EP0806351B1 - Twin-compartment infusion bag, especially for tea, and process for its manufacture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a double chamber infusion bag according to the generic term of Claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for producing, Filling and closing such double chamber infusion bags, as well as one Device for performing the method.

Tea infusion bags are used in various forms. In particular, the use of double-chamber infusion bags enforced, the two adjacent to each other, side by side have lying chambers, each containing a quantity of dried and crushed tea leaves included. The two chambers are on the floor a cross fold, also called bottom fold, connected and connected closed at the head end by a connection at the one Thread is attached with a label. This is usually done in two Operations manufactured head closure fold formed by in a first The corners of the infusion bag are folded in one step The second step is the trapezoidal part that remains at the top is folded, whereupon the folded parts by a locking clip connected with the simultaneous attachment of a thread end become. The double chamber infusion bag thus constructed consists of one easily permeable material, which allows the infusion liquid, the leaching out substance to be leached, especially the tea, and the therein dissolve contained substances. In particular, this is filter paper material used.

Such a double-chamber infusion bag is from the German patent known to the applicant 1 001 944. One is made uniform for its manufacture forward moving filter paper web bulged at its edges, become equal quanta of the leached substance at regular intervals applied to the fabric and is made by folding the longitudinal edges a continuous tube is formed on the fabric. Then a two Cut off piece of tube containing substance quanta this piece is folded transversely so that two, one each, due to the transverse folding Chambers containing substance quantum arise, placed side by side become. The ends of the hose section or the ends that were still open both chambers are merged and together through a connection closed off from the folded corners and the one above folded trapezoidal end piece and the hammered locking clip is made of metal. With this closing, the resulting Infusion bag at the same time a thread attached to its free End carries a label, which is also held by a staple is connected to the thread. The disadvantage here is that the bag closure is complicated that many operations in mechanically difficult Technology is required and for attaching the thread to the bag and the label metal clips.

GB 881 748 A is a double-chamber infusion bag known according to the preamble of claim 1, the both chambers with each other via a transverse fold made on the bottom keep in touch. On the head side, the two chambers after the Fold up by a single transverse heat seal closed and connected, with an opening in the middle is provided, through which a label thread can be passed.

A double chamber infusion bag is known from DE 691 00 244 T2, whose two chambers are closed against each other at the bottom fold. For this purpose, the two long sides are sealed by two edge seals and the The head end and the bottom end of each chamber each have a profile end seal closed, the head seal has a convex profile, while the bottom-side sealing with a concave profile is carried out to lateral To form extensions, the appropriate folding a W-shaped Form bottom fold. In the process for producing such Double chamber infusion bags are two pairs of single-layer filter paper webs, a total of four webs, made of heat-sealable filter paper material guided one above the other by means of running in the longitudinal direction Heat seals on the edges (edge seals) two tubular sheets to build. Before that, tea portions are placed on the at spaced intervals lower lane of each pair. With transverse heat seals between the tea portions after sealing the longitudinal edges Chambers formed and closed. Then the two tubular tracks with the chambers aligned with the existing ones Cross seals cut to separate the pairs of chambers and the chambers on the lower extensions are together welded while their upper ends are still left unconnected.

Finally, the two chambers forming the infusion bag are around 180 ° around each other, so that the upper ends of each pair of Chambers are brought together and sealed together can. The thread is also prepared with a heat seal or Adhesive attached to the top of the bag. The disadvantage here is that none Leaching of the tea can take place over the floor area of the chambers, because they are completely separated from each other by a heat seal. The for Leaching, i.e. the passage of liquid permeable bag areas are strong due to the all-round sealing reduced. In addition, the method of manufacture is technically complicated and complex, so that production on a high-speed machine only is difficult to do.

Also in the tea infusion bag described in DE 38 07 795 C2 separation of the chambers in the floor area by heat sealing made, so that this known bag also disadvantages above available.

In view of this prior art, the invention is based on the task , while avoiding the disadvantages mentioned, of developing a double-chamber infusion bag of the type described at the outset, in particular for tea, which meets all the requirements for successful leaching through large, permeable surfaces and a simple closure connection for simultaneous attachment of the label thread without a metal clip. The method and the device for producing such an infusion bag according to the invention is based on the object of enabling production on a high-speed machine, in particular at more than 500 pieces per minute.

The first task is according to the invention by the characterizing features of Claim 1 solved. Through these measures, one Double chamber infusion bag with the cross fold on the bottom with each other connected chambers both ensured successful leaching as also a technically simple lock connection of the chambers at the head end created with a surprisingly functional thread attachment. By the internal arrangement of the thread as a loop between the two Chambers of the double-chamber infusion bag becomes any disruptive influence of the thread on the further processing and packaging processes avoided and easy handling by the user provided by a pull on the label the loop-shaped Expose the thread and as a hanger for the double chamber infusion bag can use. The fact that the two strands of the thread loop with Distance from each other through the transverse heat seal, the heat seal being carried out in such a way that at least one, preferably two channel-like, spaced-apart areas for Free passage of the thread is an extremely compact, in itself closed and therefore easy to handle bag unit available in which the thread loop is completely in the interior between the is housed in both chambers and can be pulled out by pulling on the label, a closed suspension loop for the bag being formed. The Free thread ends can be done with a roof-like folded label strip be connected, preferably the thread ends from the sides inserted into the fold of the label in opposite directions and attached there, in particular are heat sealed so that the ones extending underneath Roof areas of the label remain free and like a rider on the The head end of the bag can be placed on the inside of the thread loop. Around pulling out to make trouble-free, it is appropriate to Thread loop meandering in the interior between the two chambers to lay.

In a preferred embodiment of the double-chamber infusion bag according to the invention is made of a heat sealable fabric, in particular filter paper web, which is produced approximately centrally around its longitudinal axis is folded or folded and by means of a longitudinal edge seal to one Hose is formed by an approximately central transverse fold in two interconnected chambers is divided, the head ends by the Cross heat seal are closed and at the head end by another transverse heat sealing as a closure connection with an inner, pull-out thread loop are connected. In this embodiment the finished double chamber infusion bag has one on each chamber Longitudinal edge sealing and transverse head seals on while the other long side and the bottom are created by folding. With a Such bag shape can be multi-lane, especially double-lane Procedure a high machine cycle number of more than 500 cycles per Minute and the filter paper will be used by about 20 percent in Reduced compared to the previous bag shape.

The longitudinal edge seal is preferably folded inwards around the Double chamber tea bags to keep the width smaller and the longitudinal seam through the folding to give an increase in strength, being optical identity to known infusion bags and the same dimensions can be achieved. The further object is achieved by the method according to claim 7 and solved by the device according to claim 11.

The process is preferably carried out in two lanes and the flat path to Formation of a double hose widened to about four times the bag width. On this wide flat track, parallel and symmetrical are in the same Spaced two rows of substance quanta and are then turned inwards by turning over the longitudinal edges of the wide web to the longitudinal center up to the contact with a joint or overlap as well as through a medium-length heat sealing of the longitudinal edges with each other and with the corresponding, underlying part of the web with the double hose two rows of substance quanta, i.e. one row of substance quanta per Single hose, formed. Then the double hose is replaced by a Longitudinal section in the middle-longitudinal heat seal in two single tubes separated and in a next process step at intervals of two substance quanta in the transverse direction a heat seal on both Single hoses carried out. At these cross seals, the two juxtaposed individual tubes then cut and is then, in a manner known per se, the transverse folding to form the Bottom fold and the pouch chambers and the arrangement of the chambers side made side by side with the thread between the chambers is inserted in the form of a loop. In conclusion, the Cross seals heat-sealed to one another on the head side in such a way that the two strands of the thread loop with their free ends protrude outside and this by means of a roof-folded label be connected to each other.

Preferably, before the cross folding step Longitudinal edge seal folded up so that it can be folded in Interior is positioned to the two chambers. The through the Free thread ends resulting from loop formation are expedient running from the sides against each other into the fold of the Label inserted and there linear by heat sealing on the label attached, the roof surfaces of the label extending underneath freely stay and like a rider on the transverse heat seal of the Bag is placed with the inner thread loop.

Generally it should be noted that instead of the heat seals in equivalent Wise gluing process can be used where this depends Appropriate materials, manufacturing processes and machines can be.

Fig. 1

einen Doppelkammer-Aufgußbeutel im Abpackzustand, perspektivisch,

Fig. 2

den Doppelkammer-Aufgußbeutel der Fig. 1 im Gebrauchszustand,

Fig. 3

eine Ausführungsform eines Doppelkammer-Aufgußbeutels mit einer linksseitigen Längsrandsiegelung, perspektivisch,

Fig. 4

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines Doppelkammer-Aufgußbeutels mit eingefalteter rechtsseitiger Längsrandsiegelung,

Fig. 5

einen Ausschnitt aus einem Doppelschlauch, der ein Zwischenstadium im Rahmen der Herstellung des Doppelkammer-Aufgußbeutels der Fig. 3 verdeutlicht, in schematischer Draufsicht,

Fig. 6

ein weiteres Zwischenstadium in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 7

eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen, Füllen und Verschließen von Doppelkammer-Aufgußbeuteln, schematisch.

Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention result from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which the double-chamber infusion bag according to the invention is shown schematically in several embodiments and a device for carrying out the method according to the invention. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a double chamber infusion bag in the packed state, in perspective,

Fig. 2

1 in the state of use,

Fig. 3

an embodiment of a double-chamber infusion bag with a left-hand longitudinal edge seal, in perspective,

Fig. 4

a preferred embodiment of a double-chamber infusion bag with folded longitudinal edge seal on the right-hand side,

Fig. 5

3 shows a section of a double tube, which illustrates an intermediate stage in the course of the production of the double-chamber infusion bag of FIG. 3, in a schematic plan view,

Fig. 6

another intermediate stage in a schematic side view,

Fig. 7

a device for producing, filling and closing double-chamber infusion bags, schematically.

The double-chamber infusion bag 1 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing has two, side by side adjacent chambers 2 and 3 on the bottom 4 are connected to each other via a W-shaped transverse fold 5 and each a predetermined amount of infusion to be leached out by an infusion liquid Contain substance, especially tea. The two chambers 2 and 3 are on its head end 6 by a transverse heat seal 7 or 8 closed.

Between the side by side adjacent chambers 2 and 3 an interior 9, in which a thread 10 is inserted in a meandering shape, a label 11 is attached to the outside of its free ends 12, 13. Of the meandering in the interior 9 between the two chambers 2 and 3 arranged Thread 10 accordingly forms at least one, in the exemplary embodiment several loops 14, which make it possible to use it in its entire length Packing condition between the two chambers "to hide".

To complete the double chamber infusion bag 1 described so far, it is necessary to connect the two chambers 2 and 3 at their head ends connect to. This lock connection of chambers 2 and 3 is made by a transverse heat seal 15, which in FIG Drawing is shown hatched and in an additional process step is created after that already with the transverse heat seals 7 and 8 provided head ends 6 of the chambers mechanically have been put together. To bring out the thread ends 12 and 13 from the interior 9 to the outside, the transverse heat seal 15 carried out such that two channel-like, Areas 16, 17 spaced apart from one another are free for thread passage stay.

To enable easy connection to the label 11, this is made from a roof-like folded label strip, the shape of which Fig. 2 of the drawing can be seen. The thread ends 12 and 13 are from the sides against each other introduced into the fold of the label 11 and attached there by heat sealing. The ones under the heat seal themselves Extending roof surfaces of the label 11 remain free and can according to Art a rider on the head end 6 of the bag when inside Thread loop 14 are placed, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The user can then easily move the tab, i.e. the label 11, Pull off the bag 1 and thread through the channel-like areas 16 and 17 pull out of the interior 9 until the loop 14 on the middle Area of the transverse heat seal 15 comes to rest. This is how a suspension eyelet 18 formed by the user of the bag 1 For example, can be hung over the spout of the teapot, so that the bag 1 hung in the teapot perfectly leached by the Water is accessible from all sides.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing Tea bag is different from the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 on the left side a longitudinal edge seal 19 is provided, which results from the Manufacturing process results, the following using the example of a two-lane Production described with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6 in more detail becomes. An essential characteristic of the bag in the embodiment 3 also results from the fact that the right in the drawing Longitudinal edge 20 from a longitudinal fold of the base of the manufacture Strip of material.

Starting basis of the figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawing resulting process for producing, filling and sealing Double chamber infusion bags 1 according to that in Fig. 3 of the drawing The embodiment shown is a heat-sealable filter paper web 21, which is used to form a double hose to about four times the bag width B is broadened. In the bag 1 shown, the width is Filter paper web about B = 180 mm. It is carried by a roll of material 22 pulled a pulling device (Fig. 7) and as an initially flat track - if necessary after bulging their edges - fed a metering device 23 for tea. Positioned substance quanta 24 (FIG. 5), ie Pile of tea, evenly spaced in two rows parallel to each other deposited on the filter paper web 21. The filter paper web 21 becomes then by folding the longitudinal edges over a not shown Fitting a hose made by the longitudinal edges towards the inside Be turned over until they touch each other or overlap slightly. The longitudinal edges are made by means of heat sealing rollers 25 with each other and with the corresponding part of the Filter paper web 21 connected and becomes a center-to-center heat seal 26 about 10mm wide. There is now a double hose which is then cut into two individual tubes 28 by a slitter 27, 29 is cut by a longitudinal cut in the central longitudinal heat seal 26 is carried out. Due to the longitudinal cut, each one later emerges finished double chamber bag a longitudinal edge seal 19 and through folding the edges of the underlying filter paper web 21 after inside the longitudinal fold 20 on the other side of the bag, as shown in FIG. 3 the drawing is shown.

In a preferred embodiment shown in the drawing in FIG. 4 of a double-chamber tea infusion bag 39 is the longitudinal edge seal 19 folded inside, as the dashed lines show. The tea bag is therefore smaller in width, with the longitudinal seam being folded Experiencing an increase in their strength. Visually, identity becomes familiar Infusion bags of the same dimensions achieved. The device is for this Einfalter 40 provided.

In the running direction behind the Einfalter 40 there is a device for cross sealing with heat sealing rollers 30, which are the endless, lengthways closed and containing substance quanta 24 at intervals Individual tubes 28 and 29 at such intervals in pieces of tubing the same length in the transverse direction that each Hose piece in the two individual hoses 28 and 29 two substance quanta Contains 24 and each to a double chamber infusion bag can be shaped subsequently. Every two Substantial quantum is therefore a cross heat seal 31 over both Single hoses 28 and 29 performed and is then with a Cross cutter 32 in the middle of each cross heat seal 31 a cut performed to form the two pieces of hose, from which in the further Course of the procedure two double chamber bags parallel to each other in the two-lane processing can be produced. They are for the formation of the Pieces of tubing serving double-chamber infusion bags are so dimensioned and preformed that after a side-by-side laying described below of the tube pieces forming the chambers, their head ends 6 with one another be made to coincide with a closure connection of the chambers to be able to execute with each other. Before that, however, is the interpretation of one Thread for label attachment and making a W-shaped Bottom rebate required.

In the running direction behind the described device for cutting off Pieces of hose with the cross cutter 32 is a device 33 for laying out and cutting the thread 10 in the longitudinal direction arranged with a Device 34 cooperates to form the W-shaped bottom fold 5. This has a folding sword 35 for each of the two individual tubes 28 and 29 on, which by moving down the hose pieces in presses in a die located underneath and thereby the die Substance quanta 24 containing tube parts side by side and the W-shaped bottom fold 5 forms as a cross fold. In this The two chambers of each are already in the manufacturing stage Hose piece side by side and the head ends of the chambers are each other adjacent. With mutually movable mold jaws 36 Head ends 6 of the chambers including the one located in the interior 9 Thread jammed together and for the further process steps held.

Then a cross seal is made with a plier-like tool 37 the head ends 6 of the two chambers performed, these Heat sealing is carried out so that the two channel-like, to each other spaced areas 16 and 17 remain free for threading. Of the Thread 10 is therefore free to move and not sealed in and can be pulled out on the outside.

In the subsequent device 38 for attaching the The label 11 on the thread 10 first finds a roof-shaped fold of the Label strip and then an introduction of the two thread ends of the Sides against each other in the fold of the label so that their fastening there can be carried out by heat sealing such that the roof surfaces of the label 11 extending underneath remain free and can be placed on the bag head like a rider. At this Two double-chamber infusion bags are in place in two-lane processing completed, which can be fed side by side to a carton filling.

Reference list

1

Double chamber tea bags

2nd

chamber

3rd

chamber

4th

ground

5

W-shaped cross fold

6

Headboard

7

Heat seal across

8th

Heat seal across

9

inner space

10th

thread

11

label

12th

Thread end

13

Thread end

14

Thread loops

15

transverse heat seal

16

channel-like area

17th

channel-like area

18th

Suspension eyelet

19th

Longitudinal edge sealing

20th

Longitudinal folding

21

Filter paper web

22

Roll of material

23

Dosing device

24th

Substance quanta

25th

Heat sealing rollers

26

Medium-length heat seal

27

Slitter

28

Single hose

29

Single hose

30th

Heat sealing rollers

31

Cross heat seal

32

Cross cutter

33

Laying out device of thread

34

Institution for the formation of the Bottom rebate

35

Folding sword

36

Shaped jaws

37

plier-like heat seal tool

38

Attachment device of the thread on the label

39

Double chamber tea infusion bag

40

Einfalter

Claims (13)

1. Twin-chamber infusion bag for a substance, especially tea, to be extracted by an infusion liquid, with two chambers (2, 3) lying side-by-side and each containing a quantity of the substance (24), said chambers being connected to one another at the base (4) via a transverse fold (5) and the top ends (6) of which are attached to one another by a connection in which a thread (10) is fastened to a label (11), the loop (14) of said thread being completely accommodated in the inner space between the two chambers (2, 3) and being able to be withdrawn by a tug on the label (11),
   characterised in that
   the top ends of each chamber (2, 3) are closed by a separate transverse heat seal (7, 8) and are inter-connected to one another by a further transverse heat seal (15) in which the thread (10) is led as a loop (14) on the inside between the two chambers (2, 3) lying side-by-side and the label (11) is connected to the two free thread ends (12, 13) arising from the formation of the loop and disposed on the outside; in that the two strands of the thread loop (14) are led through the transverse heat seal (15) at a spacing from one another; and in that the heat seal (15) is realised in such a manner that two duct-like regions (16, 17) at a spacing from one another remain free for the thread to be led through them, the thread loop (4) being able to be withdrawn by a tug on the label (11), a closed hanging loop (18) being formed for the bag.
2. Twin-chamber infusion bag according to claim 1, characterised in that the free thread ends (12, 13) are connected to a label strip which is folded roof-like.
3. Twin-chamber infusion bag according to claim 2, characterised in that the thread ends (12, 13) are inserted into the fold of the label (11) running towards one another and attached there, especially heat-sealed, the roof surfaces of the label (11) extending therebelow remaining free and being able to be placed in the manner of a rider on the top end (6) of the bag with the thread loop (14) lying inside.
4. Twin-chamber infusion bag according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the thread loop (14) is laid in a meander shape in the inner space (9) between the two chambers (2, 3).
5. Twin-chamber infusion bag according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it is produced from a material web which is able to be heat-sealed, especially a web of filter paper, and which is pushed inwards or folded (20) around its longitudinal axis and shaped by means of a longitudinal edge seal (19) into a tube which is divided by an approximately central transverse fold (5) into two inter-connected chambers (2, 3) whose top ends are closed by the transverse heat seal (7, 8) and are connected at the top end by a further transverse heat seal as a closing connection having an inner pull-out thread loop (14).
6. Twin-chamber infusion bag according to claim 5, characterised in that the longitudinal edge seal (19) is folded inwards.
7. Method for manufacturing, filling and closing twin-chamber infusion bags for a substance, especially tea, to be extracted by an infusion liquid, according to one of claims 1 to 6, from an initially flat web of the bag material, especially filter paper which may be heat-sealed, on which - if necessary after arching of the edges - positioned quantities (24) of the substance to be extracted are deposited at equal spacings, a continuous tube being then formed from the web (21), which tube, in a next process step, is subjected to heat sealing in a transverse direction at regular intervals, respectively taking two quantities (24) of the substance, corresponding to the longitudinal dimension of the bags to be produced, and is cut at the transverse heat seals (31) and divided by an approximately central transverse fold into two chambers (2, 3) each containing a quantity of the substance and disposed side-by-side, a thread (10) being inserted between the chambers (2, 3) in the form of a loop (14) and then the transverse seals (7, 8) being heat-sealed at the top end to one another in such a way that both strands of the thread loop (14) project outwards with their free ends (12, 13) and are connected to the label by a connection, the two strands of the thread loop (14) being led through the transverse heat seal (15) at a spacing from one another, and the heat-sealing being carried out in an intermittent manner in such a way that two duct-like regions (16, 17) at a spacing from one another remain free for the thread to be led through them, and the above individual method steps being carried out in a plurality of webs parallel to one another.
8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the method steps are carried out in a dual-track manner and the flat web (21) is widened to approximately four times the bag width to form a double tube; in that two rows of quantities (24) of the substance are positioned parallel and symmetrically at equal spacings from one another on the web (21); in that, by folding over the longitudinal edges of the wide web inwards towards the longitudinal centre point until they touch on impact or overlap, as well as by central longitudinal heat-sealing (26) of the longitudinal edges to one another and to the corresponding portion, lying thereunder, of the web, the double tube is formed with two rows of quantities (24) of the substance; in that the double tube is then divided into two individual tubes by a longitudinal cut in the central longitudinal heat seal (26); in that, in the next method step, heat sealing is carried out in a transverse direction on the two individual tubes at regular spacings each taking two quantities (24) of the substance, corresponding to the longitudinal dimension of the bags to be produced, and the two adjacent individual tubes (28, 29) being cut at the transverse heat seals (31), folded transversely with the thread (10) inserted and heat-sealed to one another at the top end, the two strands of the thread loop (14) being interconnected by means of a label folded roof-like.
9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that, before the method step of transverse folding, the longitudinal edge seal (19) is folded over inwards in such a way that, after the transverse folding, it is positioned in the inner space (9) between the two chambers.
10. Method according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the free thread ends (12, 13) arising from the formation of the loop are inserted from the sides into a roof-like label fold running towards each other and are fastened there in a line to the label (11) by heat-sealing, the roof surfaces of the label (11) extending therebelow remaining free and being placed in the manner of a rider on the top end (6) of the bag with the thread loop (14) lying inside.
11. Device for carrying out the method according to one of claims 7 to 10 with the following processing stations disposed in succession behind one another in the processing direction, in a dual-track, parallel, adjacent layout;

    a) material roll (22) for a web of filter paper (21) able to be heat-sealed, to form a double tube from a single flat material web;

    b) pulling and feeding device for the web of filter paper (21);

    c) metering device (23) to form and deposit quantities (24) of the substance on the filter paper web (21) in two rows;

    d) folding device, especially with a shaping rail to produce a tube;

    e) heat-sealing device, especially heat-sealing rollers (25) to form a longitudinal seam and to divide the tube into a double tube;

    f) longitudinal cutting device (27), preferably with a pre-folding device;

    g) folding device (40) for turning the longitudinal edge seal (19) inwards;

    h) device for sealing transversely the two individual tubes (28, 29);

    i) cross-cutting device (32) to separate tube pieces, having respectively two quantities (24) of the substance, in the two individual tubes (28, 29);

    j) device (33) for laying out a thread (10);

    k) device (34) for forming a W-shaped base fold (35), with a folding blade (35);

    l) clamping device, especially form jaws (36) to hold the top ends (6) of the bags enclosing the thread located in the inner space (9);

    m) transverse sealing device (37) for heat-sealing the top ends (6) of each bag in such a manner that two duct-like regions (16, 17) at a spacing from one another remain free for the thread to be led through them, and

    n) device (38) for attaching the label (11) to the thread (10).
12. Device according to claim 11, characterised by a folding-in device (40) between the longitudinal cutter (27) and the transverse sealing device (30).
13. Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterised by a device for attaching a label (11), folded roof-like, to the thread (10) by heat-sealing.

Images