Straw attaching apparatus

• US 5,979,142 A
• Filed: 09/28/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Indag Gesellschaft Fur Industriebedarf Mbh & Co. Betriebs Kg
• Original Assignee: Indag Gesellschaft FÜR Industriebedarf Mit Beschränkter Haftung (Wild Flavors Germany Beteiligungs-GmbH)
• Inventors: Wild, Hans-Peter, Kraft, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Moon, Daniel B.
• Application Number:
  US09/162,203
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 53/133.1, 53/133.2, 53/136.1, 53/154, 53/155, 53/168, 53/202, 53/237, 53/238, 53/239, 53/410, 53/445, 53/474
• US Class Current: 53/410
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/205 for adding drinking straws to a container

Abstract

A straw attaching apparatus for attaching straws to beverage-filled sheet bags, the apparatus comprising a transportation means for transporting the beverage-filled sheet bags, a supply means for supplying a straw stripe to the beverage-filled sheet bags, and a pressing means for respectively pressing a straw to a beverage-filled sheet bag, and a corresponding method. A second supply means is provided for supplying a second straw stripe, with a control unit matching the speeds and operational sequences of the transportation means of the first and second supply means such that the first supply means attaches straws to the first, third, fifth . . . sheet bag supplied, and the second supply means attaches straws to the second, fourth, sixth . . . sheet bag supplied.

Claims

1. A straw attaching apparatus for attaching straws to beverage-filled sheet bags, comprising in combination a transportation means for transporting the beverage-filled sheet bags along a transportation path, a first supply means for supplying a first straw stripe to the beverage-filled sheet bags, said first supply means including a first cutting means for severing said first straw stripe between two respective straws, a first pressing means for respectively pressing a straw onto a beverage-filled sheet bag, a second supply means (34) for supplying a second straw stripe (6) to the beverage-filled sheet bags (2), said second supply means comprising a second cutting means (14) for severing said second straw stripe (6) between two respective straws (4), and a second pressing means (16,19) for respectively pressing a straw (4) onto a beverage-filled sheet bag (2), and a control unit (30) which matches the speeds and operational sequences of said first and second supply means to (32,34) always attach straws (4) to the supplied beverage-filled sheet bags (2a) in alternate fashion.

2. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 1, and a third supply means (36) for supplying a third straw stripe (4) to the beverage-filled sheet bags (2), said third supply means comprising a third cutting means (14) for severing the third straw stripe (6), and a third pressing means (16,19).

3. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said third supply means (36) is used when said first (32) or said second (34) supply means fails.

4. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control unit (30) comprises a means (42) for checking the function of said first (32) and said second (34) supply means and puts into operation said third supply means (36) in response to a signal of said function checking means (42) when said signal is indicative of a malfunction of said first or said second supply means.

5. The straw attaching apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said respective pressing means are each designed as a finger (16) which is pivotable about an axis (19), said fingers pressing the respective straws (4) with their axially remote end (18) to the beverage-filled bags (2).

6. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each said supply means comprises at least two said pressing means (16,19) which engage the straws at different heights.

7. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said straw stripes (6) include protective covers (26) for the individual straws (4), the straws (4) in said protective covers (26) being mounted on the sheet bags (2).

8. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said supply means (32, 34, 36) comprise clamp means which run along with the respective said straw stripe (6) and comprise clamps which hold the straws (4), said clamp means being activated by said control unit (30) such that they release the straws (4) when the respective said pressing means (16,19) presses the straw (4) against the respective beverage-filled bags (2).

9. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each respective straw stripe (6) comprises at least one adhesion point (29) per straw (4), said adhesion points being protected by a cover tape (8), and that each said supply means (32, 34, 36) comprises a tape withdrawal means (20) which removes the respective said cover tape (8) from the respective said straw stripe (6) before said stripe is severed by the respective said cutting means (14).

10. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cover tape (8) is designed as a carrier tape.

11. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each respective said straw stripe (6) is supplied via a respective roller (12) to the respective said pressing means (16,19).

12. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 11 wherein each respective cutting means (14) comprises a radially movable knife relative to the respective said roller (12), the blade of said knife cutting from the outside through the respective straw stripe (6) running around said roller (12).

13. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said rollers (12) comprise means (24) for guiding the individual straws (4).

14. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means (24) for guiding the individual straws (4) include recesses on the circumference of the respective said roller for receiving a respective straw (4).

15. The straw attaching apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said means for guiding the individual straws (4) are each equipped with a suction mechanism.

16. A method of attaching straws to beverage-filled sheet bags, comprising the steps of transporting the beverage-filled sheet bags along a transportation path, providing each beverage-filled sheet bag with a straw, said beverage-filled sheet bags on their transportation path being alternately provided by a first supply means and a second supply means with a straw.

17. The method according to claim 16, and the further step of, following each first and second supply means, it is detected with the help of a sensor whether the sheet bags have been provided with a straw, and in a negative case, later providing the sheet bags with a straw by a third supply means.