Device and method for assembling capsules for extracting beverages

Abstract

A method for assembling capsules for extracting beverages, the capsules including at least one main body for containing extract of a beverage, a filtering element positioned inside the main body and a base element positioned at the base of the main body; the main body, the filtering element and the base element forming at least partly the components of the capsule; the device includes a line for feeding the above-mentioned components and means for positioning the above-mentioned components along the feed line; more specifically, the feed line includes a conveyor, which moves continuously, forming a path for feeding the above-mentioned components and the positioning means are synchronised with the conveyor for assembling together the components on the conveyor.

1 . A device for assembling capsules for extracting beverages, the capsules comprising at least one main body for containing an aromatic substance from which the beverage is extracted having a base and a filtering element positioned at the base of the main body and/or a base element positioned at the base of the main body; the main body, the filtering element and/or the base element forming at least partly the components of the capsule,
 the device comprising a line for feeding the above-mentioned components and means for positioning the above-mentioned components along the feed line;   the device being characterised in that the feed line comprises a conveyor, which moves continuously, forming a path for feeding the above-mentioned components and that the positioning means are synchronised with the conveyor for assembling together the components on the conveyor.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning means move forward along at least one section of the path in common with the conveyor. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning means comprise first means for transferring the main bodies and second means for transferring the filtering elements operating along respective sections of the path in common with the conveyor. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein along the above-mentioned sections of the path in common with the conveyor, the first transfer means move forward the main bodies and the second transfer means move forward the filtering elements and simultaneously the conveyor moves forward the base elements. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the path comprises at least one second section along which the conveyor moves forward solely the base elements and a third section, positioned downstream of the second section, along which the conveyor moves forward the base elements assembled with a respective main body; the first transfer means keeping raised the main bodies on the respective base elements along the second section and positioning the respective main bodies on the respective base elements along the third section assembling them. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the path comprises a fourth section, positioned downstream of the third section, along which the conveyor moves forward the main bodies assembled with a respective filtering element; the second transfer means keeping raised the filtering elements on the respective main bodies along part of the third section and inserting the filtering elements inside the respective main bodies along the fourth section assembling them. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the path comprises at least one first section, positioned upstream of the second section, along which the conveyor moves forward at least the main bodies; the first transfer means freeing the conveyor of the main bodies by lifting them. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first transfer means lift the respective main bodies from the first section of the path, retain the main bodies along the second section of the path and position the respective main bodies on the respective base elements along the third section assembling them. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second transfer means are positioned along respective curvilinear sections of the path. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises a plurality of seats for housing at least one of the components the seats of which are positioned one after the other to form a single row. 
     
     
         11 . A method for assembling capsules for extracting beverages, the capsules comprising at least one main body for containing an aromatic substance from which the beverage is extracted having a base and a filtering element positioned at the base of the main body and/or a base element positioned at the base of the main body; the main body, the filtering element and/or the base element forming at least partly the components of the capsule;
 the method comprising a step of moving forward the above-mentioned components along a path and a step of mutually positioning with each other the above-mentioned components during the step of moving forward the components;   the method being characterised in that the step of moving forward the components is performed continuously along the path and that the step of positioning the components is synchronised with the step of moving forward for assembling together the components along the path;   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of positioning the components comprises a step of keeping raised the main bodies on the respective base elements during the step of moving forward the components. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of positioning the components comprises a step of keeping raised the filtering elements on the respective main bodies during the step of moving forward the components. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of moving forward the above-mentioned components comprises a first step of moving forward solely the main bodies along a first section of the path, a second step of moving forward solely the base elements along a second section of the path and a third step of moving forward the base elements assembled with a respective main body along a third section of the path. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein it comprises a step of transferring the main bodies from the first section of the path to the third section of the path; the step of transferring the main bodies comprising a step of freeing the second section of the path from the main bodies for receiving the base elements.