ITBO20130406A1 - DEVICE AND ASSEMBLY METHOD OF CAPSULES FOR DRINKING DRINKS. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

"Device and method of assembling capsules for the extraction of beverages."

The present invention relates to a device and a method for assembling capsules for the extraction of beverages.

In particular, the present invention refers to disposable capsules for the extraction of beverages such as for example coffee, tea, milk or the like.

These capsules comprise a main body for containing the product or aromatic substance from which the drink derives, such as ground coffee or other powdered products such as milk or tea.

The main body is equipped with a chamber for containing the aromatic substance having an opening through which the aromatic substance is inserted.

The opening mouth can be sealed by means of a closing element in the form of a cap or sheet of metal material, such as aluminum.

The capsules of the aforesaid type comprise at least one filter arranged inside the product containment chamber and a bottom element, also called â € œbaseâ €, coupled with the main body. The capsules of the aforesaid type are obtained by assembling the constituent components, such as the main body, the filter and the bottom element. Assembly devices are known which comprise a line for advancing a plurality of trays, each of which has a plurality of seats arranged in a plurality of mutually parallel rows.

The device comprises a plurality of feed stations for respective components, such as the main body, the filter and the bottom element, through which the feed line conveys the trays to make the capsule.

The feeding stations are arranged along the feed line according to the stacking sequence of the components defining the capsule, in particular the bottom element is fed from the respective station, then the main body, which is arranged on the bottom element , and then the filter, which is inserted inside the main body.

The feeding of the aforementioned components takes place by means of â € œpick and placeâ € robots which however determine low production speeds of the known assembly device.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for assembling capsules for the extraction of a beverage which has a higher production speed than the known art, according to what is reported in the independent claims 1 and 11.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment, in which: - Figure 1 illustrates the device for assembling capsules for the extraction of beverages according to a schematic perspective view. present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first detail on an enlarged scale of the device shown in Figure 1; - figure 3 shows a detail on an enlarged scale of figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a second detail on an enlarged scale of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a third detail on an enlarged scale of the device shown in Figure 1; - figure 6 shows a detail on an enlarged scale of figure 5;

figure 7 illustrates a further detail on an enlarged scale of figure 5;

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a fourth detail on an enlarged scale of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a fifth detail on an enlarged scale of the device shown in Figure 1; - Figures 10 and 11 illustrate in a schematic perspective view respective details of Figure 8 during the phase of rejecting the capsules.

The numerical reference 1 indicates a capsule assembly device for the extraction of beverages, such as for example coffee, tea, milk or the like.

Each capsule 2 comprises at least one main body 3 for containing an aromatic substance from which the drink is extracted, which main body 3 has a bottom 3b.

The capsule 2 comprises a filtering element 4 arranged at the bottom 3b of the main body 3.

The main body 3, the filter element 4 and the bottom element 5 define at least in part the main components 3, 4, 5 of the capsule 2. The main body 3 has a chamber 6 for containing the product or extracted the which is provided with an opening mouth 3a through which the product or aromatic substance is inserted inside it.

The chamber 6 of the main body 3 is adapted to contain, for example, ground coffee or other powdered products such as milk or tea.

Preferably, the opening mouth 3a is sealed by means of a closing element, for example in the form of a cap or sheet of metal material, such as aluminum for example.

In use, hot liquid is injected into the capsule 2, in particular into the main body 3 through the opening mouth 3a. The liquid passes through the chamber 6 containing the aromatic substance which by infusion becomes a drink which is extracted from the bottom 3b of the main body 3, after passing through the filter element.

In the preferred embodiment, the capsule 2 comprises a bottom element 5 arranged at the base of the main body 3.

The bottom element 5 can define the dispenser of the drink extracted from the main body 3.

Alternatively the bottom element 5 can define a filter element of the drink itself.

With reference to Figure 1, the device 1 comprises a feed line 7 of the aforementioned components 3, 4, 5 and positioning means 8 of the aforementioned components 3, 4, 5 along the feed line 7.

The advancement line 7 comprises a conveyor 9, equipped with a continuous motion, defining a path P for the advancement of the aforementioned components 3, 4, 5.

The path P defined by the conveyor is a closed path, preferably in a loop.

A plurality of feeding stations 10, 11, 12 respectively of the main body 3, of the filter element 4 and of the bottom element 5 are arranged along the feed line 7.

In particular and preferably, the feeding station 10 of the main body 3 is arranged upstream with respect to the feeding station 12 of the bottom element 5, according to the direction of advancement of the conveyor 9.

The feeding station 11 of the filtering element 4 is arranged downstream of the feeding station 10 of the main body 3 and of the feeding station 12 of the bottom element 5, according to the forward direction of the conveyor 9.

In other words, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the feeding station 12 of the bottom element 5 is arranged between the feeding station 10 of the main body 3 and the feeding station 11 of the filtering element 4.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the feeding stations 10, 11, 12 of the main body 3 and of the bottom element 5 feed the respective components to the conveyor 9.

The device 1 has an outlet station 16 at which the capsules 2 obtained from the assembly of the main body 3, with the filtering element 4 and the bottom element 5, are released.

In particular, the feed line 7 comprises a first assembly station 14 in correspondence with which the main bodies 3 with the respective bottom elements 5 are assembled and a second assembly station 15, arranged downstream of the first assembly station 14 in correspondence of which the filtering elements 4 are assembled with the respective main bodies 3.

More precisely, the path P includes at least a first portion T1 along which the conveyor 9 advances only the main bodies 3 and a second portion T2, arranged downstream of the first portion T1, along which the conveyor 9 advances only the bottom elements 5.

The first section T1 extends from the feeding station 10 of the main body 3 to the feeding station 12 of the bottom element 5. The second section T2 extends from the feeding station 12 of the bottom element 5 to the first feeding station assembly 14.

The path P also includes a third section T3, arranged downstream of the second section T2, along which the conveyor 9 advances the bottom elements 5 assembled with a respective main body 3.

The third section T3 extends from the first assembly station 14 to the second assembly station 15.

The path P comprises a fourth section T4 along which the filtering element 4 is inserted into the main body 3, which is in particular assembled to the respective bottom element 5.

The fourth section T4 extends from the second assembly station 15 to the exit station 16.

The conveyor 9 comprises a plurality of seats 13 for housing at least one of said components 3, 5 which are arranged one after the other to define a single row. The housing seats 13 convey the components 3, 4, 5 of the capsule 2 along the path P towards the outlet station 16, passing through the aforementioned feeding stations 10, 11, 12 of the main body 3, of the filter element 4 and of the bottom element 5 and for the first and second assembly station 14, 15.

Advantageously, the positioning means 8 are synchronized with the conveyor 9 to assemble the aforementioned components 3, 4, 5 together on the conveyor 9 itself.

The positioning means 8 comprise first transfer members 17 of the main bodies 3 and second transfer members 22 of the filtering elements 4, operating along respective portions of the path P in common with the conveyor 9.

The positioning means 8 advance along at least a portion of the path P in common with the conveyor 9.

In particular, along the aforementioned stretches of the path P in common with the conveyor 9, the first and second transfer members 17, 22 respectively advance the main bodies 3 and the filtering elements 4 and at the same time the conveyor 9 advances the bottom elements 5. In particular, along the second section T2 of the path P the first transfer members 17 hold the main bodies 3 raised above the respective bottom elements 5 with which they are assembled.

In practice, the first transfer members 17 take the respective main bodies 3 from the first section T1 of the path P, keeping them raised along the second section T2 of the path P and release the main bodies 3 on the respective bottom elements 5 along the third section T3, assembling them.

In general, the first transfer members 17 take the main bodies 3 from the first section T1 of the path P to arrange them along the third section T3 of the path P.

The first transfer members 17 take the main bodies 3, fed by the respective feeding station 10, from the conveyor 9 to free the respective seats 13 of the first section T1 of the path P so that they are free to receive the bottom elements 5 fed from the respective feeding station 12 in correspondence with the second section T2.

The first transfer members 17 are kinematically connected to the conveyor 9 in such a way that a transfer member 17 corresponds to each seat 13 of the conveyor 9.

The first transfer members 17 are supported and rotated by a carousel 18 rotating around its own vertical axis 18a.

The first transfer members 17 rotate around the vertical axis 18a in accordance with the direction of advancement of the conveyor 9.

Cam means, not shown, allow the first transfer members 17 to be raised and lowered during their rotation around the vertical axis 18a of the carousel 18.

Each transfer member 17 comprises a piston 19 movable in a direction parallel to its own vertical axis 19a.

In particular, the piston 19 translates along its own vertical axis 19a away from and towards the conveyor 9 to raise and lower the main bodies 3 with respect to the bottom elements 5 housed within the respective seats 13 of the conveyor 9.

Each piston 19 comprises its own head 20 equipped with engagement elements 21 with a respective main body 3 which are activated in order to retain the main body 3 and are deactivated to release it.

Preferably, the engagement elements 21 can be extracted from the respective head 20 according to a direction orthogonal to the axis 18a of the piston 18.

The second transfer members 22 are arranged downstream of the first transfer members 17, according to the direction of rotation of the conveyor 9.

The second transfer members 22 convey the filter elements 4 from the respective feeding station 11 to the second assembly station 15. In particular, along part of the third section T3 of the path P the second transfer members 22 hold the filter elements 4 raised above above the respective main bodies 3 with which they are assembled.

The second transfer members 22 are supported by a drum 25 rotating around a vertical axis 22a.

The second transfer members 22 rotate around the vertical axis 22a according to the direction in accordance with the direction of advancement of the conveyor 9.

The second transfer members 22 comprise a plurality of punches 23 rotating around the vertical axis 22a.

The second transfer members 22 are kinematically connected to the conveyor 9 in such a way that a punch 23 corresponds to each seat 13 of the conveyor 9.

Each punch 23 holds a respective filter element 4, preferably by suction.

It should be noted that the first and second transfer members 17, 22 are arranged in correspondence with curvilinear portions of the path P.

In use, the conveyor 9 advances in continuous motion and each seat 13 picks up a respective main body 3 from the respective feeding station 10.

With reference to Figure 2, the seats 13 convey the respective main body from the feeding station 10 towards the feeding station 11 of the filtering element 4, along the first section T1 of the path P.

At the same time, the piston 19 arranged on the respective seat 13 begins to translate parallel to the respective axis 19a towards the seat 13 of the conveyor 9 and of the main body 3 arranged within the seat 13, as long as the respective head 20 is arranged inside the chamber 6 of the main body 3, as shown in figure 3.

At this point, the engagement elements 21 are activated and are extracted from the head 20 until they engage with the walls of the chamber 6 of the main body 3.

Once the engagement elements 21 are in engagement with the main body, the piston 19 begins to translate parallel to the respective axis 19a away from the seat 13 of the conveyor 9, lifting the main body 3, freeing the respective seat 13.

The seat 13 is now free to accommodate a respective bottom element 5 fed by the respective power station 12.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the free seat 13 picks up a respective bottom element 5 from the respective feeding station 10 and begins to travel along the second stretch T2 of the path P.

Along the second portion T2, the piston 19 arranged in correspondence with the respective seat 13 keeps the main body 3 raised above the bottom element 5 housed in the aforementioned seat 13.

As illustrated in figure 5, before the seat 13 reaches the first assembly station 14, the piston 19 begins to translate again parallel to the respective axis 19a, bringing the main body 3 towards the seat 13 of the conveyor 9 and the element bottom 5 arranged within the seat 13.

In correspondence with the first assembly station 14, with reference to figure 6, the piston 19 arranges the main body 3 on the bottom element 5 and presses the main body 3 by means of its own head 20 so that the main body 3 and the bottom element 5 are assembled by interlocking.

Downstream of the first assembly station 14, each seat 13 conveys a respective bottom element 5 assembled to the main body 3 along the third section T3 of the path P.

At this point, the engagement elements 21 of each piston 19 retract, disengaging the respective main body 3.

Subsequently, each piston 19 begins to translate parallel to the respective axis 19a away from the respective seat 13 of the conveyor 9, as long as the head 20 is arranged outside the respective main body 3, as illustrated in Figure 7.

The piston 19, by means of the rotation of the carousel 18, passes from the third section T3 of the path P to the first section T1 of the path P to start the operations described above again.

It should be noted that in order to pass from the third portion T3 to the first portion T1, each piston 19 is rotated around the axis 18a outside the path P of the conveyor 9.

The seats 13 of the conveyor 9 transfer the bottom elements 5 from the first assembly station 14 to the second assembly station 15.

Upstream of the second assembly station 15, the second transfer members 22 travel along part of the portion T3 of the path P in common with the conveyor 9.

In particular, while the seats 13 of the conveyor 9 reach the second assembly station 15, each punch 23 picks up a respective filtering element 4 and conveys it towards the second assembly station 15, as illustrated in Figure 8.

In particular, along part of the said section T3 of the path P, each punch 23 is moved towards the respective seat 13 of the conveyor 9 to insert the respective filtering element inside the main body, in particular inside its chamber 6.

In correspondence with the second assembly station 15, with reference to Figure 9, the punch 23 places the respective filter element 4 in the main body 3 and gives the filter element 4 a slight pressure so that the filter element 4 is inserted into the main body 3 for interlocking.

Downstream of the second assembly station 15, the seats 13 run along the fourth section T4 of the path P up to the exit station 16.

In particular, each seat 13 houses a capsule 2 comprising a bottom element 5, a main body 3 and a filtering element 3 assembled together.

At this point, each punch 23 moves away from the respective seat 13 of the conveyor 9, as long as it is arranged outside the respective main body 3.

Once the punch 23 arranged outside the respective main body 3 it reaches the feeding station 11 of the filtering element 4 by means of the rotation on the vertical axis 22a to start the operations described above again.

The seats 13 convey the respective capsules 2 at the outlet station 16 at which they are expelled from the respective seat 13, freeing it.

With particular reference to figures 10 and 11, the output station 16 of the conveyor 9 is illustrated, in correspondence with which the device 1 comprises a gate 24 normally arranged in a closed condition to facilitate the expulsion of the capsules 2 from the respective seat 13 The gate 24 passes from the closed position to an open position to allow the rejection of the capsules 2 detected as defective.

In particular, downstream of the second assembly station 15 the device 1 comprises a controller, not shown, preferably of the optical type of the finished capsules 2 capable of detecting the defective capsules 2 to be discarded.

The controller, not illustrated, is logically connected to a control and command unit, not illustrated, logically connected to the gate 24 to command its opening once the capsule 2, considered as faulty by the controller, reaches the exit station 16

The defective capsule 2 continues along the path P of the conveyor 9 dragged by the respective seat 13 and is ejected from the seat 13 itself downstream of the outlet station 16 at a reject station, not shown.

This reject station, not shown, is arranged upstream of the feeding station 10, 12 of the main body 3 and of the bottom element 5, according to the direction of advancement of the conveyor 9.

The present invention also relates to a method of assembling capsules for the extraction of beverages.

The method comprises a step of advancing the aforementioned components 3, 4, 5 along a path P and a step of mutually positioning the aforementioned components 3, 4, 5 with each other during the step of advancing the components 3, 4, 5 themselves. In particular and advantageously, the step of advancing the components 3, 4, 5 occurs continuously along the path P and the step of positioning the components 3, 4, 5 is synchronized with the step of advancing to assemble the components 3 together. , 4, 5 along the P.

The step of positioning the components 3, 4, 5 comprises a step of holding the main bodies 3 raised on the respective bottom elements 5 during the step of advancing said components 3, 4, 5 along the path P.

The step of positioning the components 3, 4, 5 comprises a step of holding the filter elements 4 raised on the respective main bodies 3 during the step of advancing said components 3, 4, 5 along the path.

According to the preferred embodiment, the step of advancing the aforementioned components 3, 4, 5 comprises a first step of advancing only the main bodies 3 along a first section T1 of the path P, a second step of advancing only the bottom elements 5 along a second section T2 of the path P and a third step of advancing the bottom elements 5 assembled with a respective main body 3 along a third section T3 of the path P.

More precisely, the phase of transferring the main bodies 3 from the first stretch T1 of the path P to the third section T3 of the path P.

The said step of transferring the main bodies 3 comprises a step of freeing the second section T2 from the main bodies 3 of the path P to receive the bottom elements 5.

Advantageously, the device 1 according to the present invention achieves higher production speeds with respect to the known art given the continuous motion of the conveyor 9 and the synchronization of the first and second transfer members 17, 22 with the conveyor 9 itself.

According to a variant of the device 1, the pistons 19 of the first transfer members 17 take the main bodies 3 from the respective feeding station 10 in a position already raised with respect to the seats 13 of the conveyor 9.

Finally, it should be noted that according to a first variant embodiment not shown, the device 1 comprises the feeding station 11 of the filtering elements 4 arranged between the feeding station 10 of the main body 3 and the feeding station 12 of the bottom element 5.

In this alternative embodiment not shown, the second transfer members 22 are arranged upstream of the first transfer members 17, according to the direction of advancement of the conveyor 9, to insert the respective filter elements 4 and then place the main body 3 with the filter element 4 inside on the respective bottom element 5.

Claims (15)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1) Device for assembling capsules for the extraction of beverages, the capsules (2) comprise at least one main body (3) containing an aromatic substance from which the beverage is extracted, having a base (3b) and a filter element (4) arranged at the bottom of the main body (3) and / or a bottom element (5) arranged at the base of the main body (3); the main body (3), the filter element (4) and / or the bottom element (5) defining at least in part the components (3, 4, 5) of the capsule (2); the device comprising a feed line (7) of the aforementioned components (3, 4, 5) and positioning means (8) of the aforementioned components (3, 4, 5) along the feed line (7); the device being characterized in that the advancement line (7) comprises a conveyor (9), equipped with a continuous motion, defining a path (P) for the advancement of the aforementioned components (3, 4, 5) and that the positioning means (8) are synchronized with the conveyor (9) to assemble together the components (3, 4, 5) on the conveyor (9) itself. 2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning means (8) advance along at least a portion of the path (P) in common with the conveyor (9). 3) Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the positioning means (8) comprise first transfer members (17) of the main bodies (3) and second transfer members (22) of the operating filter elements (4) along respective sections of the path (P) in common with the conveyor (9). 4) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that along the aforementioned sections of the path (P) in common with the conveyor (9), the first transfer members (17) advance the main bodies (3) and the second transfer members (22) the filter elements (4) advance and at the same time the conveyor (9) advances the bottom elements (5). 5) Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the path (P) comprises at least a second section (T2) along which the conveyor (9) advances only the bottom elements (5) and a third section (T3 ), arranged downstream of the second section (T2), along which the bottom elements (5) assembled with a respective main body (3) advance; the first transfer members (17) holding the main bodies (3) raised on the respective bottom elements (5) along the second section (T2) and arranging the respective main bodies (3) on the respective bottom elements (5) along the third section (T3) assembling them. 6) Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the path (P) comprises a fourth section (T4), arranged downstream of the third section (T3), along which the conveyor (9) advances main bodies (3) assembled with a respective filter element (4); the second transfer members (22) holding the filter elements (4) raised on the respective main bodies (3) along part of the third section (T3) and inserting the filter elements (4) within the respective main bodies (3) along the fourth section (T4) assembling them. 7) Device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the path (P) comprises at least a first section (T1), arranged upstream of the second section (T2), along which the conveyor (9) advances at least the main bodies (3); the first transfer members (17) releasing the conveyor (9) from the main bodies (3) by lifting them. 8) Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first transfer members (17) lift the respective main bodies (3) from the first section (T1) of the path (P1), retain the main bodies (3) along the second section (T2) of the path (P) and position the respective main bodies (3) on the respective bottom elements (5) along the third section (T3) assembling them. 9) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first and second transfer members (17, 22) are arranged along respective curvilinear portions of the path (P). 10) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the conveyor (9) comprises a plurality of seats (13) for housing at least one of said components (3, 4, 5) which seats (13 ) are arranged one after the other to define a single row. 11) Method of assembling capsules for the extraction of beverages, the capsules (2) comprise at least one main body (3) containing an aromatic substance from which the beverage is extracted with a base (3b) and a filter element (4) arranged at the bottom of the main body (3) and / or a bottom element (5) arranged at the base of the main body (3); the main body (3), the filtering element (4) and / or the bottom element (5) defining at least in part the components (3, 4, 5) of the capsule (2); the method comprising a step of advancing the aforementioned components (3, 4, 5) along a path (P) and a step of mutually positioning the aforementioned components (3, 4, 5) together during the step of advancing the components (3 , 4, 5) themselves; the method being characterized by the fact that the phase of advancing the components (3, 4, 5) takes place continuously along the path (P) and that the phase of positioning the components (3, 4, 5) is synchronized with the phase to move forward to assemble the components (3, 4, 5) together along the path (P). 12) Method according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the step of positioning the components (3, 4, 5) comprises a step of holding the main bodies (3) raised on the respective bottom elements (5) during the step of advancing the said components (3, 4, 5). 13) Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the step of positioning the components (3, 4, 5) comprises a step of holding the filter elements (4) raised on the respective main bodies (3) during the step of advance said components (3, 4, 5). 14) Method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the said step of advancing the aforementioned components (3, 4, 5) comprises a first step of advancing only the main bodies (3) along a first section ( T1) of the path (P), a second phase of advancing only the bottom elements (5) along a second section (T2) of the path (P) and a third phase of advancing the bottom elements (5) assembled with a respective main body (3) along a third section (T3) of the route (P). 15) Method according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a step of transferring the main bodies (3) from the first section (T1) of the path (P) to the third section (T3) of the path (P); the said step of transferring the main bodies (3) comprising a step of freeing the second section (T2) from the main bodies (3) of the path to receive the bottom elements (5).