U.S. patent application number 15/116171 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-22 for device and method for producing portion packets of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product.
The applicant listed for this patent is Swedish Match North Europe AB. Invention is credited to Kenneth EK.
Application Number | 20170174375 15/116171 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50033436 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170174375 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
EK; Kenneth |
June 22, 2017 |
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PORTION PACKETS OF A SMOKELESS
TOBACCO PRODUCT OR NON-TOBACCO SNUFF PRODUCT
Abstract
The invention concerns a device (1) for producing portion
packets (2) of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff
product, comprising a forming arrangement (3) configured to form
portion packets of the product from a supply of product material, a
packaging arrangement (4) configured to fold and seal a packaging
material (5) around the portion packets and comprising a unit for
transversal sealing (11), a sensor member (12, 13) configured to
generate information useful for identifying defect portion packets
during operation of the device, a rejection system (7) configured
to reject selected portion packets during operation of the device,
and a control system (8) configured to receive the information
generated by the sensor member and to control the rejection system.
The sensor member is capable of generating data of at least a part
of an individual portion packet during operation of the device, and
the control system is configured to i) carry out a comparison
between a) the data received from the sensor member and b)
reference data and to ii) control the rejection system depending on
a result of the comparison. The sensor member is arranged in
association with the unit for transversal sealing, such as to be
capable of generating data of portion packets that have been folded
into the longitudinally folded strip of packaging material. The
control system is provided with information on where on the strip
of packaging material transversal seals (9) generated by the
transversal sealing unit will be or have been placed. The invention
also concerns a method for producing portion packets of a smokeless
tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product.
Inventors: |
EK; Kenneth; (Lerum,
SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Swedish Match North Europe AB |
Stockholm |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
50033436 |
Appl. No.: |
15/116171 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
February 5, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/000237 |
371 Date: |
August 2, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 9/06 20130101; B65B
19/28 20130101; B65B 57/00 20130101; B65B 61/06 20130101; A24B
13/00 20130101; B65B 7/02 20130101; B65B 19/30 20130101; A24F 23/02
20130101; A24C 5/32 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 19/30 20060101
B65B019/30; A24F 23/02 20060101 A24F023/02; B65B 61/06 20060101
B65B061/06; B65B 7/02 20060101 B65B007/02; B65B 9/06 20060101
B65B009/06; B65B 57/00 20060101 B65B057/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 6, 2014 |
EP |
14154188.8 |
Claims
1. A device for producing portion packets of a smokeless tobacco
product or non-tobacco snuff product, said device comprising: a
forming arrangement configured to form portions of the product from
a supply of product material on to a longitudinally extending strip
of a packaging material; a packaging arrangement located downstream
of the forming arrangement, the packing arrangement configured to
fold and seal the packaging material around the portions, the
packaging arrangement comprising a transversal sealing unit
configured to form a transverse seal in between the portions to
form portion packets; a sensor located upstream or downstream of
the unit for transversal sealing, the sensor configured to generate
information useful for identifying defective portion packets during
operation of the device, wherein the information comprises data
indicative of a property of at least a part of a portion packet; a
rejection system configured to reject selected portion packets
during operation of the device; and a control system configured to
receive the information generated by the sensor and to control the
rejection system, the control system configured to compare the data
received from the sensor to reference data and to control the
rejection system depending on a result of said comparison.
2-20. (canceled)
21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the property of at
least a part of a portion packet comprises one or more properties
selected from the group consisting of: a length of the portion
packet, a width of the portion packet, a position of the portion
packet in relation to an existing or intended position of the
transverse seal, a length of the transversal seal, an appearance of
a longitudinal seal, an appearance of the packaging material, and
an appearance of the product material placed on an outside of the
packaging material.
22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control system is
configured to classify a first individual portion packet defective
if the data received by the control system from the sensor differs
from the reference data by at least a certain threshold value.
23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a vision
sensor and wherein the data indicative of a property of at least a
part of an individual portion packet comprises image data.
24. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further
comprises a radiation emitter located on a side of an intended
feeding path for said strip of packaging material that is opposite
of the sensor.
25. The device according to claim 24, further comprising an
additional sensor configured to detect reflected radiation.
26. The device according to claim 25, wherein one of the sensors is
positioned upstream of the transversal sealing unit and the other
one of the sensor is positioned downstream of the transversal
sealing unit.
27. The device according to claim 1, wherein the packaging
arrangement comprises a unit for longitudinal sealing of said strip
of said packaging material, said unit for longitudinal sealing
being positioned upstream of the unit for transversal sealing.
28. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further
comprises a cutter for transversally cutting a strip of said
packaging material.
29. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further
comprises at least one product outlet for non-rejected portion
packets, wherein the rejection system is configured to direct
selected portion packets to at least one other outlet that is
separate from the product outlet.
30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the rejection system
comprises at least one channel configured to lead pressurized gas
towards an intended feeding path of the portion packets in a
position corresponding to at least one of said outlet(s).
31. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one
channel is integrated in a supporting member comprising a
perforated periphery and capable of holding a vacuum or low
pressure applied inside of the supporting member for holding a
strip of the packaging material and the portion packets in place
when transported in the feeding path along the supporting
member.
32. The device according to claim 31, wherein said supporting
member is provided with transversally arranged flanges at its
periphery for transversal sealing of said packaging material around
the portion packets.
33. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control system is
configured to identify whether there is product material properly
positioned in relation to an intended position or an existing
position of the transversal seal.
34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the control system is
configured to use information about whether there is product
material properly positioned in relation to an intended position or
an existing position of the transversal seal to adjust said forming
arrangement as regards to how or where a portion packet is placed
on said packaging material in relation to an intended position of a
transverse seal.
35. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located upstream
of the unit for transversal sealing and the data indicative of a
property of at least a part of an individual portion packet is data
indicative of a location of product material in relation to an
intended location of a transverse seal.
36. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located downstream
of the unit for transversal sealing and the data indicative of a
property of at least a part of an individual portion packet is data
indicative of a location of a transverse seal.
37. The device of claim 1, wherein a first sensor is located
upstream of the unit for transversal sealing and a second sensor is
located downstream of the unit for transversal sealing, wherein the
first and second sensors are capable of generating data indicative
of portion packets that have been folded into the longitudinally
folded strip of packaging material and wherein said control system
is adapted to be provided with information on where on the strip of
packaging material transversal seals generated by the transversal
sealing unit will be or have been placed.
38. A method for producing portion packets of a smokeless tobacco
product or non-tobacco snuff product, using the device of claim 1,
said method comprising: forming portion packets of said product;
placing the portion packets in a row on a strip of packaging
material; folding and sealing the strip of packaging material
longitudinally around the portion packets; transversally sealing
the strip of packaging material between the portion packets;
generating information useful for identifying defective portion
packets; and rejecting selected portion packets, wherein generating
information includes generating data indicative of a physical
property of at least a part of an individual portion packet using
the sensor and comparing the data generated by the sensor to
reference data, and the rejecting selected portions packets is
based on a result of said comparison.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the sensor is arranged in
association with the unit for transversal sealing such as to be
capable of generating data of portion packets that have been folded
into the longitudinally folded strip of packaging material, said
data comprising information on where on the strip of packaging
material transversal seals generated by the transversal sealing
unit will be or have been placed.
40. The method according to claim 38, wherein comparing comprises
comparing data indicative of one or several portion packet
properties, said properties selected from the group consisting of:
a length of portion packet, a width of portion packet, a position
of portion packet in relation to an existing or intended position
of the transversal seal of the packaging material, a length of the
transversal seal, an appearance of a longitudinal seal of the
packaging material, and an appearance of product material placed on
an outside of the packaging material.
41. The method according to claim 38, further comprising providing
individual portion packets packaged in the packaging material.
42. The method according to claim 38, wherein rejecting selected
portion packets comprises guiding pressurized gas towards a feeding
path of the portion packets in a position corresponding to an
outlet that is separated from a product outlet intended for
non-rejected portion packets.
43. The method according to claim 38, wherein data indicative of a
physical property of at least a part of an individual portion
packet includes data indicative of the position of a transverse
seal, and the method further comprises using the data to adjust the
placing of the product material on the packaging material.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a device for producing portion
packets of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff
product, comprising a forming arrangement configured to form
portion packets of the product from a supply of product material, a
packaging arrangement configured to fold and seal a packaging
material around the portion packets, a sensor member configured to
generate information useful for identifying defect portion packets
during operation of the device, a rejection system configured to
reject selected portion packets during operation of the device, and
a control system configured to receive the information generated by
the sensor member and to control the rejection system.
[0002] The invention also relates to a method for producing portion
packets of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product
comprising the steps of forming portion packets, folding and
sealing a packaging material around the portion packets, generating
information useful for identifying defect portion packets, and
rejecting selected portion packets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Devices for packaging of individual portion packets of a
smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product, such as
finely divided moistened tobacco material, in Swedish "snus", are
known from, for instance, EP0921978 and US2010/0101189.
[0004] It is important that the customer product, typically a can
filled with a certain number of tobacco pouches, is of high quality
which, for instance, means that cans that contain one or several
individual pouches that are too large/heavy or too small/light
should not be sent out to customers. To avoid that such
faulty/defect individual pouches are placed in the can they must be
identified and rejected during production before being placed in
the can.
[0005] US2010/0101189 discloses a machine capable of detecting and
removing from the production line pouches that have a weight out of
a preselected range. The machine comprises a microwave emitter
device interposed between paired transport belts and cutting means
that senses the mass density of the tobacco particles contained in
each of the pouches. A control unit connected to the emitter
calculates the weight of each pouch and compares with reference
values. If out of range, the pouch is removed by means of a
mechanical expulsion device activated by the control unit.
[0006] US2012/0023874 discloses a device comprising an inspection
and feed control system for identifying and rejecting pouches that
have a content that deviates from a certain specification. Sensors
are used to determine the content of individual pouches. The
function of these sensors is not explained, so it is therefore
unclear how to apply the disclosed inspection and feed control
system.
[0007] In the device disclosed in EP0921978 the portion packets are
formed by a rotary portioning wheel and placed onto an "endless"
strip/tape of heat-sealable packaging material that is fed under
the wheel and that transports the portion packets towards a folding
and sealing unit where the packaging material is folded, cut and
transversely sealed around the individual portion packets. The
problem of identifying and rejecting faulty pouches is not
addressed in EP0921978.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The machine disclosed in US2010/0101189 may work well for
rejecting packaged portion packets, also called pouches, that
contain too little or too much smokeless tobacco product material
or non-tobacco snuff product material, at least in the type of
machine described. However, no indication is given on how to detect
pouches with other defects than a faulty size or weight. Further,
US2010/0101189 gives no indication on how to remove defect pouches
from the production line in other types of machines, such as the
one disclosed in EP0921978.
[0009] There is thus a need for improvements with regard to
identification and rejection of faulty individual pouches in
devices for packaging of individual portion packets of a smokeless
tobacco product or a non-tobacco snuff product.
[0010] The invention concerns a device for producing portion
packets of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff
product, said device comprising [0011] a forming arrangement
configured to form portion packets of the product from a supply of
product material, [0012] a packaging arrangement configured to fold
and seal a packaging material around the portion packets, [0013] a
sensor member configured to generate information useful for
identifying defect portion packets during operation of the device,
[0014] a rejection system configured to reject selected portion
packets during operation of the device, and [0015] a control system
configured to receive the information generated by the sensor
member and to control the rejection system.
[0016] The sensor member is capable of generating data of at least
a part of an individual portion packet during operation of the
device, and the control system is configured to i) carry out a
comparison between a) the data received from the sensor member and
b) reference data, and to ii) control the rejection system
depending on a result of said comparison.
[0017] Such a device can be used to identify a variety of defects
of individual portion packets, such as an incomplete sealing of the
packaging material, an inappropriate positioning of a portion
packet before packaging, the presence of product material on an
outside of the packaging material, etc., which makes it possible to
reject such portion packets and avoid placing them in the can, i.e.
in the customer product. This improves the quality of the customer
product.
[0018] The reference data relate to data for portion packets deemed
to be acceptable and/or correct.
[0019] The packaging material may comprise, or be constituted by, a
material that is permeable to saliva and/or is heat sealable, such
as viscose fibres bonded by a thermoplastic bonding agent. The
packaging material may be a non-woven material, which is a fibrous
material comprising relatively disordered fibres in comparison to a
woven material. Examples of suitable materials for a non-woven
intended for a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff
product are given in patent document EP 2 692 254 A1.
[0020] Also the weight/size of an individual portion packet can be
determined or at least estimated by the inventive device, for
instance by comparing length, width and height from the data with
an appropriate set of reference data. Thus also portion packets
that are too small, too large or have a deviating shape can be
identified and sorted out by the inventive device.
[0021] The individual portion packet subject to the generation of
data may be fully packaged, partly packaged or non-packaged.
[0022] The reference data are preferably adapted to a particular
product type, product size, type and size of strip packaging
material, etc.
[0023] The data comparison comprises a comparison of one or several
portion packet properties, wherein said property/properties is/are
one or several of the following: length of portion packet; width of
portion packet; position of portion packet in relation to an
existing or intended position of a transversal seal of the
packaging material; appearance, such as length, of the transversal
seal; appearance of a longitudinal seal of the packaging material;
and/or whether there is product material placed on an outside of
the packaging material.
[0024] The sensor member may work with reflected and/or transmitted
radiation, e.g. light, UV, IR, microwaves, x-ray, ultrasound,
beta-radiation or gamma-radiation. The sensor member may be
one-dimensional, i.e. sensing line-wise, e.g. a line camera, or
two-dimensional, i.e. sensing in a measurement field, such as a
normal camera.
[0025] The sensor member may be a vision sensor, such as a camera.
Cameras may be used in pairs to obtain a stereo image. The camera
may utilize light of the visible spectrum or invisible light such
as UV light or IR light. Two-dimensional data, from e.g. a camera,
form image data. The term image data as used herein may also be
used for two-dimensional data from the non-visible part of the
spectrum. Such data may however be presented as a visible image,
e.g. by using colour coding.
[0026] Different ways are possible for carrying out the detailed
data comparison procedure. If utilizing image data, the procedure
can follow at least part of the following general principle:
digitalizing the image into pixels, selecting a region of interest
of the image, e.g. a region where an edge of a sealing or a portion
packet is expected to be positioned, identifying a starting point
such as an edge, e.g. by involving a comparison of image data with
reference data, determining a portion packet property, e.g. length
of transversal seal or presence of product material on outside of
the packaging material, wherein the latter may include comparison
of pixel contrast and/or brightness using e.g. a light/white
packaging material and a dark/black/brown product, and comparing
the determined portion packet property data with reference
data.
[0027] The result of the final data comparison comprises preferably
a classification of a first individual portion packet as defect if
the data of said first individual portion packet received from the
sensor member differs from the reference data with at least a
certain threshold value. For instance, if the length of the
transversal sealing of a particular portion packet is shorter than
a certain threshold value, this particular portion packet is
classified as defect, and the control system controls the rejection
system so that the particular portion packet is rejected from the
production line.
[0028] The packaging arrangement comprises a unit for transversal
sealing of a strip of packaging material that has been
longitudinally folded around a row of portion packets, wherein the
sensor member is arranged in association with said unit for
transversal sealing such as to be capable of generating data of
portion packets that have been folded into the longitudinally
folded strip of packaging material. The control system is adapted
to be provided with information on where on the strip of packaging
material transversal seals generated by the transversal sealing
unit will be or have been placed.
[0029] The information from the sensor member can thereby be used
by the control system to identify whether there is product material
properly positioned in relation to the intended position, if the
sensor member is positioned upstream of the transversal sealing
unit or existing position, if the sensor member is positioned
downstream of the transversal sealing unit of the transversal
seal.
[0030] The device may comprise a radiation emitting member located
on an opposite side of an intended feeding path for the strip of
packaging material compared to the sensor member. As mentioned
above, the radiation may be visible light, IR, UV, microwaves,
x-ray, ultrasound, beta-radiation or gamma-radiation. The sensor
member hence utilizes transmitted light.
[0031] By directing at least a part of the emitted radiation
towards the sensor member it is possible to generate
two-dimensional data, e.g. images, which show how the product
material is positioned in the packaging material, in particular
when using a thin, perforated white packaging material and a dark
tobacco product. Preferably, the sensor member is placed above the
intended feeding path and the radiation emitting member below the
intended feeding path, with the radiation directed upwards. Such a
radiation emitting member may be used in combination also with
sensor members arranged in other positions of the device, and
regardless of transversal seals etc.
[0032] The first sensor member is positioned upstream of the
transversal sealing unit, wherein the device comprises a second
sensor member positioned downstream of the transversal sealing
unit.
[0033] Information from a sensor member positioned downstream of
the transversal sealing unit can be used by the control system to
identify whether the transversal sealing is proper e.g. by checking
length of transversal sealing and/or whether there is any or too
much product material placed on an outside of the strip of
material, at least if strip material is considerably lighter or
darker than product material. If a radiation emitting member as
described above is arranged in connection with such a sensor
member, i.e. a sensor member positioned downstream of the
transversal sealing unit, all interesting data may be generated by
this single sensor member. No further sensor member, upstream of
the transversal sealing unit, would then be needed.
[0034] However, if it for instance is difficult to arrange a
radiation emitting member downstream of the transversal sealing
unit, for instance because it would require installation in a
heated wheel used for welding the transverse seal, it is a
preferable solution to make use of two sensor members, one upstream
of the transversal sealing unit, e.g. combined with a radiation
emitting member, and one downstream of the transversal sealing
unit.
[0035] The first and/or the second sensor member may work with
transmitted radiation. As an alternative, or as a complement, the
first and/or the second sensor member may work with reflected
radiation. The first and/or the second sensor member may be a
vision sensor. Purely as an example, the first sensor member may
work with transmitted light and the second sensor member may work
with reflected light.
[0036] The packaging arrangement may comprise a unit for
longitudinal sealing of a strip of said packaging material and the
unit for transversal sealing said strip, the unit for longitudinal
sealing being positioned upstream of the unit for transversal
sealing.
[0037] The sensor member is preferably arranged downstream of the
unit for longitudinal sealing such that the sensor member is
capable of capturing data related to the appearance of a
longitudinal seal. The control system can thereby classify and
subsequently reject portion packets based on the appearance of the
longitudinal seal.
[0038] Control systems, i.e. one or several computers, electronic
connections, computer programs, screens, actuators etc., are known
as such. Based on the information disclosed in this document, a
person skilled in the art can adapt known control systems to the
inventive concept.
[0039] As mentioned above, the control system may be adapted to
identify whether there is product material properly positioned in
relation to an intended position and/or existing position of the
transversal seal. The control system may be adapted to use this
information to adjust the forming arrangement as regards how and/or
where a portion packet is placed on the packaging material in
relation to an intended position of a transverse seal. Thereby the
transverse seals may be located in a suitable way in relation to
the product material.
[0040] The device may comprise a cutting member for transversally
cutting a strip of said packaging material, the transversal cutting
member being positioned downstream of the packaging
arrangement.
[0041] The cutting member is provided with transversally arranged
cutting blades such that the strip of said packaging material
travelling along the feeding path is cut by a rotation of the
cutting member. The cutting blades are positioned such that their
point of contact with the strip of packaging material corresponds
to the transversal seals of the strip of packaging material i.e.
the rotational speed of the cutting member and the supporting
wheel, feeding the strip of packaging material, are the same.
[0042] The device may comprise at least one product outlet intended
for non-rejected portion packets, wherein the rejection system is
configured to direct selected portion packets to at least one other
outlet that is separate from the product outlet.
[0043] It is preferred that the rejection system comprises at least
one channel for leading pressurized gas towards an intended feeding
path of the portion packets in a position corresponding to at least
one of the outlets.
[0044] Pressurized air can thereby be applied to the gas channel in
order to remove the portion packets from the intended feeding path.
A channel leading towards the product outlet is useful for
rejecting from the feeding path product portion packets and make
them end up in the product outlet, and a channel leading towards an
outlet separated from the product outlet is useful for rejecting
from the feeding path product portions classified as defect and
make them end up in the outlet separated from the product
outlet.
[0045] The rejection system is arranged downstream of the cutting
member, allowing individual separated portion packets, also called
pouches, to be removed from the feeding path using the rejection
system.
[0046] The at least one channel may be integrated in a supporting
member comprising a perforated periphery and being capable of
holding a vacuum or low pressure applied inside of the supporting
member for holding a strip of the packaging material and the
portion packets in place when transported in the feeding path along
the supporting member. The supporting member may be a rotatable
wheel or a linear structure.
[0047] The supporting member or wheel may be provided with heatable
transversally arranged flanges at its periphery for transversal
sealing of the packaging material around the portion packets. The
supporting member or wheel thereby forms part of the transversal
sealing unit, which preferably further comprises a rotary welding
wheel also provided with heated transversally arranged flanges
intended to interact with the flanges of the supporting wheel such
as to form the transversal seal on the material strip.
[0048] The packaging arrangement may comprise a ramp member that
extends in a direction along a feeding direction of the material
strip, wherein the ramp member is provided with walls that, along
the feeding direction of the material strip, exhibit a gradually
increasing effective angle to a bottom of the ramp member such as
to, during operation of the device, gradually lift a first and
second longitudinal side of the strip of packaging material and
fold the strip of packaging material in a longitudinal manner
around the sides of the portion packets so that an upper/inner side
of the first longitudinal side of the material strip faces an
upper/inner side of the second longitudinal side of the material
strip, said packaging arrangement further comprising first and
second clamping surfaces arranged at the end of or downstream of
the ramp member on each side of an intended feeding path of the
packaging material strip, wherein the clamping surfaces are
configured to press onto the lower/outer sides of the lifted
longitudinal sides of the material strip so as to clamp the
upper/inner sides of the first and second longitudinal sides of the
material together and thereby provide a longitudinal seal.
[0049] This way a longitudinal seal can be provided in an efficient
manner of a material strip onto which portion packs are placed in a
row. The strip of packaging material will thus enclose the row of
portion packets in a tube-like structure. Further, a transversal
sealing and cutting of the packaged portion packets executed
downstream of the longitudinal sealing is now easier to carry out
compared to the device disclosed in EP0921978 where the strip of
packaging material seems to be only folded but not sealed in the
longitudinal direction. A longitudinal seal prevents that the
product leaks out from the package.
[0050] The sealing is preferably effectuated by using a heat
sealable packaging material in combination with at least one heated
clamping surface. Sealing may alternatively be effectuated by
applying an adhesive to at least one of the upper/inner sides of
the material strip.
[0051] Above it is described that the longitudinal seal is provided
above the portion packet. As an alternative, the longitudinal seal
may be provided at the side of the portion packet or even below the
portion packet. In that case, the packaging arrangement should be
arranged accordingly, such that the ramp members help to provide
the intended position of the longitudinal seal.
[0052] The term effective angle is used to indicate that the walls
of the ramp may have a bent or partly bent form that may not
exhibit a distinct angle to the bottom of the ramp, but that still
force the first and second longitudinal sides of the strip of
packaging material in a direction away from the bottom of the ramp
as the strip of material advances along the ramp. That the angle is
said to be gradually increasing covers also variants where the
angle increases in a plurality of small steps along the feeding
direction.
[0053] The term bottom of the ramp member refers to the area that
connects the lower parts of the ramp walls. Typically, this is a
part of the device that supports the lower/outer side of the strip
of packaging material as it passes along the ramp member. It may be
a part of the ramp member, and/or constituted by e.g. a
conveyor/suction belt.
[0054] The first and second clamping surfaces may form part of
first and second rotatable wheel members, respectively, arranged on
each side of the intended feeding path of the strip of packaging
material. The turning wheel members ensure a constant pressure
between the clamping surfaces, thus ensuring consistent clamping
and forming of the longitudinal seal along the folded longitudinal
sides of the packaging material. Preferably, the rotatable wheel
members are arranged such as to, when the wheels turn, allow the
clamping surfaces to move along the strip of packaging material
with a speed corresponding to that of the strip of packaging
material. Thereby, wear and tear of the packaging material is
avoided. At least one of the clamping surfaces may be capable of
being heated such as to allow heat sealing of the strip of
packaging material.
[0055] A guiding member may be arranged upstream of the first and
second clamping surfaces in connection to a downstream side of the
ramp member, the guiding member being positioned at a distance from
the bottom of the ramp member to allow passage of the portion
packets and positioned centrally between the walls of the ramp
member such as to fit between the lifted sides of the first and
second longitudinal sides of the strip of packaging material and
thereby guide the folded material strip on its way towards the
clamping surfaces during operation of the device.
[0056] The guiding member thus guides the folded material strip so
as to keep the lifted and folded longitudinal sides in position and
retain the shape of the folded strip until it reaches the clamping
surfaces. The guiding member may be placed between the walls in the
ramp member or downstream of the ramp member in which case the
guiding member still is positioned centrally between the ramp
member walls but downstream thereof. The guiding member may extend
longitudinally, e.g. so as to guide the material strip over a
longer distance, and thereby be positioned both in the ramp member
and downstream thereof. The guiding member may, however, be of any
suitable shape, which in some applications may be just a pin-like
structure.
[0057] The guiding member provides an inner support for the
inner/upper longitudinal sides of the packaging material such that
it prevents the lifted/folded longitudinal sides of the strip of
the packaging material from collapsing inwards.
[0058] The packaging arrangement may comprise at least one sensor
member capable of detecting to which extent at least one of the
first and second longitudinal sides of the strip of packaging
material has been lifted during at least a part of its path along
the ramp member, e.g. the sensor member as described above. This
sensor member is preferably arranged at the end of or downstream of
the ramp member. Incorrect or asymmetric lifting of the sides of
the material strip, for instance caused by an incorrect alignment
of the strip, may be detected and determined by means of the sensor
member. An incorrect lifting is likely to result in an
inappropriate sealing process. A quick indication/detection of an
incorrect lifting can be used to quickly interrupt the production
process so as to save material, reduce waste and make it easier to
fix the problem and resume the production.
[0059] The sensor member may be arranged in association with the
guiding member, wherein the guiding member has an optical property
that differs significantly from that of the strip of packaging
material intended to be used. For instance, if white/light
packaging material is to be used the guiding member is black/dark,
and vice versa, to provide a contrast. By directing light towards
the guide member in a position close to where an edge of a lifted
side of the material strip will be positioned during operation of
the device, either towards the guiding member close to the edge of
the material strip or towards the material strip close to the edge,
the reflection of light will be significantly changed if the edge
of the material strip is moved, e.g. by incorrect lifting of that
particular side of the strip or by incorrect alignment of the
strip, so that the light spot is moved from the light material
strip to the dark guiding member, or vice versa. In such a case the
sensor member can detect a significant change in the intensity of
the reflected light and thus indicate an incorrect lifting and/or
positioning/alignment of the strip of material.
[0060] The guiding member guides the material strip and retains its
angle in relation to the direction of the light emitted by the
light emitting member.
[0061] The invention also concerns a method for producing portion
packets of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff
product, comprising the steps of forming portion packets of said
product, folding and sealing a packaging material around the
portion packets, generating information useful for identifying
defect portion packets, and rejecting selected portion packets.
[0062] The inventive method comprises the steps of generating data
of at least a part of an individual portion packet using a sensor
member, comparing the data generated by the sensor member with
reference data, and controlling the rejection of portions packets
depending on a result of said data comparison.
[0063] The sensor member is arranged in association with a unit for
transversal sealing, such as to be capable of generating data of
portion packets that have been folded into the longitudinally
folded strip of packaging material.
[0064] The data comprise information on where on the strip of
packaging material transversal seals generated by the transversal
sealing unit will be or have been placed.
[0065] Such a method can be used to identify a variety of defects
of individual portion packets, such as an incomplete sealing of the
packaging material, an inappropriate positioning of a portion
packet before packaging, the presence of product material on an
outside of the packaging material, etc. By being able to sort out
faulty portion packets from the production line the method
facilitates avoiding these selected portion packets to be placed in
the container at the end, i.e. in the customer product. The
invention thus makes the quality control of the portion packets
fast and easy i.e. improving the overall quality control of the
portion packets. No manual inspection of the portion packets is in
theory needed.
[0066] The step of comparing data may comprise a comparison of one
or several portion packet properties, wherein said
property/properties is/are one or several of the following: length
of portion packet; width of portion packet; position of portion
packet in relation to an existing or intended position of a
transversal seal of the packaging material; appearance, such as
length, of the transversal seal; appearance of a longitudinal seal
of the packaging material; and/or whether there is product material
placed on an outside of the packaging material.
[0067] The method further comprises the step of placing the portion
packets in a row in/on a strip of the packaging material. This step
is executed after forming of the portion packets and before folding
and sealing a packaging material around the portion packets. The
portion packets are placed with space in between each portion
packet along the row.
[0068] The method further comprises the step of folding and sealing
the strip of packaging material longitudinally around the row of
portion packets. The step of folding and sealing the strip of
packaging material longitudinally is preferably executed before
generating information useful for identifying defect portion
packets such that the information generated may be related to the
appearance of the longitudinal seal.
[0069] The method also comprises the step of sealing transversally
the strip of packaging material between the portion packets,
thereby forming individual portion packet pouches. This step may be
executed before or after the step of generating information useful
for identifying defect portion packets. Alternatively the step of
generating information useful for identifying defect portion
packets is executed more than once, e.g. before and after step of
sealing transversally the strip of packaging material. The step of
sealing transversally the strip of packaging material is preferably
executed after the folding and sealing the strip of packaging
material longitudinally.
[0070] The method may further comprise the step of providing
individual portion packets packaged in the packaging material.
[0071] The step of rejecting selected portion packets may comprise
the step of guiding pressurized gas towards a feeding path of the
portion packets in a position corresponding to an outlet that is
separated from a product outlet intended for non-rejected portion
packets i.e. removing the selected portion packets from the feeding
path. The method may also, as a complement or alternative, comprise
the step of selecting non-rejected portion packets by guiding
pressurized gas towards a feeding path of the portion packets in a
position corresponding to the product outlet i.e. removing the
non-rejected portion packets from the feeding path and into a
product outlet.
[0072] The method may further comprise that information about
whether there is product material properly positioned in relation
to an intended position and/or existing position of the transversal
seal is used to adjust how and/or where a portion packet is placed
on the packaging material in relation to an intended position of a
transverse seal.
[0073] A control system is preferably configured to perform the
steps of storing the reference data as well as accessing the
reference data and receiving the data from the sensor member.
Further, the step of comparing the data received from the sensor
member and the reference data is done using the control system.
[0074] The term longitudinal used herein refer to the direction of
the feeding path of the packaging material. The term transversal
refers to the transverse direction of the feeding path.
[0075] The inventive method may further comprise the steps of:
lifting gradually, using a ramp member that extends in a direction
along a feeding direction of the material strip, a first and second
longitudinal side of the strip of packaging material and folding
the strip of packaging material in a longitudinal manner around the
sides of the portion packets so that an upper/inner side of the
first longitudinal side of the material strip faces an upper/inner
side of the second longitudinal side of the material strip; and
pressing onto the lower/outer sides of the lifted longitudinal
sides of the material strip by clamping the upper/inner sides of
the first and second longitudinal sides of the material together
and thereby providing a longitudinal seal.
[0076] The method may further comprise the step of heating at least
one of two clamping surfaces used for clamping the upper/inner
sides of the first and second longitudinal sides together such as
to allow heat sealing of the strip of packaging material.
[0077] The method may further comprise the steps of detecting;
using a sensor member, to which extent at least one of the first
and second longitudinal sides of the strip of packaging material
has been lifted during at least a part of its path along the ramp
member. Detection may be effectuated by means of a light emitting
member and a light detecting member, directing the emitting light
towards the intended feeding path of the strip of packaging
material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0078] In the description of the invention given below reference is
made to the following figure, in which:
[0079] FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, an embodiment of the
inventive device;
[0080] FIG. 2 shows, in a perspective view, a part of the
embodiment according to FIG. 1;
[0081] FIG. 3 shows, in another perspective view, the part
according to FIG. 2;
[0082] FIG. 4 shows the part of FIGS. 2 and 3 during operation of
the device; and
[0083] FIG. 5 shows, in a side view, the part of FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0084] The device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended for producing
portion packets 2 of a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco
snuff product, including producing individual portion packets 2 of
a smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product, enclosing
the individual portion packets 2 in a packaging material 5, sealing
the package material 5 and identifying and rejecting defect
packaged portion packets 2.
[0085] FIG. 1 shows the device 1 comprising a forming arrangement 3
in the form of a funnel-shaped feeder container 24 to which
prepared smokeless tobacco product or non-tobacco snuff product is
supplied in any conventional manner, such as through vertically
disposed tubes the upper ends of which communicate with a snuff
preparatory reactor, not shown, and the lower ends of which are in
communication with the feeder container 24. The forming arrangement
3 further comprises a rotary portioning wheel 25 for portioning the
product into portion packets 2. Preparation of product portion
packets 2 is known from e.g. EP0921978.
[0086] The portioning wheel 25 expels the portion packets 2 in a
row onto a packaging material 5 in the form of a strip which may be
made from a material that is permeable to saliva and heat sealable,
e.g. from viscose fibres bonded by a thermoplastic bonding agent.
The flat strip is being advanced in synchrony with the portions
packets 2 from a reel 26 by means of an endless, perforated vacuum
suction belt 27 which is rotated, by means of a motor, not shown,
around a low pressure chamber.
[0087] The device 1 further comprises a packaging arrangement 4 at
which the strip of packaging material 5, being advanced along a
feeding path by the suction belt 27, is folded around the row of
expelled portion packets 2. The strip of packaging material 5 is
further provided with a longitudinal seal 10 such that a tube of
packaging material 5 enclosing portion packets 2 is formed.
[0088] The packaging arrangement 4 further comprises a unit for
transversal sealing 11 that generates transversal seals 9 to the
strip of packaging material in between the portion packets 2. In
the example described here the transversal sealing unit 11
comprises a rotary welding wheel 28 interacting with a rotary
supporting wheel 18. The rotary welding wheel 28 is at its
periphery provided with heated transversally arranged protruding
formations 23 that presses onto/towards similar transversally
arranged flanges 21 at the periphery of the supporting wheel 18
such as to clamp and transversally seal the strip of packaging
material when placed between the protruding formations 23 and
flanges 21.
[0089] A cutting member 22, for transversally cutting the strip of
packaging material 5, is arranged downstream of the packaging
arrangement 4. The cutting member 22 is in this case a cutting
wheel provided with transversally arranged cutting blades arranged
to interact with the flanges 21 of the supporting wheel 18 and cut
the strip of packaging material 5 in transversal direction along
the transversal seal 9 such as to separate the packaged portion
packets 2.
[0090] As best seen in FIG. 2-5, the transversal seal 9 is formed
by interaction of the protruding formations 23 provided to the
rotary welding wheel 28 and the transversally arranged flanges 21
at the periphery of the supporting wheel 18. During operation, the
rotary welding wheel 28 and the supporting wheel 18 turn at the
feeding speed such that the protruding formations 23 and the
flanges 21 coincide at a position along the strip of packaging
material 5 corresponding to that of the intended transversal seal
9. A transversal seal 9 is thereby formed.
[0091] The supporting wheel 18 is also arranged to transport the
packaging material 5 and its enclosed portion packets 2 along a
portion of its feeding path. A perforated vacuum band 19 is applied
at the periphery of the supporting wheel 18. The supporting wheel
18 supports the folded and sealed strip of packaging material 5
enclosing portion packets such that it, during operation, is being
advanced along its feeding path while sucked into close contact
with the peripheral surface of the supporting wheel 18 retaining
the portion packets 2 by suction. Thus, the portion packets 2
follow the periphery of the turning supporting wheel 18 until the
individual packaged portion packets 2 are released from the
perforated vacuum band 19 by a rejection system 7 integrated in the
supporting wheel 18.
[0092] The device 1 is further provided with a first sensor member
in the form of a first vision sensor 12 arranged upstream of the
unit for transversal sealing 11 and downstream of the packaging
arrangement 4, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The first vision sensor 12
is placed above, and directed towards, the feeding path of the
folded and sealed strip of packaging material 5 such that it
captures images and generates data relating to the tube of
packaging material 5 and the row of portion packets 2. A light
emitting member 8, symbolically indicated with a bulb, is located
below the feeding path, i.e. on an opposite side thereof, and
directed towards the first vision sensor 12 to provide contrast,
such that the images captured by the first vision sensor 12 clearly
show how the product material is positioned in the packaging
material, in particular when using a thin, perforated white
packaging material and a dark tobacco product. For example, the
information generated may relate to the longitudinal alignment of
each portion packet 2 in relation to the strip of packaging
material 5. If two adjacent portion packets 2 have been placed too
close to each other onto the material strip this will likely lead
to an incorrect transversal seal 9 in between the two and thus lead
to defect portion packets 2. Such too close positioned portion
packets 2 can be identified by the first vision sensor 12 and
thereby be sorted out and rejected by the rejection system 7 during
operation of the device 1 before being placed in the can.
[0093] The sensor member forms part of, or is connected to, a
control system, not shown comprising a computer, electronic
connections, computer programs, actuators etc. Such a control
system is known as such and is not described in detail here. In
short, the sensor member sends image data to the control system
that has access to the reference data and compares the image data
with the reference data and provides a result. The control system
also carries information relating to the operation of the
downstream units, such as where the transversal seals 9 will be
placed on the strip of packaging material 5 by the unit for
transversal sealing 11. The control system also controls the
operation of, e.g. the downstream rejection system. Hence; if the
first vision sensor 12 detects the presence of product material at
the intended position of the transversal seal, which is likely to
lead to two defect portion packets, the control system can classify
the two adjacent portion packets 2 as defect already at this stage
and instruct the rejection system to reject these two portion
packets when they arrive at the rejection system.
[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device 1 also comprises a
second vision sensor 13 arranged to capture image data of the
transversally sealed portion packets 2 downstream of the unit for
transversal sealing 11 and upstream of the cutting member 22. The
second vision sensor 13 is capable of detecting, for example,
appearance of the longitudinal seal 10 and/or the transversal seal
9 and if there is product material present outside of the packaging
material. The captured image data is compared by the control system
against stored reference data as described above. Any defect
packaged portion packets, also called pouches, are then removed by
means of the rejection system 7.
[0095] The control system is configured to control the rejection
system 7 such that if, using the results of the comparison for
classification, a portion pack 2 is deemed faulty the control
system executes the rejection system 7 to eject the faulty portion
packet 2 into a first outlet 15 other than a product outlet 16,
used for proper portion packets, during operation. In this example
proper portion packets 2, classified as non-rejected, are, by means
of control by the control system, ejected by the rejection system 7
into the product outlet 16 during operation of the device 1.
[0096] FIG. 5 shows that the rejection system in this example forms
an integrated part of the supporting wheel 18, the rejection system
comprising channels 20 arranged in directions towards entrance ends
of the first outlet 15, the product outlet 16 and a further
rejection outlet 17 respectively. The entrance ends, i.e. the
inlets, of the outlets 15, 16, 17 mouth the perforated vacuum band
19 at different positions in relation to the feed direction so that
portion packets 2 passes the first outlet 15 before reaching the
product outlet 16 and only after that they reach the further
rejection outlet 17. The channels are arranged to lead pressurized
air, fed from an air source, not shown, towards the perforated
vacuum band 19. In this example, one channel 20 leads towards the
first outlet, two channels 20 lead to the product outlet 16 to
allow for a higher flow of portion packets and one channel 20 leads
towards the further rejection outlet 17.
[0097] During operation of the device 1 the portion packets 2 reach
the rejection system and become blown away and removed from the
perforated vacuum band 19, by supplying pressurized air into the
respective channels 20, into their respective outlet 15 or 16
depending on their classification, i.e. defect or correct. Thus,
selected portion packets 2 can be rejected.
[0098] In an operative situation where no defect portion packets 2
are identified by the first and second vision sensor 12, 13,
pressurized air is provided only to the two channels leading air in
the direction towards the product outlet 16, as illustrated in FIG.
5. In case of the identification of a defect portion packet 2, the
control system instructs the rejection system 7 to supply air into
the channel 20 directed towards the first outlet 15 at the time the
defect portion packet 2 arrives in front of the corresponding
channel 20 during its feeding path at the periphery of the wheel
18.
[0099] The second outlet 17 is a spare outlet that, for instance,
can be used if the product outlet 16 becomes clogged.
[0100] The invention is not limited by the embodiments described
above but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the
claims. For instance, the device may comprise only one or more than
two sensor members. The embodiment described above comprises vision
sensors. If the inventive device is provided with only one vision
sensor it is preferably arranged downstream of the packaging
arrangement such as to allow quality control of e.g. both the
longitudinal seal and the transversal seals at the same time.
[0101] The order of the outlets may be varied, e.g. the product
outlet may be arranged upstream of the outlet for faulty portion
packets. The number of channels leading pressurized air towards
each outlet may be different than in the shown embodiment. Also the
shape, length, etc. of the channels may be varied as also the
general position of the channels. They need not to be integrated in
another structure, and in particular they need not to be integrated
in a supporting wheel or suction wheel.
[0102] As an alternative to the supporting wheel a
straight/flat/planar transportation structure can be used.
Transversal sealing and cutting can be carried out also when the
material strip moves along such a structure. To remove selected
packaged portion packets from the feeding path of such a
transportation structure, one may e.g. feed pressurized air from
underneath the feeding path, similar to the embodiment described
above, or from a side of the feeding path.
[0103] Generally, the rejection system may be structured in
different ways. A main function is to allow separation of proper
products from defect products.
* * * * *