US 9,802,721 B2Granted

Machine and method for packing capsules in multi-capsule packs

AssigneeGima S.P.A.

InventorsDario Rea, Pierluigi Castellari

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Abstract

A machine for making and packing capsules (2) for extraction products in multi-capsule packs (27) includes a feeding station (11) for feeding rigid bodies (3) of the capsules, a dosing station (12) for dosing a dose of product within the rigid bodies, a closing station (13) for closing an upper aperture of the rigid bodies with a respective lid (7); a transport element (8) that features a plurality of seats (10) for housing and moving the capsules through the stations; an exit station (17) adapted to draw the capsules from the transport element; and a packing station (23) adapted to pack the capsules in multi-capsule packs where the capsules are arranged side by side and according to a head-to-tail orientation. The invention further provides for a method for making and packing capsules for extraction products in multi-capsule packs.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Machine for making and packing capsules (2) for extraction or infusion products in multi-capsule packs (27), the capsules (2) including:

a rigid body (3) defining a longitudinal axis (Z1) of the capsule (2) and featuring a bottom (4) and an upper aperture (5) provided with an external rim (6),
a dose (26) of extraction or infusion product contained in the rigid body (3), and
a closing lid (7) joined to the external rim (6) to close the upper aperture (5);
the machine including:
a plurality of operative stations, between which at least a feeding station (11) for feeding the rigid bodies (3), a dosing station (12) for dosing a dose (26) of product within the rigid bodies (3), a closing station (13) for closing the upper aperture (5) of the rigid body (3) with a respective closing lid (7);
a transport element (8) featuring a plurality of seats (10) for housing and moving the capsules (2) through said plurality of operative stations along an advancing direction (A),
an exit station (17) adapted to draw the capsules (2) from the transport element (8);
and
a packing station (23) adapted to receive the capsules (8) from the exit station (17) and adapted to pack the capsules (2) into multi-capsule packs (27) where the capsules (2) result side by side and alternatively rotated by 180°, thus arranged according to a head-to-tail orientation,
the machine being characterised in that
detaching organs (14) are associated to the transport element (8) and are adapted to move the capsules (2) away from the seats (10) at a drawing zone (P);
and
said exit station (17) includes a drawing carousel (19) provided with gripping elements (20) for gripping the capsules (2) from the detaching organs (14), rotating said capsules (2) according to a rotation order that provides for rotating every other capsule (2) by 180° and delivering said capsules (2) so rotated, arranged side by side and according to the head-to-tail orientation, to the packing station (23).

10 more elements

Method for making and packing capsules (2) in multi-capsule packs (27), said capsules (2) including a rigid body (3) defining a longitudinal axis (Z1) of the capsule (2) and featuring a bottom (4) and an upper aperture (5) provided with an external rim (6), a dose (26) of extraction or infusion product contained in the rigid body (3), and a closing lid (7), joined to the external rim (6) to close the upper aperture (5);

said capsules (2) being in said multi-capsule packs (27) arranged side by side and alternatively rotated by 180°, thus arranged according to a head-to-tail orientation, the method including the steps of:
feeding rigid bodies (3) to respective seats (10) of a transport element (8) movable through a plurality of operative stations (11, 12, 13) of a filling machine through an operative path along an advancing direction (A);
dosing a dose (26) of product within the rigid bodies (3);
closing the upper aperture (5) of the rigid body (3) with a respective closing lid (7);
transferring the capsules (2) to a packing station (23);
the method being characterised in that the step of transferring the capsules (2) to a packing station (23) includes:
detaching the capsules (2) from the respective seats (10) by means of detaching organs (14) associated to said seats (10) of the transport element (8) at a drawing zone (P);
gripping, at the drawing zone (P), said capsules (2) from said detaching organs (10) by means of a plurality of gripping elements (20) radially arranged on a drawing carousel (19) rotating about a vertical rotation axis (Z3);
rotating all of the capsules (2) about the vertical rotation axis (Z3) of the drawing carousel (19) and rotating every other capsule (2) about respective radial rotation axes (Z4), perpendicular to the vertical rotation axis (Z3) of the drawing carousel (19);
carrying the capsules (2) from the drawing zone (P) to a delivery zone (D) at the packing station (23), every other capsule (2) being rotated by 180° about respective radial rotation axes (Z4), perpendicular to the vertical rotation axis (Z3) of the drawing carousel (19);
delivering said capsules (2), arranged side by side and according to the head-to-tail orientation to the packing station (23).

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/425,197Filed 9 Sep 2013
Priority: IT BO2012A047811 Sep 2012
Published: US 2015/0217883 A16 Aug 2015
Granted: 31 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B65B 7/162
Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons: by feeding web…
B65B 7/164
By feeding web material to securing means: securing by heat-sealing
B65B 29/022
Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package: packaging infusion material into capsules
B65B 35/16
Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles: by grippers