ES2487865T3 - Procedure and device for the manufacture of bags - Google Patents

Abstract

Procedure for the manufacture of bags (40), in particular infusion bags, in which a flat band (2) is folded longitudinally for the configuration of a band (10) closed on the lower side by means of a fold (8), chambers divided one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the band (10) are divided, a seam (124) is configured between adjacent chambers, through which individual bags (40) are separated from the band, and in the that the chambers are filled with product after the configuration of the separation seam (124), characterized in that the material that forms the bags (40) moves at least along the path from the processing station (100) to configure the seam of separation (124) to a processing station (300) to close the bags (40) continuously around a pivot point (M).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Procedure and device for the manufacture of bags

The present invention relates to a method and a device for the manufacture of bags, in particular for the manufacture of infusion bags. The invention relates in particular to a process with the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a device with the features of the preamble of claim 6, which in each case are known from WO-A-2007/089838.

The present invention starts in particular from a process as known from EP-A2-0 771

730. In this procedure a flat band initially provided as a flat band is folded longitudinally for the configuration of a band closed on one side by a fold. Next, separate chambers are divided into the closed band on one side, in this state of the art by welding. The cameras are also provided as parts of the band in one piece. Then, with the camera opening facing up, these chambers are filled in a filling station. For this, in the cameras opened above, product is introduced in the cameras. Then, still vertically, the band is provided to a sealing unit, in which the upper side of the bags is also closed, that is to say the side opposite the fold.

In the procedure known from EP-A2-0 771 730, also the bags closed on all sides are still transported as part of an endless belt. By changing the orientation of the band, the bags with their lateral surface are deposited on a support band, to finally also be provided as a continuous piece to a cutting device. This cutting device comprises a rotating blade, which acts from above against the support band in such a way that the sheet band is separated in the area of a seam that divides the chambers located one behind the other. Through this separation bags are made available independently of the band. Separate bags fall on a transport path, from where they are removed from the device.

The previously known procedure is relatively complex, because considerable transport paths are required to perform the individual process steps at suitable stations for this.

From WO-A-1999/59875 a method is also known according to the generic type. Also in this previously known procedure, the chambers closed on the side opposite the fold deviate from an initially vertical extension for filling the chambers to a horizontal orientation and only afterwards does a separation of the bags take place by cutting with a subsequent individualization. The closure of the bags in the continuous piece, that is, as part of the bag material provided endlessly limits on one hand the amount of filling, because the endless band is guided, subject to tensile tension, by the different stations, that is, it is also transported subject to tensile tension along a filling station and a sealing station. Furthermore, a welding seam that closes the bag material on the side opposite the fold can only be formed parallel to the fold, that is, in the direction of transport of the endless band.

The present invention is based on the problem of indicating an improved process and a device for the manufacture of bags, which can be carried out in particular with space saving and therefore more easily. In this regard, the present invention considers in particular the manufacture of infusion bags, that is, bags containing material that is prepared by infusion. In particular, the present invention aims to improve a process and a device for the manufacture of infusion bags in the form of a tetrahedron, as described for example in WO 95/01907 (see in particular EP 1 549 548 A1, Figure 1).

In order to solve the problem as regards the process, a method with the characteristic of claim 1 is proposed with the present invention. This is differentiated from the method according to the generic type because a separation seam is formed between adjacent chambers, through the that the individual bags are separated from the flat band, and the chambers are filled with the product after the configuration of the separation seam. Correspondingly, in the process according to the invention initially a separation seam is configured, whereby a separation of the bags is produced. Unlike the state of the art, the continuous piece formed by the flat band has already been interrupted before the filling of the chambers so that the individual bags can be individualized without a separate process step acting on the flat web material. producing a cut or separation. In the individualization, the lateral distance of the initially guided cameras as a continuous part is increased, that is, the cameras are no longer immediately adjacent with essentially contact side edges.

In this regard, a method with the features of claim 1 is also implemented when, after the configuration of the separation seam, the chambers then formed are guided as a continuous piece, that is, with essentially adjacent side surfaces. It is only essential that, after filling, a separation operation does not have to occur, but that the chambers that make up the individual bags are separated from each other before or after or during the closing of the side opposite the fold by a relative movement, in if necessary, the chambers are also separated from each other by starting in the area of the separation seam.

Thus, according to the present invention it is proposed to continuously move the material that forms the bags at least from the formation of the fold to the closure on the side opposite the fold. In the process according to the invention, this continuous movement is preferably a movement around a pivot point. In this regard, certain parts of the movement can also occur in the radial direction, so that the movement of the material is only approximately a circular movement. In particular, in the context of movement around a pivot point, the radial distance can be increased from an input zone, in which the band closed on one side with a fold is provided to the processing path for the configuration of cameras, towards a station where the material is closed on the side opposite the fold for the configuration of a closed bag. This creates the possibility of providing an anvil of a welding unit between a feed wheel that guides the web and the web material, which acts by closing the side opposite the fold.

According to a preferred improvement of the present invention, the material that forms the bags, before configuring the separation seam and until the closure on the opposite side of the fold, is grasped and transported by a grip unit associated with an individual bag, up to that the bag is manufactured by closing on the side opposite the fold. In this regard, several gripping units are usually involved simultaneously, each of the gripping units being associated with an individual bag, that is, with an individual longitudinal segment corresponding to a bag length of the belt to be transported. In other words, several gripping units grip in each case between the individual chambers in each case dividing compartments, which are formed regularly by transverse weld seams. In this regard, the grip unit usually acts before the configuration of the cameras, that is, it grabs the fold before the configuration of the camera. Usually this grip is released immediately after the closure of the finished bags. The grip by means of the grip units is also preferably produced so that the grip unit in each case grips the web material only in the area of the fold, but otherwise leaves the expected volume above the fold and usually does not touch between chamber divisions. In other words, the camera, despite the grip of the grip unit, can be filled up to or almost to the bottom formed by the fold.

According to a preferred refinement of the present invention, open bags are identified on one side. Bags open on one side are segments of the double layer band, joined together by three sides that usually extend at right angles to each other, which on one side are closed by the fold and at their ends that extend at right angles to the they are closed by the division, that is to say the seams of transverse welding. The bags are separated. These bags are filled, preferably during individualization. This preferred refinement offers the possibility of efficient chamber filling, because there is no longer an interaction of adjacent chambers during filling.

As for the manufacture of tetrahedron-shaped bags, according to a preferred improvement of the present invention it is proposed to close the open sacks on one side on the side opposite the fold with a welding seam that extends essentially at right angles to the fold. Correspondingly, individualized bags are welded, that is, they no longer touch their edges, specifically by means of a welding seam that extends essentially at a right angle to the fold, whereby a tetrahedron-shaped bag is formed.

For this, according to a further preferred configuration of the present invention, the bags open on one side are pivoted before closing in such a way that the fold is oriented essentially at a right angle to the direction of advancement of the bag. In this preferred refinement the bags are basically rotated around their own axis, while at the same time they are preferably pivoted along the approximately circular path of the station to configure the chambers until the withdrawal of the finished bag, that is, around A common turning point. In this regard, the bags are usually pivoted during filling around their own axis, but in any case during the pivoting a filling tube is introduced into the bags to fill the bags. With this measure, the route through the different stations can be reduced until the withdrawal of the finished bag and thus the processing time.

In order to solve the aspect as regards the device, a device with the characteristic of claim 6 is proposed with the present invention. This device has a folding unit for folding a flat band, as it is known for example by itself. WO 99/059 875 A1 or EP 0 771 730 A2. Otherwise, the device has a gripping arrangement that grips the folded band with a plurality of gripping units, which move around a pivot point and in each case mounted in a pivotal manner, to hold the fold. By this pivoting, the grip unit grips the band in the area of the fold. In particular, before dividing the chamber, by means of one or more gripping units, the endless material provided is dragged and transported to the different processing stations to divide the chambers, fill and close the bags. The device also has a bag welding unit comprising a rotating toothed anvil wheel and a sonotrode that acts together with protruding anvil wheel teeth for the configuration of chambers by configuring a separation seam provided between the chambers. In this regard, the toothed anvil wheel has projections spaced apart according to the separation of the individual chambers, which in each case form an anvil to divide the chambers.

In addition, the device according to the invention has a rotating dosing disk with a feed side for applying the contents of the bag and an opposite loading side, from which a plurality of filling tubes protrude, which can be introduced into the chambers. Consequently, in each case a filling tube is introduced in each case. In this regard, the axis of rotation of the dosing disc is oblique with respect to the axis of rotation of the anvil wheel, so that the filling tubes, due to the oblique position by a certain angular segment of the chambers that are in the outer circumference of the anvil wheel, they penetrate them and forcefully exit the chambers due to the oblique position. In this regard, it is not important if the chambers are still provided as a continuous part, that is, they move with lateral edges essentially in contact, or have already been individualized, that is, the respective filling tubes are introduced in individual bags. Correspondingly, the dosing disc may also be oriented, alternatively or cumulatively, as regards its axis of rotation obliquely with respect to a rotation axis of the gripping arrangement. The device according to the invention also has a welding unit for closing the bags on the opposite side of the fold as well as a withdrawal unit for removing the bags. This withdrawal unit moves the bags regularly in the radial direction in relation to the direction of rotation of the anvil wheel and / or the gripping arrangement. Withdrawal can take place, for example, by means of pressurized air or a drive element, which for example moves in the radial direction and / or at a right angle to the axis of rotation of the anvil wheel.

According to a preferred refinement of the present invention, the sonotrode is stationary and oblique oriented with respect to the anvil projections. In this regard, the sonotrode has an effective length, which covers at least the width of the folded band. Regularly, the tooth projections of the anvil wheel are configured such that they protrude on both sides of the folded band transversely to its longitudinal direction, that is, in the width direction. In this regard, the sonotrode and the anvil wheel are synchronized with each other in such a way that, in the context of an approximation of the front side of the tooth projections to the sonotrode, a transverse weld seam is initially configured, but when they meet at a minimum distance, the material of the band between the sonotrode and the front side of the tooth projection is provided with a separation seam and, in the course of the additional pivoting movement, that is, with an increasing radial gap, is formed again immediately next to the separation seam a transverse weld seam. The separation seam then crosses two transverse welding seams provided side by side, which delimit chambers. In this regard, the oblique position of the sonotrode in relation to the essentially axial extent of the tooth projections causes careful handling of the material provided. The configuration of the separation seam occurs only with local heating in the longitudinal direction. As the pivoting movement increases, this point moves in the axial direction, so that a configuration of the separation seam does not occur once and for all the width of the band, but the frictional heat introduced to set the seam of separation in the web material moves in the axial direction from one end of the web material in the width direction to the other.

According to a preferred improvement of the present invention, the welding unit for closing the bags has a stationary anvil, which is arranged between the anvil wheel and a sonotrode. In the case of the sonotrode it is in particular a rotary sonotrode, whose outer circumferential surface acts in conjunction with the anvil.

According to a preferred improvement, the grip unit is pivotally mounted on a grip base, which pivotally supports at least two folding arms acting on the open end of the bag. In this regard, the folding arms are usually mounted by means of an articulated quadrilateral mechanism and are preferably operated in such a way that they act together on both sides with the open end of the bag and act on it to place the surfaces of the bag facing each other between yes against each other before closing, before the bag is manufactured by closing on the side opposite the fold.

To establish a radial distance between the anvil wheel and the individual bags, the grip units are mounted on the grip arrangement so that they can move radially in translation. Thus, the individual bags, held by the gripping units, not only swing around the pivot point of the gripping arrangement, but at the same time move out radially in translation.

According to a preferred improvement, which in itself may be essential for the invention, a dosing unit and a weighing unit are arranged on the feed side of the dosing disc. The dosing arrangement provides a mass flow to the feed side, which initially strikes the weighing unit and is detected therein. The weighing unit and the dosing unit are linked, as regards the control, by means of a control that compares a real value of the mass flow detected by the weighing unit with a theoretical value and, based on this comparison, controls the mass flow supplied by the dosing unit. This regulation section ensures that essentially a constant mass flow is deposited on the feed side of the dosing disc. In this respect, the deposition of the mass flow usually occurs in the form of a product strip, which is provided on the dosing disk on the radially internal side in relation to a mouth of the filling tubes. A scraper is usually associated to the feed side of the dosing disk, which is stationary mounted and can move relatively with respect to the rotary dosing disk, and which displaces the product, deposited on the loading side and moves in a manner rotating, radially outward and into the mouths towards the filling tubes.

The preferred improvement with a regulation section between the dosing unit and the weighing unit offers the possibility of compensating effects that may occur, in particular in the case of a material that is prepared by infusion, especially tea, caused by a disintegration . In the case of a constant flow of material that is prepared by infusion provided, this disintegration leads to a greater mass flow of a lower initial content of the dosage unit compared to the extraction of the content located above, because due to the disintegration it changes The density in the filling level and in the lower part of a hopper or transport tower is present in bulk with a density greater than in the upper part. Consequently, variations in bulk density due to the nature of the product can be compensated through the regulation section.

Further details and advantages of the present invention are obtained from the following description of an embodiment in relation to the drawing. In these they show:

Figure 1, a schematic representation of stations essential for the manufacture of bags;

Figure 2, a perspective representation of an anvil wheel with associated sonotrode for welding sacks of an embodiment;

Figure 3, a perspective representation of the exemplary embodiment similar to Figure 2 with a dosing disk;

Figure 4, the dosing disk shown in Figure 3 in a plan view with parts of a dosing device;

Figure 5, a representation of the exemplary embodiment similar to Figure 3 for another circumferential segment of the anvil wheel with a welding unit for closing the sacks;

Figure 6, a representation of the exemplary embodiment similar to Figure 3 with a gripping arrangement;

Figure 7A, a perspective representation of a grip unit of the grip arrangement according to Figure 6 in an initial position;

Figure 7B, a perspective representation of the grip unit according to Figure 7A in a holding position;

Figure 7C, a perspective representation of the grip unit according to Figure 7A in a position that swings the bag around an essentially horizontal axis;

Figure 7D, a perspective representation of the grip unit according to Figure 7A shortly before the end of the pivoting movement around an essentially horizontal axis;

Figure 7E, a perspective representation of the gripping unit according to Figure 7A after finishing the pivoting movement around an essentially horizontal axis and at the beginning of the folding of the bag;

Figure 7F, a perspective representation of the grip unit according to Figure 7A when folding the bag;

Figure 7G, a perspective representation of the grip unit according to Figure 7A at the end of the folding;

Figure 8, a plan view of the lower side of the components shown in Figure 6 of the exemplary embodiment; Y

Figure 9, an enlarged perspective representation of a circumferential segment of the anvil wheel of the embodiment with the bags closed.

In figure 1 reference number 2 designates a flat band, which is taken out of a supply coil

4. The flat band is composed of a water-permeable fabric and is provided to a folding unit 6, in which the flat band 2 is transformed by configuring a fold 8 on the lower side to give a band 10 closed by one side by folding. Through a deflection roller 12, the band 10 closed on the lower side is provided to a rotary welding unit 14. This welding unit 14 has welding jaws 17; 19 arranged distributed around the circumference of two welding cylinders 16, 18 and acting together, which in each case are operated together by rotating the welding cylinders 16, 18, so that when the closed band 10 is caught On the lower side, in each case, a transverse weld seam is configured, dividing transverse weld seams located behind each other chambers.

Next to the rotary welding unit 14, a nozzle 20 is provided, which blows pulsedly into the individual chambers now divided, to open them. Now, a separation unit 22 individualizes the open bags 30 above. This separation unit 22 may be formed by a blade that acts from the bottom side, which acts cyclically on the band 10 to divide the individual bags 30. While these bags are already cut with their free front end and with their rear end still fixed to the band, the front end is grasped with a grip unit 24. This grip unit 24 comprises two circulating belts 26, in which approximately with The transverse distance of the transverse weld seams are fixed retention ribs 28, whose lateral distance from each other is sized such that they can hold the double layer material of the band together. In the individualized and open sacks 30 on the upper side in this way, which are held with their front and rear ends in each case between the retaining ribs 28, a filling tube 32 is now submerged. This filling tube 32 is sized with respect to the bag 30 in such a way that, after releasing the bag 30 by means of the grip unit 24, the bag 30 can be supported and guided vertically on a movement path 34.

On the movement path, the bags 30 are filled through the filling tube 32 and in this respect they are preferably rotated simultaneously 90 °, so that now the fold 8 is at a right angle to the direction of movement.

The free open ends of the bags 30 are then deformed through a slide 36, so that the edges of the bags are placed against each other at a right angle to the edge 8. Prepared in this way, these edges are now welded with a welding device 38. As a result, a tetrahedron-shaped tea bag 40 is removed from the production path.

Figures 2 to 9 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, having removed some parts of the device in Figure 2, so that Figure 2 only illustrates the path of a band indicated with reference number 10, and folded once. Figure 2 shows a bag welding unit indicated with the reference number 100, which comprises a toothed anvil wheel 110, in whose circumference a plurality of projections 112 are arranged which, through a widened foot 114, are joined with the external circumference, otherwise cylindrical, of the anvil wheel 110. The front side of the projections 112 has a corresponding geometric configuration, in plan view, to an enveloping surface around all projections 112. However, the front side of the projections 112 may also be curved with a convexity greater than this enveloping surface. The concrete contour of the front side of the projections 112 depends on the material properties of the flat band 2 that forms the band 10 as well as the parameters of a sonotrode indicated with the reference number 116.

As can be seen in Figure 2, in any case the band 10 closed by the lower side is deflected through a deflection roller and is provided to the anvil wheel 110 such that the band 10 is essentially supported tangential against the front side of the projections 112. In this regard, gripping units, which will be described further below, grab the band 10 and drag it in the direction of rotation of the anvil wheel 110. In any case the band 10, in the area of the sonotrode 116, extends essentially in a straight line between the front sides of the projections 112, said gripping unit being located radially within an imaginary enveloping surface around the projections 112 and, therefore, does not collide with the sonotrode 116.

The projections 112 have a height greater than the band 10 closed on the lower side. Correspondingly, longitudinal segments of the projections 112 protruding from the band 10 above and below the band 10 can be seen. The sonotrode 116 has a sonotrode head 118, whose length in the direction of extension of a rotation axis 120 of the anvil wheel 110 essentially corresponds to the length of the projections 112 in this direction. The sonotrode head 118 has an essentially rectangular active surface, which can be arranged in front of the front side of the projections 112. However, this active surface is arranged obliquely in relation to the front side of the projections 112, so that the The active surface of the sonotrode 116 does not at any time cover the entire opposite surface formed by the projections 112. Correspondingly, the oscillation caused by the sonotrode 116 only acts on a small longitudinal fragment of the band 10 provided between the sonotrode 116 and the corresponding projection 112, the longitudinal fragment extending in the direction of the axis of rotation 120.

The shortest distance between the sonotrode head 118 and the front side of the projection 112 is sized such that the double material of the band 10 is separated by the oscillating head of the sonotrode 116, while the surface areas of the band 110 arranged adjacent thereto, between the front side of the projections 112 and the sonotrode 116 are closed by welding, without considerable weakening of the material of the band 10. Correspondingly, the band 10 closed by the lower side by folding presents after passing through the sonotrode 116, at the height of the projections 116, in each case a separation seam 124, through which the band 10 is separated into longitudinal segments according to the width of the bags to be formed, thus as transverse welds 126 arranged on both sides of the separation seam 124. In this respect the separation seam 124 may be configured such that only one d The determined pulling force acting on the separation seam 124 actually separates the individual longitudinal segments of the bags 30 configured by the transverse welds 126, only not yet closed at the upper side. After passing through the bag welding unit 100, the bags 30 thus formed are essentially guided by the outer circumference of the anvil wheel 110. Additionally, the individual bags 30 are pivoted about their central longitudinal axis, until the fold 8 initially extending tangentially between the front sides of the individual projections 112 is radially arranged with respect to the axis of rotation 120 of the anvil wheel 110 (see Figure 2, last bag 30 in the direction of rotation of the wheel of anvil 110).

Figure 3 shows a perspective plan view of the anterior circumferential segment of the anvil wheel 110 shown in Figure 2, in addition to the components shown in Figure 2 being represented, a round dosing disk 200 indicated with the number of reference 200, which in the circumferential direction has several filling tubes 210, the separation of which essentially corresponds to the passage of the anvil wheel 110 and protruding from a loading side 220 of the dosing disk 200. On a feed side 225, upper in the plan view according to FIG. 3, the dosing disk 100 has funnel openings 230 leading to the filling tubes 210 and leading flush with the feed side 225 of the dosing disk 200 flat at that point, the which are arranged with a reduced circumferential distance from each other.

The filling tubes 210 are chamfered at their free end and therefore are formed by finishing at the tip. In addition, as can be seen in Figure 3, an axis of rotation of the dosing disk 200 indicated with the reference number 240 is angled in relation to the axis of rotation 120 of the anvil wheel 110. In this regard, The axis of rotation 120 of the anvil wheel 110 or the axis of rotation 240 of the dosing disc 200 can extend vertically. In any case, the dosing disk 200 only tilts relative to the vertical with its axis of rotation 240, such that the filling product deposited on the feed side 225 does not slip. Due to the oblique position between the axis of rotation 120 of the anvil wheel 110 and the axis of rotation 240 of the dosing disc 200, the filling tubes 210 are only immersed in the bags 30 for a particular circumferential segment with respect to the circumference of the anvil wheel 110. The relative movement between the filling tubes 210 and the bags 30 in this direction, which is preferably strictly vertical, depends solely on the degree of the oblique position between the two axes 120, 240.

On the supply side 225 of the dosing disk 200 there is a weighing unit indicated with the reference number 250 (Figure 4) with a conveyor belt 242 which, with its loading end, is arranged below a dosing unit 260, specifically below an outlet tube 262 of the dosing unit 260, comprising a driven spindle 264, which penetrates a dosing funnel 266 and the outlet tube 262. The end of the conveyor belt 252 opposite the Loading end ejects a product continuously loaded on the conveyor belt 252 on the surface of the dosing disk 200, specifically between the funnel openings 230 and a pushing element 268, which is stationary associated with the weighing unit 250 and whose active thrust surface is arranged radially outwardly with respect to the weighing unit 250 and finally ends at the height of the funnel openings 230.

The spindle drive 264 and the output signal of the weighing unit 250 are linked to each other through a control unit not shown. The weighing unit 250 measures the weight of the product deposited on the weighing unit 250, which even with an ideal volumetric dosage can vary due to sedimentation. As a result of this variation, the weighing unit 250 measures variable masses of the product cord deposited on the conveyor belt 252. This weight signal is evaluated through the control and causes a change in the speed of rotation of the spindle 264 acting on the associated drive motor in the spindle 264 in order that a predetermined longitudinal segment of the dough cord deposited on the feed side 225 of the dosing disk 200 has a constant mass weight. Particularly interesting is the dough cord that in each case is removed by a funnel opening 230. The objective is that despite the sedimentation and the different density of the bulk product a filling is achieved, essentially constant as regards by weight, of the 30 individual bags.

Figure 5 shows a representation essentially corresponding to Figure 3 for another circumferential segment of the anvil wheel 110 and illustrates a welding unit, indicated with reference number 300, to close the bag. This welding unit has a stationary anvil 310, which is disposed between the bag 30 to be closed and the cylindrical surface that surrounds the projections 112. On the opposite side to the stationary anvil 310 is a rotary sonotrode 320, which can be operated at the speed with which the bags 30 are driven through the welding unit 300.

The components described above of the embodiment example can be seen in Figure 6. Additionally, a gripping arrangement indicated with the reference number 400 is shown, which is essentially provided on the lower side of the anvil wheel 110, directed in the opposite direction to the dosing disk 200. This gripping arrangement 400 has a plurality of units of grip 410 which rotate essentially along a circular path, whose essential components can be seen in Figures 7A to G and 8. Accordingly, each grip unit 410 is supported by a grip base indicated with reference number 412, which supports pairs of grip arms 414 pivotally operated. At the free ends of in each case two folding arms 416 a folding arm 418 is arranged, whose free end protrudes from the grip base 412 and is provided with folding projections 420 as a hammerhead. The folding arms 418 in the anterior area are curved towards each other as a fork and, in the position indicated in Figure 7, enclose flat clamping jaws 422 of the grip unit 410, which are pivotally mounted around an axis that extends parallel to the fold 8, that is, about an axis that extends essentially horizontally, this pivoting axis of the clamping jaws 422 itself can pivot through a fork carrier about an axis at right angles, which extends vertically. The fork carrier 426 is pivotally and operably mounted thereon on the grip base 412. The pivoting movement of the fork carrier 426 as well as the pivoting movement of the clamping jaws 422 can occur in a controlled manner through slides that, depending on the angle of rotation of the grip unit 410 with respect to the center of rotation M (figure 8), cause the necessary movements of the grip unit 410.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the lower side of the embodiment described above, the grip arrangement 400 being arranged upstream of the anvil wheel 110. The anvil wheel 110 and the grip arrangement 400 rotate around the common center M. In this regard, the grip arrangement 400 has for each grip unit 410 additionally a longitudinal guide, through which each individual grip unit 410 can move in translation in the radial direction. Figure 8 shows schematically grip holders 426, which are movably mounted in the radial direction on spokes 428 of the grip arrangement 400. Different radial positions of these grip holders 426 can be seen in relation to the pivot point or center M.

The functionality of the individual grip units 410 is shown below with reference to positions indicated in figure 8 with the reference numbers A to G. In these positions, the activation elements of the grip unit 410 have the respective positions according to figures 7A to 7G.

In the position shown in Figure 7A, that is, with a rotation angle of 0 ° of the fork carrier 424 in relation to the grip base 412 and open clamping jaws 422, the grip support 426 is in a radial position internal, which in figure 8 is indicated by the reference number A. In this respect, the deviated band 10 is disposed between the open clamping jaws 422, which in position B are closed by pivoting and hold the fold 8 of the band 10 closed at the bottom side. Figure 7B shows the corresponding position of the clamping jaws 422. In this regard, the fork carrier 424 still has a pivoted angle of 0 °, that is, it is in the initial position.

With this orientation, the band 10 passes through the bag welding unit 100.

The fork carrier 424 is then pivoted, submerging during this pivoting movement the filling tubes 210 in the bags 30 (see Figure 6). The folding arms 418 remain in their initial position indicated in Figures 7A and 7B. In position D (see Figure 8) the bag 30 has been pivoted 90 °, so that the fold 8 which initially extends tangentially in relation to the anvil wheel 110, is now oriented radially towards the center M (see the figure 7D). The pivoting movement of the fork carrier 424 ends with it. The pivoting movement of the pairs of grip arms 414, that is, of the folding arms 418 (see Figure 7E), begins. In this regard, the folding arms 418 rest against the transverse weld seams 126 of the bags 30 and slide towards the open end of the bag 30. In this regard the bag 30 is folded. The longitudinal sides of the band 10 initially opposite each other fold down the center (fold K - see figures 7D to F). Around this fold K a pivoting of the upper edge segments of the bag 30 occurs, until the longitudinal segments containing in the center the transverse weld 126 face each other at the mouth of the bag (see Figure 7F).

When the pivoting movement of the folding arms 418 continues, these open longitudinal segments of the mouth of the bag are pressed against each other, so that a contact area 430 formed approximately with the thickness of the fold 8 is configured (see Figure 7G ). Then the pivoting movement of the folding arms 418 from its initial position (see Figure 7A, B) to its final position (see Figure 7G) also ends. The stationary anvil 310 and the rotary sonotrode 320 are now guided to the contact area 430 and welded.

Figure 9 shows in the left position this closure on the upper side of the bag 30 and thus the manufacture of the tea bag 40. In the next position H, the folding arms 418 have already moved down again. In the position indicated with I, the folding arms 418 have already been pivoted back to their initial position. In position J according to figure 9, the tea bags 40 terminated in the radial direction are removed, for example by a pressurized air blow, which is applied through an air nozzle disposed between the tea bag 40 and the anvil wheel 110. In position K, the clamping jaws 422 are pivoted back to the initial position and opened.

The following procedure is then obtained:

In a continuous movement, the band 10 is initially supported closed on the lower side tangentially against the anvil wheel 110. In the bag welding unit 110 individual chambers are generated by transverse welds 126. Different sacks 30 are obtained, already essentially separated by the separation seam 124, which have not yet been individualized and which appear as a continuous piece. Now, by pivoting the fork carriers 424, the bags 30 are individualized. In this respect, the individualization is produced by superimposing a pivoted movement of the fork carriers 424 with a simultaneous radial movement of the grip holders 426 along of radii 428 out. In this way, a certain radial distance is created between the bags 30 and the surrounding surface around the projections 112, so that subsequently the bags opened on one side can be guided through the anvil 310 radially waters

above the anvil wheel 110. In the context of a continuous rotary movement around the center M, the bags 30 are pivoted 90 °, so that now the fold 8 adopts a radial orientation. The bags 30 are folded with their wall segments protruding from the fold 8, which are initially oriented parallel to the fold 8, so that these parallel wall segments are provided with the double center K. Next, the 5 side walls of the bag 30 facing each other, provided with the transverse weld 126, are brought into contact with each other by an additional pivoting of the folded arms 418 with pretension and finally closed in the contact area 430 to configure an additional welding seam 432 by means of the unit weld 300. This additional weld seam 132 extends at a right angle to the fold 8, so that a tetrahedron-shaped bag with four side surfaces, a bottom-side fold and three seams of seam is configured.

10 welding 432, 126 arranged at right angles to each other.

Then, while maintaining the support by means of the clamping jaws 422, the folding arms 418 are pivoted back to their initial position. Only after the withdrawal of the finished tea bags 40 occurs by opening the clamping jaws 422. After this station H, the fork carrier 424 is pivoted back to its initial position, in which the axis of pivoted clamping jaws 422 extends

15 essentially tangentially in the center M. In the angular segment between position 7 C and 7 D according to the representation in figure 8, the thrust element 268, on the feed side 225, pushes the product mass cord deposited therein inside the funnel openings 230, so that the product is introduced into the bags 30 through the filling tubes 210.

List of reference symbols

20 2 flat band 4 supply coil 6 folding path 8 fold 10 band closed at the bottom side

25 12 bypass roller 14 rotary welding unit 16 welding cylinder 17 welding jaw 18 welding cylinder

30 19 welding jaw 20 nozzle 22 separation unit 24 grip unit 26 tape

35 28 retaining rib 30 bag 32 filling tube 34 movement path 36 sliding

40 38 welding device 40 tea bag 100 bag welding unit 110 anvil wheel 112 projection 114 foot 116 sonotrode 118 sonotrode head 120 axis of rotation of anvil wheel 124 separation seam 126 transverse welding 200 dosing disc 210 filling tube 220 loading side 225 feeding side 230 funnel opening 240 rotation axis of the dosing disc 250 weighing unit 252 conveyor belt 260 dosing unit 262 outlet tube 264 spindle 266 dosing funnel 268 pushing element 300 unit welding 310 anvil 320 sonotrode 400 grip arrangement 410 grip unit 412 grip base 414 pair of grip arms 416 grip arm 418 folding arm 420 protrusion of folding arm 422 clamp jaw 424 fork carrier 426 grip holder 426 428 spokes 430 contact area 432 additional welding seam M center / pivot point K fold

Claims (12)

1. Procedure for the manufacture of bags (40), in particular infusion bags, in which a flat band (2) is folded longitudinally for the configuration of a band (10) closed on the lower side by means of a fold (8) , chambers provided one behind the other are divided in the longitudinal direction of the band (10), a separation seam (124) is configured between adjacent chambers, through which individual bags (40) are separated from the band, and in which the chambers are filled with product after the configuration of the separation seam (124), characterized because the material that forms the bags (40) moves at least along the path from the processing station (100) to configure the separation seam (124) to a processing station (300) to close the bags (40) continuously around a turning point (M).

2.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material that forms the bags (40), before configuring the separation seam (124) and until closing on the side opposite the fold, is grasped and transported by a grip unit (410 , 422) associated with an individual bag (40), until the bag (40) is manufactured by closing on the side opposite the fold (8).

3.

Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that individual bags (30) open on one side are individualized.

Four.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sacks (30) opened on one side are closed on the side opposite the fold (8) with a welding seam (432), which extends essentially at right angles to the fold (8).

5.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bags (30) opened on one side are pivoted before closing in such a way that the fold (8) is oriented essentially at a right angle with respect to the direction of advancement of the bags ( 30).

6.

Device for manufacturing bags (40), in particular infusion bags, with

a folding unit for folding a flat band (2), a grip arrangement (400) that grips the folded band (10) with a plurality of grip units (422) that move around a pivot point (M) and pivotally mounted in each case; a rotating dosing disk (200) with a feed side (225) for applying the product and an opposite loading side (210), from which a plurality of filling tubes (210) protrude, which can be introduced into chambers formed by the band (10), a welding unit (300) to close the bag (40) and a withdrawal unit to remove the bag (40), characterized because the gripping units (422) are configured in such a way that they hold the flat band (2) by the fold (8), because a bag welding unit (100) is provided which comprises a toothed anvil wheel (110) and moves around the pivot point (M) and a sonotrode (116) that acts together with projections (112) of the anvil wheel (110) for configuring bags (30) that make up chambers and separated between the chambers by a seam (124), a rotation axis (240) of the dosing disk (200) being oriented obliquely with respect to to an axis of rotation (120) of the anvil wheel and / or of the gripping arrangement (400), and because the material that forms the bags (40) can move at least along the path from the bag welding unit (100) to configure the separation seam (124) to the welding unit (300) to close the bags (40) continuously around the pivot point (M).

7.

Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the sonotrode (116) is oriented in a stationary and oblique manner with respect to the anvil projections (112).

8.

Device for manufacturing bags according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the welding unit (300) for closing the bags (40) has a stationary anvil (310), which is arranged between the anvil wheel (110) and a sonotrode (320).

9.

Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the sonotrode is a rotary sonotrode (320).

10.

Device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the grip unit (422) is mounted on a grip base (412), which pivotally supports at least two folding arms (418) acting on the open end from the bag.

eleven.

Device according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the gripping units (422)

eleven 5 are mounted so that they can move in translation in the radial direction of the grip arrangement (400). 12. Device according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that a dosing unit (260) and a weighing unit (250) are associated to the supply side (225) of the dosing disk (200), which detects a flow mass supplied by the dosing unit (260), and because a 10 control that compares a real value of the mass flow detected by the weighing unit (250) with a theoretical value and, based on this comparison, controls the mass flow supplied by the dosing unit (260). 12