EP2052976B1 - Device for manufacturing infusion bags - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has an infusion material supply for supplying extraction capable material and a bag material supply for supplying bag material surrounded by the infusion material. An extraction drift is provided for discharging an infusion bag and a switch is provided for deriving defective infusion bag. A cutting unit is an air separation cutting unit, which has a cutting chamber (26) with a rotary cutting tool, an infusion material outlet and a bag material outlet (36) closed with a flap (37).

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for making infusion bags having an infusion material supply for supplying infusible material and a bag material supply for supplying bag material surrounding the infusion material, which is transformed into filled infusion bags in the device including a predetermined amount of infusible material. The previously known device has a conveying path for discharging the infusion bags and a switch for diverting defective infusion bags, which is followed by a cutting device and a conveyor for recovering and returning the infusible material faulty infusion bag to the infusion material supply.

Method and apparatus for producing filled infusion bags are known from the prior art, such as EP 1 002 743 A , of the EP 1 142 789 A1 or even the EP 1 164 080 all of which date back to the present applicant. In principle, in the previously known devices, the infusible material, in particular tea with the bag material, ie the web-fed material surrounding the infusible material and allows flushing of flavor from the infusible material and through the bag material, wrapped. There are known one-chamber and Doppelkammeraufgussbeutel. In the particular embodiment of the infusion bag and the apparatus for producing the corresponding infusion bag is not important in the present invention.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the batch-return of infillable material from initially produced defective infusion bags which prove defective during production. Such defective infusion bags have always been diverted in a diverter provided in the rear of the infusion bag making apparatus and activated by a signal generated by one or more sensors associated with the infusion bag making apparatus and which faulty infusion bag detects.

Conventionally, the defective infusion bags are comminuted at a separate processing station and the bag material is separated from the infusible material. The latter is fed back to the apparatus for producing infusion bags. However, there is a need to be able to trace food back to batches. This also applies to infusible bags, especially tea bags and so it is with the EP 1 813 535 has proposed to associate the device for the production of infusion bags with a device for recovering tea from malformed teabags.

In this known prior art, the bags are destroyed and the tea obtained in this case returned after sieving batchwise the bag material supply. The known device has a cutting device with cutting cylinders, which are arranged on at least two parallel, rotationally driven shafts and mesh with each other such that a first radially encircling edge of a cutting cylinder, which is mounted on a shaft, as a cutting edge axially against a radially encircling edge of another cylinder which is arranged on the other shaft, acting as a counter-blade shearing. A second radially encircling, axially in an opposite direction to the first facing edge of the cylinder is provided as a second cutting edge of this cylinder axially against a radially encircling edge of a third cylinder on another shaft. Due to this special design of the cutting unit, the defective infusion bag should be cut into strips with its bag material. The cutting unit is followed by a screening plant in which the bag material is separated from the tea.

The intermeshing cutting cylinders require compliance with relatively accurate tolerances. Moreover, cutting the bag material into parallel strips does not prevent the formation of pockets in which infusible material is trapped. Accordingly, in the prior art device further measures, such as a vibrating chute are provided to separate the cut bag material from the infusible material.

With the present invention, a simplified device for the preparation of infusion bags of the type mentioned in contrast to be given, which is suitable for the faithful return of the infusible material in the processing of the same to infusion bags.

To solve this problem, the present invention provides an apparatus having the features of claim 1.

In the apparatus according to the invention, the infusible material is already separated from the bag material in the cutting device. For this purpose, the cutting device has two separate outlets, wherein one outlet is prepared such that the infusible material is conveyed out of the cutting chamber through the latter, while the other outlet is prepared so that bag material leaves the cutting chamber through this outlet.

For separating the two different materials in the cutting device, the principle of air classification is essentially used. The flow required for this, which separates the relatively large-area shreds of the bag material from the relatively small granular infusion material, is preferably generated by the rotation of the rotating cutting tool. The flow entrains the shreds of the bag material which, after opening the flap in the flow, are discharged from the cutting chamber. For this purpose, the bag material outlet is provided in extension of a peripheral wall surrounding the cutting tool and in front of the latter in the direction of rotation of the cutting tool, so that the flow generated by the cutting tool flows against the bag material outlet.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is proposed to arrange the axis of rotation of the cutting tool substantially in the horizontal and to provide the flap above the axis of rotation and in the direction of rotation of the cutting tool, for example, a knife and in extension of a circumferentially surrounding the cutting tool side wall of the cutting chamber. In this embodiment, the bag material is cut into shreds by the rotating cutting tool and swirled up by the rotation of the cutting tool and to an outlet, which usually does not reach the relatively small particles of the infusible material even with a rotation of the cutting tool. It has proven to be advantageous to rotate the cutting blade at a speed of between 1500 and 2500 revolutions per minute. Depending on the rotational speed of the cutting blade, sometimes also parts of the infusible material are entrained by the flow generated by the cutting blade. In this case, the outlet for the bag material is kept closed until the infusible material has completely or almost completely dripped through the infusion material outlet, which may be formed by a sieve, for example, and has left the cutting chamber.

The specific development of the present invention according to claims 2 or 3 leaves open the possibility to open the flap when cutting the bag. Preferably, however, the bag is first cut with the flap closed. The shredded bag material circulates with the rotating cutting tool in the cutting chamber, whereas the infusible material exits through a screen the cutting chamber located in the bottom of the cutting chamber, i. in the direction of gravity below the cutting tool. After the infusible material has left the cutting chamber through the screen passing through this material, the flap is opened so that the shreds of the bag material can leave the cutting chamber. Thereafter, the flap is closed to prepare the cutting chamber for a new expected bag to be shredded in the cutting chamber.

The previously mentioned development accordingly enables the complete emptying of the cutting chamber and the separation of the bag material from at least the infusible material solely by rotation of the cutting tool with the aid of a screen and an opening to be closed by a flap.

It has proven to be advantageous to provide on the switch a blower which is operable in response to a signal generated by a sensor detecting a faulty bag. This blower is associated with a collecting chamber for the blown-up infusion bag, which is upstream of the conveyor line and arranged above the cutting chamber. The collecting chamber is located in front of a plan view of the device of the conveyor line, ie before the same. The faulty infusion bag is accordingly blown away from the actual device for producing the infusion bag and removed from it. The defective bag thus removed from the conveying path passes by gravity into the cutting chamber, since the collecting chamber is arranged above the cutting chamber, ie the defective bag falls or slides into the cutting chamber. For this purpose, usually between the collecting chamber and the cutting chamber only the defective bag leading tube is provided. The collecting chamber preferably opens into the cutting chamber at approximately the same height as the bag material outlet, but is provided in the direction of rotation of the cutting tool on the opposite side relative to the flap, ie behind the cutting tool in the direction of rotation. This gives the possibility to generate by rotation of the cutting tool, a flow, which eventually in the collecting chamber Hanging segregated faulty infusion bag sucks into the cutting chamber. However, defective infusion bags usually fall into the cutting chamber solely by gravity.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, which allows retrofitting existing devices for the production of infusion bags, the blower and the collecting chamber are provided opposite each other, in such a way that between the conveyor line can be arranged. As part of such a return module, which may for example be mounted on rollers mounted on the device for the production of infusion bags zoom in, the cutting chamber is also provided. In any case, however, the return module has an independent machine housing, which stands on the floor and / or is carried by the machine housing, but in any case is connected to it. The module is designed so that also suitable for retrofitting existing devices for the production of infusion bags without appropriate return possibility of infusion material faulty infusion bag. Pneumatic delivery hoses are used to transport the infusion material from the cutting chamber to the infusion material supply on the one hand or the cut bag material to a collecting container. This can be formed for example by a conventional industrial vacuum cleaner.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided between the blower and the collecting chamber a standing upright on the conveyor line infusion bag in the region of the switch leading guide rail. This guide rail is pivotally mounted and driven, in such a way that the guide rail pivots away on actuation of the blower from the conveyor line. In other words, the guide rail releases the lateral guidance of the infusion bag during a blow-out pulse, so that it can be separated from the conveyor line.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Aufgussbeuteln;

Figur 2

eine Stirnseitenansicht des in Figur 1 gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiels;

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Seitenansicht in etwa entsprechend Figur 2 der Schneid- einrichtung des in den Figuren 1 und 2 gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiels;

Figur 4

den in Figur 3 gezeigten Ausschnitt des Ausführungsbeispiels von der Rück- seite und

Figur 5

eine vergrößerte Seitenansicht in etwa entsprechend Figur 3 der Schneidein- richtung.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. In this show:

FIG. 1

a plan view of an embodiment of an apparatus for producing infusion bags;

FIG. 2

an end view of the in FIG. 1 shown embodiment;

FIG. 3

a perspective side view approximately corresponding FIG. 2 the cutting device of the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown embodiment;

FIG. 4

the in FIG. 3 shown section of the embodiment of the back page and

FIG. 5

an enlarged side view approximately corresponding FIG. 3 the cutting device.

The FIGS. 1 and 2 show - partially schematically - an embodiment of an apparatus for producing infusion bags. The previously known device has an infusion material feed 2 comprising a funnel 4, which is arranged on the upper side of a machine housing 6 shown schematically. Immediately adjacent to the hopper 4 and also on the top of the machine housing 6 is a pneumatic conveyor 8 with a feed hopper 10, which communicates via a conveyor pipe 12 with a memory 14 of a metering device 16 not further detailed.

In the machine housing 6, there are various parts of the system which metered via the infusion material supply 2 supplied infusible material, supplying portions of bag material, which are folded into an infusion bag and sealed. At the end of this production line is shown with broken lines star wheel 18, at the arms each an infusion bag clamped in the last process steps of the manufacturing process and through which the finished infusion bag is finally deposited on a conveyor line 20, via which the finished infusion bags are conveyed away. This conveyor line 20 extends substantially in the horizontal direction with an inclination of 45 ° to the vertical. The individual infusion bags are transported upright with their respective label on this conveyor line 20 upwards.

In particular FIG. 2 can be seen, this conveyor line 20 is located between a collecting chamber 22, which is arranged with respect to the machine housing 6 in front of the conveyor line 20, and provided near the machine housing 6 blow-out 24. The blow-out 24 is directed with its blow-out on the conveyor line, in such a way that an upright infusion bag receives a pulse transversely to the conveying direction of the conveying path 20 and enters the collecting chamber 22. The Blower 24 has an electromagnetic valve in front of which there is a constant supply of positive pressure air and which is opened to a signal from a number of sensors that check the teabag quality, indicating that a faulty infusion bag is passing through the blower 24.

Below the collecting chamber 22 is a cutting chamber 26, in which a rotating cutting tool in the form of a knife 28 is provided with two opposing blades 30 ( FIG. 5 ). The knife 28 is circumferentially surrounded by a side wall 32 that extends substantially annularly around the knife 28. On the upper side of the cutting chamber 26 there are two openings, namely in the direction of rotation D of the knife 28 behind this faulty bag inlet 34 and an outlet 36 for the bag material recessed at the opposite end of the upper side. This outlet 36 for the bag material lies in the direction of rotation of the rotating blade 28 in front of it. At the bottom, the side wall 32 has a plurality of holes and is formed in the manner of a screen 38. Below the screen 38 is a collection space 40 for the infusible material of the defective infusion bag.

In FIG. 5 an infusion bag in the form of a tea bag 42 is also shown for size comparison of individual device parts with the tea bag 42 to be shredded.

The bag material outlet 36, which is closable with a pivotable and driven flap 37, is covered by an exit bow 44 which initially deflects the flow within the bend 44 from the outlet 36 by 180 ° and has a neck 45 at its outlet. on which a waste conveyor hose 46 is attached, which leads to a collecting container with integrated suction device in the manner of an industrial vacuum cleaner 48.

Below the collecting space 40 is a connection piece 50 for a flexible conveyor hose 52 for recovered tea, which connects the collecting space 40 with the conveyor 8.

How the particular FIGS. 1 and 2 can recognize the cutting chamber 26 and the blower 24 are formed with the associated collecting chamber 22 as part of a roller mounted on return module 54, which can be pushed up as a separate component to the machine housing 6. The blow-out device 24 is detachably connected thereto attached to the housing of the cutting chamber 26 and can be mounted after removal of the return module 54 between the conveyor line 20 and the machine housing 6.

If, in the production of teabags, a faulty tea bag is detected by corresponding sensors arranged on the machine, the machine control transmits the corresponding sensor signal to the blower device so that it opens a blowout pulse directed to the conveyor line 20 by opening the solenoid valve, if the corresponding faulty teabag Infusion bag passes the blow-out device. At the same time, a lateral guide, which delimits the conveying path 20 and is provided between the collecting chamber 22 and the conveying path 20, is pivoted upwards, so that the lateral guidance of the upright tea bag in the area of the blow-out device 24 is canceled. The thus-laterally irradiated tea bag is accordingly removed from the conveying path 20 and spent via the air blast via the collecting chamber 22.

By gravity, the separated tea bag 42 falls into the cutting chamber 26. In FIG. 2 is located in the cutting chamber 26 teabag 42 lying on the screen 38 lying. Now the knife 28 is activated. By the rotation of the blade 28, the blades 30 disassemble the tea bag 42 including a label disposed thereon. The rotation of the blade 28 is adjusted so that the material forming the bag and the label is shredded. This material is swirled by the rotation of the blade 28 in the cutting chamber 26, whereas the tea falls through the screen 38 into the plenum 40 due to its lower engagement surface and relatively higher weight. The operating conditions and service life of the blade 28 are pre-set, such that sufficient tearing of the teabag 42 into small shreds is ensured and there is no fear that the teabag material will form pockets or the like in which significant amounts of tea may catch ,

After the bag has been separated and the tea has exited completely or nearly completely through the screen 38 from the cutting chamber 26, the flap 37 is opened. The rotating blade 28 acts as a fan which generates a stream of air flowing through the outlet 36, which also entrains the shreds of the divided bag material and the label and removes them via the exit sheet 44. There, the vacuum generated by the industrial vacuum cleaner 48 acts, which sucks the shreds through the waste conveyor hose 46.

The tea located in the collecting space 40 is usually temporarily stored there until a certain number of tea bags have been cut in the cutting chamber 26. Preferably, a sensor is assigned to the collecting space 40, which checks the fill level in the collecting space 40 and sends a signal for conveying the recovered tea to the infusion material feed 7. Thereafter, the pneumatic conveying device 8 is turned on to suck the tea material from the collecting space 40 via the delivery hose 52 to the infusion material supply 2. The tea falls over the feed hopper 10 and the obliquely downward conveying tube 12 into the memory 14 and is there for reuse.

The present invention is intended to provide batched return of tea from defective infusion bags. Accordingly, in any case with a new batch, which is supplied via the main hopper 4 of the machine, the collecting space is completely emptied by operating the conveyor 8.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. Thus, several cutting tools can be provided in the cutting chamber. In addition to knives and thread or other suitable cutting devices are conceivable that can cut the Aufgussbeutelmaterial. In addition to cutting tools which are fixedly mounted on a rotating axis, those are also conceivable, which are arranged movably, or in parts movable on a rotating cutting tool holder. The illustrated orientation of the axis of rotation of the cutting blade in the horizontal is merely an example. As well, the knife can rotate about a vertical axis and fall, for example, in the axial direction in the cutting chamber. In this case, the two outlets for the infusion material on the one hand and the bag material on the other hand will usually continue to provide in the circumferential direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the cutting blade, so that the two materials can be discharged from the cutting chamber by the centrifugal force or flow.

In addition to a pneumatic return of the recovered infusion material and other promotions are possible, such as a screw conveyor. It is equally conceivable to provide a separate conveying device for conveying the defective infusion bags from the ejection station to the cutting device. The promotion of the faulty infusion bag from the ejection station solely by gravity, however, represents a very simple alternative, which will preferably provide.

Further, the cutting chamber may be sized to first collect a plurality of faulty infusion bags in the cutting chamber and only later to energize the cutting tool to separate the infusion material from the bag material.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

Infusion material supply

4

funnel

6

machine housing

8th

conveyor

10

promotes judge

12

delivery pipe

14

Storage

16

metering

18

star wheel

20

conveyor line

22

collecting chamber

24

blow-out

26

cutting chamber

28

knife

30

Sound

32

Side wall

34

Inlet for faulty bags

36

Outlet for the bag material

37

flap

38

scree

40

plenum

42

Teabag

44

initial sheet

45

Support

46

Waste feed hose

48

industrial vacuum cleaners

50

spigot

52

delivery hose

54

Recirculation module

Claims (7)

1. Device for manufacturing infusion bags with an infusion material feed (2) for feeding infusible material and a bag material feed for feeding bag material enclosing the infusion material which is converted in the device with inclusion of a predetermined quantity of the infusible material to filled infusion bags (42), with a conveyer section (20) for conveying the infusion bags (42) and a switch for removing defective infusion bags (42), followed by a cutting device (26, 28) and a conveyer device (8, 52) for recovering and returning the infusible material of defective infusion bags (42) to the infusion material feed (2),
   characterised in that
   the cutting device (26, 28) is a cutting and separating device working on the air separation principle (26, 28) which has a cutting chamber (26) with a rotating cutting tool (28), an infusion material outlet (38) and a bag material outlet (36) that can be sealed with a flap (37), wherein a flow can be produced in the cutting device (26, 28) to separate the bag material from the infusion material.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the bag material outlet (36) is provided in extension of a side wall (32) extensively enclosing the cutting tool (28) and in a direction of rotation of the cutting tool before said cutting tool (28) .
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the axis of rotation of the cutting tool (28) extends substantially horizontally and the flap (37) is provided above the axis of rotation and in the direction of rotation of the cutting tool (28) before this and by extension of a side wall (32) extensively enclosing the cutting tool (28).
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the infusion material outlet (38) is formed by a sieve (38) allowing through the infusible material, which sieve (38) is followed, in the direction of gravity, by an infusion material collecting chamber (40).
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switch comprises a blow-out device (24) which can be operated as a function of a signal which is produced by at least one sensor detecting a defective bag (42) and to which is assigned a collecting chamber (22) for the blown-out infusion bag (42) which is positioned before the delivery section (20) and is arranged above the cutting chamber (26).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the blow-out device (24) and the collecting chamber (22) are arranged opposite one another with inclusion of the delivery section (20) and are realized as part of a return module (54) comprising the cutting chamber (26) and which is connected by pneumatic delivery hoses (46, 52) to the infusion material feed (2) on the one hand and to an infusion bag material collecting container (48) on the other.
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that between the blow-out device (24) and the collecting chamber (22) is provided a guide rail guiding the infusion bag (42) standing upright on the delivery section (20) in the area of the switch, which guide rail is positioned to be able to swivel and is driven in such a way that the guide rail swings away from the delivery section (20) when the blow-out device (24) is operated.

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