis, Mentha piperita, Matricaria recutita and/or mixtures thereof.
• the infusible material comprises tea solids.
• the term "tea solids” refers to dry material extractable from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis var. sinensis and/or Camellia sinensis var. assamica.
• the leaves may have been subjected to a so-called “fermentation” step wherein they are oxidised by certain endogenous enzymes that are released during the early stages of "black tea” manufacture. This oxidation may even be supplemented by the action of exogenous enzymes such as oxidases, laccases and peroxidises.
• the leaves may have been partially fermented ("oolong tea") or may have remained substantially unfermented (“green tea”). Liquid permeable
• liquid permeable and “permeable to liquid” are used interchangeably to describe a water-insoluble, porous packaging material which has openings that permit liquids, especially aqueous liquids, to pass through.
• suitable packaging materials include non-wovens, wet laid non-wovens and wovens made with polymers or cellulosic/polymer blends (e.g. cellulose or cellulose PP blends) or perforated films.
• the packaging material may be heat-sealable or non-heat- sealable. In certain embodiments, heat-sealable packaging material is preferred in order to facilitate a high rate of infusion packet production. In other embodiments, non-heat-sealable packaging material is preferred due to its biodegradability. Determination of infusion characteristics
• the dynamic (continuous dunking) procedure represents a laboratory simulation of consumer preparation of an infusion involving agitation of the infusion packet.
• Figure 1 is a view of a web of packaging material according to an embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2a is a perspective rear view of a partly completed packet according to an embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2b is a perspective front view of the partly completed packet of Figure 2a;
• Figure 2c is a cross-sectional view of the partly completed package of Figure 2a viewed from above;
• Figures 3a to 3e are a series of perspective front views showing steps in the formation of an infusion packet according to an embodiment of the invention
• Figure 4 shows an illustration of an apparatus for producing infusion packets according to an embodiment of the invention
• Figures 5a and 5b show cross-sectional views of two possible embodiments of the conduit outlet of the apparatus of Figure 4 viewed from above.
• Figure 1 shows a view of a web of packaging material according to an embodiment of the invention in which an elongate web 1 of liquid-permeable packaging material is travelling in a direction Z.
• the web of packaging material has a width W.
• a length L corresponding to one packet is indicated by boundaries 2, but the web can be of indefinite length.
• a single infusion packet comprises a portion of the elongate web with side margins 3 along its edges, and end margins 4, 5 either side of the boundaries 2.
• a single infusion packet consists of packaging material that covers an area A.
• the area A is a convenient measure of the amount of packaging material required to form each infusion packet.
• the infusion packet will fit in a cup and/or a mug. Therefore it is desirable that the length L is not too great.
• the infusion packet should also be large enough to contain sufficient infusible material to produce a flavourful beverage. Therefore, the packet length L is preferably from 44 to 80 mm, more preferably from 48 to 75 mm and most preferably from 52 to 70 mm.
• the web width W is from 90 to 160 mm, more preferably from 95 to 140 mm and most preferably from 100 to 125 mm.
• a longitudinal seal 6 comprises the side margins 3 in a finished packet according to a preferred embodiment of the invention (see Figure 2c).
• the longitudinal seal 6 may be a fin seal or a lap seal.
• Transverse seals 7 define the top 8 and bottom 9 of a finished packet (see Figure 3d).
• the transverse seals comprise the end margins 4, 5 of the web of packaging material.
• the transverse seals 7 are formed such that they are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal seal 6.
• the packet has a front face and a rear face.
• the front face comprises a single front panel 10 and the rear face comprises two back panels 11.
• At least one gusset is introduced comprising gusset panels 12 which are delimited by gusset creases formed along lines 13, 14.
• the gusset(s) extend substantially longitudinally between the transverse seals 7 that define the top 8 and bottom 9 of a finished packet.
• the finished packet comprises at least one side gusset 15, and preferably has two side gussets 15.
• a side gusset 15 consists of two gusset panels 12 and three gusset creases (two outer creases 13 and one central crease 14).
• each side gusset 15 separates the front and back panels.
• the width of each gusset panel 12 is no more than 15 mm, and the total width of each side gusset 15 (i.e. the distance between the two outer creases 14 when the gusset is fully extended) is no more than 30 mm.
• each gusset panel 12 has a width of 3 to 10 mm , more preferably 4 to 8 mm .
• each side gusset 15 is from 6 to 20 mm, more preferably from 8 to 16 mm.
• Figures 2a to 2c show three different views of a partly completed packet after the formation of the longitudinal seal 6 and two side gussets 15, as per one of the preferred embodiments.
• Figure 2a shows a perspective view of the packet viewed from the rear, with the longitudinal seal 6 running down the rear face between the two back panels 11.
• Figure 2b shows a perspective view of the same packet viewed from the front.
• Figure 2c shows a cross-section of the partly completed packet viewed from above, showing a compartment 16 which is defined by a front face comprising a front panel 10, a rear face comprising two back panels 11 joined by a longitudinal seal 6, and two side gussets 15, with each side gusset 15 comprising two gusset panels 12.
• the side margins 3 ( Figure 1) are incorporated into the longitudinal seal 6, which in this embodiment is a fin seal.
• Each side gusset 15 is "M"-shaped, and consists of two gusset panels 12, two outer creases 13 and one central crease 14.
• An outer crease 13 defines the border between a gusset panel 12 and a front panel 10 or a back panel 11, while a central crease 14 defines the border between two gusset panels 12.
• Figures 3a to 3e are a series of perspective views which illustrate a sequence of process steps that can be carried out to form an infusion packet as a continuous web 1 of liquid-permeable packaging material moves through successive operating stations.
• a first station the side margins 3 of the web are sealed together with a longitudinal seal 6 to give the web a tubular form (Figure 3a).
• the tubular web is indented so as to introduce creases that define one or more gusset(s).
• Figure 3b shows a preferred embodiment in which two "M"-shaped side gussets 15 have been introduced into the tubular web.
• the web travels vertically (downwards) to a sealing zone where the transverse seals 7 that define the individual packets are formed.
• a transverse seal is formed such that it defines the bottom 9 of the present packet above the seal and the top 8 of a preceding packet below the seal ( Figure 3c).
• An input device delivers a dose of infusible material 17 into the tubular web and a further transverse seal 7 is formed such that it defines the top 8 of the present packet and the bottom 9 of a succeeding packet as shown in Figure 3d.
• the tubular web is filled with doses of infusible material 17 as it is formed into a chain of packets defined by the transverse seals 7.
• the chain of packets is subsequently separated into individual packets by severing the web at the transverse seals 7 along the boundaries 2 as shown in Figure 3e.
• the infusion packets according to the present invention comprise a compartment 16 having a top 8 and a bottom 9 defined by two transverse seals 7 that are separated by a distance D, the seals being formed at opposite ends of the compartment 16.
• an infusion packet according to the present invention is similar in size to that of a conventional infusion packet.
• the infusion packet will fit in a cup and/or a mug. Therefore, the distance D is from 40 to 70 mm, more preferably from 45 to 65 mm and most preferably from 50 to 60 mm. It is preferred that the infusion packet is able accommodate sufficient infusible material to produce a flavourful beverage.
• the infusion packet contains from 1.0 to 3.8 g of infusible material, more preferably from 1.3 to 3.4 g and most preferably from 1.6 to 3.0 g.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing infusion packets according to the present invention.
• This apparatus has a single production path being supplied with infusible material 17 by a doser (not shown).
• a web of packaging material 1 is fed over a shaping guide near the inlet 20 of a conduit 21.
• the conduit inlet 20 has a circular cross-section.
• the web takes up the tubular form of the conduit exterior and is drawn down the tube by one or more guide elements 22 while its opposite side margins are sealed together longitudinally by a longitudinal sealer 23.
• the longitudinal sealer 23 is adjacent to the conduit and in a particularly preferred embodiment the longitudinal sealer 23 comprises a pair of heating and pressing rollers that weld the side margins together to form a longitudinal fin seal.
• the tubular web is drawn along the conduit 21 and past the outlet of the conduit 24, preferably by one or more guide elements 22.
• the conduit outlet 24 has an internal cross-section and an external cross-section that can be the same shape (see Figure 5a) or different shapes (see Figure 5b).
• the conduit outlet 24 has an external cross-section comprising at least two vertices 25.
• the conduit transitions from having a circular cross-section (both externally and internally) at its inlet to having an external cross-section at its outlet that comprises at least two vertices 25.
• the external cross-section of the conduit outlet comprises at least two vertices 25 that delimit a face, and in especially preferred embodiment, such as the ones illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b, the conduit outlet has a rectangular external cross-section.
• the internal cross- section of the conduit outlet is the same shape as the external cross-section, for example as illustrated in Figure 5a.
• the internal cross-section of the conduit outlet may comprise fewer vertices than the external cross- section, for example as illustrated in Figure 5b.
• the tubular web is indented between the vertices 25 by at least one forming member 26.
• the forming member(s) 26 are situated adjacent to the conduit outlet 24.
• Figures 4, 5a and 5b show preferred embodiments in which the tubular web is indented by two forming members 26, with each forming member introducing an "M"-shaped side gusset 15 ( Figure 2 illustrates a partially completed packet made using the apparatus illustrated in Figure 4 following gusset formation but prior to compartmenting the tubular web).
• the indented web is drawn vertically (downwards) to a sealing zone, where the apparatus comprises transverse sealing elements for compartmenting the tubular web at intervals along its length.
• the transverse sealing elements form successive transverse seals 7 across the width of the indented tubular web.
• the progress of the tubular web 1 which is preferably progressing at a substantially uniform speed, and the timing of the sealing elements are adapted such that the distance D between successive transverse seals is in the range of 40 to 70 mm, more preferably from 45 to 65 mm and most preferably from 50 to 60 mm.
• the indented tubular web is filled with doses of infusible material as it is formed into a chain of packets defined by the transverse seals 7.
• an input device delivers the infusible material via the conduit such that each sealed compartment comprises a single dose of infusible material.
• the compartmented tubular web is subsequently separated into individual packets by severing the web at the transverse seals 7.
• the cutting elements are carried on a pair of rotors 27 wherein the rotors comprise recesses 28 which accommodate the filled infusion packets as they progress along the production path.
• the sealing elements are carried on first a pair of rotors and the cutting elements are carried on a second pair of rotors, wherein both the first and second pair of rotors comprise recesses 28 which accommodate the filled infusion packets as they progress along the production path.
• the sealing and cutting elements may preferably be carried on a single pair of rotors.
• the infusion characteristics of a conventional double-chamber infusion packet (packet DC) and an infusion packet according to the present invention (packet G) were investigated using both the dynamic (continuous dunking) and static procedures as described above.
• the total infusion time was 240 seconds and the sampling frequency was 1 sample per 5 seconds.
• the results are presented in Table 1.
• the infusion performance for static infusion is the mean of triplicate data sets, whilst for dynamic infusion it is the mean of duplicate data sets.
• Packet DC and packet G were similar in apparent size (i.e. both were approximately 40 mm by 60 mm when viewed from the front). Packet DC was made from filter material having an area A of approximately 14270 mm 2 . Packet G had two side gussets and was made from filter material having an area A of approximately 7680 mm 2 ; D was approximately 52 mm. All packets contained approximately 2 g of Lipton Yellow Label tea.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=44201121

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (29)

• 2012
  • 2012-01-26 US US13/985,299 patent/US20130330027A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-01-26 EA EA201391217A patent/EA025154B9/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2012-01-26 PL PL12703007T patent/PL2678244T3/pl unknown
  • 2012-01-26 JP JP2013554828A patent/JP6022482B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-01-26 EP EP12703007.0A patent/EP2678244B1/de active Active
  • 2012-01-26 CN CN201280010424.5A patent/CN103402886B/zh active Active
  • 2012-01-26 WO PCT/EP2012/051223 patent/WO2012113602A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-01-26 IN IN1548MUN2013 patent/IN2013MN01548A/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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