Machine for manufacturing pouches of cohesionless material

Abstract

A machine manufacturing pouches of a smokeless tobacco product, or other similarly cohesionless material, comprises a feed system ( 100 ) by which the tobacco is supplied to a conveyor ( 4 ) at a delivery station ( 5 ), from where it is transported by the conveyor ( 4 ) to a transfer station ( 6 ), also a system ( 102 ) operating at the transfer station ( 6 ) by which predetermined portions ( 7 ) of the product are directed from the conveyor ( 4 ) into at least one duct ( 16 ) linked to a form-fill-and-seal wrapping station ( 8 ) where the portions ( 7 ) are enclosed in a continuous succession ( 101 ) of pouches ( 2 ). The wrapping station ( 8 ) is equipped with ultrasonic welders.

1 ) A machine for manufacturing pouches ( 2 ) of cohesionless material, comprising:
 feed means ( 100 ) by which the material is supplied to conveying means ( 4 ) at a delivery station ( 5 ), from where the selfsame material is transported by the conveying means ( 4 ) to a transfer station ( 6 );   forcing means ( 102 ), operating at the transfer station ( 6 ), by which predetermined portions ( 7 ) of the material are directed from the conveying means ( 4 ) into at least one connecting duct ( 12 ) associated with a wrapping station ( 8 ) where the portions ( 7 ) are enclosed in a continuous succession of pouches ( 2 );   characterized in that the wrapping station ( 8 ) is equipped with ultrasonic welding means ( 19 ).   
     
     
         2 ) A machine as in  claim 1 , wherein the wrapping station ( 8 ) comprises a tubular mandrel ( 17 ) positioned at the outlet end of the connecting duct ( 16 ), around which a continuous web ( 18   a ) of wrapping material is formed into tubular envelope ( 18 ), the welding means ( 19 ) serving to seal the tubular envelope ( 18 ) longitudinally and operating substantially in contact with the tubular mandrel ( 17 ) in such a way as to transmit vibrations at ultrasonic frequencies to the selfsame mandrel ( 17 ). 
     
     
         3 ) A machine as in  claim 2 , wherein the wrapping station ( 8 ) comprises ultrasonic sealing means ( 20 ) located downstream of the tubular mandrel ( 17 ), of which the function is to bond the tubular envelope ( 18 ) transversely and thus form a continuous succession ( 101 ) of pouches ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 ) A machine as in  claim 2 , wherein the wrapping station ( 8 ) further comprises aspirating means ( 21 ) operating at the outlet end of the tubular mandrel ( 17 ).