Package making – Methods – Enclosing contents within progressively formed web means
Patent
1991-02-25
1993-08-10
Culver, Horace M.
Package making
Methods
Enclosing contents within progressively formed web means
53453, 53553, 53559, 533734, B65B 2902, B65B 902
Patent
active
052338134
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is generally concerned with infusion packages such as tea and coffee bags and similar bags containing herbal or other infusions. In particular the invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of manufacturing infusion packages and to a novel form of infusion package made by such apparatus and method.
A known method and apparatus for producing infusion packages such as tea bags, comprises dosing discrete piles of infusion at spaced intervals onto a rapidly moving paper web, and sealing a second web over the first web to produce a two ply web having a plurality of discrete pockets containing infusion The web is then severed by means of laterally and longitudinally orientated knives into individual packages, or pairs of packages separated by a serrated cut, for discharge or packing. Such a method enables continuous fabrication of infusion packages at a very high production rate which is essential for the cost-effective manufacture of e.g. tea bags for sale in the general market place.
As discussed above, in known apparatus of this type the packages are severed from the two ply web by knives and as a consequence the infusion packages are square or rectangular, the pocket spacings and web dimensions being such that the entire web is cut into the individual packages or package pairs without leaving any waste web. For this reason, infusion packages such as tea and coffee bags which have been mass produced at high production rates for sale on the general market have traditionally been rectangular.
Viewed from a first aspect, the invention provides apparatus for manufacturing infusion packages of a predetermined shape, comprising means for dosing infusion in discrete piles onto a first moving web, means synchronised with the dosing means for sealing a second moving web over said first web to produce a travelling two ply web having a plurality of discrete pockets containing infusion, and a web cutting device comprising cooperating co-rotating rollers having recess means adapted to accommodate successive infusion filled pockets and cutting means arranged around said recess means for cutting out each said pocket into a package of predetermined shape, means for removing said cut out packages from the travelling two ply web, and means downstream of the cutting device for collecting the remainder of the web after the packages have been removed.
Viewed from a second aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing infusion packages of a predetermined shape, comprising the steps of dosing an infusion in discrete piles onto a first moving web, sealing a second moving web over said first web to produce a travelling two ply web having a plurality of discrete pockets containing infusion, and cutting said web into packages having said predetermined shape by passing the web through a roller cutting device having co-operating co-rotating rollers with recess means which accommodate successive infusion filled pockets and cutting means arranged around said recess means for cutting out each said pocket into a package of predetermined shape, removing said cut out packages from the travelling two ply web, and collecting the remainder of the web after the packages have been removed.
Such an apparatus and method represents a completely new departure from the prior art in that, whilst a continuous high speed production rate may be maintained, infusion packages such as tea bags can be provided with shapes other than rectilinear. The presently preferred packages are substantially round, and a preferred embodiment of the invention has enabled for the first time manufacture of substantially round tea bags at a cost-effective high production rate for sale on the general market place, such tea bags being attractive to the consumer.
To maximise production rate, the rollers preferably have a plurality of recesses and corresponding cutting means arranged both circumferentially and in the width direction. This allows a substantial number of packages to be produced per revolution of the rollers. The number of cutt
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Magazine entitled Packaging Week, Nov. 18, 1987, p. 18-article "All Go For Tea Baggers".
Kenney Alan G.
Wood John D.
AG (Patents) Limited
Baxley Charles E.
Culver Horace M.
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