Patent GB-1343477-A (GB)
Title: Machine for fitting tea bags with labels and holding strings
IPC: B65B29/04
Filed: 1971-05-28
Abstract: 1343477 Attaching holding strings provided with labels to tea bags P G KLAR 28 May 1971 [3 June 1970 5 Jan 1971 4 May 1971] 17984/71 Headings B8C and B8F In a machine for stapling a label 8 to a holding string 10, winding the string round a tea bag 30, and then stapling the string to the bag, the string, label, and tea bag are carried through working stations I-IV by holding clips 13 carried on a rotary disc 1, each clip having a leg 14 formed with a pocket 24 and a leg 15 formed with a slot 22, the label 8 being fed into a clip 13 at the station I so that the label 8 seats in the pocket 24 and the string 10 is received in the slot 22 and is retained therein by a pin 23. Feeding labels and strings.-A web 6 of labels is fed from a reel 4 by a toothed wheel 5 and a label 8 is cut from this web by cutters, and string from a supply is attached to this label 8 by a stapler 9. The label 8 is then fed along a guide channel 12 by an oscillating lever 12 and into the clip 13 at station 1. The string being severed;by cutters 21 to form the holding string 10. Prior to being stapled to the label 8, the string may be passed through an eyelet (87, Figs. 16-18) carried by a skid (83) which is rotated to fold the string on to one face of the label. In a modification, Fig. 30, the label and the attached string are pushed by a pawl 158 through a guide 157 on a rotary head 150, the string being pulled out of the guide 157 by a holder 163. The head 150 is then rotated through 90 degrees so as to wind the string once round the label, the string being held by a holder 164 during winding. A pusher 155 then pushes the label into the clip 13. Tea bag feed.-At the station II a chamber 31 containing a tea bag 30 is moved into the now opened clip, to fold the string into a U-shape about the chamber 31. A gripper (33, Fig. 5) then engages the bottom of the bag, the chamber 31 is withdrawn, and the clip 13 is closed. Stapling string to bag.-At station III, a folding finger (38, Fig. 6a) folds a portion 36 of the string over an end 34 of the bag. A stapler 37 is then moved against the bag to fold the string-portion 36 against a bag surface and apply a staple (39, Fig. 6b), one leg 40 of which embraces a further string-portion 35 projecting beyond the label and the other leg 41 of which embraces the portion 36. Discharge of finished bags.-The finished bag is removed from the clip 13 at station IV by a cam operated clamp (42, Fig. 8) which drops the bag on to a conveyer or into a discharge shoot. Modifications for producing double-bags.-For forming a double-bag as in Fig. 15, the station II comprises a die (54, Fig. 8) for pressing a teacontaining hose (49) against recesses (51) separated by a raised portion (52) on the disc 1, to form, on closing the clip 13, a bottom fold separating tea bag portions. At the station III two folding plates (56, 57, Figs. 9-11b) fold the top corners 58 of the bags over a member (55) carried by the clip-leg 14. A folding plate (62, Figs. 11c, 11d) then folds the top (61) of the bag over the member (55). A stapler (80) then folds the top (61) against the bag end overlying the label 8 and staples it. The finished bag is removed from the clip 13 by a clamp 90 which positions the bag in front of a pusher 92 which pushes the bag against a wrapping foil and into a guide channel 91 which folds the foil into a U-shape about the bag. The foil is severed by a cutter 97 from a web 149 pulled from a reel 94 by a clamp 91 and rollers 95. At the end of the guide channel 91 is a transport member 98 having a folder finger 99 and forming, with the channel 91, a guide slot 100. Downward movement of the member 98 folds the two free; ends of the U-shaped foil against the bag. The wrapped bag then passes between knurled wheels 101 which form side seals.