Method and device for stacking and packing infusion bags

Abstract

This invention concerns a method and a device for stacking and packing groups of infusion bags, especially for making tea, whereby in continuous production infusion bags arranged one after another in a series in a strand are separated, their speed of movement is reduced and they are put in a position suitable for making a stack, whereby the infusion bags are arranged one after another in such a way that they at least partly overlap in their subsequent direction of movement

1 . A method of stacking and packing groups of infusion bags which are assembled in a predetermined number in a series and inserted in a packing container provided in a predetermined position, the method comprising: separating, in continuous production, infusion bags which are arranged one after another in a series in a strand; reducing a speed of movement of the infusion bags; and positioning the infusion bags suitable for making a stack; wherein the infusion bags are arranged one after another in such a way that they at least partly overlap in a subsequent direction of movement.  
     
     
         2 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein the separating comprises grasping the continuously moved strand when the infusion bags being separated are in a predetermined position, and accelerating in the direction of movement of the strand in such a way that the infusion bag is separated from the strand by relative movement.  
     
     
         3 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein the strand is fed to a first continually turning wheel, which is provided with tongs arranged on the side of the first wheel that can move in relation to the first wheel to grasp longitudinal sides of the infusion bag to be separated from the strand at a predetermined position near a perforation formed in a side of the strand, whereby the infusion bag is separated by relative movement of the tongs at the first wheel.  
     
     
         4 . The method in  claim 3 , wherein the tongs can be swiveled in a direction in which the first wheel turns.  
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 3 , wherein the tongs are accelerated to produce the relative movement in the turning direction of the first wheel.  
     
     
         6 . The method in  claim 3 , wherein front tongs in the direction in which the first wheel turns grasp the infusion bag to be separated, before back tongs in the turning direction grasp a next infusion bag of the strand, and the front tongs in the turning direction of the first wheel are accelerated when the back tongs grasp the next infusion bag of the strand.  
     
     
         7 . The method in  claim 3 , wherein the grasping of the tongs takes place by a curve control.  
     
     
         8 . The method in  claim 3 , further comprising depositing the separated infusion bags on an outer periphery of a second continually turning partitioned wheel that has pouch-like receptacles for the infusion bags.  
     
     
         9 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein the second wheel circulates at a slower speed than the strand is fed to the first wheel.  
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein to adjust the speed of the infusion bags from the wheel used to separate them to the second wheel, the movement of the tongs of the first wheel is fed back and the infusion bag speed is reduced.  
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein the infusion bags are held in the pouch-like receptacles of the second wheel by suction.  
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 8 , wherein when the second wheel turns, the infusion bags run by a rail support arranged on the side of the second wheel, by means of which the infusion bags are automatically taken out of the receptacles on the second wheel and are stacked in a shaft.  
     
     
         13 . The method in  claim 12 , wherein the rail support feeds the infusion bags to the shaft at a certain distance from one another.  
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein a feeder is used to assemble a predetermined number of the infusion bags into a series of infusion bags by grasping the infusion bags stacked at a distance from one another in a shaft depending on the predetermined number of infusion bags to be packed, and the feeder engages in the shaft and inserts the series of infusion bags so assembled into the packing container provided in a predetermined position or puts them into a position for insertion into the packing container provided.  
     
     
         15 . The method in  claim 14 , wherein the feeder makes a continually rotating movement.  
     
     
         16 . The method in  claim 14 , wherein the feeder makes a straight oscillating movement.  
     
     
         17 . The method in  claim 1 , further comprising depositing the separated infusion bags on an outer periphery of a continually turning wheel that has pouch-like receptacles for the infusion bags.