High speed poucher and corresponding method

[0001] The present application relates to methods and apparatus for the production of small, sealed sachets of material such as smokeless tobacco, and more specifically such methods and apparatus that works at very high speeds to produce sachets at a rate of many thousands of units per hour.

[0002] Snus is sold in the form of smokeless tobacco for adult smokers. In many cases, the sachets contain tobacco and flavorings, such as spearmint, peppermint or spices, to name a few. The sachets are intended to be placed in the user's mouth and then released into the mouth for flavorings and tobacco in liquid form. Separate sachets are usually sold in six or more sachets in retail packaging.

[0003] The production of sachets filled with snus was undertaken using sacheting machines such as the MediSeal machine from MediSeal GmbH based in Schloss-Holte in Germany and the machines offered by Merz Verpackungs Machinen GmbH based in Lich in Germany. The operation of these machines generally consists of folding the base web into a vertical tubular form, sealing along the tubular mold to form a longitudinal weld as the tubular mold is brought down, and transverse sealing at a certain point along the pipe to form the first (bottom) transverse weld. The banner typically contains paper. The web preferably contains polypropylene or other suitable material to facilitate welding of the joints. Tobacco is introduced into the partially formed sachet, and then a second (upper) lateral seal is formed to complete the sachet, which is then separated from the rest of the tubular form. This operation is repeated for each sachet, one after the other, and all the above-mentioned steps are carried out at a very short distance from each other, which ensures the desired orthogonal orientation of the longitudinal weld relative to the transverse welds.

[0004] These machines, however, have a limited production rate of or about 150 to 350 sachets per minute, due to the speed-limiting manner in which they manufacture, fill and finish each sachet in turn.

[0005] In addition, the broaching action used in the operation of these machines is susceptible to slipping, which causes the machine to produce sachets of varying lengths and volumes. Such variation can affect mouthfeel, taste and other product characteristics.

[0006] The sachets are relatively small, so high production speeds require very specific components that work together in a highly effective manner.

[0007] US 3,236,021 discloses methods and apparatus for creating, filling and sealing packages made of flexible packaging material, which packages are formed from separate tubes of flexible packaging material, each having a length corresponding to the desired length of the packaging.

[0008] The present invention relates to equipment and methods enabling high-speed production of sachets, able to maintain the desired orientation of welds, reduced variation in length and volume, and having other characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] Accordingly, one of the purposes of preferred embodiments is to provide a high-speed sachet machine enabling the production of small, sealed sachets of material such as tobacco in a very advantageous and efficient manner.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is a sachet machine that produces many thousands of such sachets per hour.

[0011] Another purpose of preferred embodiments is to develop a method for producing small, sealed sachets of material such as tobacco and optional flavors in a very advantageous and efficient manner.

[0012] Still another object of preferred embodiments is to provide a high speed sacheting machine and a method for producing small, sealed sachets of granular, powder and solid materials in a very advantageous and efficient manner.

[0013] In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, an uninterrupted supply of paper substrate is moved toward the discharge end, while a separate uninterrupted supply of aroma film or strip is also transferred toward the discharge end. The aroma strip is cut into pieces of unit length, and eventually each piece of the aroma strip is glued in place on top of the moving paper substrate so that the gaps between the stripes on the substrate are equal. Glue is also applied to the top of the paper along one of its edges.

[0014] The paper substrate with glue on one of its edges and pieces of aroma strip placed thereon is then transferred through a forming unit, where the paper substrate is shaped into a hollow continuous tube and its opposite edges are glued together, thereby forming continuous longitudinal weld. A structure within the formed pipe can be used to support and maintain the shape of the pipe. Such a construction can be an inner brush or an inner roller rod in contact with the inner surface of the pipe to maintain the structural integrity of the pipe and increase the tightness of the longitudinal weld. Alternatively or additionally, external underpressure can be used to form the pipe and seal the longitudinal weld.

[0015] After forming the hollow continuous tube, the tubes can be cut into sections of a certain length for the production of multiple sachets, and then cut, stacked in a row and aligned on a series of grooved transfer drums.

[0016] Stable placement of multi-unit length tubular elements on the first of the drums helps in correctly positioning and orienting the longitudinal weld on each of the finished, molded sachets. Thus, the longitudinal seam may be at the bottom (located near the bottom) of the groove or receiving cavity of the drum or 180 ° opposite this position. This orientation ensures that subsequent kneading of the ends of the pipes occurs with a longitudinal weld located halfway between the side edges of each formed sachet, or in another relative position if desired.

[0017] A series of drums, which include grooved and conical drums, respectively, position individual pipes in a vertical direction at the end of the path of their movement from one grooved drum to the next.

[0018] The hollow tubes are finally placed on the outer grooves of the forming wheel with a vertical axis of rotation. Each pipe is placed on one of the grooves of the wheel such that its longitudinal weld is on the bottom of the receiving groove or 180 ° opposite this position. A pair of crimping rollers directly under the forming wheel function to crimp and thus seal the bottom end of each tube. Each crimping roller preferably has a vertical axis of rotation, and both axes are located on the radius of the forming wheel. Due to the longitudinal seam of each sachet being positioned as described above, the bottom crease can be invariably formed with a seam halfway between the sides of each sachet being formed, if desired.

[0019] After closing by creasing the bottom end of each pipe, the rotation of the shaping wheel moves the pipe to a filling station, where tobacco or other content is introduced into the pipes.

[0020] Above the shaping wheel is a second pair of kneading rollers for closing by creasing the upper end of each tube. The vertical axis of each of the second kneading rollers is positioned along the radius of the forming wheel, which guarantees that the upper crease is parallel to the bottom crease, with the longitudinal seam halfway between the sides of each molded sachet.

[0021] The sachets are then removed from the shaping wheel, checked for quality control and packed for transport.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0022] Innovative features and advantages of preferred embodiments, in addition to those indicated above, will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference signs relate to similar parts and which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a high speed sachet machine according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the individual steps of forming a sachet using the sachet machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a hollow tube formed from a paper substrate with a structured brush inside the formed tube to maintain its structural integrity;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the molded pipe whose parts have been removed to illustrate the brush in the pipe;

Fig. 3A is a view similar to Fig. 3, an alternative inner roller rod instead of a brush, which, however, performs the same function;

Fig. 4A is a view similar to Fig. 4, an internal roller rod for maintaining the integrity of the paper tube;

ΕΡ2 552 783 BI

Fig. 5 shows, in a detailed schematic view, the transfer, in the embodiment of Fig. 1, of cut pipe elements to the first drum while maintaining the desired orientation of the weld;

Fig. 5A is a more detailed view of the forwarding shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which the continuous aroma strip is applied to the continuous paper substrate without cutting the strip into pieces;

Fig. 7 is a top view of a continuous paper substrate with a continuous film or aroma strip on it, which is formed as shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows, in schematic end view, the transfer, in the embodiment of Fig. 9, of cut pipe elements to the first drum while achieving the desired orientation of the weld;

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the invention similar in many respects to that of Fig. 1 in which, however, the sachets are produced without the aroma strip; Fig. 10 is a schematic and enlarged view of a part of the machine according to Fig. 1 in which pieces of the film or aroma strip are spaced apart on a continuous paper substrate;

Fig. 11 is a top view of the finished sachet product;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a continuous paper substrate with spaced apart pieces of film or aroma strip on the substrate;

Fig. 13 shows, in schematic view and with parts in cross section, lower kneading rollers for sealing the bottom end of each formed pipe before filling with tobacco;

Fig. 14 shows a side view of a funnel and a vibrating feeder for filling tobacco pipes;

Fig. 15 is a top view of the funnel and vibrating feeder according to Fig. 14;

Figs. 16-18 show, in different side, top and cross-sectional views, a structure for introducing tobacco into pipes closed at the lower ends by creasing; and Fig. 19 shows, in schematic view and with sections in cross section, the upper crimping rollers for sealing the upper end of each pipe after it has been filled with tobacco.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [0023] With reference to several preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings, a high speed sachet machine 10 is shown which is able to produce 1300 to 1700 separate sachets per minute, each of which sachets preferably contains a predetermined portion of tobacco and a suitable flavoring, if desired, and optionally also a soluble film or aroma strip, such as described in published US Patent Application Nos. US 2007 / 0261707A1 and US 2007 / 0012328A1.

[0024] Referring to Figure 11, the product formed in preferred embodiments is a sachet 100 with creased end portions that are sealed along transverse seams 102, 104, preferably parallel to each other. A longitudinal seam 106 extends between the creased ends, preferably parallel to the sides of the sachet, and orthogonally to the transverse seams 102, 104. Preferably, the longitudinal seam 106 is halfway between the sides of the sachet, although

552 552 783 BI its relative position can be chosen so that it is closer to one or the other side. Each sachet 100 has a predetermined length of "L".

[0025] In Fig. 1, 2 and 9 show examples of a 10, 10 'high speed sachet machine capable of producing separate 100 sachets with a predetermined unit length L Each machine 10, 10' includes the first section A, A 'that repeatedly forms from a continuous web of base strip 12, tubular elements 101 with open ends and a multi-carrier length, each tubular element 101 having a longitudinal weld 106 in a certain orientation, with a length preferably being a multiple of the predetermined unit length L; a section or transfer mechanism B, B 'which transfers the product of sections A, A' to the first drum 202 of drum section C, C ', with the radial orientation of the longitudinal weld 106 relative to the first drum, which orientation is maintained along successive drums of drum section C, C '(drum section C, C' also cuts, arranges in a row and aligns pieces of the above-mentioned pipe elements 101 with multi-unit length, forming a column of pipes 101 'with a length of a single sachet being a predetermined length L); and a crimping and filling section D, D 'adapted to partially close, fill and terminate closing each tube 101' with a length of a single sachet, forming a sachet 100, while a column of tubes 101 'with a length of a single sachet is moved through section D, D '.

[0026] As shown in Figs. 1 and 10, during the operation of section A, the uninterrupted supply of strip 12 is transferred towards the outlet end at a speed of V1. The tape usually contains paper, and may preferably contain polypropylene or other suitable material to facilitate welding of the joints. At the same time, a continuous web (or uninterrupted supply) of the aroma film (or strip) 14 with a lower speed V2 is conveyed towards the discharge end, which speed V2 is determined by the size (diameter) of the metering roller 17 located in front of the cork roller 16 along the web path aroma layers 14. Adhesive 18 is applied to the aroma layer 14. The aroma film is introduced into the clamp between the knife drum 19 and the cork drum 16, where the film 14 is cut into pieces 20 with a unit length and held on the cork drum. The cork drum has a surface speed V3, which is equal to the speed V1, and the difference between V2 and V3 forms predetermined intervals 24 between the cut pieces of aroma film 14 on the cork drum. The lower speed V2 of the uninterrupted supply of the aroma film and the slightly higher surface speed of the cork drum uniquely results in the desired intervals. Aroma strip pieces spaced apart from each other are then glued or otherwise laid in place on a moving paper substrate. Preferably, adhesive or other adhesive 25 is also applied along one edge 27 of the paper by the applicator 26 and other suitable device. Furthermore, a vacuum 21 may be applied to the vacuum chamber 23 inside the cork drum 16 to help keep the aroma film piece 20 cut off on the surface of the cork drum 16. A vacuum 21 may also be provided underneath the paper substrate 12 to help hold the film pieces 20 14 aroma on top of the paper as shown in Fig. 10.

[0027] Referring to Figures 2 and 10 both, the paper substrate with glue along one edge 27 and with pieces of aroma layers 20 in place is then transferred through a molding assembly 28, where it is shaped into a hollow continuous tube 29 and the opposing edge portions of the paper are glued together to form a longitudinal weld 106, as shown in Fig. 2. The longitudinal weld 106 becomes the longitudinal weld 106 that is visible in the finished sachet 100. An internal brush can be used to form and support the hollow paper tube

EP 2 552 783 BI

30, which can be omitted if aroma film 14 is contained in the pipe 29. Alternatively, an internal roller rod 32 can serve this purpose. These aspects are further described with reference to Figures 3, 3A, 4 and 4A. To facilitate tube forming, external underpressure may be used, and in some cases external underpressure may be used without an internal support structure, in particular when combining aroma film 14 with band 12, which is then less susceptible to collapse than a tubular structure containing only band (without aroma layer). [0028] The forming of the continuous paper tube 29 can be performed using a closed, porous belt drive of the Hauni Kórber machine KDF-2 based in Hamburg, Germany or a similar device for drawing the strip 12 through the forming unit 28. The forming assembly 28 has folding surfaces and glue applicators similar to those used in the forming assembly of tobacco rod making devices in cigarette making machines, and may include slots for applying negative pressure outside the folding tape in the forming assembly to ensure shape retention.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 2, after forming the hollow continuous tube 29, it is cut with a knife 34 into tubular elements 101 with lengths equal to multiples of the length of a single sachet 100 (i.e., twice, four times, six times the length L or more) ). Cutting a pipe into tubular elements 101 with a length equal to the length of a single sachet 100 (i.e. single times) may prevent the need for sections C, C 'and allow feeding through sections B, B' directly to sections D, D 'of the machine 10, but a single element often rolls and is difficult to convey. Therefore, it is functionally advantageous to create at the knife 34 multi-unit tubular elements 101 and to pass tubular elements 101 from machine sections 10, 10 'through section B, B'.

[0030] After the multi-unit length tubular elements 101 are handed over, they are moved along a series of grooved drums 36 in sections C, C 'towards the discharge end, using vacuum transfer technology from the socket or grooved wheel to the wheel. Preferably, among the drum or circular sections there are those that intersect line up and align pieces of tubular elements 101, so that at the end of sections C, C 'of machine 10, 10' a column of single-use tubular elements 10T with open ends is formed. For example, making reference to Fig. 2, the double tube element 101 can be passed to the first drum 202 of sections C, C 'and then directed through the drum sections that cut (separate the workpiece into several pieces), arrange in a row (circumferentially move the separated pieces apart) and align (align the pieces with respect to each other in a row), as indicated by 204, 206 and 208, respectively. It should be understood that a fourfold tubular element would require additional repetitions of these actions, and eightfold even more, etc.

[0031] Section C, C 'of machine embodiments 10, 10' may further include drums or tapered wheels 46 that rotate the column of single tube members 101 'from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation conducive to the filling and kneading operations to be performed as the column of disposable tubular elements 101 'moves through section D, D'.

[0032] Referring again to sections B, B 'according to Figs. 1, 2 and 9, the transfer and placement of multi-unit length tubular elements 101 on the first drum 202 of section C, C' is performed in such a way that the longitudinal weld 106 is positioned radially outward with respect to the radius of the drum 202 with a corresponding groove or receiving cavity (or 180 ° counter to this

552 552 783 BI orientation, i.e. radially inward). This radial relationship is maintained when transferring from drums to drums in sections C, C 'and ensures that subsequent kneading and sealing of the ends of single tube 10Γ elements in section D, D' occurs with cross welds 102 and 104 in the desired orthogonal relation to their the longitudinal weld and that the longitudinal weld 106 is positioned invariably preferably halfway between the side edges of the formed sachet 100. It should be understood that when passing paper tubular elements from one drum to the next, their radial orientation changes from radially outer to radially inner from drum to drum, which is intended to be within the scope of "maintaining a radial relationship." Furthermore, a radial relationship can include the selected angle rather than the preferred 0 ° and 180 ° radial relationship discussed above.

[0033] The series of drums 36 includes a conical drum 46 that aligns the individual pipes 101 'in a vertical orientation at the end of their path from one drum to the next.

[0034] As shown in Figs. 1, 9, 13 and 14, the single tube elements 101 'are then directed via the last drum of the sections C, C' to the outer surface of the continuously rotating shaping wheel 48 which may have a vertical axis of turnover in sections D, D¹ machines 10, 10 ', which maintains the abovementioned radial relationship of the longitudinal weld 106. When placing the pipes on the wheel 48, a pair of crimping rollers 50, 52 directly under the forming wheel functions to crimp and thus seal the bottom end of each of the single elements tubular 101 'and forming a lateral transverse weld 102. Each crimping roller preferably has a vertical axis of rotation, and both axes are located along the radius of the forming wheel. Because the longitudinal weld 106 is positioned radially in the groove of the wheel 48, the bottom crease 102 is formed with the longitudinal weld 106 located halfway between the sides of the formed sachet and in the desired orthogonal relationship.

[0035] After being closed by creasing the lower end of the pipe, the further rotation of the swaging wheel 48 transfers the partially closed single-use tubular elements 101 'to a filling station 300, where tobacco 56 or other content is introduced into the tubular elements 101'. Preferably, the funnel 58 and the vibrating feeder 60 for filling tobacco pipes function to fill with tobacco or other content. Content feeding and filling devices are also described in US Patent Nos. 5,221,247 and 5,542,901. A method and filling device is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,875,824. [0036] As shown in Figs. 15 and 19, the second pair the crimping rollers 70, 72 located above the shaping wheel 48 function in the function of crimping and sealing the top end or top of each of the individual tubular elements 10T, forming the upper cross weld 104. The vertical axes of both kneading rollers are preferably aligned (mutually aligned) along the radius of the forming wheel to thereby ensure that the upper weld 104 is parallel to the lower weld 102 and the longitudinal weld 106 is halfway between the sides.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 15, the filling station 300 preferably includes a feeding check and adjustment system 400 comprising a sensor 402 in a position along the column path of the single tube members 101 'intermediate between the place where the delivery of content (e.g. tobacco) and the upper kneading rollers 70, 72, processor 404, feed rate regulator 406 and rejection station 408. The sensor 402 is adapted to generate a signal indicating the level of content in each (or a representative number) of filled tubular elements 101 'as they progress toward the upper crimping rollers 70, 72. Feed rate regulator 406

EP 2 552 783 B1 is used to adjust the vibration and / or depth of tobacco 56 on the vibrating feeder 60 to increase or decrease the amount of content delivery in response to the signals generated by the sensor 402. The processor 404 is programmed to process and send signals between the elements system (sensor 402, feed rate regulator 406 and rejection station 408). System 400 operates in such a way that if the level or volume of the contents of the sachet (or volume of filling) begins to deviate from a predetermined value (from the product specification loaded into the memory of the processor 404), then the processor 404 adjusts the operation of the feed rate regulator 406 in response to the detected and counteracting it so that filling operations can be precisely maintained in real time and in direct mode. The processor can be programmed such that if an occasional or other event results in a significant departure from a certain fill level or volume, then it controls the rejection station 408 so as to remove product 48 from the shaping wheel than the specification. The rejection station 408 may include a controlled air nozzle that directs a pulsed air sufficiently radially outwardly relative to the wheel 48 to overcome the vacuum holding of the rejectable product on the wheel 48. At rejection station 408, mechanical pins or other means may instead be used instead.

[0038] Preferably, the rejection station 408 is in front of the upper kneading rollers 70, 72, so that the end of the rejected product is and remains open to facilitate both checking and recovery of the contents. The recovered content can be returned to hopper 58, thus avoiding losses and minimizing the steps of the content recovery process.

[0039] Optionally, the rejection station 408 may be located behind the upper kneading rollers 70, 72, so that the product rejection is done with the closed (finished) sachets 100 completely closed, and the contents cannot spill and affect the cleanliness of the filling operations. This approach can be beneficial if the content is particularly fine or otherwise spills.

[0040] The checking and adjustment system preferably further includes one or more final checking stations or sensors 409 located along the column path of the finished sachets 100, while they are further moved on the shaping wheel 48 or subsequent wheels (drums), so the checking can be performed in an orderly and complete manner. For example, it is preferable to check each of the finished sachets (or a selected number of them) with the vision system as they move behind the kneading rollers 70, 72 while remaining on the wheel 48. In this configuration, the longitudinal and transverse joints 106, 104 and 102 are substituted for such a check under sensor 409, cyclically in an orderly, invariable manner to facilitate such checking. To complete the checking, it is envisaged to transfer the completed sachets 100 to another drum having a different checking station or sensor 409 ', where the other side of the finished sachets is shown for checking.

[0041] After completion of the above-mentioned processes, the sachets 100 are removed from the shaping wheel 48 or the next wheel, optionally additionally checked for quality control and packaged. Each finished sachet preferably contains a predetermined portion of tobacco and optionally an aroma layer. The machine 10, 10 'is able to produce and fill sachets with other types of content, not just tobacco, such as granular, powder or solid content, for example.

[0042] Figs. 1 and 2 show one preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a high speed pouch 10. Basically, the sachet machine has four sections to which they belong

EP 2 552 783 BI section A tube forming, section B tube transfer, C section C cutting, stacking and leveling and section D crimping, filling and closing tubes.

[0043] As shown in detail in Figure 10, in the first example, the tube forming section A comprises an uninterrupted supply of paper substrate 12 moved towards the outlet end by a suitable conveyor means (not shown) at a representative speed V1. At the same time, an uninterrupted supply of aroma strip or film 14 is transferred towards the discharge end by means of a driven drum 16 with a cork working surface and with a slightly lower speed V2. When transferring the aroma strip to the cork drum, an adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the aroma strip by an applicator 18. The aroma strip is cut into pieces 20 of unit length on the strip clamp 14 and drum 16 by any common cutting element, such as returnable knife blade or knife drum 19. The difference between V2 and V3 creates predetermined gaps 24 between the cut pieces 20 of aroma strip 14 on the cork drum. The lower speed V2 of the uninterrupted supply of aroma strip 14 and the slightly higher surface speed of the cork drum uniquely results in the desired spacing 24. The spaced apart cut pieces 20 are then glued in place on the moving substrate 12, as for example shown in Fig. 12. Adhesive 25 from applicator 26 is also applied along one edge 27 of the paper substrate. A vacuum 21, as described above, helps to hold the aroma film strips 20 on the cork drum 16 and paper substrate 12.

[0044] The paper substrate 12 with glue 25 along the edges 27 and with the aroma strips 20 in place is then transferred through the forming unit 28, where the paper substrate 12 is shaped into a hollow continuous tube 29 and the opposite edges of the paper are glued together, forming a longitudinal weld 106.

[0045] A kit of embodiments of the forming assembly 28, including one that includes an inner brush 30, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or an inner roller rod 32, as shown in Figs. 3A and 4A may be used to form pipes. In general, the paper substrate 12 with aroma film pieces 20 spaced thereon is drawn through the molding assembly 28 by means of an air-permeable closed strip and rolled into a tubular form. For this purpose, any suitable structure of the forming assembly may be used, as described above. The function of the inner brush 30 is to grip and hold the tube formed by the forming assembly and to help seal the longitudinal weld 106.

[0046] Similarly, as shown in Figures 3A and 4A, the inner roller rod 32 gives the same results in the form of maintaining the tubular shape of the paper substrate. The rollers have a radius of curvature equal to the radius of the hollow tube 29 formed, which guarantees optimal tube formation. The forming assembly may use a vacuum chamber that helps to form the pipe 29. When forming paper tubes only from a strip (no aroma layer), the brush and / or rollers in the forming unit counteract the paper's tendency to collapse. Such practical considerations are not needed when the aroma strip is attached, since the tape and film structure then has a lower tendency to collapse. The application of a vacuum at one or more locations along the forming assembly effectively facilitates the folding operation of the tape and film structure, due to the air impermeable nature of the aroma film.

[0047] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the knife 34 is arranged to cut the continuous pipe 29 into sections 101 of a predetermined length. By way of example, any cut off pipe 101 can

552 552 783 BI have a length sufficient to form two 100 sachets. Each section of the so-called double tube is then transferred in transfer section B to a series of most grooved drums 36 which cut in a row and align the tube 101 into sections 101 'of single length , each of which is used to form one sachet 100. First, the double tube 101 is cut in half, forming two separate sections 101 ', and then the sections 10Γ are arranged in a row and leveled as described above.

[0048] Referring to Figs. 1, 5 and 5A, the transfer of the cut pipe 101 to the first drum 202 and the series of drums 36 in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is preferably carried out by means of a grip drum 202 which cyclically receives knife product 34 in the groove 604 as the rotary position of the twelfth hour of drum 202 is reached by each groove.

[0049] The gripping drum configuration includes a stop 606 for each groove 604 to limit and systematically register each tubular element 101 along each of the grooves 604. Preferably, one or more vacuum assisted rotary rollers 602 assist the transfer of the tubular elements to grooves 604. Preferably, the vacuum slots 623 at spaced apart points along the periphery of the roller or rollers 602 facilitate the transfer of the tubular element 101 in its place. Preferably, when the tubular element 101 is there, one or more vacuum slots 609 apply a vacuum to hold the element 101 in a corresponding groove 604 with the desired orientation of weld 106.

[0050] Also making reference to Fig. 5A, the gripping drum may include a peripheral arcuate barrier or panel 608 at twelfth position of drum 202 that helps to insert tubular element 101 in its place. Drum 202 includes a solid internal vacuum chamber 610 that extends circumferentially from 12 o'clock to the transfer point to the next drum 295. The vacuum from the vacuum source 612 is provided through the vacuum slots 609 when rotating the grooved rotary body 611 of the drum 202.

[0051] The constant positioning of the pipe sections 101 on the first drum 202 is important in that the longitudinal weld 106 must be on the bottom of one of the pipe receiving cavities on the outer surface of the drum 202, and alternatively 180 ° opposite this position. This is necessary to ensure that the ends of the individual pipe sections are crimped with a transverse weld in a favorable position halfway between the side edges of the formed sachet, as shown in Fig. 11.

[0052] Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, in an alternative embodiment of the machine 10 constituting the machine 10 ', the transfer of tubular elements 101 with a unit length in section B' is performed using a transfer spider (92 from Hauni, such as Protos SE 80 "Spider" by Hauni (or other design) having vacuum-controlled gripper rods 702 at the ends of arms 704. All arms 704 are rotated by rotating the spider disk 706, and each arm 704 is rotatable relative to the disk 706. The spider is positioned behind section A 'so that it lifts tubular cement 101 at knife 34 (as shown in Figure 8 as X ). Adjacent to the knife 34, the gripper 702 grips the tubular element 101 in its 3 o'clock position by vacuum and moves to the delivery location adjacent to the 3 o'clock position of the receiving drum 202 '(which is indicated by Y in FIG. 8), and then returns to position X on an elliptical track. At the point of delivery, the vacuum is turned off, so the tubular element 101 is released and raised by the vacuum 202 'by vacuum. In this embodiment, the element

Tubular 101 is oriented so that its weld 106 is initially set at an angle to the radius of the drum 202 ', rather than being desirably aligned with the radius of the drum 202'.

[0053] In order to achieve the desired alignment, the drum 202 'of this embodiment includes a circumferentially wide groove 40 which has a "stop" surface 41, and a bow 42 that retracts the provided tubular element 101 under the "stop" surface 41 so that it remains the desired radial relation was obtained, which is indicated by Z in Fig. 8.

[0054] Although the spider of section B 'is shown in an oblique relation to sections A' and C ', it is aligned with section A' so that the axis of rotation of the spider disk 706 is positioned at an angle of 90 ° to the axis of rotation of the drum 202 ' .

[0055] The use of the Hau ni Protos SE 80 "Spider" device is particularly advantageous in the production of sachets having an inner aroma film.

[0056] The multi-section pipe 101 of Fig. 8 is shown with a longitudinal weld at the top of the pipe, and after being transferred to the first drum 202 'by vacuum transfer, the position of the longitudinal weld is as shown. However, as the drum 202 'rotates, the bow 42 contacts the tubes 101 and rotates them in the receiving cavities 40 on the outer surface of the drum 202'. The cavities are designed to allow the pipes 101 to rotate to an end position in which the longitudinal weld is located on the radius of the drum 202 'as shown.

[0057] In section C ', multi-section pipes 101 are cut, arranged in a row, and leveled by grooved drums in this section, as described above. One tube 101 'to produce one sachet is finally transferred through a conical drum 46, which positions each tube 101' in a vertical orientation at the end of its path from one grooved drum to the next in station C '.

[0058] As shown in Figures 1 and 13-15, in sections D, D ', each hollow tube 10Γ is placed on the outer surface (periphery) of the rotating shaping wheel 48 with a vertical axis of rotation. When placing the pipes on the wheel, a pair of kneading rollers 50, 52 in a fixed place directly below the forming wheel 48 functions to knead and thereby seal the bottom end of each pipe tightly. Each kneading roller 50, 52 preferably has a vertical axis of rotation, and both axes are located along the radius of the forming wheel 48. Due to the longitudinal weld 106 being positioned as described above, the lower transverse weld 102 is thereby formed with the longitudinal weld 106 located halfway between the sides of the molded sachet 100, the transverse weld 102 being in the desired orthogonal relationship to the longitudinal weld 106.

[0059] After closing the lower end of the tube 101 ', the further rotation of the shaping wheel 48 transfers the tubes to a filling station, where tobacco 56 and other contents are introduced into the tubes. The hopper 58 and the vibrating feeder 60 in the filling station operate to carry out the tobacco filling action. The feed rate can be adjusted by changing the vibration and tobacco depth 56 on the vibrating feeder 60.

[0060] Referring now to Figs. 14-18, the shaping wheel 48 has a series of funnel seats 62 at the circumference of the wheel. The top of each seat 62 has the shape of a truncated sector of the circle, and the bottom of each seat is a round hole 64. The hole in each seat is preferably located directly above the open end of the tube 101 '. The walls of the seats 62 are oriented to facilitate the flow of tobacco 56 into the pipes 10Γ. The bottom of seat 62 may include an extension 66 that fits inside the open end of the tube 10Γ. The inner and outer walls of the socket can run so as to form a trough for capturing the content discharged from the vibrating feeder 60. Walls 68 between adjacent

The sockets 62 form a sharp edge so that all tobacco or other content that flows into the sockets flows through the sockets 101 '. The discharge can be vertical or sloping.

[0061] As each seat 62 travels under the tobacco "waterfall 56" or other content provided by the vibrating feeder 60, tobacco is poured through the seat into a pipe 10Γ located under the bottom opening 64, 66 of each seat. Since the tobacco flow is constant in both flow rate and shape of the discharge, and each seat 62 of the shaping wheel 48 has the same size and shape, and the speed of rotation of the wheel is constant, so the amount of tobacco captured by each seat 62 is unchanged. As a result, the amount of tobacco 56 or other content loaded into each of the 10Γ pipes is unchanged. In addition, the dimensioning of the individual components and the tobacco flow rate is such that all tobacco is supplied from the 10Γ pipe sockets in less than one turn of the shaping wheel 48, and the rest of the rotation can be used to close by crimping the pipes, checking as mentioned above and discarding sachets that do not meet specifications, other quality control measures, unloading the sachets 100 and loading the empty tubes 101 'onto the shaping wheel 48.

[0062] A second pair of crimping rollers 70, 72 is in a fixed position above the forming wheel 48 for closing by crimping and sealing the top of each tube 101 ', forming the upper second transverse weld 104. Similar to the first pair of crimping rollers 50, 52, the vertical axes of each of the second crimping rollers are preferably positioned along the radius of the forming wheel 48 to thereby guarantee that the upper transverse weld. 104 is parallel to the lower transverse weld 102 and that the longitudinal weld 106 is halfway between the sides of the finished sachet 100, and that the upper transverse weld is in the desired orthogonal relationship to the longitudinal weld 106. The kneading rollers can be heated to increase tightness along longitudinal welds on 101 'pipes. In addition, a binder may be applied to the open inner edges of the pipe to improve the closure if desired. In addition, these solutions can also be used to create the lower crease.

[0063] The molded sachets 100 can then be removed from the shaping wheel 48, checked for quality control, as explained above, and packaged for transport. Each finished sachet 100 preferably contains tobacco 56, and optionally also a soluble aroma film 20.

[0064] Figures 6 and 7 schematically show another embodiment of the present invention in which the continuous aroma film 14 is laid along the continuous paper substrate 12 without cutting the aroma strip into separate pieces as shown in figure 10. Optionally, a binder is applied to the top of the paper substrate by the applicator 80, and then a continuous aroma film 14 is glued in place on the paper substrate by means of a vacuum through the chamber 82 when the substrate with the aroma strip moves towards the discharge end. Preferably, the paper web 12 has a width greater than the web of aroma film 14, the paper web and aroma film being mutually positioned such that the longitudinal edge 84 of the paper substrate 12 has no aroma film 14 to facilitate the formation of the longitudinal weld 106 when the paper strip is rolled tubular form by molding assembly 28 as described above. The forming assembly is used to form the pipe, and for this purpose any known forming equipment can be used, such as those described above or other known in the art. After the tube has been formed, the remaining steps performed below to form the finished sachet may be similar to those described above with reference to the sachet 10, 10 'according to Figs. 1 and 9.

552 552 783 Bł [0065] The material kneading and filling section preferably includes a series of drums or wheels to facilitate its function. It is possible to perform its functions of crimping, filling, closing and optionally checking at certain points along the line rather than along rotary drums or wheels. The same applies to sections C, C '.

[0066] The aroma film 14, whether in 20 pieces or continuous, also has the function of an inner liner that reduces the tendency of tobacco 56 or other content to discolor (stain) the paper 12 by reducing the chance of the natural moisture of tobacco or its additions, if present, arrived before use on paper. The aroma film 14 also allows the original (fresh) moisture content and other tobacco properties to be maintained until actual use. [0067] Variations and modifications of what has been described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications should be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claims.