IL266296B

IL266296B - A capsule for insertion into the head of a water pipe, a machine for the tobacco processing industry and a method for producing said capsule

Info

Publication number: IL266296B
Application number: IL266296A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-11-01
Filing date: 2017-10-23
Publication date: 2022-08-01
Also published as: DE102016120786A1; EA201991108A1; MA46686A; EA039025B1; EP3534732A1; JP2019534011A; US20190254338A1; CN110087496A; WO2018082954A1; IL266296A

Description

Capsule for Insertion into a Head of a Water Pipe, Machine of the Tobacco Processing Industry and Method for Producing such a Capsule FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a capsule for insertion into a head of a water pipe, said capsule comprising a capsule body and a cover having at least one aperture, wherein the capsule body and the cover enclose a portion chamber, in which a single portion of water pipe tobacco is present, and wherein the cover is joined with the capsule body in a moisture- tight manner by means of a welded seam. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing such a capsule and to a capsule produced by such a method. In addition, the invention also relates to a machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing a capsule for insertion into a head of a water pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Water pipes, also called shishas, have been used for centuries for the consumption of tobacco. In the water pipe a multi-flavoured moist tobacco material is smoked, which is essentially a mixture of raw tobacco, molasses and glycerin. Molasses is a honey-like, dark- brown sugar syrup, which is obtained as a by-product of the sugar production and contains approximately 60% sugar. Unlike other tobacco products, such as cigarettes or cigars, water pipe tobacco is not burned. When a water pipe is used, the tobacco material is heated so that its constituents evaporate or, more specifically, burn off. For this purpose a single portion of tobacco material is introduced into the head of a water pipe and then covered as air-tight as possible, for example, with an aluminium foil. Then the aluminium foil is perforated. In order to heat the tobacco material, a charcoal tablet or a piece of red-hot charcoal, for example, is placed on the top side of the water pipe head, which is prepared in this way. Moreover, the construction and function of a water pipe are also described, for example, in DE 10 2015 200 951 A1 of the applicant Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH, Hamburg.

The preparation of the water pipe is relatively time consuming. Thus, the moist and sticky tobacco material has to be filled manually into the head of the water pipe and loosened up. Then the pipe head has to be sealed as tight as possible with the aluminium foil, a procedure that, just like the subsequent perforation, requires a certain amount of practice. It is easier and faster to fill the head of a water pipe with a capsule, into which the water pipe tobacco is filled. Such a capsule is known, for example, from EP 2 179 667 B1.A capsule for insertion into the head of a water pipe consists of a capsule body, which is sealed with a sieve-shaped cover. The capsule body and the cover surround a portion chamber, in which there is a single portion of water pipe tobacco. Before the capsule is used, adhesive seals, which are present on the cover and on the bottom, respectively, of the capsule body, are removed. Said adhesive seals seal the apertures that are present in the cover and in the bottom. Upon removal of the seals, the apertures are exposed, so that fresh air can penetrate into the capsule. In addition, combustion products and/or evaporating substances, issuing from the water pipe tobacco, can escape from the capsule.US2011186060 discloses a container enclosing smoking material is mounted upon a tube of a hookah with an interface sealed to or integrally formed as part of a single unitary body with a floor and/or at least one sidewall of the container.EP 2 179 667 discloses a cartridge, which comprises a container wall with sealed perforations and which within this container wall contains an individual portion of hookah tobacco. It further relates to a set for hookahs with such a standardised cartridge having a outwardly extending sealing edge and a standardised bowl for a hookah having a sealing shoulder within the bowl wall working together with the sealing edge of the cartridge.EP 2 870 069 discloses a method for fabricating a beverage capsule comprises the steps of providing a first wall member delimiting a cavity and having a flange disposed about an open end communicating with said cavity, providing a quantity of edible granules within said cavity, positioning a second wall member upon said flange and said open end of said first wall member, attaching said second wall member to said flange at at least two regions of said flange thereby dividing the flange circumferentially into at least two attached regions and at least two unattached regions, applying a vacuum between said first and second wall members creating a vacuum within said cavity, and sealing said first and second wall members along said flange, thereby maintaining said vacuum within said cavity.

WO 2015/101479 discloses a capsule for an aerosol-generating device, comprising: a shell comprising a base and at least one side wall extending from the base, the shell containing an aerosol-forming substrate; and a lid sealed on the at least one side wall for forming a sealed capsule, wherein, the base comprises a recess extending into said shell along the longitudinal axis for receiving a heater of an aerosol-generating device. The invention further relates to an aerosol-generating device comprising: a power supply; at least one heater; a cavity for receiving a capsule containing an aerosol-forming substrate according to any of the preceding claims; and a mouthpiece comprising a piercing element for piercing the lid of a capsule; wherein, the at least one heater is configured to be insertable into the recess of a capsule.CA 2,046,558 discloses a sealed cartridge for the preparation of a beverage and a process and apparatus for its production The sealed cartridge designed to be extracted under pressure and containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage, comprises a cup with a lateral wall substantially frustoconical in shape, an upper face larger in diameter than the lower face and, on the lower face, a filter, the lower face being separate from the filter, flat and of even thickness and the upper face comprising a flange with an annular rim to which a lid is welded.DE202008010123 discloses a tabakpad for water smoking pipes, in variable size and shape, filled with tobacco of variable capacity, having an upper film and molding made of aluminum and being suitable for a ceramic carrier of the different water smoking pipes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved capsule for insertion into a head of a water pipe, a method for producing an improved capsule and a machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing an improved capsule.The object is achieved by means of a capsule for insertion into a head of a water pipe, said capsule comprising a capsule body and a cover having at least one aperture, wherein the capsule body and the cover enclose a portion chamber, in which a single portion of water pipe tobacco is present, and wherein the cover is joined with the capsule body in a moisture- tight manner by means of a welded seam, and wherein the capsule is formed further by the fact that the welded seam is generated without auxiliary materials and that the cover and the capsule body are joined directly with one another by means of the welded seam.

In the context of the present specification, "without auxiliary materials" means that the joint between the two components is made without supporting substances. No substances or auxiliary materials are used that support the formation of the welded seam joining the two components. In particular, the components are not joined with one another by means of adhesively acting substances or auxiliary materials. The joining of the two components takes place exclusively by means of the auxiliary material-free welded seam and at the same time by dispensing with a sealing wax or the like.In the case of a welded seam without any auxiliary material, only the material of the cover is joined with the material of the capsule body (and vice versa), with the two materials forming their joint only by the action of the welding process without the supporting action or influence of any auxiliary materials. Preferably the joint between the cover and the capsule body is not just moisture-tight. The welded seam is designed preferably in such a way that the cover and the capsule body are hermetically joined with one another. In other words, no material can pass through the welded seam into the capsule or out of the capsule.The capsule body is, for example, a component that is manufactured by deep drawing. The cover is, for example, a rolled component. The capsule body is made of a two dimensionally closed material. The cover is, in particular, a sieve, which has a closed edge extending circumferentially on the outer radius.When the capsule is used in a water pipe, it is heated to several hundred degrees C, so that in order to consume the water pipe tobacco, contained in the capsule, the constituents of said tobacco escape. For this purpose for example, a red-hot piece of charcoal or a charcoal tablet is placed on the cover of the capsule. In the case of conventional capsules, the cover is secured on the capsule body in many cases with the aid of, but at least by using a sealing wax. When the capsule is subjected to excessive heating, the sealing wax decomposes, so that unwanted pollutants are released. There is the risk that these pollutants will pass into the stream of tobacco smoke intended for consumption, an aspect that is undesired. In the case of the capsule according to the present invention, additives are completely dispensed with. In particular, the use of sealing wax is dispensed with. Capsule body and cover are free of auxiliary materials and joined directly with one another. Thus, it is out of the question that combustion products of these auxiliary materials will pass into the smoke stream intended for consumption.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the welded seam is regularly structured.In particular, it is periodically structured; it has, for example, a crosswise fluting. Such a crosswise fluting has, for example, a pitch between 50 ^m and 350 ^m, in particular, between 100 ^m and 300 ^m, further, in particular, a pitch of between 150 ^m and 250 ^m. The fluting exhibits, in particular, a depth between 30 ^m and 70 ^m, further, in particular, a depth between 40 ^m and 60 ^m.Owing to the structuring of the welded seam, a secure and reliable joint between the capsule body and the cover can be provided.According to an additional embodiment, the capsule is formed further by the feature that the welded seam provides a joint between the cover and the capsule body, where said welded seam is pressure-tight at least up to a pressure differential of 0.5 bar.In other words, the welded seam, which closes off the portion chamber from the surrounding environment, is so stable that a pressure differential of at least 0.5 bar can prevail between the portion chamber and the surrounding space without the welded seam failing. It is preferably provided that the welded seam remains stable in a situation, in which there is an overpressure of 0.5 bar in the portion chamber with respect to the surrounding space. However, it is just as possible that, vice versa, the portion chamber has an underpressure of 0.5 bar, as compared to the surrounding space. Even in such a case the welded seam remains stable.Furthermore, it is provided, in particular, that the cover is a sieve with a plurality of apertures. The capsule body has, in particular, at least one aperture. For example, a plurality of apertures, for example, in the manner of a sieve, are provided. This aperture/these apertures is/are preferably provided in a bottom of the capsule body, where said bottom is located opposite the cover. Thus, it is possible for fresh air to flow into the capsule and for the aromatic substances, which are produced when the water pipe tobacco is heated, to flow out of the capsule.According to another advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the at least one aperture of the cover is sealed with a manually removable seal in a moisture-tight and/or pressure-tight manner.Even the apertures, which are present in the bottom of the capsule body, are sealed, in particular, with a manually removable seal in a moisture-tight manner. The manually removable seal has, for example, a tear-off tab, so that said seal may be easily removed prior to the consumption of the water pipe tobacco. The moisture-tight packaging of the water pipe tobacco makes it easy to store said water pipe tobacco.According to an additional advantageous embodiment, the capsule is formed further by the fact that the capsule body has an outwards projecting sealing edge, pointing away from the portion chamber, wherein the welded seam extends along a periphery of the cover in an edge region adjacent to an outer edge of the cover; andwherein the sealing edge of the capsule body is bent outwards in a first layer and is bent in a second layer in the opposite direction inwards in the direction of the portion chamber, wherein the edge region of the cover is enclosed between the first layer and the second layer; andwherein the first layer and the second layer of the capsule body are joined with the cover by means of the welded seam.The sealing edge of the capsule is provided for sealing off the capsule from a sealing shoulder of the head of the water pipe. Thus, it is advantageously avoided that air next to the capsule is sucked into the interior of the water pipe. In addition, a particularly reliable and stable joint between the cover and the capsule body can be provided in the sealing edge by means of the flanged sealing edge of the capsule body.Preferably aluminium is provided as the material for the capsule, i.e., the capsule body and the cover. It is, for example, an aluminium that is suitable for packaging foodstuffs. The material thickness of the capsule body and/or the cover is, in particular, between 50 pm and 200 pm, furthermore, in particular, between 100 pm and 150 pm. These material thicknesses have proven to be particularly advantageous in the field for the production of a capsule. The capsule has, in particular, a diameter between 40 mm and 80 mm, furthermore, in particular, between 50 mm and 70 mm, furthermore, in particular, between 55 mm and mm. The sealing edge has, in particular, a width (measured in the radial direction) between mm and 3 mm. The height of the capsule, measured in a direction at least approximately perpendicular to a plane, in which the cover extends, is, in particular, between 10 mm and mm, furthermore, in particular, between 15 mm and 25 mm. The apertures, present in the cover, have, in particular, a diameter between 1 mm and 2 mm. The apertures, present in the bottom of the capsule body, have, in particular, a diameter between 2 mm and 6 mm.

According to another embodiment, the cover and the capsule body are joined with one another by a plurality of welded seams. For example, the welded seams are at least approximately parallel to one another. Furthermore, they are, for example, concentric.The object is further achieved by means of a method for producing a capsule for insertion into a head of a water pipe, wherein the capsule comprises a capsule body and a cover having at least one aperture, and wherein the capsule body and the cover enclose a portion chamber, in which a single portion of water pipe tobacco is present, wherein the cover and the capsule body are placed relative to one another and are joined with one another in a moisture-tight manner by means of a welded seam, wherein the method is formed further by the fact that the welded seam is generated without auxiliary materials; andwherein the cover and the capsule body are joined directly with one another by means of the welded seam.The method for producing the capsule has the same or similar advantages, as already mentioned with regard to the capsule itself, so that there is no need for repetitions.The method is further developed advantageously by the feature that the cover and the capsule body are joined with one another by means of an ultrasonic welding process.As an alternative, a laser welding process is provided, with which the capsule body and the cover are joined directly with one another and without auxiliary materials. This laser welding process can be carried out with and without a welding wire. If the laser welding process is carried out with the aid of a welding wire, which is not regarded as an auxiliary material and also does not represent such a material, then the process is also referred to as a plasma welding process.The ultrasonic welding process is further developed preferably by the fact that a material thickness of the capsule body and/or the cover is between 50 pm and 200 pm, wherein the ultrasonic welding process is carried out at a contact pressure between 1200 N and 2000 N, a welding time between 110 ms and 210 ms, an amplitude of the ultrasonic oscillation between 24 pm and 36 pm and/or an ultrasonic frequency between 18 kHz and kHz.The ultrasonically welded joint is produced preferably with a structuring. In particular, a periodically structured ultrasonically welded joint is produced, in particular, a joint with a crosswise fluting.

Said crosswise fluting has, for example, a pitch between 50 pm and 350 pm, in particular, between 100 pm and 300 pm, furthermore, in particular, a pitch of between 1pm and 250 pm. The welded seam is produced, in particular, with a fluting that has a depth between 30 pm and 70 pm, furthermore, in particular, a depth between 40 pm and 60 pm. The said parameters have proven to be particularly suitable for producing a reliable and auxiliary material-free welded joint between the cover and the capsule body.According to another embodiment, it is provided that the cover and the capsule body are produced from a blank by means of a drawing method (in particular, a deep drawing method), wherein in the drawing method, a drawing oil is applied to the surfaces of the blank of the cover and the blank of the capsule body, and wherein prior to the joining of the capsule body with the cover, neither the cover nor the capsule body is cleaned of the drawing oil.In other words, it is not necessary to pre-treat the surfaces of the two components that are to be joined with one another. Despite the drawing oil, which is present on the surfaces, a reliable welded joint can be provided. It goes without saying that this also applies in the event that water pipe tobacco or constituents thereof pass into the region of the welded joint that is to be produced. Even such a contamination of the joining region does not mean that a reliable welded joint can no longer be produced. On the contrary, in particular, with the process parameters mentioned above, a reliable joint can always be produced, so that short processing times are achieved. Thus, the welding time is, for example, only between 110 ms and 210 ms, wherein then a holding time of approximately the same duration between 1ms and 240 ms is sufficient to complete the welded joint.Furthermore, it is provided, in particular, that the at least one aperture of the cover is sealed in a moisture-tight manner with a manually removable seal.Due to the moisture-tight sealing of the existing apertures in the cover and also the apertures, which are present, in particular, in the bottom of the capsule body, the capsule and the water pipe tobacco contained therein can be easily transported and stored.According to an additional advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the capsule body comprises an outwards projecting sealing edge pointing away from the portion chamber, wherein the sealing edge of the capsule body is bent outwards in a first layer;the cover is placed on the first layer of the sealing edge; and the cover in a second layer is bent back in the opposite direction inwards in the direction of the portion chamber, so that the edge region of the cover is enclosed between the first layer and the second layer, and wherein the first layer and the second layer of the capsule body are joined with the cover by means of a welded seam, extending along a periphery of the cover in an edge region adjacent to an outer edge of the cover.Due to the fact that the material of the capsule body is flanged in the sealing edge and the cover is placed between the flanged layers, a particularly reliable and tight joint between the components is created.According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the capsule body is inserted into an anvil and that the cover is pressed with a punch against the edge region of the capsule body and against the anvil. At a predetermined contact pressure, which is, for example, between 1200 N and 2000 N, the punch in the welding region is pushed onto the cover, the capsule body and against the anvil. In this way the ultrasonic weld is produced, which is preferably structured. For this purpose the punch is connected to a sonotrode, which oscillates at an amplitude between 24 pm and 36 pm. The oscillation mode of the sonotrode is preferably torsional. The penetration depth of the ultrasonic weld that is produced is preferably between 30 pm and 80 pm.The object is further achieved by means of a capsule for insertion into the head of a water pipe, said capsule being produced by a method in accordance with one or more of the aforementioned aspects. Such a capsule has the same or similar advantages, as already mentioned above.Finally the object is achieved by means of a machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing a capsule in accordance with one or more of the aforementioned aspects. The machine comprises an ultrasonic welding apparatus with an anvil and a punch, wherein the anvil is designed to receive the capsule body; andthe punch, which is arranged opposite the anvil, is driven and can be moved in such a way that the punch can be pressed against the cover and against the sealing edge of the capsule body and against the anvil at a predetermined contact pressure. In this case a method for producing a capsule, as described according to one or more of the aforementioned exemplary embodiments, is carried out with the ultrasonic welding apparatus. In other words, the machine of the tobacco processing industry is designed to carry out a method in accordance with one or more of the aforementioned aspects.

Even the machine for the tobacco processing industry has the same or similar advantages, as already mentioned above with respect to the capsule and to the method for producing the capsule. Particularly advantageous is the short processing time, which is required to join the capsule body with the cover. Therefore, the machine of the tobacco processing industry is able to achieve a high throughput and correspondingly low unit costs for the joining of the individual components of the capsule.Other features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments of the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the invention may satisfy individual features or a combination of several features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described below by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings without limiting the general idea of the invention, and with respect to all of the details of the invention that are not explained in greater detail in the text, reference is made explicitly to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1shows in schematic form a simplified view of a water pipe according to the prior art; Fig. 2shows in schematic form a simplified view of a head of a water pipe with an inserted capsule in a cross section; Fig. 3shows in schematic form a simplified cross-sectional view of a capsule; Fig. 4shows a detail view thereof; Fig. 5shows in schematic form a simplified plan view of a capsule from the top side; Fig. 6shows in schematic form a simplified plan view from the bottom side; Fig. 7shows in schematic form a simplified detail view of a structured welded seam; and Fig. 8shows in schematic form a simplified view of a machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing a capsule.The same or similar elements and/or parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the drawings, so that a renewed presentation is omitted in each case.

Claims

1. CLAIMS 1. Capsule for insertion into a head of a water pipe, said capsule comprising a capsule body and a cover having at least one aperture, wherein the capsule body and the cover enclose a portion chamber, in which a single portion of water pipe tobacco is present, and wherein the cover is joined with the capsule body in a moisture-tight manner by means of a welded seam, characterized in that the welded seam is generated without adhesively acting substances or auxiliary materials, and the cover and the capsule body are joined directly with one another by means of the welded seam, wherein the welded seam provides a joint between the cover and the capsule body, said joint being pressure-tight at least up to a pressure differential of 0.5 bar.

2. Capsule, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the welded seam is periodically structured.

3. Capsule, as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the welded seam has a crosswise fluting, which exhibits a depth between 30 µm and 70 µm, in particular, a depth between 40 µm and 60 µm.

4. Capsule, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover is a sieve having a plurality of apertures; and, in particular, the capsule body also has at least one aperture.

5. Capsule, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one aperture of the cover is sealed moisture-tight and/or pressure-tight with a manually removable seal.

6. Capsule, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the capsule body has an outwards projecting sealing edge pointing away from the portion chamber, wherein the welded seam extends along a periphery of the cover in an edge region adjacent to an outer edge of the cover; and the sealing edge of the capsule body is bent outwards in a first layer and is bent in a second layer in the opposite direction inwards in the direction of the portion chamber, wherein the edge region of the cover is enclosed between the first layer and the second layer; and the first layer and the second layer of the capsule body are joined with the cover by means of the welded seam.

7. Method for producing a capsule for insertion into a head of a water pipe, wherein the capsule comprises a capsule body and a cover having at least one aperture, and wherein the capsule body and the cover enclose a portion chamber, in which a single portion of water pipe tobacco is present, wherein the cover and the capsule body are placed relative to one another and are joined with one another in a moisture-tight manner by means of a welded seam, characterized in that the welded seam is generated without adhesively acting substances or auxiliary materials; and the cover and the capsule body are joined directly with one another by means of the welded seam, wherein the welded seam provides a joint between the cover and the capsule body, joint being pressure-tight at least up to a pressure differential of 0.5 bar.

8. Method, as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the cover and the capsule body are joined with one another by means of an ultrasonic welding process.

9. Method, as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the material thickness of the capsule body and/or of the cover is between 50 µm and 200 µm, wherein the ultrasonic welding process is carried out at a contact pressure between 1200 N and 2000 N, a welding time between 110 ms and 210 ms, an amplitude of the ultrasonic oscillation between 24 µm and 36 µm and/or an ultrasonic frequency between 18 kHz and 22 kHz.

10. Method, as claimed in any one of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the cover and the capsule body are produced from a blank by means of a drawing method, wherein in the drawing method a drawing oil is applied to the surfaces of the blank of the cover and of the blank of the capsule body, and wherein prior to the joining of the capsule body with the cover, neither the cover nor the capsule body is cleaned of the drawing oil.

11. Method, as claimed in any one of the claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the at least one aperture of the cover is sealed moisture-tight with a manually removable seal.

12. Method, as claimed in any one of the claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the capsule body comprises an outwards projecting sealing edge that points away from the portion chamber, wherein the sealing edge of the capsule body is bent outwards in a first layer; the cover is placed on the first layer of the sealing edge; and the cover in a second layer is bent back in the opposite direction inwards in the direction of the portion chamber, so that the edge region of the cover is enclosed between the first layer and the second layer, and wherein the first layer and the second layer of the capsule body are joined with the cover by means of a welded seam, extending along a periphery of the cover in an edge region adjacent to an outer edge of the cover.

13. Capsule for insertion into a head of a water pipe, said capsule produced by a method, as claimed in any one of the claims 7 to 12.

14. Machine of the tobacco processing industry for producing a capsule, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the machine comprises an ultrasonic welding apparatus with an anvil and a punch, wherein the anvil is designed to receive the capsule body; and the punch, arranged opposite the anvil, is driven and can be moved in such a way that the punch can be pressed against the cover and against the sealing edge of the capsule body and against the anvil at a predetermined contact pressure, wherein the ultrasonic welding apparatus is designed to carry out a method, as claimed in any one of the claims 7 to 12.