High speed poucher

A method for high speed production of filled pouches containing granular, powder or solid content comprising:

• applying a flavor film onto an endless paper substrate;
• forming an endless hollow paper tube from the endless paper substrate with opposite edge portions of the paper sealed together forming a longitudinal seam after the applying;
• cutting the paper tube into individual pouch-length tubes having opposite ends;
• crimp-closing one end of each individual pouch length tube;
• filling each crimp-closed individual pouch length tube with the granular, powder, or solid content, the granular, powder, or solid content including tobacco;
• crimp-closing the other end of the filled individual pouch length tube to complete pouch formation;
• and
• maintaining the orientation of the crimped end and longitudinal seam throughout pouch formation, so that the crimped ends of the complete pouch formation are parallel to one another and the longitudinal seam extends between the crimped ends located midway between opposite sides of the formed pouch.

A method of high speed pouching comprising:

• repetitively making tubular elements having a multi-unit length;
• repetitively transferring the multi-unit tubular elements onto receptacles of a first wheel, the transferring including an operation that establishes a predetermined radial orientation of the tubular elements with respect to a rotational axis of the first wheel;
• subsequently transforming the transferred, multi-unit tubular elements into a procession of one-up tubular elements, utilizing wheel-to-wheel operations to cut, grade and align pieces of the multi-unit tubular elements while maintaining the radial orientation in the wheel-to-wheel operations;
• and
• transforming the procession of one-up tubular elements into a completed pouched product by moving the procession of one-up tubular elements along a path that includes stations that partially close, fill and complete closure of the one-up tubular elements.

A method of high speed production of a granular, powder or solid content-filled pouched product having a desired one-up length, transverse seams and a longitudinal seam, wherein the longitudinal seam is in an orthogonal relation to the transverse seams, the method comprising:

• repetitively forming open-ended, tubular elements having a predetermined length equal to a multiple of the desired one-up length of the pouched product, the repetitively forming comprising:
• drawing a ribbon of web through a folding and sealing operation, wherein the ribbon of web is folded into a tubular form and sealed along overlapping edge portions so as to form a longitudinal seam along the continuous tubular form;
• and
• directing the tubular form through a cutter configured to repetitively sever the tubular form into discrete tubular elements of the predetermined length, the longitudinal seam along each of the formed tubular elements having a first orientation;
• establishing a procession of oriented, open-ended, one-up tubular elements from the formed tubular elements, each of the one-up tubular elements having the desired, one-up length, the establishing comprising:
• successively transferring each of the discrete tubular elements of the predetermined length onto a flute of a rotating fluted drum to initiate a procession of the discrete tubular elements, the transfer including adjusting orientation of each discrete tubular element such that the longitudinal seam of each transferred discrete tubular element is in a predetermined radial relation to the drum, and
• converting the procession of transferred, commonly radially-oriented discrete tubular elements of the predetermined length into a procession of commonly radially oriented, one-up tubular elements by executing severing, grading and aligning operations with drum-to-drum transfers upon the tubular elements, while maintaining the predetermined radial relation to the drums in the course of the drum-to-drum transfers;
• forming a procession of partially-formed, oriented pouches by moving the procession of commonly radially oriented, one-up tubular elements through a first crimping operation while maintaining the orientation, the first crimping operation closing and sealing a first end portion of each of the one-up tubular elements, whereby a first transverse seam is formed in an orthogonal relation to the longitudinal seam of each partially formed pouch;
• filling the procession of partially formed, oriented pouches by moving the procession of partially formed, commonly radially-oriented pouches though a filling operation while maintaining the orientation, whereby the filling operation comprises feeding a predetermined quantity of granular, powder or solid content through a second end portion of the partially formed, commonly radially-oriented pouches;
• and
• establishing finished pouches by moving the procession of filled, partially formed, commonly radially-oriented pouches through a second crimping operation while maintaining the orientation, wherein the second crimping operation comprises closing and sealing the second end portion of each of the commonly radially-oriented pouches, such that a second transverse seam is formed in an orthogonal relation to the longitudinal seam of each completed pouch.

A poucher for producing filled pouches, the pouches having a predetermined pouch length, comprising:

• a source of web;
• a garniture configured to form the web into a hollow endless tube, with overlapping edge portions of the web establishing a longitudinal seam;
• a cutter configured to initially cut the hollow endless tube into multi-pouch length tubular elements having opposite ends;
• a transfer section configured to transfer the multi-pouch length tubular elements onto a receiving portion of a series of transfer drums, the series of transfer drums configured to establish and move a procession of the multi-pouch length tubular elements along a path, the series of transfer drums including a cutting drum configured to cut the multi-pouch length tubular elements into individual pouch-length tubes, and grading and alignment drums configured to arrange the individual pouch length tubes into a procession of individual pouch-length tubes;
• a first closure mechanism at a first location along the path, the first closure mechanism configured to crimp-close one end of each individual pouch-length tube to establish a procession of open-ended pouch structures;
• a filling section at a second location along the path, the filling section configured to deposit a predetermined amount of material in each of the open-ended pouch structures to establish a procession of open-ended, filled pouch structures;
• and
• a second closure mechanism at a third location along the path, the second closure mechanism configured to crimp-close the other end of each of the open-ended, filled pouch structures to establish a procession of completed pouches,
• wherein the transfer section and the series of transfer drums maintain a consistent location of the longitudinal seam between opposite sides of the completed pouches.

A poucher for producing filled pouches, the pouches having a predetermined pouch length, comprising:

• a source of web;
• a garniture configured to form the web into a hollow endless tube, with overlapping edge portions of the web establishing a longitudinal seam;
• a cutter configured to initially cut the hollow endless tube into multi-pouch length tubular elements having opposite ends;
• a transfer section configured to transfer the multi-pouch length tubular elements onto a receiving portion of a series of transfer drums, the series of transfer drums configured to establish and move a procession of the multi-pouch length tubular elements along a path, the series of transfer drums including a cutting drum configured to cut the multi-pouch length tubular elements into individual pouch-length tubes;
• a first closure mechanism at a first location along the path, the first closure mechanism configured to crimp-close one end of each individual pouch-length tube to establish a procession of open-ended pouch structures;
• a filling section at a second location along the path, the filling section configured to deposit a predetermined amount of material in each of the open-ended pouch structures to establish a procession of open-ended, filled pouch structures;
• and
• a second closure mechanism at a third location along the path, the second closure mechanism configured to crimp-close the other end of each of the open-ended, filled pouch structures to establish a procession of completed pouches, wherein
• the transfer section and the series of transfer drums maintain a consistent location of the longitudinal seam between opposite sides of the completed pouches,
• the transfer section repetitively transfers the multi-pouch length tubular elements from a location adjacent the cutter onto flutes of a first drum of the series of transfer drums, and
• the transfer section includes a plurality of orbiting arms, each arm connected to a gripper element configured to repetitively pick up the multi-pouch length tubular elements at the adjacent location and deposit each of the multi-pouch length tubular elements onto the flutes on the first drum.

A poucher for producing filled pouches, the pouches having a predetermined pouch length, comprising:

• a source of web;
• a garniture configured to form the web into a hollow endless tube, with overlapping edge portions of the web establishing a longitudinal seam;
• a cutter configured to initially cut the hollow endless tube into multi-pouch length tubular elements having opposite ends;
• a transfer section configured to transfer the multi-pouch length tubular elements onto a receiving portion of a series of transfer drums, the series of transfer drums configured to establish and move a procession of the multi-pouch length tubular elements along a path, the series of transfer drums including a cutting drum configured to cut the multi-pouch length tubular elements into individual pouch-length tubes;
• a first closure mechanism at a first location along the path, the first closure mechanism configured to crimp-close one end of each individual pouch-length tube to establish a procession of open-ended pouch structures;
• a filling section at a second location along the path, the filling section configured to deposit a predetermined amount of material in each of the open-ended pouch structures to establish a procession of open-ended, filled pouch structures;
• and
• a second closure mechanism at a third location along the path, the second closure mechanism configured to crimp-close the other end of each of the open-ended, filled pouch structures to establish a procession of completed pouches;
• and
• a film applicator configured to apply a flavor film to the web prior to the garniture;
• wherein the transfer section and the series of transfer drums maintain a consistent location of the longitudinal seam between opposite sides of the completed pouches.

A poucher for producing filled pouches, the pouches having a predetermined pouch length, comprising:

• a source of web;
• a garniture configured to form the web into a hollow endless tube, with overlapping edge portions of the web establishing a longitudinal seam;
• a cutter configured to initially cut the hollow endless tube into multi-pouch length tubular elements having opposite ends;
• a transfer section configured to transfer the multi-pouch length tubular elements onto a receiving portion of a series of transfer drums, the series of transfer drums configured to establish and move a procession of the multi-pouch length tubular elements along a path, the series of transfer drums including a cutting drum configured to cut the multi-pouch length tubular elements into individual pouch-length tubes;
• a first closure mechanism at a first location along the path, the first closure mechanism configured to crimp-close one end of each individual pouch-length tube to establish a procession of open-ended pouch structures;
• a filling section at a second location along the path, the filling section configured to deposit a predetermined amount of material in each of the open-ended pouch structures to establish a procession of open-ended, filled pouch structures;
• and
• a second closure mechanism at a third location along the path, the second closure mechanism configured to crimp-close the other end of each of the open-ended, filled pouch structures to establish a procession of completed pouches, wherein
• the transfer section and the series of transfer drums maintain a consistent location of the longitudinal seam between opposite sides of the completed pouches, and
• the garniture cooperates with a brush, the brush configured to provide support to an inside portion of the web adjacent the garniture.

A poucher for producing filled pouches, the pouches having a predetermined pouch length, comprising:

• a source of web;
• a garniture configured to form the web into a hollow endless tube, with overlapping edge portions of the web establishing a longitudinal seam;
• a cutter configured to initially cut the hollow endless tube into multi-pouch length tubular elements having opposite ends;
• a transfer section configured to transfer the multi-pouch length tubular elements onto a receiving portion of a series of transfer drums, the series of transfer drums configured to establish and move a procession of the multi-pouch length tubular elements along a path, the series of transfer drums including a cutting drum configured to cut the multi-pouch length tubular elements into individual pouch-length tubes;
• a first closure mechanism at a first location along the path, the first closure mechanism configured to crimp-close one end of each individual pouch-length tube to establish a procession of open-ended pouch structures;
• a filling section at a second location along the path, the filling section configured to deposit a predetermined amount of material in each of the open-ended pouch structures to establish a procession of open-ended, filled pouch structures;
• and
• a second closure mechanism at a third location along the path, the second closure mechanism configured to crimp-close the other end of each of the open-ended, filled pouch structures to establish a procession of completed pouches, wherein
• the transfer section and the series of transfer drums maintain a consistent location of the longitudinal seam between opposite sides of the completed pouches, and
• the garniture cooperates with a roller, the roller configured to provide support to an inside portion of the web adjacent the garniture.

A poucher for producing filled pouches, the pouches having a predetermined pouch length, comprising:

• a source of web;
• a garniture configured to form the web into a hollow endless tube, with overlapping edge portions of the web establishing a longitudinal seam;
• a cutter configured to initially cut the hollow endless tube into multi-pouch length tubular elements having opposite ends;
• a transfer section configured to transfer the multi-pouch length tubular elements onto a receiving portion of a series of transfer drums, the series of transfer drums configured to establish and move a procession of the multi-pouch length tubular elements along a path, the series of transfer drums including a cutting drum configured to cut the multi-pouch length tubular elements into individual pouch-length tubes;
• a first closure mechanism at a first location along the path, the first closure mechanism configured to crimp-close one end of each individual pouch-length tube to establish a procession of open-ended pouch structures;
• a filling section at a second location along the path, the filling section configured to deposit a predetermined amount of material in each of the open-ended pouch structures to establish a procession of open-ended, filled pouch structures, the filling section including,
• a vibratory pan feeder under control of a controller, and
• a series of funnels above the procession of open-ended pouches and moving with the procession of open-ended pouches;
• and
• a second closure mechanism at a third location along the path, the second closure mechanism configured to crimp-close the other end of each of the open-ended, filled pouch structures to establish a procession of completed pouches,
• wherein the transfer section and the series of transfer drums maintain a consistent location of the longitudinal seam between opposite sides of the completed pouches.