Method and apparatus for making tagged infusion packages
AssigneeA.G. (Patents) Limited
InventorAlan G. Kenney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-ply tagged infusion package comprises a tag formed of a length of string (3) and a tab (5). The tag is located as one of a continuous string on a first web (1) in a convoluted form, the first web then being joined to a second web by heat sealing rollers (8) to form a travelling two-ply web having infusion containing pockets (11), each having a tag located thereon within the periphery of the final package. A loop of string (4) of each tag is anchored in the heat seal formed around the pockets (11). The individual packages are then cut from the travelling two-ply web by, for example, co-rotating cutting rollers defining the shape of the package. The act of cutting the packages from the web also serves to cut the continuous string of tags into individual tags (3).
Claims25
A method of manufacturing tagged infusion packages, each package having a tag comprising a string attached to the package at an attachment point and a handling tab secured to the string, comprising forming a two-ply web having a succession of infusion containing pockets defined therein and cutting the pockets from the web to form packages of predetermined shape, the method comprising a step of positioning said tags on the web and attaching them thereto in such a way that prior to said cutting each tag is located on an associated pocket with the attachment point and the portion of the string between the attachment point and the handling tab all lying entirely within the periphery of the package to be formed from said pocket, said string being folded into a desired configuration prior to the positioning of the string on the web, said packages are cut from the web by cutting means having a continuous cutting edge defining the predetermined shape and adapted to form a continuous cut around the infusion containing pocket.
A method of manufacturing tagged infusion packages, each of the packages having a tag comprising a string attached to the package at an attachment point and a handling tab secured to the string, the method comprising:
- forming a two-ply web having a succession of infusion containing pockets defined therein and cutting the pockets from the web to form packages of predetermined shape,
- the method further comprising a step of positioning the tags on the web and attaching them thereto in such a way that prior to said cutting each of the tags is located on an associated pocket With the attachment point and the portion of the string between the attachment point and the handling tab all lying entirely within the periphery of the package to be formed from said pocket,
- said string being folded into a desired configuration prior to the positioning of the string on the web,
- said two-ply web comprising first and second webs joined together to define peripheral sealing around the infusion containing pockets,
- said first and second Webs heat sealed together,
- said tag located on said first web upstream of where the webs are joined to form said two-ply web,
- the attachment points for the tags located in the seal between the first and second webs.
Apparatus for manufacturing tagged infusion packages, comprising means for forming a travelling two-ply web having a succession of infusion containing pockets defined therein, means for cutting said pockets from the web to form packages of predetermined shape, and means for positioning tags on the web and attaching them thereto in such a way that prior to said cutting each tag is located on an associated pocket with an attachment point for the tag and at least a gripping portion of the tag and a part thereof which extends between the gripping portion and the attachment point all lying entirely within the periphery of the package to be formed from said pocket, said cutting means has a continuous cutting edge defining the predetermined shape and adapted to form a continuous cut around the infusion containing pocket.
A method of manufacturing tagged infusion packages, comprising forming a two-ply web having a succession of infusion containing pockets defined therein and cutting the pockets from the web to form packages, further comprising locating a tag string on a first web with a portion of said string extending through said first web, and sealing a second web to said first web so as to form said two-ply web, the position of said portion of said string extending through said first web being such that upon sealing said first and second webs one to the other said portion is retained in a sealed portion between said first and second webs.
Apparatus for manufacturing tagged infusion packages comprising means for sealing first and second webs together to form a travelling two-ply web having a succession of infusion containing pockets defined therein, means for cutting said pockets from the web to form packages of predetermined shape, and means for positioning a tag string on said first web with a portion thereof extending through the first web in such a position that upon sealing said first and second webs together said portion of said string will be retained in a sealed region between said first and second webs.
A method of manufacturing infusion packages each having a tag comprising a string attached to the package at an attachment point and a handling tab attached to the string, comprising:
- a) locating a string member having a plurality of handling tabs on a first web of porous tissue material, said string member having a predetermined folded configuration between successive handling tabs;
- b) joining a second web of porous web material to said first web to form a two-ply web having a succession of infusion containing pockets defined therein with said string member located thereon such that for each intended package the attachment point for each tag string, and a folded portion of said string member between the attachment point and the respective handling tab lie entirely within the periphery of the package to be formed;
- and
- c) cutting said packages from said two-ply web to define a plurality of packages each having a tag located on a surface thereof;
- characterised by:
- d) forming said string member into said predetermined folded configuration prior to the attachment thereto of respective said tabs;
- and
- e) thereafter locating said string member and tabs on said first web whilst in said folded configuration and releasably adhering the string member and tab to the web.
A method of manufacturing infusion packages each having a tag comprising a string attached to the package at an attachment point and a handling tab attached to the string, comprising:
- a) locating a string member having a plurality of handling tabs on a first web of porous tissue material;
- b) sealing a second web of porous web material to said first web to form a two-ply web having a succession of infusion containing pockets defined therein by the peripheral sealing with said string member located thereon such that for each intended package the attachment point for each tag string, and the portion of said string member between the attachment point and the respective handling tab lie entirely within the periphery of the package to be formed;
- and
- c) cutting said packages from said two-ply web to define a plurality of packages each having a tag located on a surface thereof;
- characterised by:
- d) arranging the handling tabs on said first web so as to be spaced inwardly from said peripheral sealing when said webs are sealed together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.