Machine for Making Packs of an Infusion Product

Abstract

A machine for making packs ( 2 ) of infusion products, created by a first sheet ( 21 ) of packaging material, forming a recess, in which a batched quantity of product ( 20 ) is placed, and a second sheet ( 22 ) of packaging material, applied on the first sheet ( 21 ) of packaging material and joined thereto peripherally. The machine includes a work assembly ( 30 ) for feeding the first sheets ( 21 ) to a carrousel ( 10 ), operated to rotate on a horizontal axis, in suitable step relation with the feeding of the sheets. The carrousel ( 10 ) has, made on its periphery, an ordered series of cavities ( 11 ), which receive the first sheets ( 21 ) for forming thereon, a respective recess, whose shape is suitable for containing the batched quantity of product ( 20 ). A filling group ( 40 ) introduces the batched quantity of product ( 20 ) into the recess formed on the first sheets ( 21 ), connected to the cavities ( 11 ) of the carrousel ( 10 ). A group ( 50 ) for feeding single second sheets ( 22 ) joins mutually the first and second sheets ( 21, 22 ) in an area all around the recess filled the batched quantities of product ( 20 ). A discharge work assembly ( 610 ) removes the packed products ( 2 ) from the carrousel ( 10 ).

1 . A machine for making packs of infusion products, the packs including a first sheet ( 21 ) of packaging material, having at least one recess, in which a batched quantity of product ( 20 ) is placed, and a second sheet ( 22 ) of packaging material, applied on said first sheet ( 21 ) of packaging material and joined thereto peripherally, characterized in that it includes at least one work assembly ( 30 ) for feeding said first sheets ( 21 ) of packaging material; a carrousel ( 10 ), operated to rotate on a horizontal axis, in suitable step relation with the feeding of said first sheets ( 21 ) and having, made on its periphery, an ordered series of cavities ( 11 )for receiving said first sheets ( 21 ) and forming thereon a respective recess with a shape suitable for containing said batched quantity of product ( 20 ); a filling group ( 40 ) for introducing said batched quantity of product ( 20 ) into said recess formed on said first sheets ( 21 ) associated to said cavities ( 11 ) of said carrousel ( 10 ); a group ( 50 ) for feeding single second sheets ( 22 ) of packaging material to said carrousel ( 10 ) in positions corresponding to said first sheets ( 21 ) filled with said batched quantity of product ( 20 ), and for joining mutually said sheets ( 21 ,  22 ) in an area all around said filled recess; a discharge work assembly ( 610 ) for moving said packs ( 2 ) away from said cavities ( 11 ) of said carrousel ( 10 ). 
   
   
       2 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said carrousel ( 10 ) is operated to rotate continuously. 
   
   
       3 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said continuously rotating carrousel ( 10 ) has at least one ordered series of cavities ( 11 ), active between an initial angular position (α 1 ) and a final angular position (α 2 ), to pack respective products fed to the ordered series of cavities ( 11 ); at least one satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ), which is driven to rotate on an axis parallel to the one of said carrousel ( 10 ) and which has at least one work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ); means ( 14 ) for coupling said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) of the satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ) with said ordered series of cavities ( 11 ) of the carrousel ( 10 ), in said initial angular position (α 1 ) of the series of cavities ( 11 ) and for uncoupling said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) from said ordered series of cavities ( 11 ) in said final angular position (α 2 ). 
   
   
       4 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that said satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ) is mounted idle on a fixed axis ( 130 ) and is driven to rotate by said carrousel ( 10 ) by the subsequent engaging of a plurality of work assemblies ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) with said series of cavities ( 11 ) of the carrousel ( 10 ). 
   
   
       5 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that it includes supporting means ( 26 ,  27 ) of said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ), pivoted eccentrically on said satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ), on a fulcrum (F), which covers a circumference (C) intersecting the circumference arc (B), covered by said series of cavities ( 11 ) of the carrousel ( 10 ), at said initial angular position (a 1 ) and said final angular position (α 2 ). 
   
   
       6 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that said supporting means ( 26 ,  27 ) of said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) include a guiding element ( 26 ), pivoted on said satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ) on said fulcrum (F) and a carriage ( 27 ), sliding along said guiding element ( 26 ) and supporting said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ). 
   
   
       7 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that it includes locking means ( 242 ), which prevents translation of said carriage ( 27 ) with respect to said guiding element ( 26 ), when said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) is not connected to said series of cavities ( 11 ). 
   
   
       8 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that said locking means ( 242 ) include at least one push rod member, carried by said satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ), with possibility to slide axially, and operated to move by cam means ( 248 ,  249 ) between a rear, disengaging position, and a fore position, in which it engages with a hollow ( 251 ) made on said carriage ( 27 ). 
   
   
       9 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that said supporting means ( 26 ,  27 ) of said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) are operated to rotate by engaging means ( 25 ,  31 ), connected to said satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ) and coupled to a central, motionless wheel ( 32 ), arranged coaxial to said satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ). 
   
   
       10 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that said central, motionless wheel ( 32 ) has a toothless down-stepped section ( 33 ), which disengages said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) during said active step. 
   
   
       11 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that said means ( 14 ) for coupling said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) to said series of cavities ( 11 ) cooperate with centering means ( 290 ), carried integral with the work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ). 
   
   
       12 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that said centering means ( 290 ) include at least one conical pin, which engages with a corresponding coupling seat ( 140 ), made on said means ( 14 ) for coupling said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) to said series of cavities ( 11 ). 
   
   
       13 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that said carrousel ( 10 ) carries mechanical coupling means ( 141 ), which block said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) in its active step, and which include a coupling member ( 143 ), carried oscillating by a lever ( 142 ), following cam means ( 146 ), so as to move between a position of coupling said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ), determined by spring means ( 147 ) and an uncoupling position ( 142   a ). 
   
   
       14 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that said means ( 14 ) for coupling said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) to said series of cavities ( 11 ) are magnetic. 
   
   
       15 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that said satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ) carries, regularly spaced apart, a plurality of work assemblies ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ), which cooperate in succession with corresponding series of cavities ( 11 ), distributed along the carrousel ( 10 ) periphery. 
   
   
       16 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that it includes at least one trimming group ( 60 ), consisting of respective trimming means ( 66 ), which trim said pack ( 2 ) along a peripheral area. 
   
   
       17 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said work assembly ( 30 ) for feeding said first sheets ( 21 ) of packaging material includes respective heating means, which thermo-form recesses on said first sheets ( 21 ). 
   
   
       18 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said work assembly ( 50 ) for feeding said second sheets ( 22 ) includes respective heating means ( 52 ), situated near a peripheral portion of said first sheets ( 21 ) joined to said second sheets ( 22 ), to heat-weld them. 
   
   
       19 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one said work assemblies ( 30 ,  50 ) for feeding said first and second sheets ( 21 ,  22 ) forms a system for transferring them from a withdrawing station ( 310 ) to a series of cavities ( 11 ), which includes a gripping group ( 355 ), moving between a first withdrawing station ( 310 ) of said items ( 21 ,  22 ) and said series of cavities ( 11 ), and having at least one needle ( 366 ) for punching, at least partially, the sheet ( 21 ,  22 ) in said first withdrawing station ( 310 ) and for transferring said sheets to the series of cavities ( 11 ), means ( 556 ,  360 ,  15 ) for disengaging said needle ( 366 ) from said sheet ( 21 ,  22 ), cooperating functionally with the gripping group ( 355 ) in a position corresponding to said series of cavities ( 11 ). 
   
   
       20 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that said gripping group ( 355 ) including substantially a head ( 365 ) with said needle ( 366 ), is carried slidingly axially by a unit ( 35 ) operated by an actuator ( 34 ), since said group ( 355 ) is subjected to elastic means ( 362 ) on one side, and in abutment against a first end stop ( 363 ) on the other side, so as to define a first outer dead center of said head ( 365 ) and in that said disengaging means include at least one lever ( 556 ), integral with said gripping group ( 355 ), a flat surface ( 360 ), connected to said gripping unit ( 35 ), both facing said series of cavities ( 11 ), when said gripping group ( 355 ) is connected thereto, an abutment ( 15 ), situated near said series of cavities ( 11 ) and contacting said lever ( 556 ), with consequent translation of said gripping group ( 355 ) against said elastic means ( 362 ), to define the uncoupling of said needle ( 366 ) from said sheet ( 21 ,  22 ) kept by the flat surface ( 360 ). 
   
   
       21 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 20 , characterized in that said actuator ( 34 ) includes a toggle mechanism ( 341 ), articulated to a stem ( 36 ), which carries said withdrawing unit ( 35 ). 
   
   
       22 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said filling group includes a body ( 40   a ), at least one plunger ( 41 ), forming a concave head ( 41   a ) and sliding axially inside said body ( 40   a ), shutter means ( 45 ) for keeping a batched quantity of product ( 20 ) inside said concave head ( 40   a ) of said plunger ( 40 ). 
   
   
       23 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 22 , characterized in that said plunger ( 41 ) is carried by a stem ( 42 ), operated axially by actuator means ( 43 ) including a toggle mechanism. 
   
   
       24 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 22 , characterized in that said stem ( 42 ) has a grooved section to be operated to rotate by respective gears ( 49 ,  490 ). 
   
   
       25 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 24 , characterized in that said gears ( 49 ,  490 ) of said filling group ( 40 ) are operated to rotate by a conical pinion ( 491 ), which engages with a fixed toothed crown ( 492 ), coaxial to the carrousel ( 10 ), when said filling group is connected to said series of cavities ( 11 ) to feed respective batched quantities of product ( 20 ). 
   
   
       26 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 22 , characterized in that said shutter means ( 45 ) form a four-lobe plate ( 450 ) carried with possibility to rotate by a pin ( 451 ) in a position median and coaxial with a respective pair of plungers ( 41 ), said plate ( 450 ) having a pair of opposite openings ( 452 ), allowing a passage of respective batched quantities of product ( 20 ). 
   
   
       27 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 26 , characterized in that said pin ( 451 ) is keyed onto a respective pinion ( 48 ) meshed with a respective intermediate wheel ( 47 ), operated by a rack ( 46 ), which moves longitudinally and alternately. 
   
   
       28 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said group ( 30 ) for feeding first sheets ( 21 ) includes a convex impression ( 353 ), carried with possibility to slide axially by the respective withdrawing unit ( 35 ) to form said first sheets ( 21 ). 
   
   
       29 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said group ( 50 ) for feeding said second sheets ( 22 ) includes a concave impression ( 51 ), carried with possibility to slide axially by the respective withdrawing unit ( 35 ), to join said second sheets ( 22 ) with said lift truck ( 1 ) containing said batched quantities of product ( 20 ). 
   
   
       30 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said discharging group ( 610 ) includes a shaped head ( 65 ), forming a preferably concave impression ( 68 ), which receives said packs ( 2 ), and which faces aspiration ducts ( 69 ), connected to aspiration means to hold rigidly said packs ( 2 ). 
   
   
       31 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 16 , characterized in that said trimming group ( 60 ) includes at least one trimming cup blade ( 66 ), sliding axially and carrying, at its lower end, a blade of continuous profile, which goes in abutment against respective counter blade seat ( 185 ), outer to the joining area of said first and second sheets ( 21 ,  22 ) to trim a respective peripheral portion thereof. 
   
   
       32 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 28 , characterized in that said trimming group ( 60 ) includes at least a paper pressing cup ( 67 ), forming substantially an overturned cup, keyed with possibility to slide axially on said trimming cup blade ( 66 ) and carrying, on its lower end, and edge ( 76 ) of wedge shape, which intercepts a respective peripheral area of said first sheets ( 21 ) joined to the second sheets ( 22 ), and pushes, in abutment against said carrousel ( 10 ), a respective 
   
   
       33 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said packaging material is filter paper. 
   
   
       34 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that said continuously rotating carrousel ( 10 ) has at least one ordered series of cavities ( 11 ), active between an initial angular position (α 1 ) and a final angular position (α 2 ), to pack respective products fed to the ordered series of cavities ( 11 ); at least one satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ), which is driven to rotate on an axis parallel to the one of said carrousel ( 10 ) and which has at least one work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ); means ( 14 ) for coupling said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) of the satellite device ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ) with said ordered series of cavities ( 11 ) of the carrousel ( 10 ), in said initial angular position (α 1 ) of the series of cavities ( 11 ) and for uncoupling said work assembly ( 30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ) from said ordered series of cavities ( 11 ) in said final angular position (α 2 ). 
   
   
       35 . A machine, as claimed in  claim 17 , characterized in that said packaging material is filter paper.