Apparatus for producing packages of infusion products

Abstract

An apparatus for producing packages of infusion products, such as a bag filled with a dosed quantity of a product, a tag and a length of thread attached at opposite ends to the bag and to the tag respectively, includes a forming group of the filled bag, a feeding group of the formed bag and of the tag, a cutting and feeding group of the length of thread, and a sewing head of the length of thread to the bag and to the tag.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for producing packages of infusion products, said packages comprising a bag ( 3 ) filled with a dosed quantity of a product, a tag ( 4 ), and a length of thread ( 2 ) attached at opposite ends to said bag ( 3 ) and said tag ( 4 ) respectively, said apparatus comprising:
 a forming group ( 30 ) of said filled bag ( 3 ), said forming group ( 30 ) defining a forming carousel and carrying a plurality of forming units ( 31 ), wherein said forming carousel ( 30 ) carries at least part of a cutting device ( 35 ) and rotates in a continuous motion around a rotation axis ( 36 );   an auxiliary cutting group ( 80 ) movable with an oscillating motion and cooperating with said cutting device ( 35 ) carried by said forming carousel ( 30 ) in said continuous rotation motion; and   a folding group ( 50 ) rotating around an axis parallel to said forming carousel ( 30 ) and cooperating with said forming units ( 31 ), said auxiliary cutting group ( 80 ) and said folding group ( 50 ) being arranged around said forming carousel ( 30 ), respectively in correspondence with a cutting station ( 110 ) and a folding station ( 100 ) of said bag ( 3 ),   wherein each of said forming units ( 31 ) comprises a body ( 32 ) rotating with respect to an axis parallel to the rotation axis ( 36 ) of said forming carousel ( 30 ), carrying,   a movable receiving system ( 33 ) of a single length ( 6   b ) of tube ( 6   a ) forming a single bag ( 3 ), and   a folding system ( 34 ) folding a base ( 3   a ) of said bag ( 3 ),   said folding group ( 50 ) comprising a counter-folding element ( 54 ) cooperating with said folding system ( 34 ) for forming said base ( 3   a ) of said bag ( 3 ).   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiving system ( 33 ) defines a pair of pallets ( 37 ) alternatingly movable between a receiving configuration ( 37   a ), in correspondence with which the length ( 6   b ) of tube ( 6   a ), containing a pair of doses ( 5 ), is received and supported, extending on an operative surface of each pair of pallets ( 37 ), and a forming configuration ( 37   b ), in correspondence with which said pallets ( 37 ) of said pair are brought reciprocally close to each other to feed a corresponding portion of said length ( 6   b ) of tube to a folding and cupping of said base ( 3   a ) of said bag ( 3 ) and a forming of said bag ( 3 ). 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said folding system ( 34 ) and said counter-folding element ( 54 ) are arranged at opposite parts of said operative surface to support said pallets ( 37 ), in an intermediate position between said pallets ( 37 ) of said pair. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said folding system ( 34 ) is activated by a pushing element ( 42 ), alternating between a withdrawn rest configuration ( 34   a ), and an extracted folding configuration ( 34   b ), so as to intercept a central portion of said length ( 6   b ), progressively folding said length ( 6   b ) by cooperation with said counter-folding element ( 54 ) carried by said forming carousel ( 50 ) in correspondence with said folding station ( 100 ). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said forming carousel ( 50 ) rotates in a continuous motion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said forming carousel ( 50 ) comprises a plurality of folding units ( 51 ), each folding unit ( 51 ) comprising a platform ( 52 ) rotating according to an axis parallel to the rotation axis of said folding carousel ( 50 ), and a gripping system ( 53 ) of said bag ( 3 ), arranged on said platform ( 52 ), to effect, in correspondence with said folding station ( 100 ), a tracking motion between said forming unit ( 31 ) and said folding unit ( 51 ), cooperating with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said gripping system ( 53 ) comprises a pair of clamps, between which said counter-folding element ( 54 ) is positioned, said clamps ( 53 ) being movable between an open configuration ( 53   a ), in correspondence with which said clamps ( 53 ) are open at an inlet of said folding station ( 100 ) and said counter-folding element ( 54 ) is arranged for encountering said folding system ( 34 ) carried by said cooperating forming unit ( 31 ), causing the folding of the base ( 3   a ) of the bag ( 3 ), and a closed configuration ( 53   b ), in correspondence with which said clamps ( 53 ) receive, and withhold therebetween, said bag ( 3 ) from said cooperating forming unit ( 31 ). 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising an auxiliary gripping system ( 57 ) associated with said gripping system ( 53 ), said auxiliary gripping system ( 57 ) being alternatingly movable in a coordinated way with respect to said gripping system ( 53 ) between a distanced configuration ( 57   a ), in correspondence with which said auxiliary gripping system ( 57 ) is further away and idle at sides of said counter-folding element ( 54 ) and said gripping system ( 53 ) is in said open configuration ( 53   a ), and an approach abutment configuration ( 57   b ), in correspondence with which said auxiliary gripping system ( 57 ) abuts said base ( 3   a ) on opposite sides, folded on said folding system ( 34 ), and said counter-folding element ( 54 ) and said gripping system ( 53 ) are activated towards said closed configuration ( 53   a ) to block and receive said bag ( 3 ) being formed. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary cutting group ( 80 ) comprises a contrast element ( 82 ) and an activating system ( 83 ), acting in correspondence with said cutting station ( 110 ), said contrast element ( 82 ) being activated by said activation system ( 83 ) in a cooperation movement with cutting system ( 81 ) carried by said cutting device ( 35 ) integral with said forming carousel ( 30 ). 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said activating system ( 83 ) comprises a lever system ( 84 ) and a pushing system ( 85 ) effecting, in suitable synchronism, a combined oscillation motion, in an opposite direction, in an operative run, with respect to the rotation of said forming group ( 30 ), and an alternating radial motion, with respect to the rotation axis ( 36 ) of the same forming group ( 30 ). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said cutting system comprises a blade, and wherein said contrast element ( 82 ) comprises a head ( 86 ) sliding inside a hollow body ( 87 ) defining a top ( 92 ) having a transversal opening ( 93 ), configured to encounter said blade ( 81 ) of said cutting device ( 35 ), or effecting a cutting of said tube ( 6   a ) of a belt ( 6 ) in said length ( 6   b ).