Packaging of pods of infusion powder and portions of loose powder

Abstract

 A package, a method, and a machine for packaging single-portion pods (105) of infusion powder and portions (106) of loose powder, comprising insertion between two layers of impermeable film (110) of at least a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder, and sealing together the layers of impermeable film (110), enclosing the pod (105) and the portion (106) of loose powder, such as to form at least two distinct closed compartments, respectively containing a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder.

Description

[0001] The present invention involves the packaging of single-portion pods of infusion powder in general, typically single-portion pods of coffee, and powder substances intended to flavour an infusion, including for example sugar, powdered milk, and powdered chocolate.

[0002] As is known, single-portion pods of infusion powder comprise two superimposed layers of filtering material, permeable to water and sealed together along the lateral edges, such as to define a closed compartment containing a measured quantity of infusion powder.

[0003] Single-portion pods are used in automatic machines for the preparation of drinks like coffee, wherein immersion in a flow of boiling water, which passes through the filtering material, causes the infusion of the powders, before serving into a cup as a beverage.

[0004] Infusion powders oxidize in contact with air, resulting in a loss of a significant part of their essential characteristics, and consequently pods are normally enclosed in sealed wrappers of impermeable material, sometimes conserved in a protective atmosphere.

[0005] The sealed wrappers can be bags designed to hold 15 to 18 single-portion pods, or individual wrappers for each pod.

[0006] Single-portion pods of infusion powder are sometimes commercialized together with other powder substances, commonly known as "toppings", which can be added to flavour beverages.

[0007] Typical examples of toppings are sugar, powdered milk, and cocoa powder. Toppings are generally supplied in single-portions inside small sealed sachets, which can be made of paper or impermeable materials.

[0008] Sachets containing toppings and sealed wrappers containing the pods of infusion powder are packed together inside rigid boxes, generally of cardboard, which might also include a dividing wall separating the pods from the sachets of powder. The above description clearly indicates that the packaging of single-portion pods of infusion powder together with relative toppings requires the use of a complex system comprising at least a first machine to manufacture the single-portion pods and seal them in the relative impermeable wrappers, a second machine to manufacture the sachets of loose powder (toppings), and a third machine to box the proconduits prepared by the first and second machines.

[0009] An aim of the present invention is to simplify the packaging of single-portion pods of infusion powder together with single-portions of relative toppings.

[0010] A further aim of the invention is to attain the abovementioned aim in a simple, practical, and relatively inexpensive solution.

[0011] The above aims are attained by the characteristics of the invention as described in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe preferred and/or particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0012] In particular, the invention makes available a package for pods of infusion powder and portions of loose powder, typically flavouring powders (toppings), comprising a single package formed from two superimposed layers of impermeable film, the layers being sealed together such as to define at least two distinct closed compartments respectively containing a pod of infusion powder and a portion of loose powder.

[0013] In this way the pod of infusion powder is protected inside the same sachet containing the portion of loose flavouring powder, thus effectively reducing the number of packages required for the joint packaging of the two proconduits, providing not only considerable savings in terms of proconduition costs, but also a significant simplification of the entire packaging process.

[0014] The packages of the invention can also be sold inside boxes of simpler structure than those currently in use, for example without internal dividing walls, which are simpler and more economic to produce.

[0015] The packages of the invention offer the further advantage of providing final users with both proconduits together, eliminating the need for separate storage and retrieval every time the proconduits are required.

[0016] The invention also provides a packaging method suitable for the realization of the package of the invention, the method comprising insertion between two layers of an impermeable film of at least a single-portion pod of infusion powder and a portion of loose powder, subsequently sealing the two layers of impermeable material to enclose the pod of infusion powder and the portion of loose powder, such as to form at least two distinct compartments containing respectively the pod of infusion powder and the portion of loose powder.

[0017] In this way the combined packaging of the pods of infusion powder and portions of loose powder is relatively simple, fast, and economical, and can easily be conconduited by a single machine, rather than two machines as required in systems of known type.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the two layers of impermeable film, between which at least a pod of infusion powder and a portion of loose powder are inserted, are obtained by folding a single sheet of impermeable film.

[0019] In particular, it is preferable to unwind a ribbon of impermeable film from a reel, fold the ribbon unwound from the reel along the length of the ribbon such as to obtain two facing longitudinal flaps, seal the flaps together longitudinally along their outside edges such as to form a tube of impermeable material, then seal the flaps together longitudinally along a central line such as to divide the tube into two separate parallel tubes, insert into each tube respectively a pod of infusion powder and a portion of loose powder, and finally transversally seal the flaps together before and after the pod and powder portion inserted previously, such as to enclose the pod and powder portion inside respective closed compartments.

[0020] In this way packaging can be continuous as part of an automated process, providing rapid, simple, and economical proconduition of the packages using a single ribbon of impermeable film.

[0021] Finally, the invention also provides a packaging machine designed to implement the above packaging method for pods of infusion powder and portions of loose powder.

[0022] In general, the packaging machine comprises:

• means for providing two facing layers of an impermeable film,
• means for distributing for inserting at least a pod of infusion powder and a portion of loose powder between the facing layers of film, and
• sealing means the facing layers of film to each other such as to enclose the pod of infusion powder and portion of loose powder, forming distinct closed compartments containing either a pod of infusion powder or a portion of loose powder.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the packaging machine comprises, more specifically:

• drive means for unwinding a ribbon of impermeable film from a reel,
• means for folding the ribbon lengthwise, such as to form two facing longitudinal flaps which become two facing layers of impermeable material,
• means for distributing for inserting single portions of loose powder and individual pods of infusion powder into an interspace between the two facing layers of impermeable material, such that each pod of infusion powder is adjacent to a portion of loose powder,
• sealing means the longitudinal flaps together such as to enclose the pods of infusion powder and portions of loose powder, forming distinct closed compartments containing respectively a pod of infusion powder or a portion of loose powder, and
• means for cutting the ribbon of impermeable film downstream of the sealing means, acting to form single packages comprising at least two closed compartments, respectively containing a pod of infusion powder and a portion of loose powder.

[0024] In this way the packages of the invention are realized starting from a single ribbon of impermeable film, in a simple, fast, economic and almost entirely automatic process.

[0025] In a preferred aspect of the invention, upstream of the means for distributing the packaging machine also comprises means for manufacturing pods of infusion powder and means for transferring the pods from the means for manufacturing pods of infusion powder to the means for distributing, for insertion between the facing layers of impermeable film.

[0026] The means for manufacturing preferably comprise a support surface sliding in a predefined advancement direction, and associated to the support surface:

• means for providing a first continuous ribbon of permeable film above the sliding support surface,
• batching means for releasing individual portions of infusion powder onto the first ribbon of permeable film, spacing the portions of infusion powder along the direction of advancement of the sliding support surface,
• means for providing, above the batched portions of infusion powder, a second continuous ribbon of permeable film,
• sealing means together the first and the second ribbons of permeable film enclosing the batched portions of infusion powder such as to form pods, and
• means for cutting the formed pods.

[0027] The means for transferring collect a single-portion pod at a time from a collection position on the sliding support surface, downstream of the means for cutting, and transfer the pod to an unloading position at the means for distributing.

[0028] In this way, the machine of the invention is able not only to package pods of infusion powder together with portions of loose powder, but is also capable of manufacturing the pods as part of an integrated process in which pods are packaged immediately after fabrication, such that pods remain exposed to ambient air for a very short time, thus significantly limiting the risk of oxidation of the infusion powders.

[0029] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the packaging machine also comprises a sliding conveyor surface to which are associated:

• means for providing open boxes above the sliding conveyor surface,
• means for loading, serving to insert a predetermined number of formed packages into the open boxes, and
• means for closing the boxes when filled.

[0030] In this way, the machine is effectively capable of carrying out an entire packaging process for pods of infusion powder and portions of loose powder, rapidly obtaining boxes ready for sale.

[0031] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will better emerge from the detailed description made herein, provided by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures of the drawings.

Figure 1 is a prospective view of the functional parts of a packaging machine of the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate means for transferring 4 of the packaging machine in two different embodiments during operation, seen from the direction indicated by the arrow R in figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates an enlarged detail of figure 1.

[0032] The packaging machine 1 schematically comprises both means for manufacturing single-portion pods 105 of infusion powder, in the example pods of coffee for use in automatic drinks vending machines, and means for packaging the pods 105 of infusion powder together with single portions 106 of loose powder serving to flavour drinks after vending, for example portions of sugar, powdered cocoa, or powdered milk.

[0033] The means for manufacturing pods of infusion powder comprise a plurality of plates 2, individually exhibiting a central cavity 20, the plates 2 being advanced in series by a chain conveyor 3 which develops along a vertical plane and is powered by drive means (not illustrated), such as for example an electric motor.

[0034] In the upper section of the chain conveyor 3, the plates 2 are horizontal with the cavities 20 facing upwards, and the plates 2 are adjacent to each other such as to define a single continuous support surface, slideable in the advancement direction indicated by the arrow X in figure 1.

[0035] Associated to the slideable support are first guide means (of known type and not illustrated) such as to provide above the plates 2 a first continuous ribbon 100 of filter film, of permeable material, covering the cavities 20.

[0036] The first ribbon 100 of permeable film is unwound from a reel 101, driven by a chain conveyor 3 sliding in direction X.

[0037] Also associated to the slideable support are batching means 30 for inserting a portion 200 of infusion powder, in the example coffee, into each cavity 20 of the plates 2, on the first ribbon 100 of permeable film.

[0038] The batching means 30 schematically comprise a vertical supply conduit 31, open at the bottom and communicating above with an accumulation reservoir 32 of infusion powder, and a screw device 33, contained axially inside the supply conduit 31, the screw device 33 being activated cyclically by an electric motor 34, such as to enable a downwards-directed exit of batched quantities of infusion powder.

[0039] Downstream of the batching means 30, the sliding support surface is associated to second guide means (of known type and not illustrated) serving to provide above the plates 2 a second continuous ribbon 102 of filtering film, of permeable material, which covers the portions 200 of infusion powder supplied onto the first ribbon 100.

[0040] The second ribbon 102 of permeable film is unwound from a relative reel 103, drawn by the sliding of the chain conveyor 3.

[0041] The second ribbon 102 exhibits substantially the same width as the first ribbon 100, such as to completely cover the first ribbon 100, the portions 200 of infusion powder being interposed between the two ribbons 100 and 102.

[0042] Also associated to the sliding support surface are sealing means 35, for sealing together the first and second ribbons of permeable film 100 and 102, such as to enclose the portions 200 of infusion powder, forming a sequence of closed compartments of permeable material, each of which containing a respective portion 200 of infusion powder.

[0043] The sealing means 35 schematically comprise a hollow matrix 36, which is driven by suitable activating means (not illustrated) in an alternating movement in a vertical direction, between a raised position, when the sliding of the ribbons 100 and 102 is enabled, and a lowered position, when the first and second ribbons 100 and 102 are pressed against the underlying plate 2 and sealed together.

[0044] The cavity of the matrix 36 matches and is superimposed over the cavity of the underlying plate 2, such that the plates 100 and 102 are sealed together only along a perimetral portion surrounding the portion 200 of infusion powder. Preferably the hollow matrix 36 is associated to means for heating (not illustrated), such as to thermally seal the ribbons 100 and 102 during the compression stage.

[0045] Downstream of the sealing means 35, the sliding support surface is also associated to means for cutting 37 to cut the ribbons 100 and 102 at the sealed portions such as to separate the individual pods 105 comprising a portion 200 of infusion powder enclosed between two sheets of permeable film.

[0046] The means for cutting 37 comprise a blade 38 driven by suitable drive means (not illustrated) along an alternating movement in a vertical direction between a raised position, where the blade 38 does not interfere with the ribbons 100 and 102, and a lowered position, where the blade 38 cuts the first and the second ribbon 100 and 102 by bearing down onto the underlying plate 2. Downstream of the means for cutting 37, the pods 105 of infusion powder 20 continue advancing on the respective plates 2 of the sliding support surface, until a collection position is reached, indicated as A.

[0047] As illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the packaging machine 1 comprises means for transferring 4, which globally serve to transfer each pod 105 of infusion powder from the collection position A to an unloading position B, after temporarily depositing the pods 105 at a weighing position C, above a weighing device 5 (of known type) serving to check the effective weight of the pods 105.

[0048] This transfer is achieved by a movement of the pods 105 in a transverse direction Y relative to the direction of advancement X of the plates 2 of the sliding support surface.

[0049] The means for transferring 4 comprise two sucker devices 40 and 41, aligned with each other along the transverse direction Y and reciprocally separated, along direction Y, by a distance equal to the distance separating the collection position A from the weighing position C.

[0050] The sucker devices 40 and 41 are vertically oriented and supported, above the plates 2 and the weighing device 5, by a horizontal arm 42 fixed projectingly to a vertical plate 43.

[0051] The ends of the vertical plate 43 are respectively articulated to a first end of two equal and parallel connecting rods 44, and second ends of the connecting rods 44 are articulated to a fixed support structure 6, such as to form an four-bar linkage system.

[0052] The four-bar linkage is designed to move along a vertical plane, transversally to the advancement direction X of the plates 2 of the sliding support surface. Each of the connecting rods 44 of the four-bar linkage is fixed to a cogged wheel 45 coaxial to the hinge axis of a connecting rod 44 relative to the support structure 6.

[0053] Both the cogged wheels 45 enmesh with a vertically-developing rack 46, the upper end of the rack 46 being connected to a lever 47 through an intermediate connecting rod 48, forming a pushing lever mechanism.

[0054] The pushing lever system enables the rack 46 to conconduit an alternative movement in the vertical direction, driven by drive means (not illustrated) acting to rotate the lever 47, for example an electric motor.

[0055] As illustrated in figure 2, when the pushing mechanism is at its lower limit, the connecting rods 44 of the four-bar linkage are horizontal and are oriented such that the sucker devices 40 and 41 are respectively at the collection position A and the weighing position C, directly above the pods 105 of infusion powder lie in positions A and C.

[0056] In this configuration the sucker devices 40 and 41 are activated simultaneously, such as to restrain the respective pods 105 of infusion powder.

[0057] Subsequently, the rotation of the lever 47 forces the rack 46 to move upwards, simultaneously rotating the cogged wheels 45 and the relative connecting rods 44 anticlockwise.

[0058] The rotation of the connecting rods 44 is translated into a movement of the horizontal arm 42 upwards and in the transverse direction Y, during which the sucker devices 40 and 41 transfer the attached pods 105.

[0059] When the pushing mechanism reaches an upper limit, illustrated in figure 3, the sucker device 40 is at the unloading position B, while the other sucker device 41 is at the weighing position C.

[0060] In this configuration the sucker devices 40 and 41 are deactivated, such that the pod 105 that was previously at the weighing position C is now released at the unloading position B, and the pod 105 that was previously at the collection position A is released at the weighing position C, above the weighing device 5.

[0061] Rotating further, the lever 47 inverts the movement of the rack 46, and consequently of the cogged wheels 45 and of the connecting rods 44, causing the horizontal arm 42 to move back.

[0062] In this way, the sucker device 40 moves back to the weighing position C, where in the meantime the weighing device 5 has checked the weight of the pod 105 transported previously, and the sucker device 41 moves back to the collection position A, where in the meantime another pod 105 has been deposited by the advance of the sliding support surface.

[0063] The cycle repeats continuously, providing the transfer of one pod 105 at a time from the collection position A to the unloading position B.

[0064] At the unloading position B, each pod 105 of infusion powder is released into a funnel 70 profiled such as to orient the pod 105 vertically and guide the pod 105 into the upper inlet 71 of an underlying vertically-developing conveyor conduit 72.

[0065] As schematically illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the means for transferring 4 are contained in a compartment 49 also containing the weighing device 5 and the inlet of the funnel 70, and the compartment 49 is transited by the plates 2 of the sliding support surface when at the collection position A.

[0066] In this way, the transfer of each pod 105 of infusion powder from the collection position A to the unloading position B takes place entirely inside the compartment 49.

[0067] The compartment 49 is provided with means (of known type and not illustrated) serving to insert in the compartment 49 a pressurised antioxidant gas, typically nitrogen, such as to create a protective atmosphere for the preservation of the essential characteristics of the pods 105 during transfer.

[0068] As already stated, the pods 105 of infusion powder are released one at a time into a conveyor conduit 72.

[0069] The transverse cross-section of the conveyor conduit 72 is generally flat in shape, exhibiting width and depth approximately equal to the width and depth of the pods 105 of infusion powder, such as to accurately guide the pods 105 as they slide down, until exiting the lower outlet 75.

[0070] As illustrated in figure 1, alongside the conveyor conduit 72 is a vertically-developing second conveyor conduit 73, substantially identical to the conveyor conduit 72.

[0071] The first and second conveyor conduits 72 and 73 are positioned at the same height and are substantially aligned along the same vertical plane, reciprocally separated by an appropriate space.

[0072] Associated to the second conveyor conduit 73 are batching means, denoted in their entirety by 8 and serving to internally supply batched quantities of a loose powder, for example sugar, cocoa powder, or powdered milk, serving as toppings for drinks obtainable using the pods 105 of infusion powder.

[0073] The batching means 8 comprise a vertical supply conduit 80, which inserts into the upper inlet 74 of the second conveyor conduit 73 and communicates above with an accumulation reservoir 81 for the lose powder, and a screw device 82, housed axially inside the supply conduit 80, and driven cyclically by an electrical motor 83, such as to cause the downward release of individual batched portions of loose powder.

[0074] In this way, each portion of loose powder supplied by the vertical conduit 80 passes into the conveyor conduit 73, where it is guided downwards until exiting at a lower outlet mouth 76.

[0075] The packaging machine 1 further comprises a profiled body 9, installed in a fixed position relative to the conveyor conduits 72 and 73.

[0076] As shown in figure 4, the profiled body 9 exhibits a substantially pyramidal shape with three sloping surfaces, being a forward surface 90 and two lateral surfaces 91.

[0077] The lateral surfaces 91 are separated by a narrow opening that extends along the shared corner, and two descending sidewalls 92, deriving from the edges of the lateral surfaces 91, vertical and perfectly counterpositioned, define a cavity. Inserted inside the cavity, with a degree of transverse play, are both the conveyor conduits 72 and 73, such that their inlets 71 and 74 are positioned higher relative to the sloping surfaces of the profiled body 9, while the respective lower outlets 75 and 76, are positioned at a lower level.

[0078] The profiled body 9 serves to slidingly guide a ribbon 110 of impermeable film, for example cellophane, which unwinds from a relative reel 111, rises centrally on the sloping frontal surfaces 90 of the profiled body 9 and, sliding over the sloping lateral surfaces 91, enters the cavity between the descending sidewalls 92.

[0079] In this way the ribbon 110 of impermeable film is folded lengthwise and deviated by about 90 degrees relative to the unwinding direction of the reel 111, such that downstream of the profiled body 9 the ribbon 110 is folded into two facing longitudinal flaps, sliding downwards from above and encompassing both the conveyor conduits 72 and 73.

[0080] Otherwise stated, downstream of the profiled body 9, the ribbon 110 runs vertically and is folded such as to exhibit a substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section, defined by the opposite longitudinal flaps.

[0081] The conveyor conduits 72 and 73 are thus axially contained in the cavity between the longitudinal flaps, the upper inlets 71 and 74 remaining exposed externally and the lower outlets 75 and 76 opening inside the cavity. Naturally the cavity is closed along the vertical side on which the longitudinal flaps are united at the fold and the cavity is open along the opposite vertical side, where the vertical edges of the longitudinal flaps are separated.

[0082] The width of the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 of impermeable film is greater than the horizontal bulk of the conveyor conduits 72 and 73, such that the separated flaps can touch each other.

[0083] Below the profiled body 9, the packaging machine 1 comprises sealing means, not illustrated in figure 1 and labelled globally as 10, serving to seal together the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 of impermeable film obtained by folding.

[0084] As illustrated in figure 4, the sealing means comprise a plurality of distinct pincer devices 11 to 14, each comprising in general two facing jaws 15 to 18, arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 and provided with a movement of reciprocal approach and withdrawal, such as to press the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 against each other, sealing them together along the portion at which they contact each other. Preferably, suitable means for heating (not illustrated) are associated to the jaws 15 to 18 of each of the pincer devices 11 to 14, such as to thermally weld the longitudinal flaps during compression.

[0085] In particular, the sealing means 10 comprise a first pincer device 11, positioned at a height between the outlets 75 and 76 of the conveyor conduits 72 and 73, and the profiled body 9.

[0086] The jaws 15 of the first pincer device 11 exhibit a prevalently vertical development, such as to seal together the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 of impermeable film, along a narrow vertical portion.

[0087] In particular, the first pincer device 11 is positioned such as to act on the separated vertical edges of the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110.

[0088] In this way, as the ribbon 110 slides downwards, the jaws 15 of the first pincer device 11 act to progressively seal together the separated edges along the entire longitudinal extension thereof, transforming the ribbon 110 of impermeable film substantially into a tube.

[0089] The sealing means 10 further comprise a second pincer device 12, substantially identical to the first pincer device 11 and positioned at the same height thereas, in a central position, such as to interact with the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 in the separation space between the conveyor conduits 72 and 73.

[0090] In this way, as the ribbon 110 slides downwards, the jaws 16 of the second pincer device 12 act to seal a central portion of the longitudinal flaps, for the entire length thereof, subdividing the tube of impermeable film obtained using the first pincer device 11, into two distinct parallel and separate tubes, into which open the two outlets 75 and 76 of the conveyor conduits 72 and 73. Preferably, the sealing means 10 also comprise a third pincer device 13, substantially identical to the first two, 11 and 12, and positioned at the same height, located laterally, such as to act on the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 at the fold that unites the flaps of the ribbon 110. In this way, as the ribbon 110 runs downwards, the jaws 17 of the third pincer device 13 act to completely seal the fold between the longitudinal flaps, sealing any tears that might have formed during folding on the profiled body 9.

[0091] The sealing means 10 finally comprise a fourth pincer device 14, positioned at a lower height relative to the outlets 75 and 76 of the conveyor conduits 72 and 73.

[0092] The fourth pincer device 14 comprises two jaws 18 exhibiting a substantially horizontal development, such as to press the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 against each other and seal them together, along a portion extending for the entire transverse development of the longitudinal flaps.

[0093] In this way, the fourth pincer device 14 serves to close the bottom of both tubes of impermeable film realized by the pincer devices 11 to 13 positioned above, such as to form two adjacent compartments of impermeable film, open only towards the top, into which the two conveyor conduits are respectively inserted 72 and 73.

[0094] The fourth pincer device 14 is also associated to a motorized drive means of known type (not illustrated) and acting to alternatingly drive the pincer device 14 in a vertical direction during which the pincer 14 follows a cyclic activation movement from above downwards, in which the jaws 18 close on the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110, followed by a return movement upwards, in which the jaws 18 are open.

[0095] In this way, during each advance movement, in addition to sealing the longitudinal flaps together, the fourth pincer device 14 pulls the ribbon 110 of impermeable film downwards.

[0096] Consequently, the fourth pincer device 14 is also the organ actively drawing the ribbon 110 of impermeable film to unwind from the reel 111 and run over the profiled body 9.

[0097] During the return movement the fourth pincer device 14 does not interact with the ribbon 110, which consequently remains stationary at the position reached previously.

[0098] More specifically, the operation of the machine 1 is described below, starting from the configuration illustrated in figure 4, wherein the fourth pincer device 14 is at the upper limit of travel with the jaws 18 open.

[0099] In this configuration the jaws 15 to 17 of the pincer devices 11 to 13 are closed, such as to seal together the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 along vertical portions and realizing tubes of impermeable film as described above. At the end of this stage, the first pincer devices 11 to 13 open simultaneously while the fourth pincer device 14 closes, such that the jaws 18 grip the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110, along a transverse portion underlying the vertical portions sealed previously.

[0100] In this way, the jaws 18 of the fourth pincer device 14 close the bottom of the tubes of impermeable film formed by the pincer devices 11 to 13, obtaining, as already stated, two adjacent compartments of impermeable film, into which open the respective outlets 75 and 76 of the conveyor conduits 72 and 73.

[0101] At this point, the means for transferring 4 release a pod 105 of infusion powder into the conveyor conduit 72, guiding the pod 105 which drops by gravity to the bottom of the relative compartment of impermeable film. Analogously and simultaneously the batching means 8 supply a portion 106 of loose powder into the conveyor conduit 73, guiding the loose powder which drops by gravity to the bottom of the other compartment of impermeable material.

[0102] During the depositing of the pod 105 of infusion powder and the portion 106 of loose powder (or immediately afterwards), the fourth pincer device 14 is activated in a downward advance movement, during which the jaws 18 are closed, such as to complete the sealing phase and advance the ribbon 110. When the fourth pincer device 14 reaches the lower endrun position (not illustrated), the pod 105 of infusion powder and the portion 106 of loose powder are completely enclosed inside the relative compartments of impermeable material, suitably spaced from the outlets 75 and 76 of the relative conveyor conduits 72 and 73.

[0103] Subsequently, the jaws 18 open and the fourth pincer device 14 begins a return travel cycle upwards without interacting with the ribbon 110 which remains stationary.

[0104] When the fourth pincer device 14 reaches the upper end of travel position, the jaws 18 close again to seal the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110, such as to close above and thus completely close the compartments of impermeable material containing the pod 105 of infusion powder and the portion 106 of loose powder.

[0105] Note that while the fourth pincer device 14 travels in return, the jaws 15 to 17 of the pincer devices 11 to 13 close to seal the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon 110 which remain stationary, such that when the pincer device 14 reaches the upper end of travel position, the system is at the initial position of figure 4, from where the cycle is repeated.

[0106] Downstream of the sealing means 10, the packaging machine 1 also comprises means for cutting of known type (not illustrated), which act to transversally cut the ribbon 110 of impermeable film.

[0107] The cut is along the transverse portions sealed by the fourth pincer device 14, such as not to compromise the airtightness of the compartments containing the pods 105 of infusion powder and the portions of loose powder. Depending on packaging requirements, the means for cutting can be arranged to cut the ribbon 110 at each of the sealed transverse portions, such as to obtain individual rectangular packages 107 each containing a pod 105 of infusion powder and a portion 106 of loose powder; alternatively the means for cutting can be arranged to obtain longer sections comprising a plurality of packages 107 joined together.

[0108] As illustrated in figure 1, downstream of the means for cutting, the packaging machine 1 finally comprises a conveyor surface 108 slideable in direction Q, to which are normally associated in series (not illustrated because of known type): means for providing a plurality of open cardboard boxes 109 above the sliding transport surface 108; means for loading acting to load a predefined number of packages 107, or groups of packages 107, arriving from the means for cutting, into each of the open cardboard boxes 109; and finally means for closing the filled cardboard boxes 109. Obviously, a technical expert in the sector could introduce numerous modifications of a practical-technical nature to the packaging machine 1 as described above, without its forsaking the ambit of the invention as claimed herein below.

Claims

1. A package for single-portion pods (105) of infusion powder and portions (106) of loose powder, characterized in that it comprises a single package formed from two superimposed layers of impermeable film (110), sealed together such as to define at least two closed compartments, respectively containing a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder.

2. The package of claim 1, characterized in that the pod (105) of infusion powder comprises a batched portion (200) of infusion powder enclosed between two sealed layers of permeable film (100, 102).

3. A packaging method for single-portion pods (105) of infusion powder and portions (106) of loose powder, characterized in that it comprises the stages of inserting between two layers of impermeable film (110) at least a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder, and sealing together the layers of impermeable film (110), enclosing a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder, such as to form at least two distinct closed compartments, respectively containing the pod (105) of infusion powder and the portion (106) of loose powder.

4. The method of claim 3, characterized in that the layers of impermeable film are obtained by folding a single impermeable film (110), such as to form two facing flaps between which are inserted at least a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder.

5. The method of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a stage of inserting between the layers of impermeable film (110) a plurality of pods (105) of infusion powder and a plurality of portions (106) of loose powder, such that each pod (105) of infusion powder is adjacent to a portion (106) of loose powder, the layers of impermeable film (110) being cut after sealing, such as to separate individual packages (107) comprising at least two closed compartments respectively containing a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder.

6. The method of claim 4, characterized in that it comprises stages of unwinding a ribbon (110) of impermeable film from a reel (111), folding the ribbon (110) that is unwound from the reel (111) lengthwise, such as to form two opposite longitudinal flaps, longitudinally sealing the flaps together along the free edges, such as to form a tube of impermeable material, longitudinally sealing together the flaps along a central portion, such as to divide the tube into two parallel and separate tubes, depositing inside each of the tubes respectively a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder, and transversally sealing the flaps together, before and after the pod (105) and the portion (106) inserted previously, such as to enclose the pod (105) and the portion (106) inside respective closed compartments.

7. A packaging machine for single-portion pods (105) of infusion powder and portions (106) of loose powder, characterized in that it comprises:

- means (9, 14) for providing two facing layers of an impermeable film,

- means for distributing (70-76) for inserting at least a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder between the facing layers,

- sealing means (10) acting to seal together the facing layers enclosing the pods of infusion powder and portions of loose powder, forming distinct closed compartments individually containing a pod (105) of infusion powder or a portion (106) of loose powder.

8. The packaging machine of claim 7, characterized in that it comprises:

- activating means (14) for unwinding a ribbon (110) of impermeable film from a reel (111),

- means for folding (9) acting to fold the ribbon (110) lengthwise, such as to obtain two facing longitudinal flaps, defining superimposed facing layers of impermeable film,

- means for distributing (70 to 76) for inserting individual pods (105) of infusion powder and single portions (106) of loose powder between the longitudinal flaps, such that each pod (105) of infusion powder is adjacent to a portion (106) of loose powder,

- sealing means (10) acting to seal together the longitudinal flaps enclosing the pods (105) of infusion powder and the portions (106) of loose powder, forming distinct closed compartments containing a single pod (105) of infusion powder or a portion (106) of loose powder, and

- means for cutting, acting to cut the ribbon (110) of impermeable film downstream of the sealing means (10), forming individual packages (107) which comprise at least two closed compartments respectively containing a pod (105) of infusion powder and a portion (106) of loose powder.

9. The machine of claim 8, characterized in that the means for folding comprise a fixed body (9) provided with guide surfaces (90-92) on which the ribbon (110) of impermeable film is made to slide by the drive means (14), the guide surfaces (90-92) being arranged such as to fold the ribbon (110) sliding on the guide surfaces (90-92).

10. The machine of claim 8, characterized in that the means for distributing comprise two distinct conveyor conduits (72, 73) vertical and adjacent to one another, respectively for the pods (105) of infusion powder and for the portions (106) of loose powder, and further characterized in that the means for folding (9) act to vertically orient the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon (110) of impermeable film, causing the impermeable film to slide downwards enveloping the conveyor conduits (72, 73), such that the conveyor conduits (72, 73) are both axially enclosed between the longitudinal flaps, each exhibiting an upper inlet (71, 74) located externally and a lower outlet (75, 76) opening into an interspace between the longitudinal flaps.

11. The machine of claim 10, characterized in that the drive means comprise a pincer device (14), located downstream of the means for folding (9), acting to grip the ribbon (110) of impermeable film, and associated to motorised means driving the pincer device (14) in an alternating movement in a vertical direction, repeatedly performing an advance movement downward, gripping and pulling the ribbon (110) downwards, followed by a return movement upwards during which the pincer device (14) is open, such that the ribbon (110) remains stationary.

12. The machine of claim 10, characterized in that the sealing means comprise at least a pincer device (14), located at a lower height relative to the outlets (75, 76) of the conveyor conduits (72, 73), the pincer device (14) acting to seal together the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon (110) of impermeable film, along a portion extending for the entire transverse extension of the longitudinal flaps.

13. The machine of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the pincer device (14) acting to transversally seal the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon (110) of impermeable film, is the same pincer device (14) that pulls the ribbon (110) of impermeable film.

14. The machine of claim 10, characterized in that the sealing means (10) comprise at least two pincer devices (11, 12), located at a higher level relative to the outlets (75, 76) of the conveyor conduits (72, 73), each acting to grip together the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon (110) of impermeable film, such as to seal the ribbon (110) along a portion of longitudinal development, the two pincer devices (11, 12) respectively acting to seal the longitudinal flaps along the separate lateral edges thereof, and along an intermediate portion included between the conveyor conduits (72, 73).

15. The machine of claim 14, characterized in that the sealing means (10) comprise a further pincer device (13), located at a greater height relative to the outlets (75, 76) of the conveyor conduits (72, 73), acting to grip together the longitudinal flaps of the ribbon (110) of impermeable film, such as to seal the longitudinal flaps together along a portion of longitudinal development on the fold that unites the longitudinal flaps.

16. The machine of claim 10, characterized in that the means for distributing (70-76) are associated to batching means (8) acting to release batched portions of loose powder into the upper inlet mouth (74) of the conveyor conduit (73) for the portions (106) of loose powder.

17. The machine of claim 7, characterized in that it comprises means for manufacturing pods (105) of infusion powder, and means for transferring (4) for collecting the pods (105) from the means for manufacturing and then releasing the pods (105) at the means for distributing (70-76).

18. The machine of claim 17, characterized in that the means for manufacturing pods (105) of infusion powder comprise a support surface, slideable along a predetermined direction of advancement (X), to which are associated:

- means for providing, above the sliding support surface, a first continuous ribbon (100) of permeable film which unwinds from a reel (101),

- batching means (30) for depositing single portions (200) of infusion powder onto the first ribbon (100) of permeable film,

- means for providing, above the portions (200) of infusion powder, a second continuous ribbon (102) of permeable film which unwinds from a reel (103),

- sealing means (35) acting to seal together the first and second ribbons (100, 102) of permeable film enclosing the portions (200) of infusion powder, forming individual single-portion pods (105), and

- means for cutting (37) acting to cut the single-portion pods (105) formed as described.

19. The machine of claim 18, characterized in that the means for transferring (4) collect one pod (105) of infusion powder at a time from a collection position (A) on the sliding support surface, and then release the pod (105) at an unloading position (B) at the means for distributing (70-76).

20. The machine of claim 19, characterized in that it comprises means for weighing (5) the pods (105) of infusion powder, and that the means for transferring (4) comprise first means for transporting (41) which collect a pod (105) of infusion powder at a time from the collection position (A) on the sliding support surface, releasing the pod (105) at a weighing position (C) on the means for weighing (5), and second means for transporting (40) which collect each pod (105) from the weighing position (C), releasing the pod (105) at the unloading position (B) at the means for distributing (70-76).

21. The machine of claims 19 or 20, characterized in that the means for transferring (4) are associated to a compartment (49) provided with means for inserting an antioxidant gas to create a protective atmosphere, such that transfer of each pod (105) of infusion powder from the collection position (A) to the unloading position (B) takes place inside the compartment (49).

22. The machine of claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a sliding conveyor surface (108) to which are associated:

- means for providing a plurality of open boxes (109) above the sliding transport surface (108),

- means for loading, acting to load into each of the open boxes (109) a predetermined number of received packages (107), and

- means for closing the filled boxes (109).

Drawing