Unit and method for filling containing elements of single-use capsules for extraction or infusion beverages

1. A filling unit for filling containing elements ( 2 ) of single-use capsules ( 3 ) with a dose ( 33 ) of product for extraction or infusion beverages, comprising:

a transport line ( 4 ) for transporting the containing elements ( 2 ) extending along a first movement path (P) and provided with a plurality of supporting seats ( 5 ) for the containing elements ( 2 ) arranged in succession along the first movement path (P);

a filling station (SR) for filling the above-mentioned containing elements ( 2 ) with a dose ( 33 ) of product;

characterised in that the filling station (SR) comprises:

at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) designed to receive a dose ( 33 ) of product and movable along a second movement path (P 1 );

a forming substation (ST 1 ) for forming the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ), provided with a releasing device ( 6 ) for releasing a predetermined quantity of product forming the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 );

at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) designed to receive the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) and movable along a third movement path (P 2 );

a transfer substation (ST 2 ) for transferring the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to the at least one second containing seat (S 2 );

first devices ( 7 ) for moving the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) between the forming substation (ST 1 ) and the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and vice versa;

a release substation (ST 3 ) for releasing the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to a containing element ( 2 ) transported by the transport line ( 4 );

further second devices ( 8 ) for moving the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ), designed to move the second containing seat (S 2 ) along the third movement path (P 2 ) from the transfer substation (ST 2 ) to the release substation (ST 3 ) and vice versa, the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and the release substation (ST 3 ) being positioned at a predetermined distance from one another along the third movement path (P 2 ), the third movement path (P 2 ) being parallel to the first movement path (P) of the transport line ( 4 ) at the release substation (ST 3 );

wherein the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) is defined by lateral walls of a cavity ( 18 ) and by a bottom wall (F), the filling unit comprising, for each first containing seat (S 1 ):

a piston ( 13 ) movable between a lower position where it defines the bottom wall (F) of the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) and an upper position where it closes the top of the cavity ( 18 );

means ( 14 ) for moving the piston ( 13 ), for moving the piston ( 13 ) between the lower and upper positions; and

wherein the means ( 14 ) for moving the piston ( 13 ) are designed to position the piston ( 13 ) in a compacting position, which is intermediate between the lower position and the upper position, in a compacting region (R 4 ), to compact the dose ( 33 ) of product; the filling unit further comprising a control and drive unit ( 15 ), connected to the means ( 14 ) for moving the piston ( 13 ) and configured for moving the piston ( 13 ) from the lower position to the upper position at the transfer substation (ST 2 ) so as to transfer the dose ( 33 ) from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ).

2. The filling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first devices ( 7 ) for moving the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) comprise a first element ( 9 ) rotating about a first axis (X 1 ) of rotation which is substantially vertical, on which is connected the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to be rotated about the first axis (X 1 ) of rotation.

3. The filling unit according to claim 2 , comprising a plurality of first containing seats (S 1 ), connected radially to the first rotary element ( 9 ) to be rotated so as to cyclically engage the forming (ST 1 ) and transfer (ST 2 ) substations.

4. The filling unit according to claim 3 , wherein the forming (ST 1 ) and transfer (ST 2 ) substations are positioned about the first rotary element ( 9 ), so as to be cyclically engaged by the first containing seats (S 1 ) rotating about the first axis (X 1 ) of rotation.

5. The filling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the further second devices ( 8 ) for moving the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) comprise a second element ( 10 ) rotating about a second axis (X 2 ) of rotation which is substantially vertical, on which is connected the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to be rotated about the second axis (X 2 ) of rotation.

6. The filling unit according to claim 5 , comprising a plurality of second containing seats (S 2 ), connected radially to the second rotary element ( 10 ) to be rotated so as to cyclically engage the transfer (ST 2 ) and release (ST 3 ) substations.

7. The filling unit according to claim 6 , wherein the second containing seats (S 2 ) are connected to the second rotary element ( 10 ) so as to be movable at least radially relative to the second rotary element ( 10 ).

8. The filling unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a compacting substation (ST 4 ) for compacting the dose ( 33 ), the compacting substation (ST 4 ) being positioned along the second movement path (P 1 ) of the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) between the forming substation (ST 1 ) and the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and being provided with compacting means ( 11 ) configured to compact the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ).

9. The filling unit according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one pushing element ( 26 ), which is movable for pushing, from the top of the at least one second containing seat downward, the dose ( 33 ) from the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to a corresponding containing element ( 2 ) at the release substation (ST 3 ).

10. A packaging machine ( 100 ) designed to package single-use capsules ( 3 ) for extraction or infusion beverages comprising a filling unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ; a station (SA) for feeding containing elements ( 2 ) of the single-use capsules ( 3 ) in corresponding supporting seats ( 5 ) of a transport line ( 4 ) of the filling unit ( 1 ); a station (SC) for closing the containing element ( 2 ) with a lid ( 34 ); and an outfeed station (SU) which picks up the capsules ( 3 ) from the supporting seats ( 5 ) of the transport line ( 4 ).

11. A method for filling containing elements ( 2 ) of single-use capsules ( 3 ) for extraction or infusion beverages with a dose ( 33 ) of product, the method being characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

moving a transport line ( 4 ) for transport of containing elements ( 2 ) along a first movement path (P);

releasing a dose ( 33 ) of product in a first containing seat (S 1 ) movable along a second movement path (P 1 ) in a forming region (R 1 ) of forming the dose ( 33 );

moving the first containing seat (S 1 ) from the forming region (R 1 ) to a transfer region (R 2 );

transferring at the transfer region (R 2 ) the dose ( 33 ) of product from the first containing seat (S 1 ) to a second containing seat (S 2 );

moving the second containing seat (S 2 ) from the transfer region (R 2 ) to a release region (R 3 ) along a third movement path (P 2 ) and parallel to the transport line ( 4 ) at the release region (R 3 );

transferring, at the release region (R 3 ), the dose ( 33 ) of product from the second containing seat (S 2 ) to a containing element ( 2 ) advancing along the first movement path (P) and positioned at the release region (R 3 );

wherein in the step of transferring the dose ( 33 ) of product from the first containing seat (S 1 ) to a second containing seat (S 2 ), the second containing seat (S 2 ) and the first containing seat (S 1 ) are superposed, positioned at different heights, and the step of transferring the dose ( 33 ) of product from the first containing seat (S 1 ) to a second containing seat (S 2 ) comprises a step of pushing upwards the dose ( 33 ) from the first containing seat (S 1 ) to the second containing seat (S 2 ).

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of moving a succession of containing elements ( 2 ) along the first movement path (P) comprises moving the containing elements ( 2 ) along the first movement path (P) which is a closed loop lying on a horizontal plane.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of moving the first containing seat (S 1 ) from the forming region (R 1 ) to the transfer region (R 2 ) comprises a rotation of the first containing seat (S 1 ) about a first axis of rotation (X 1 ), wherein the first axis of rotation is substantially vertical.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of moving the second containing seat (S 2 ) from the transfer region (R 2 ) to the release region (R 3 ) comprises a rotation of the second containing seat (S 2 ) about a second axis of rotation (X 2 ), wherein the second axis of rotation is substantially vertical.

15. The method according to claim 11 , comprising, during the step of moving the first containing seat (S 1 ) from the forming region (R 1 ) to a transfer region (R 2 ), a step of compacting the dose ( 33 ) inside the first containing seat (S 1 ).

16. A filling unit for filling containing elements ( 2 ) of single-use capsules ( 3 ) with a dose ( 33 ) of product for extraction or infusion beverages, comprising:

a transport line ( 4 ) for transporting the containing elements ( 2 ) extending along a first movement path (P) and provided with a plurality of supporting seats ( 5 ) for the containing elements ( 2 ) arranged in succession along the first movement path (P);

a filling station (SR) for filling the above-mentioned containing elements ( 2 ) with a dose ( 33 ) of product;

the filling station (SR) comprising:

at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) designed to receive a dose ( 33 ) of product and movable along a second movement path (P 1 );

a forming substation (ST 1 ) for forming the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ), provided with a releasing device ( 6 ) for releasing a predetermined quantity of product forming the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 );

at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) designed to receive the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) and movable along a third movement path (P 2 );

a transfer substation (ST 2 ) for transferring the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to the at least one second containing seat (S 2 );

first devices ( 7 ) for moving the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) between the forming substation (ST 1 ) and the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and vice versa;

a release substation (ST 3 ) for releasing the dose ( 33 ) of product from the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to a containing element ( 2 ) transported by the transport line ( 4 );

second devices ( 8 ) for moving the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ), designed to move the second containing seat (S 2 ) along the third movement path (P 2 ) from the transfer substation (ST 2 ) to the release substation (ST 3 ) and vice versa, the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and the release substation (ST 3 ) being positioned at a predetermined distance from one another along the third movement path (P 2 ), the third movement path (P 2 ) being parallel to the first movement path (P) of the transport line ( 4 ) at the release substation (ST 3 ), and

a piston slidable mounted within the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) such as to be movable between a lower position wherein the piston defines a bottom wall (F) of the first containing seat (S 1 ) and an upper position wherein the piston closes an upper aperture of the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ),

wherein the filling unit further comprises a driving unit configured for moving the piston ( 13 ) from the lower position to the upper position at the transfer substation (ST 2 ) so as to transfer the dose ( 33 ) from the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ).

17. The filling unit according to claim 16 , wherein the first movement path (P) is a closed path lying on a horizontal plane.

18. The filling unit according to claim 16 , wherein the first devices ( 7 ) for moving the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) comprise a first element ( 9 ) rotating about a first axis (X 1 ) of rotation which is substantially vertical, on which is connected the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) to be rotated about the first axis (X 1 ) of rotation.

19. The filling unit according to claim 18 , comprising a plurality of first containing seats (S 1 ), connected radially to the first rotary element ( 9 ) to be rotated so as to cyclically engage the forming (ST 1 ) and transfer (ST 2 ) substations.

20. The filling unit according to claim 19 , wherein the forming (ST 1 ) and transfer (ST 2 ) substations are positioned about the first rotary element ( 9 ), so as to be cyclically engaged by the first containing seats (S 1 ) rotating about the first axis (X 1 ) of rotation.

21. The filling unit according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) is larger in plan view than the plan view of the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ), such that the dose ( 33 ) of product does not fully occupy the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ).

22. The filling unit according to claim 16 , wherein the further second devices ( 8 ) for moving the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) comprise a second element ( 10 ) rotating about a second axis (X 2 ) of rotation which is substantially vertical, on which is connected the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to be rotated about the second axis (X 2 ) of rotation.

23. The filling unit according to claim 22 , comprising a plurality of second containing seats (S 2 ), connected radially to the second rotary element ( 10 ) to be rotated so as to cyclically engage the transfer (ST 2 ) and release (ST 3 ) substations.

24. The filling unit according to claim 23 , wherein the second containing seats (S 2 ) are connected to the second rotary element ( 10 ) so as to be movable at least radially relative to the second rotary element ( 10 ).

25. The filling unit according to claim 16 , further comprising a compacting substation (ST 4 ) for compacting the dose ( 33 ), the compacting substation (ST 4 ) being positioned along the second movement path (P 1 ) of the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ) between the forming substation (ST 1 ) and the transfer substation (ST 2 ) and being provided with compacting means ( 11 ) configured to compact the dose ( 33 ) inside the at least one first containing seat (S 1 ).

26. The filling unit according to claim 16 , further comprising at least one pushing element ( 26 ), which is movable for pushing, from the top of the at least one second containing seat downward, the dose ( 33 ) from the at least one second containing seat (S 2 ) to a corresponding containing element ( 2 ) at the release substation (ST 3 ).

27. The filling unit according to claim 26 , wherein each pushing element ( 26 ) is associated with corresponding second containing seats (S 2 ), in such a way that each pushing element ( 26 ) is moved by the further second devices ( 8 ) as one with the corresponding second containing seats (S 2 ).