Package making – Methods – Forming a cover adjunct or application of a cover adjunct to...
Patent
1993-10-12
1996-04-30
Crane, Daniel C.
Package making
Methods
Forming a cover adjunct or application of a cover adjunct to...
531342, B65B 2904, B65B 6114
Patent
active
055113591
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to infusion packages and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for manufacturing tagged infusion packages, for example tea bags of the "one cup" variety. By a tagged infusion package is meant an infusion package having a tag which is secured to the package, for example, at the periphery of the package, and which has a portion intended to be gripped by a user.
Several methods are presently used for manufacturing tagged tea bags. In one method, a web of material is dosed with measured amounts of tea, its longitudinal edges folded together and sealed, and the infusion containing tube so formed then cut transversely into lengths. The opposed ends of these lengths are then brought together, folded over to seal the package and then stapled to hold the package shut. The staple also acts to secure a tag to the package. This method however is very slow and is not easily adapted to high production rates.
In a further method, a web of material is also dosed with discrete piles of infusion, and folded about its longitudinal axis, into a two-ply web. However, instead of sealing the longitudinal edge of the folded web, it is then sealed transversely at regular intervals to define a plurality of infusion containing pockets, each with an open edge. Tags are then introduced into the open edges of the pockets which are then sealed to close the packages and secure the tags, the web then being cut transversely to form individual rectangular packages. This method, however necessitates a lateral edge of the web being unsealed to receive a tag, which may not always be possible, depending on the shape of the packet to be produced.
In yet a further method, a web is dosed with infusion and first folded about its longitudinal axis and its edges sealed together to form a tube, the tube thereafter being sealed transversely at regular intervals to form a plurality of sealed pockets containing infusion. A continuous string is then laid on the web and secured to alternate transverse seals by adhesive stickers which also serve to secure a tag to the string. Alternate pockets are then folded to lie on top of each other and are sealed together at those seals holding the adhesive stickers, where they are cut laterally to form individual double chambered rectangular packages. The act of folding the pockets on top of each other wraps the string around the outside the forming package, and as the packages are cut, the string and adhesive sticker are cut such that one end of the string is secured to one side of the upper edge of the package by part of one adhesive sticker and the other end of the string, to which the tag is connected, is lightly secured to the other side of the upper edge of the package by part of the successive sticker. Such a process is, however, mechanically very complicated and is applicable only to the production of substantially rectangular packages.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved method of and apparatus for producing tagged infusion packages.
Viewed from a first aspect the invention provides 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 of predetermined shape, the method further comprising 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 attachment point all lying entirely within the periphery of the package to be formed from said pocket.
Viewed from a second aspect the invention provides 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
REFERENCES:
patent: 2457216 (1948-12-01), Eaton
patent: 2861403 (1958-11-01), Weisman
patent: 2987857 (1961-06-01), Whelan
patent: 3191355 (1965-06-01), Morpurgo
patent: 4961301 (1990-10-01), Bonomelli
patent: 5135762 (1992-08-01), Vernon
A.G. (Patents) Limited
Baxley Charles E.
Crane Daniel C.
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