Machine for manufacturing pouches of cohesionless material
View Patent ↗Pouches ( 2 ) of a smokeless tobacco product are manufactured on a machine comprising an intermittently rotatable dispensing disc ( 3 ) with peripheral cavities ( 4 ), a station ( 5 ) at which each cavity ( 4 ) is filled with a given quantity of tobacco equivalent to a single portion, a push rod mechanism ( 12 ) by which the portions of tobacco are ejected from each cavity ( 4 ) of the disc ( 3 ) at a transfer station ( 6 ), and a connecting duct ( 8 ) through which the portion of tobacco ejected by the push rod from each cavity passes directly to a wrapping station ( 7 ) where the pouches ( 2 ) are formed, filled with the tobacco product and sealed.
1. A machine for manufacturing pouches of at least one of a nasal snuff and a moist snuff for oral use, comprising:
a dispensing disc with cavities, rotatable about an axis,
a filling station at which each cavity is filled with a predetermined portion of snuff,
an ejection mechanism by which the portion of snuff is ejected from the dispensing disc at a transfer station,
a wrapping station at which the portion of snuff is wrapped in a relative pouch, and
an interconnecting mechanism interconnecting the transfer station and the wrapping station,
wherein the filling station comprises:
a hopper from which portions of snuff are fed and dosed into each cavity of the dispensing disc, and
a skimming mechanism located downstream of the hopper, relative to a direction of rotation of the disc, serving to remove any excess snuff from the cavity;
wherein the ejection mechanism comprises a mechanical pushing mechanism for engaging at least one of the cavities.
2. A machine as in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical pushing mechanism reciprocates back and forth through the cavity.
3. A machine as in claim 2 , wherein the interconnecting mechanism comprises a substantially rectilinear duct interposed between the cavity, when positioned at the transfer station, and the wrapping station.
4. A machine as in claim 3 , wherein the wrapping station comprises a tubular element, at the outlet end of the duct, around which a tubular envelope of wrapping material is formed.
5. A machine as in claim 4 , wherein the wrapping station comprises a longitudinal sealing mechanism for forming a longitudinal closure in the tubular envelope, and a transverse sealing mechanism for forming a transverse closure in the tubular envelope.
6. A machine as in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical pushing mechanism engages a pair of cavities.
7. A machine as in claim 6 , wherein the cavities of the pair are equidistant from the axis of rotation of the dispensing disc.
8. A machine as in claim 6 , wherein the cavities of the pair are aligned on two rings coinciding with two respective circumferences centered on the axis of rotation of the dispensing disc.
9. A machine as in claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal sealing mechanism includes an ultrasonic welder.
10. A machine as in claim 5 , wherein the transverse sealing mechanism includes an ultrasonic welder.