Sealing and cutting device for forming filter-bags with infusion products

A method for sealing and cutting bags containing a product, the method comprising:

• providing a device for sealing and cutting a continuous tubular strip to form bags containing a product, the device comprising:
• a sonotrode configured to seal a portion of the continuous tubular strip advancing along a feed direction:
• an anvil positioned opposite the sonotrode;
• a movement system operatively coupled to at least one of the sonotrode or the anvil, the movement system being configured to move the sonotrode and the anvil between a non-operating position, in which the sonotrode and the anvil are spaced apart, and an operating position in which the sonotrode and the anvil are in contact with one another to seal the tubular strip such that a head and a bottom of adjacent bags are simultaneously sealed;
• a cutting element including a circular blade operatively coupled to a support and movement unit, the support and movement unit being configured to translate the blade along a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the tubular strip, the anvil including a slit through which the blade protrudes,
• wherein the blade is configured to cut the tubular strip by contacting the sonotrode while the sonotrode and the anvil are in the operating position, thereby separating a sealed bag from a remainder of the tubular strip;
• feeding the continuous tubular strip along the feed direction;
• positioning the sonotrode and the anvil opposite one another, with the sonotrode configured to seal the portion of the tubular strip;
• moving the sonotrode and anvil towards each other along a direction transverse to the feed direction until the sonotrode and anvil contact the tubular strip;
• sealing the portion of the tubular strip by activating the sonotrode such that the head and the bottom of the adjacent bags are simultaneously sealed;
• cutting the sealed portion of the tubular strip using the cutting element including the circular blade, the cutting element translating the blade along the direction perpendicular to the feed direction,
• wherein the cutting is performed by the blade making contact with the sonotrode, thereby separating the sealed bag from the remainder of the tubular strip, and wherein the cutting step is performed simultaneously with the sealing step while the sonotrode is activated.