ES2306000T3 - PLANT AND PROCEDURE FOR THE CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURE OF INFUSION CARTRIDGES. - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant (1a, 1b) for the manufacture of brewing cartridges comprising: guide means (4) for guiding plates (2) having recesses (3) along an advancing direction; means (7) for providing, above the plates (2), a first band (6) of film that; means (21) for depositing a dose of powder through a metering device (9, 12) for each recess (3); means (14) for pressing the doses of powder in the recesses (3); means (19) for providing, over the pressed doses, a second band (17) of film; sealing means (15) for sealing said first (6) and second band (17) together forming the cartridges (100); cutting means (16) to cut the formed cartridges (100), where said cartridges (100) are manufactured whilst the guide means (4) make the plates (2) advance at a constant speed and where said depositing means (21), said pressing means (14), said means (7, 19) for providing said first and second band (6, 17), said sealing means (15) and said cutting means (16) are actuated in synchrony with said plates (2), to operate continuously along a horizontal manufacturing plane.

Description

Plant and manufacturing procedure Continuous infusion cartridges.

The present invention relates to a plant and to a procedure for the continuous manufacture of cartridges of infusion.

More specifically, the present invention is refers to a plant and a manufacturing process Continuous cartridges for American or espresso coffee.

As is known, the plants for the Manufacture of coffee cartridges are generally made up of a chain made to advance step by step and support a plurality of plates equidistant apart along the chain, in which each plate is provided with a plurality of notches

US Patent No. 5,074,102 discloses a apparatus for producing gelatinous or soft plastic capsules filled with a composition of powder, granules, liquid or paste that It comprises model blocks provided with cavities to form said capsules and means for supplying a band or said material in said molding blocks.

In addition, vacuum means are provided. so that said first band of material is tightly placed against the walls of the cavities that form the capsule during A filling stage. Means to fill these cavities with said composition of powder, granules, liquid or paste and some means for sealing the cavities filled with a soft plastic or a gelatinous material.

The material of the capsules is not permeable and not pressure means are provided for the composition of powder, granules, liquid or paste downstream of the media filling.

Document FR 1 172 697 shows a procedure and an apparatus for filling capsules, which are made continuously starting with some bands of material waterproof, and with means to advance said band that can couple one with the other presenting a form corresponding to the cavities to be formed, a means of filling and some means of sealing for the capsules. The material inside the capsule  It is not pressed immediately after filling.

In document EP0780307 of the same applicant a plant is disclosed, according to the preamble of the claim 4, and a method, according to the preamble of claim 11, in which the following elements are arranged along the direction the chain follows: a means to provide, on the plates, a first continuous band of permeable film covering each of the notches; a means to deposit a dose of coffee powder on the first band in each notch, by means of an autonomous dosing device for each notch; means to press the dose of coffee powder deposited in the notches; means to provide, about the pressed doses, a second film band permeable; sealing means to seal the first and the second band with the dose of powder pressed inside, of so that the cartridges are formed; cutting means to cut The cartridges formed.

However, plants of the type mentioned previously they suffer from some inconveniences.

Due to the stepper system, the cartridge production yield is quite low and also such plants require continuous and constant maintenance; on everything, taking into account the type of movement that takes cape.

Plants for manufacturing are also known of coffee cartridges that work with continuous movement and with high cartridge yield.

Generally, said continuous plants are they consist of a removable rotating drum along which they are formed the notches where the coffee powder is deposited. In these plants the powder is supplied by a device Polished dispenser of simple construction.

Unfortunately, these continuous plants of the prior art suffer from major drawbacks, since the cartridges that are produced with them have substantially weights different, against what would be desirable.

In addition, downstream of the dosing device polishing creates a powdery zone that causes fouling, the machine must stop for long periods to perform cleanings and restart the plant. And, above all, these plants continuous are somehow complex and need a continuous maintenance In addition, cartridges manufactured with these plants have depressions and / or bulges, as well as the presence of coffee powder at the sealing points.

Therefore, a plant is very necessary for the manufacture of infusion cartridges whose production is high and at the same time respect the quality of the finished product, thanks to the production of cartridges whose weight is substantially the same and whose configuration can be used optimally in infusion devices currently on the market.

The objective of the present invention is provide a procedure and a plant for the manufacture of infusion cartridges with structural features and functional such that they respond to the mentioned needs before and at the same time solve the inconveniences mentioned above related to the prior art.

This objective is achieved with a plant for manufacture of infusion cartridges according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 11.

The dependent claims disclose preferred and particularly advantageous embodiments of the plant according to the invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention they will become more clear from the reading of the following description, provided by way of example no limiting, from the figures illustrated in the tables attached in which:

- Figure 1 shows a side view schematic partially in section of a plant for the manufacture of infusion cartridges according to the present invention, according to a first embodiment;

- Figure 2 shows a perspective visa of a detail of the possible plates that can be used in the plant of figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows a side view schematic partially in section of a plant for the manufacture of infusion cartridges according to the present invention, according to a second embodiment;

- Figure 4 shows a sectional detail of the cartridge, during the sealing stage.

Referring to the mentioned figures formerly, the plant for the manufacture of cartridges for prepare coffee, according to the present invention, which is designated globally in the two embodiments with references numerical 1a and 1b respectively, comprises guiding means to guide a plurality of plates 2 along one direction forward.

Each plate 2 is provided at the top of the surface of a plurality of notches 3 arranged transversely in relation to the direction of advance.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the amount of notches 3 present in the plates 2 may vary according to the Production needs.

The guiding means to guide the plates 2 comprise a motorized closed chain 4 in a pair of rollers or 5 opposite sprockets, provided with parallel rotation axes and respective horizontals.

In the example, said chain is composed of a pair 4 'and 4' 'inextensible, flexible and parallel catenaries (figure 2).

At least one of the rollers or pinions 5 is powered, with a continuous movement at constant speed, in relation to its own axis, so that the plates 2 advance to a constant speed to arrange them successively in the stages of manufacture of 100 cartridges.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the plates 2 are fixed to chain 4 and are evenly separated other.

More specifically, the plant comprises some means for providing, on plates 2, a first band 6 Continuous permeable film covering each notch 3. In the For example, the first band 6 is unwound from a roll 7 of unwinding rotatably associated with a base 8 of which the pair of rollers or pinions 5 also depend.

The width of the first band 6 is such that allows all notches 3 present on each plate 2 are substantially covered.

The plant also comprises means 21 for deposit, on the first band 6, a dose of powder of infusion, for example coffee powder, in each notch 3 by an autonomous dosing device 9 for each notch 3.

In order to obtain a correct dosage, said means 21 for depositing a dose of infusion powder is manage with feedback through a weight control system, not shown, of the dose of powder disposed downstream of the plant.

In the first embodiment, illustrated in Figure 1, said dosing devices 9 are subjected to an oscillating movement with respect to an oscillation axis transverse to the direction of advance.

Basically, the dosing devices 9 deposit a desired amount of powder for each notch 3 during the advance of the underlying plates 2 and, consequently, The speed in the forward direction is the same.

For said dosing devices 9, the magnitude of the oscillation made to deposit the dust and the swing speed in the opposite direction of the advance they are chosen so that the correct filling of the notches 3 with a predetermined dose of powder and can be selected according to several alternatives that always guarantee synchronized with the plates 2 in the forward direction.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide a process Pilgrim, not shown, for said dosing devices 9.

In the second embodiment, illustrated in Figure 3, means 21 for depositing a dose of powders of infusion comprise a cargo tank 10 of the infusion powder associated with a drum 1 that rotates at the same speed as the plates 2 and which is provided with notches 12 that interact selectively with the corresponding notches 3 during the rotating the drum 11 to release a dose of infusion powder for each notch 3.

Basically, the notches 12 have the same function than the dosing devices 9 of figure 1.

In order to prevent the dust deposited in the notches 12 fall out, it is planned to use an element of sealed 13 presenting a cooperating cylinder arc shape with the appropriate semicircle, in the illustrated example arranged to the left.

Said sealing element 13 can play also the functions of a drum parts cleaner 11 around the notches 12. It is also possible to provide for the use of other cleaning means, not shown.

Upstream of the dosing devices 9, means 14 are successively installed to press the dose of infusion powder deposited in notches 3, about sealing means 15 and cutting means 16, which in the first example are triggered by a pilgrim process and in the second embodiment its rotation is promoted around an axis for each one, transverse to the direction of advance of the plates 2.

The pilgrim process allows to alternate the up and down movement along a line vertical, indicated by the arrows of two vertical points on the Figure 1, and a simultaneous advance along a line horizontal, indicated by the horizontal double-headed arrow on the Figure 1.

However, it is possible to use both movement systems mentioned above according to the desired combination.

In the first embodiment (figure 1) all the means that move with the pilgrim process are preferably operated by a single actuator, schematized in the crankshaft mechanism indicated with 17 in figure 1, that the move simultaneously in a horizontal plane parallel to the direction forward.

In the second embodiment (figure 3), the pressure means 14 and the cutting means 16 are composed of a turntable system, while sealing means 15 is they consist of a rotating drum provided with cavities with a profile suitable for the soldier.

Of course, upstream of the means of sealed 15 means are provided that deposit, on the doses pressed, a second band 18 of permeable film by, for example, another rewind roll 19.

In addition, it is preferable to use means preformers 20 of the first band 6 in the notches 3 before that they are filled with the infusion powder.

These preforming means 20, in the first embodiment, they have an alternative movement, along of a vertical line, towards the notches 3 coordinated by a actuator 17, along a horizontal line parallel to the forward direction, with a pilgrimage process movement.

In the second embodiment, it is promoted the rotation of said preforming means 20 about an axis horizontal transverse to the direction of advance.

This allows the distribution of the first band 6 so that it exactly matches the plurality of the notches 3 present on plates 2, proportionally and delicately covering its entire surface and preventing the First band 6 frayed.

According to the present invention, the means preformers 20, dosing devices 9, means of pressure 14, unwind rollers 7, 19, sealing means 15 and the cutting means 16 are operated in synchrony with the plates 2 advancing at a constant speed, to operate continuously along a horizontal manufacturing plane of 100 cartridges

Functionally, the first band 6 is deposited on plates 2 moving at a constant speed.

Successively, the following acts: the media preformers 20 of said first band 6 in the notches 3; dosing devices 9 that deposit the powder dose of infusion at each notch 3; the means 14 to press the powder deposited in notches 3; the means to provide the second band 18 over the first band 6; sealing means 15 sealing the two bands 6, 18 with each other to form the 100 cartridges; the cutting means 16 to punch the contours of the cartridges directly on the plates 2.

At the end of the manufacture of the 100 cartridges, the useless remainder 200 of the bands 6, 18 is separated from the cartridges 100. In the example, the unusable remainder 200 is directed to a suitable container 300, while the 100 cartridges slide towards a collection sector, not represented.

As indicated above, the cartridges 100 are manufactured continuously along a plane of horizontal fabrication in which plates 2 are advanced to one constant velocity.

As can be seen from what has been described, the plant for the manufacture of infusion cartridges according to the This invention allows to respond to the needs raised and overcome the inconveniences mentioned in the part introductory of the present description referring to the prior art

Moreover, since the manufacturing cycle is continuously performs on a horizontal plane, the plant for manufacture of infusion cartridges according to the invention guarantees a better formation of the cartridges without spilling the product by the outer edge, which constitutes an advantage for the quality of the Final product.

Moreover, with the plant of the present invention, cartridges of equal weight are obtained throughout the entire cycle of production and with regular opposite surfaces; that is, without bulges and / or depressions also thanks to the cut made directly on the manufacturing plane.

In addition, said plant gets them made perfect and clean welds at the sealing points of the bands that form the cartridges, in an area without residues of powder.

It should also be mentioned that the plant according to the The present invention can work continuously during a long period thanks to the simple continuous motion system that avoid the stress of work typical of moving plants alternate.

Of course, in order to respond to specific and contingent needs, subject matter experts can be incorporated into the cartridge manufacturing plant to infusion, described above, numerous modifications and variants, all of which are within the scope of protection of the invention, as defined in the claims following.

Claims (12)

1. Plant (1a, 1b) for the manufacture of Infusion cartridges comprising:

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some guiding means (4) for guiding a plurality of plates (2) to along one direction of advance, each plate being provided (2) of a plurality of notches (3) arranged transversely with respect to said direction of advancement;

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some means (7) for providing, on the plates (2), a first continuous band (6) of permeable film that covers each notch (3);

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some means (21) for depositing a dose of infusion powder in each notch using a stand-alone metering device (9, 12) for each notch (3), on said first band (6);

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some means (14) for pressing the dose of deposited infusion powder in the notches (3);

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some means (19) for providing, on the pressed doses, a second band (17) of permeable film;

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some sealing means (15) for sealing said first (6) and second (17) band along with the doses of powder pressed inside and form the cartridges (100);

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cutting means (16) for cutting the formed cartridges (100), characterized in that said cartridges (100) are manufactured while the guiding means (4) advance the plates (2) at a constant speed and because said means of reservoir (21), said pressure means (14), said means (7, 19) for providing said first and second band (6, 17), said sealing means (15) and said cutting means (16) are actuated to move in synchrony with said plates (2), to operate continuously along a horizontal manufacturing plane.

2. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprise a motorized closed chain (4) on a pair of opposite rollers (5) provided with the pivot shafts respective vertical and horizontal. 3. Plant according to claim 2, wherein said chain (4) is composed of a pair of catenaries (4 ', 4' ') parallel, flexible and inextensible. 4. Plant according to claim 3, wherein said plates (2) are associated with the pair of catenaries (4 ', 4' ') of equidistant form. 5. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said means (21) for depositing a dose of infusion powders are managed with feedback through a control system Dose weight of the powders arranged downstream of the plant. 6. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said dosing devices (9) are moved by a process pilgrim. 7. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said dosing devices (9) perform a movement oscillating with respect to an axis of oscillation transverse to the direction of advance of the plates (2). 8. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said means (21) for depositing a dose of infusion powder comprise a cargo tank (10) of the infusion powders associated with a drum (11) that rotates at the same speed as the plates (2) and provided with notches (12) that interact selectively with the corresponding notches (3) during the drum rotation (11) to release a dose of infusion powder for each notch (3). 9. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said pressure means (14), said sealing means (15) and said cutting means (16) are operated by a system of selected movement from the rotation around an axis respective, transverse to the direction of advance of the plates (2) and The pilgrim process. 10. Plant according to claim 1, which it also comprises preforming means (20) of said first band (6) in the notches (3) before filling with dust Infusion 11. Procedure for the manufacture of Infusion cartridges comprising the following stages:

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guide a plurality of plates (2) along a direction of advancement, each plate (2) being provided with a plurality of notches (3) arranged transversely with respect to said direction of Advance;

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provide, on the plates (2), a first continuous band (6) of permeable film covering each notch (3);

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deposit a dose of infusion powder in each notch (3) by means of a dosing device (9, 12) autonomous for each notch (3), on said first band (6);

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press infusion powder doses deposited in the notches (3);

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provide, about the doses pressed, a second band (17) of permeable film;

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seal said first and second band (6, 17) with each other, with the doses of powder pressed inside, to form the cartridges (100);

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cut the cartridges (100) formed

characterized in that said cartridges (100) are manufactured continuously along a horizontal manufacturing plane in which said plates (2) are advanced at a constant speed. 12. Method according to claim 11, in which said step of cutting the cartridges (100) is performed directly on the plates (2) while advancing horizontally to a constant speed