Plant for producing single-dose capsules for preparing beverages
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B29C-065/00
B65C-001/04
B65C-009/00
B32B-037/00
B32B-038/04
B32B-038/10
출원번호
US-0388050
(2009-02-18)
등록번호
US-8276639
(2012-10-02)
우선권정보
IT-RE2008A0025 (2008-02-22)
발명자
/ 주소
Binacchi, Fabio
출원인 / 주소
Opem S.p.A.
대리인 / 주소
Browdy and Neimark, PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
2
초록▼
A plant for manufacturing single-dose capsules for preparing beverages, comprising a conveyor (2) for advancing impermeable shells (101) in succession along a production line, which plant comprises at least: forming means (3) for forming individual beaker-shaped filters (105) of filtering material a
A plant for manufacturing single-dose capsules for preparing beverages, comprising a conveyor (2) for advancing impermeable shells (101) in succession along a production line, which plant comprises at least: forming means (3) for forming individual beaker-shaped filters (105) of filtering material and for releasing each of the beaker-shaped filters (105) inside an impermeable shell (101), means for adjusting the level of each beaker-shaped filter (105) inside the relative impermeable shell (101), and welding means (5) for welding the upper edge of each beaker-shaped filter (105) to the upper edge of the impermeable shell (101) in which the beaker-shaped filter (105) is inserted.
대표청구항▼
1. A plant for manufacturing single-dose capsules for preparing beverages, comprising: a conveyor (2) for advancing impermeable shells (101) in succession along a production line, the production line comprising:a first operative station (A) comprising a forming unit (3) for forming individual beaker
1. A plant for manufacturing single-dose capsules for preparing beverages, comprising: a conveyor (2) for advancing impermeable shells (101) in succession along a production line, the production line comprising:a first operative station (A) comprising a forming unit (3) for forming individual beaker-shaped filters (105) made of a filtering material and a releasing unit for partially inserting each of the formed beaker-shaped filters (105) inside an impermeable shell (101); anda second operative station (B,C) disposed downstream from the first operative station (A) comprising: a regulating unit (59, 60) for regulating a level of each partially inserted beaker-shaped filter (105) inside the relative impermeable shell (101) and pushing the beaker-shaped filter (105) to slide into the shell (101), said regulating unit being independent from the forming unit; anda welding unit welding an upper edge of each beaker-shaped filter (105) to an upper edge of the impermeable shell (101) in which the beaker-shaped filter (105) is inserted. 2. The plant of claim 1, wherein the forming unit (3) comprises a device causing a tape (13) of a filtering material to pass onto a forming matrix (30), a cutting unit (42), collaborating with the forming matrix (30), for cutting the tape (13) along a perimetral edge of the forming matrix (30) to separate a single portion of the tape (13) from the tape, and a sliding punch (46) which pushes the portion of tape (13) internally of a through-cavity (33) of the matrix (30), such as to impart a beaker shape on the portion of tape (13) and cause the portion of tape (13) to exit from an opposite end of the cavity (33), such as to release the portion of tape (13) internally of a relative impermeable shell (101). 3. The plant of claim 2, wherein the sliding punch (46) and the axial through-cavity (33) of the forming matrix (30) are both grooved, such as to give rise to corresponding grooves in a side wall of the beaker-shaped filter (105). 4. The plant of claim 2, wherein the cutting unit comprises a blade (42) having an annular development which is coaxial and which in plan view exhibits a profile which complements a profile of the perimetral edge of the forming matrix (30), and a first activating unit for obtaining a relative movement of the annular blade (42) in an axial direction with respect to the forming matrix (30), with interposing of the tape (13) of filtering material. 5. The plant of claim 2, wherein the cutting unit (42) comprises a tape ring clamp 35 which is coaxial to the forming matrix (30), and which pushes the tape (13) of filtering material against a support surface (11) which surrounds the forming matrix (30), such as to delimit and block the portion of tape (13) to be separated on the support surface (11), and an activating unit for obtaining a relative movement in an axial direction of the tape ring clamp 35 with respect to the support surface (11). 6. The plant of claim 4, wherein the annular blade (42) is attached to a support body (43), which support body (43) is coupled to the tape ring clamp (35) by means which allow relative movements thereof in an axial direction. 7. The plant of claim 6, wherein the support body (43) comprises a through hole (44), a second activating unit for obtaining a relative movement of the sliding punch (46) in an axial direction with respect to the support body (43). 8. The plant of claim 6, wherein the support body (43) comprises a truncoconical surface which pushes the tape (13) of filtering material into a truncoconical depression situated at a mouth of the through-cavity (33) of the forming matrix (30). 9. The plant of claim 1, wherein the welding unit comprises at least two welding devices (5, 6), which respectively operate in a first welding station (B) of said second stations and a second welding station (C) of said second stations, the second welding device being disposed downstream of the first welding device, each welding device (5, 6) welding different portions of the upper edge of the beaker-shaped filter (105), such as in combination to obtain a complete welding of the edge. 10. The plant of claim 9, wherein the welding devices (5, 6) weld at least partially-overlapping portions of the edge of the beaker-shaped filter (105). 11. The plant of claim 9, wherein each welding device (5, 6) comprises a plurality of heatable blocks (50), which are arranged around a central axis (G) of the device, aligned with the axis of the shell (101) which is situated in the first welding station or the second welding station (B, C) respectively, a third activating unit for obtaining a relative movement of the heatable blocks (50) in an axial direction with respect to the shell (101), and a unit for reciprocally distancing the heatable blocks (50) with respect to the central axis (G), in such a way that each of the heatable blocks (50) pushes a portion of the beaker-shaped filter (105) from inside and outwardly against the shell (101) in which the beaker-shaped filter (105) is inserted. 12. The plant of claim 11, wherein each heatable block (50) exhibits an outwardly-facing contact surface (51) a cross-section of which is an arc of circumference profile having a radius of curvature substantially equal to a radius of the mouth of the shell (101). 13. The plant of claim 11, wherein the heatable blocks (50) are angularly equidistant with respect to the central axis (G) of the welding device. 14. The plant of claim 11, wherein the means for distancing are configured in such a way as to move the heatable blocks (50) while always maintaining the heatable blocks (50) equidistant from the central axis (G) of the welding device. 15. The plant of claim 11, wherein the unit for distancing comprise a plurality of support arms (53), each of which exhibits an end attached to a respective heatable block (50), and an opposite end hinged to a base (54) with an axis of hinging which is perpendicular to the central axis (G) of the welding device, and a fourth activating unit to cause the support arms (53) to oscillate contemporaneously about respective axes of hinging. 16. The plant of claim 15, wherein the fourth activating unit comprises a plurality of connecting rods (58), each of which exhibits an end which is hinged to an intermediate point of a respective support arm (53) and an opposite end which is hinged to a single connecting body (57), which is activated by an actuator (56) to move along the central axis (G) of the welding device. 17. The plant of claim 16, wherein the actuator (56) comprise a cylinder-piston group (56). 18. The plant of claim 11, wherein the unit for adjusting a level of the beaker-shaped filter (105) are associated to the first welding device (5) which operates in the first welding station (B), and comprise a levelling ring (59, 60) which is solidly attached to the first welding device (5), and which coaxially surrounds the relative heatable blocks (50), which levelling ring (59, 60) pushes the beaker-shaped filter (105) internally of the impermeable shell (101), following a relative movement of the first welding device (5) in an axial direction with respect to the shell (101). 19. The plant of claim 5, wherein the annular blade (42) is attached to a support body (43), which support body (43) is coupled to the tape ring clamp (35) by means which allow relative movements thereof in an axial direction. 20. The plant of claim 19, wherein the support body (43) comprises a through hole (44), a fifth activating unit for obtaining a relative movement of the sliding punch (46) in an axial direction with respect to the support body (43). 21. The plant of claim 19, wherein the support body (43) comprises a truncoconical surface which pushes the tape (13) of filtering material into a truncoconical depression situated at a mouth of the through-cavity (33) of the forming matrix (30).
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Pajak Bernard W. (Princeton NJ) Kennedy Richard A. (Basking Ridge NJ) Bowers Paul K. (Ledgewood NJ), Apparatus for sealing a container.
van der Lijn Joost (Utrecht NLX) Van Thoor Bernardus M. (Maarsenbroek NLX), Disposable filter cartridge, whether or not combined with a water reservoir.
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