DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FEEDING AND DOSING FILTER BAGS WITH INFUSION OR EXTRACTION PRODUCTS

Technical field

This invention relates to device and a method for feeding and dosing a machine for the production of filter bags with infusion or extraction products, such as tea, camomile, herbal teas, coffee, etc.

Background art

The prior art machines for making filter bags, in particular with infusion products, are designed according to various architectures depending on the shape of the filter bag and/or the type of product it contains.

With particular reference to vertical axis machines, such machines comprise a feed channel extending vertically on which a continuous strip of filter paper is wrapped to form a tube, into which the product is made to fall by gravity using suitable feeding and dosing devices.

Once filled with product, the tube is intercepted, during tube feed, by a forming and closing station for forming the filter bag into the desired shape and for closing the open edges.

A problem particularly felt in this type of machine is that of guaranteeing the filling of each filter bag with the a predetermined dose of product and at the same time reducing the variability in weight of the product introduced in different filter bags.

Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the invention is therefore to satisfy the above-mentioned need, that is to say, to provide a feeding and dosing device and method for a machine for the production of filter bags with infusion or extraction product which are particularly simple and with a high productivity.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a feeding and dosing device and method for a machine for the production of filter bags with infusion or extraction product which allows the introduction of a predetermined dose of product inside the filter bag and the reduction of the variability of the quantity of product introduced in the various filter bags to be garanteed.

Brief description of drawings

The technical features of the invention, with reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a non-limiting example embodiment of the invention and in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a machine for the production of filter bags with infusion or extraction products comprising a feeding and dosing device according to this invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the feeding and dosing device according to the invention;

- Figures 3 and 4 are cross section views of the feeding and dosing device of Figure 2 in two different configurations, respectively;

- Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the feeding and dosing device of Figure 2.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a device for feeding and dosing infusion or extraction product and the numeral 100 denotes a machine for making filter bags S containing infusion or extraction product to which the feeding and dosing device 1 is applied.

It should be noted that the feeding device 1 and the machine 100 are particularly suitable for infusion products. The feeding and dosing device 1 comprises, according to this invention, a space 2 for containing infusion or extraction product defined by an outer lateral wall 3 and an inner lateral wall 4 which has openings 7 for the passage of the product.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the outer lateral wall 3 comprises a bottom wall 5 which is in contact with the inner lateral wall 4.

In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the inner lateral wall 4 does not come into contact with bottom wall 5 leaving a passageway for the product; the passageway defining the openings 7.

It should be noted that the expression "wall" means a separating element. It should be noted that the expression "containment space" means a spatial region which contains (houses) product which must be fed and dosed in the filter bags S, as described and clarified below.

Preferably, the containment space 2 is shaped substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder.

Advantageously, the containment space 2 receives the product to be fed and dosed from a hopper, with which it is in flow communication.

According to the invention, the device 1 also comprises a feeding chamber 6 made inside the inner lateral wall 4, communicating through the openings 7 with the containment space 2 and equipped with an outlet 8 leading outside the containment space 2 (below the containment space 2). More specifically, the outlet 8 releases the product onto an underlying continuous strip ST folded in a tubular shape which will constitute the filter bag S.

Preferably, the feeding chamber 6 is substantially cylindrical.

The device 1 also comprises a shutter 9 movable inside the feeding chamber 6 at least between a closed lower end position P1 , wherein it occludes the openings 7, and an open upper end position P2, wherein it allows the free passage a dose of product from the containment space 2 to the feeding chamber 6 through the openings 7, towards the outlet 8 of the feeding chamber. In other words, the shutter 9 in the upper end open position P2 allows the passage of the product from the containment space 2 to the feeding chamber 6 through the openings 7 and from the feeding chamber 6 to a filter bag S being formed through the outlet 8.

The shutter 9 allows the passage (at least partial) of the product from the containment space 2 to the feeding chamber 6 through the openings 7 and from the feeding chamber 6 to a filter bag S being formed through the outlet 8 when it does not occlude completely the openings 7, that is, in intermediate positions between the closed position P1 and the open position P2.

It is possible interrupt the passage of the product in the event of machine shutdown, maintenance, or other, positioning the shutter 9 in the closed position P1 .

The shutter 9 is movable along a predetermined direction D1 .

The shutter 9 comprises a piston 12, having a lateral wall 16 for closing the openings 7 and a lower, or head, wall 17 designed to define in the open position P2 an upper wall of the feeding chamber 6.

It should be noted that the head wall (lower) 17 is also designed to make contact with the product (at the top), accelerating it. In other words, the shutter 9 pushes the product downwards towards the filter bag S being formed.

Moreover, the lower head wall 17 is housed inside the feeding chamber 6 in the upper end open position P2.

Advantageously, at the closed lower end position P1 , the shutter 9, in particular the piston 12, may protrude from below the feeding chamber 6.

In other words, the lower head wall 17 is positioned outside the feeding chamber 6.

The shutter 9 also comprises a control rod 19, fixed above the piston 12. In a preferred embodiment, the piston 12 and the control rod 19 are made in a single piece.

According to another aspect, preferably, the outer lateral wall 3 is an axially-symmetrical wall (yet more preferably cylindrical shape).

It should be noted that according to yet another aspect, the outer lateral wall 3 is made in a first element 3a with a tubular shape (forming part of the device 1 ).

The first element 3a with a tubular shape (shown clearly in Figure 5) is fixed relative to the frame of the machine 100.

In other words, the device 1 comprises a first tubular element 3a having a lateral wall which defines the above-mentioned outer lateral wall 3.

According to yet another aspect, the inner lateral wall 4 is an axially- symmetrical wall (yet more preferably cylindrical in shape).

According to yet another aspect, the inner lateral wall 4 is made in a second tubular element 4a, located inside the first tubular element 3a. The second tubular element 4a is fixed relative to the frame of the machine 100.

Preferably, the second tubular element 4a is positioned coaxially with the first tubular element 3a.

It should be noted that the first tubular element 3a extends along a relative longitudinal axis X2 of extension whilst the second tubular element 4a extends along a relative longitudinal axis X3 of extension.

It should be noted that, preferably, the longitudinal axis X2 of extension of the first tubular element 3a is parallel with the longitudinal axis X3 of extension of the second tubular element 4a.

More specifically, the longitudinal axis X2 of extension of the first tubular element 3a coincides with the longitudinal axis X3 of extension of the second tubular element 4a.

According to another aspect, the bottom wall 5 is made in the first tubular element 3a.

Therefore, according to this aspect, the bottom wall 5 is fixed to (integral with) the outer lateral wall 3.

It should be noted that, preferably, the bottom wall 5 is a wall having a truncated cone shape. It should be noted, more specifically, that the shutter 9 is movably slidable inside the second tubular element 4a (between the above-mentioned closed position P1 and open position P2), by using the movement means 14.

More specifically, the shutter 9 is guided inside the second tubular element 4a, preferably, by a surface 21 inside the inner wall 4.

According to the embodiment illustrated, the movement means 14 comprise an actuator 15 (electric and/or pneumatic) having a shaft 18 configured to rotate about an axis X4 (horizontal).

Moreover, the movement means 14 comprise a first arm 13a, connected at a first end to the shaft 18 of the actuator 15 for rotating about the axis X4 as one with the shaft.

Again, the movement means 14 comprise a second arm 13b.

A second end of the first arm 13a is connected (rotatably) to a first end of the second arm 13b.

The second end of the second arm 13b is connected (rotatably) to the shutter 9, in particular to the control rod 19 of the shutter 9.

It should be noted that the first arm 13a and the second arm 13b define, together, an articulated arm.

In a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the device 1 also comprises a rotary member 1 1 , positioned inside the containment space 2 and rotated to push the product to the openings 7.

This embodiment is particularly preferred for products which are not slidable; for products which are sufficiently slidable the rotary member 1 1 may be omitted. In other words, for slidable products, the products fall downwards, through the openings 7, by gravity, without further mechanical pushes.

It is clear that the rotary member can also be used for slidable products, to increase the speed of falling of the products themselves.

It should be noted that, preferably, the rotary member 1 1 pushes the product along a direction D3 for feeding the product to the filter bags S. According to the embodiment illustrated, the rotary member 1 1 comprises a spiral-shaped element, or spiral 10, positioned between the outer lateral wall 3 and the inner lateral wall 4.

It should be noted that the spiral 10 has a substantially helical profile, extending around a relative longitudinal axis X1 of extension.

Preferably, the longitudinal axis X2 of extension of the first tubular element 3a, the longitudinal axis X3 of extension of the second tubular element 4a and the axis X1 of extension of the spiral 10 are parallel to each other (preferably coincident).

Moreover, preferably, the longitudinal axis X2 of extension of the first tubular element 3a, the longitudinal axis X3 of extension of the second tubular element 4a and the axis X1 of extension of the spiral 10 are parallel to the direction D1 of movement of the shutter 9.

It should be noted, with reference to spiral 10, that the axis X1 of extension of the spiral 10 is parallel to the direction D1 of movement of the shutter 9.

The rotary member 1 1 (spiral 10) is configured for rotating preferably relative to the outer lateral wall 3 of the containment space 2.

Again, preferably, the rotary member 1 1 is configured to rotate relative to the inner lateral wall 4 of the containment space 2.

Still more preferably, the rotary member 1 1 is configured to rotate relative to the outer and inner lateral walls 3, 4 of the containment space 2.

The spiral 10 may exert a scraper action on one (or on both) between an outer surface 22 of the inner lateral wall 4 (that is, on a surface 22 of the inner lateral wall 4 which faces the containment space 2) and an inner surface 23 of the outer lateral wall 3 (that is, on a surface 23 of the outer lateral wall 3 which faces the containment space 2). The spiral 10 is connected to an actuator, which makes it possible to rotate the spiral about the relative longitudinal axis X1 of exension.

Advantageously, the actuator may rotate the spiral 10 both in step mode and continuously. When operating in a stepwise fashion, the quantity of product introduced into the feeding chamber 6, equal to a dose of product, is defined by an angle of rotation followed by the spiral 10 in a machine step.

Advantageously, the actuator which rotates the spiral 10 is synchronised with the means 14 for moving shutter 9, for rotating the spiral 10 when the shutter 9 does not occlude the openings 7. When the spiral 10 is stationary, the product not is fed, or, in other words, the spiral 10 acts as a block for the product contained in the containment space 2.

When operating the spiral 10 in continuous mode, the quantity of product introduced into the feeding chamber 6 depends on a speed of rotation of the spiral 10 and a opening time of the openings 7 (that is to say, a time in which the shutter 9 does not occlude the openings 7). The actuator is designed to vary the size of the angle of rotation and the speed of rotation of the spiral 10 so as to modify the quantity of product which, through the openings 7, is introduced into the feeding chamber 6 (under equal conditions of time of opening of the openings 7).

In effect, the greater is the angle of rotation (during operation in step mode) and the speed of rotation (in the continuous operation mode) of the spiral 10, the greater is the quantity of product fed that, that is, introduced into the feeding chamber 6 through the openings 7.

It is clear that the product, pushed by the spiral 10 (or, falling by gravity when the spiral 10 is omitted), passes through the openings 7 only when the latter are not completely occluded by the shutter 9, that is, when the shutter is not in the closed position P1 . On the other hand, the openings 7 are partly open, and allow the passage of the product, when the shutter 9 adopts intermediate positions included between the closed position P1 and the open position P2, during both its forward stroke towards the open position P2, and during its return stroke towards the closed position P1 . In short, the shutter 9 passing from the closed position P1 to the open position P2 (and vice versa) allows the passage of product, increasing

(decreasing) the passageway of the openings 7. Also with the openings 7 open, if the spiral 10 is stationary, the product does not pass through the openings 7, because the spiral 10 acts as a block for the product.

During operation in step-mode, the actuation is advantageously designed to rotate the spiral 10 also when the openings 7 are at least partly open. Alternatively, again during operation in step-mode, the actuation is designed to rotate the spiral 10 also when the openings 7 are completely closed by the shutter 9, thereby compacting the product.

In the continuous operation mode, the product is in any case compressed, since the spiral 10 is rotated also when the openings 7 are completely closed by the shutter 9.

Advantageously, the longitudinal axis X1 of extension of the spiral 10 is positioned in use vertically.

It should be noted that, preferably, the longitudinal axis X1 of extension of the spiral 10 substantially coincides with a longitudinal axis X2 of extension of the first tubular element 3a and with a longitudinal axis X3 of extension of the second tubular element 4a.

With reference to the openings 7, it should be noted that these openings 7 are defined, according to an embodiment which is not illustrated, by slits having a main extension along the direction D3 for feeding the product to the filter bags S.

Preferably, the openings 7 are made at an end of the inner wall 4 of the second tubular element 4a. Preferably, the openings 7 are made at a lower end of the inner wall 4 of the second tubular element 4a.

With reference to the embodiment illustrated, it should be noted that the openings 7 are defined by recesses made in the inner wall 4 of the second tubular element 4a.

More specifically, these recesses define prongs 20 on a longitudinal end (lower) of the second tubular element 4a. The prongs 20 are preferably positioned substantially in contact with the bottom wall 5.

The openings 7 are made on the second tubular element 4a.

The feeding and dosing of the product is described below, with the aim of clarifying the scope of the invention.

During normal use of the feeding and dosing device 1 , the containment space 2 is filled with infusion or extraction product (such as, for example, tea, camomile, herbal tea, coffee, etc.).

A dosing cycle, starting from the closed position P1 of the shutter 9, wherein the introduction of product inside the feeding chamber 6 is substantially prevented, comprises the following operations.

The shutter 9 is moved (using the movement means 14) along the forward stroke from the closed position P1 to the open position P2, wherein the openings 7 are not (at least partly) occluded by the lateral wall 16 for closing the shutter 9, that is to say, they allow the free passage of product from the containment space 2 to the feeding chamber 6.

It should be noted, therefore, that the feeding chamber 6 is substantially occupied by the shutter 9 when the shutter is in the closed position P1 , whilst when the shutter 9 during the return stroke moves towards, and reaches, the open position P2, the openings 7 are at least partly open and the chamber 6 is available to receive product.

For this reason, the shutter 9 - in its forward stroke towards the open position P2 and in its return stroke towards the closed position P1 - allows the passage (at least partly) of product from the containment space 2 to the feeding chamber 6 towards the outlet 8.

When operating without spiral 10 (that is, for slidable products which fall by gravity), or when operating with spiral 10 rotated continuously, the quantity of product fed depends on the time in which the shutter 9 leaves the openings 7 at least partly open.

In the case of spiral 10 moved in a stepwise fashion when the openings 7 are at least partly opened, the angle of rotation of the spiral 10 defines the quantity of product fed. In this way, a volumetric type dosing of the product is substantially performed.

With the shutter 9 positioned in such a way as to not occlude completely the openings 7, the containment space 2 is in communication with the feeding chamber 6 and therefore the feeding chamber 6 may be passed through by the product, which falls by gravity downwards, passing through the outlet 8.

Preferably, in order to favour the passage of product (in particular for non- slidable products) from the containment space 2 to the feeding chamber 6, the spiral 10 may be provided, rotated in step or continuous fashion.

In this way, advantageously, the spiral 10 applies a pushing action on the product present in the containment space 2, which favours the introduction into the feeding chamber 6 of the product through the openings 7.

The shutter 9 is then moved along the return stroke from the open position P2 to the closed position P1 . During the return stroke, the shutter 9 pushes the product downwards in acceleration and reduces the passageway of the openings 7 until occluding them completely.

In this way, the shutter 9 pushes the product towards the outlet 8 (positioned below) of the feeding chamber 6, releasing the product in the underlying strip continuous ST of filter material which will define the next filter bag S.

In this way, a dose of product is released on the underlying continuous strip ST of filter material which will define the next filter bag S.

It should be noted that the feeding and dosing device 1 is particularly precise and accurate in terms of quantity of product released inside each filter bag S, and therefore allows the variability of the quantity of product inserted between one filter bag S and another to be reduced.

The invention also defines a machine 100 for making filter bags containing infusion or extraction product, comprising in combination:

- a station 101 for feeding a continuous strip ST of filter material;

- a station 102 for forming and joining the continuous strip ST into a closed tubular shape and feeding along a feed direction V1 (preferably, but not necessarily vertical);

- a station 103 for feeding and dosing the infusion or extraction product positioned above the forming and joining station 102 and comprising the feeding and dosing device 1 described above;

- a station 104 for joining an open end of the continuous strip S in the tubular shape, alternately forming, respectively, a top end of a filter bag S being formed and a bottom end of the next filter bag S, with the joining station 104 positioned downstream of the forming and joining station 102 relative to the feed direction V1 of the continuous strip ST;

- a station 105 for separating a filter bag S already formed from a next filter bag S being formed positioned downstream of the forming and joining station 102 relative to the feed direction V1 of the continuous strip ST. It should be noted that, preferably, the direction D1 of movement of the shutter 9 is parallel with a feed direction D2 of the continuous strip ST. Further, preferably, the direction D1 of movement of the shutter 9, the feed direction D2 of the continuous strip ST and the direction D3 for feeding the product to the filter bags S are parallel to each other.

The feeding and dosing station 103 may advantageously comprise a hopper for feeding the product, connected in flow communication to the containment space 2 of the feeding device 1 .

According to another aspect, a method is also defined for feeding and dosing infusion or extraction product inside a continuous strip (ST) defining filter bags (S), comprising the following steps:

- preparing a continuous strip ST of filter material and joining the continuous strip ST to define a closed tubular shape and feeding along a feed direction D2 (preferably vertical);

- preparing a feeding and dosing device 1 as described above;

- moving the shutter 9 from the closed position P1 to the open position P2, to allow a dose of product to pass from the containment space 2 to the feeding chamber 6 through the openings 7 and from the feeding chamber 6 to a filter bag S being formed through the outlet 8;

- moving the shutter 9 from the open position P2 to the closed position P1 , to favour an escape of the dose of product present inside the feeding chamber 6 through the outlet 8 of the feeding chamber 6, releasing the dose of product inside the joined continuous strip ST, and occluding the openings 7.

Advantageously, the method comprises controlling the shutter 9 for varying an opening time of the openings 7 and adjusting a quantity of the product fed to the feeding chamber 6. More specifically, the method comprises controlling a forward stroke and/or a return stroke of the shutter 9 for varying the open time of the openings 7, that is, for each machine step, a time wherein the openings 7 are not completely occluded by the shutter 9.

According to another aspect, the method comprises a step of preparing a rotary member 1 1 inside the containment space 2 and a step of rotating the rotary member 1 1 for moving the product present inside the containment space 2 towards the openings 7. Advantageously, the rotary member 1 1 may be actuated continuously or in step mode.

Advantageously, according to the method, the rotation of the rotary member 1 1 is controlled, for adjusting the dose of product fed to the feeding chamber 6 through the openings 7.

More specifically, when operating in step mode, an angle of rotation of the rotary member 1 1 is controlled for adjusting the dose of product being fed. The greater the angle of rotation followed by the member 1 1 rotating in step mode, the greater the dose of product fed, and vice versa.

When operating continuously, a speed of rotation of the rotary member 1 1 is controlled for adjusting the dose of product being fed. The greater the speed of the rotary member 1 1 , the greater the dose of the product fed, and vice versa.