ITAR20090045A1 - FILLER BAG DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR PRE-FORMED BAGS, AND ITS FILLING PROCEDURE - Google Patents

Description

BAG FILLING DEVICE,

ESPECIALLY FOR PREFORMED BAGS, AND RELATIVE

FILLING PROCEDURE

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a bag filling device, particularly for preformed bags and to the related filling process.

Mainly, the pre-formed bags to which the filling device is finalized are of the open mouth type with or without side gussets, open mouth with or without bottom, open mouth with or without handle and of the pinch-top type. These pre-formed bags can be made of different types of materials.

In the current state of the art, bag filling devices provide a load-bearing frame extending along a production line, which has a filling cone provided with a discharge mouth, ie the final portion of the filling cone.

The unloading mouth and the selvedge of the bag to be filled can be mutually coupled and uncoupled thanks to the vertical movement (lowering / raising) of the cone or of the means for holding the bag connected to the supporting frame or to the cone.

The frame also has means for embracing, during the filling phase, between the selvedge and the discharge mouth.

Said embracing means have a pair of omega-shaped elements, connected to the filling cone.

Each of these omegas, during the filling phase of the bag, squeezes half of the selvedge to the half-half of the lateral surface of the corresponding discharge mouth, thanks to a support element that has a median portion copied from the discharge mouth.

In some cases, if the contents of the bag are dusty, such as flour, vibrating means can be provided, connected to the supporting frame, to allow optimal filling of the space inside the bag itself.

When the filling is complete, the cone and the selvedge are normally removed and the bag is then gripped by alignment means, for example small hands for holding, aligning and transporting the bag which have a pair of branches or jaws that rotate on a vertical drop plane, widening and hugging.

These holding, alignment and transport hands allow the alignment of the selvedge, by means of a reciprocal movement of removal along the horizontal axis.

Subsequently, the bag is moved to the next stage of production (closure of the bag) by means of the holding, alignment and transport hands, accompanied by auxiliary handling means acting on the bottom of the bag, such as conveyor belts and movable arms.

However, due to the limited vibration times, often during the alignment of the sack selvedge dust can escape which affects the cleaning of the machinery, the various components of the device or other organs, in a manner that is often dangerous for correct operation.

In the current state of the art there are valve bags for the packaging of powdery products, such as flour, since during the closure of the bag the filling product, for example flour, may leak out and in the subsequent palletizing phase they may overflow out. from the pallet.

A problem linked to devices of this type is given to the fact that the handling of the little hands for holding, aligning and transporting the bag is very laborious and complicated as well as slowing down the production cycle as it is necessary to wait for the little hands to holding, aligning and transporting back one station to fill the next bag.

Sack filling devices are also known which use a pair of holding and aligning hands only, together with a pair of transport hands which move on separate guides or slides, both associated with the supporting frame.

However, these devices require a very complicated and expensive design, with often overlapping movements, which reduces the cleanliness of the production line and creates problems for the operator who has to intervene during filling.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks in known types of bag filling device, particularly for preformed bags, which allows a more linear, simple and less laborious production cycle in order to make the filling and alignment of bags.

Within the scope of the aforementioned aim, an object of the invention is to provide a device for filling bags, which allows excellent cleaning of the production line, so as to facilitate the intervention of the operators during filling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fast and effective filling and alignment so that it is economically very competitive.

Another purpose of the bag filling device, particularly for preformed bags, is to be able to pack powdery products, such as flour, in open-mouth bags instead of valve bags, which are more expensive, with a bag of the same appearance. and of the same measures as the valve bag but which does not allow the bag itself to overflow out of the pallet during the palletizing phase.

Another object of the invention is to allow the filling, alignment and closing of the bag, even with powdery products, such as flour, with a bag having the same appearance and the same dimensions as the valve bag but which does not avoid to the contents to leak out.

Not least object of the invention is to provide a device for filling bags, particularly for preformed bags, with means easily available on the market as well as using commonly used materials, so that the device is competitive.

This aim and the other objects are achieved by a device for filling bags, particularly for pre-formed bags, according to the invention, comprising a supporting frame extending along a production line, having at least one filling cone provided with a coupling discharge mouth removably with the selvedge 8 of a bag to be filled, and also having means for retaining said bag and embracing means, during the filling phase, between said selvedge and said discharge mouth, characterized in that it comprises moving means for said means arms associated with said supporting frame along said production line.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the bag filling device, particularly for preformed bags, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of the bag filling device;

Figure 2 illustrates the device in section II-II;

Figure 3 illustrates the device in section III-III;

Figure 4 illustrates the device in section IV-IV;

figure 5 shows a normal section with respect to the ground of the omega elements, in a position of detachment from the discharge mouth of the filling cone;

figure 6 shows a normal section with respect to the ground of the omega elements, in the filling phase, embraced to the discharge mouth of the filling cone.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the device for filling bags, particularly for preformed bags, according to the invention, which is identified in its entirety with the reference 1, comprises a supporting frame 2, which extends along a production line 10, having at least one filling cone 3 provided with a discharge mouth 4 which can be removably coupled with the selvedge 8 of a bag 9 to be filled. The frame 2 also has means for retaining the bag 9 and embracing means, during the filling phase, between the selvedge 8 and the discharge mouth 4.

A peculiar feature of the invention consists in the fact that it comprises moving means for the embracing means, associated with the supporting frame 2 along the production line 10.

The means for retaining the bag 9, as shown in Figure 1, can for example consist of two retaining hands 7, per se known, normally connected to the frame 2 on opposite sides with respect to the filling cone 3 on the production line 10 these little hands 7 have the task of retaining the bag 9 during the filling phase and possibly of aligning it after it has been removed from the cone 4.

Advantageously, with reference to Figure 3, the handling means comprise at least one guide 15, fixed to the frame 2, which extends along the production line 10. The guide engages a slider 14 connected to an actuation arm 13 for the coupling of the selvedge 8 with the discharge mouth 4. The actuation arm 13 supports the embracing means.

Normally, the embracing means comprise at least a pair of omega 5 elements, known per se, each of which is provided with a support element 12 of the selvedge 8 to the discharge mouth 4, and has a median portion of a shape suitable for be combinable with the base portion 4 to be embraced, i.e. the median portion is copied from the shape of the mouth 4.

This support element 12 can be made of rubber or other material with high elastic properties.

Furthermore, the support 12 is supported by the actuation arm 13 which allows it to move towards or away from the filling cone 3 along an approach direction 20 by means of translation means, such as for example pneumatic cylinders 16 connected to means engines.

The approach direction 20 is substantially normal both to the fall direction of the material to be filled and to the production line 10.

Advantageously, a station for aligning the bag 9 along the production line 10, connected to the frame 2, can be provided.

Advantageously, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the alignment station comprises displacement means for at least one pair of alignment hands 11 of the bag 9.

The displacement means can comprise at least one slide 17 for moving the pair of hands 11 in the opposite direction, one with respect to the other, along the production line 10, as shown in Figure 4.

Preferably, each of the hands 11 has a pair of widening and narrowing branches 18. The branches are adapted to be rotated with respect to the production line 10.

Preferably, secondary transport means can be provided to assist the aforementioned handling means, such as conveyor belts or movable rods, per se known, which engage the bottom part of the bag 9. It can also be provided that the embracing means have main vibrating means for the bag 9, for example acting on the arm 13.

The alignment station can also be provided with secondary vibrating means for the bag 9, for example acting on the bottom of the bag 9.

In the embodiment presented here, it has been provided that the main vibrating means have a combined double vibration, while the secondary vibrating means give a simple vibration.

The process of filling bags, particularly preformed open-mouth bags, includes:

- the positioning of the selvedge 8 of the bag 9 to be filled, held by holding means, under a filling cone 3. In particular, the bag 9 to be filled is positioned under the filling cone 4 and held by the holding hands 7, or by similar means;

- the approach of the bag 9 and the filling cone 3 with the cone 3 which is lowered (or, on the contrary, the bag 9 is raised), so that the selvedge 8 is coupled with the discharge mouth 4 of the cone filling 4;

- the combination of embracing means, such as omega 5 elements, per se known, for the perfect adhesion of the selvedge 8 to the mouth 4, thanks to the particular shape of the intermediate portion of the support element 12 of each of the omega 5 ;

- filling the bag 9 (see figure 6);

- the removal of the selvedge 8 from the mouth 4 which allows the cone 4 and the bag 9 to separate. A peculiar feature of this process consists in transporting the bag 9 to the subsequent processing step by moving the embracing means.

At least a first vibration of the bag itself can be provided, after or simultaneously with the filling of the bag 9.

Once the selvedge 8 has moved away from the discharge mouth 4, it is possible to foresee that the hands 7 leave the bag 9, which, held by the embracing element with the help of secondary transport means, is carried to the alignment station thanks to the handling means.

In the alignment station, the bag 9 is grasped by the alignment hands 11 and immediately released by the embracing means which return back to position itself again under the cone 4.

After a simple vibration imparted by the secondary vibrating means, the little hands 11, sliding on opposite sides of the slide 17, align the bag 9 which is brought to the storage or to the next production stage by means of known transport means, such as conveyor belts.

Another executive choice can foresee that after the filling and combined double vibration phase, once the opening between the mouth 4 and the selvedge 9 has taken place, the embracing means release the grip of the bag which is aligned by the retaining hands 7.

The bag 9 is then re-hooked by the embracing means and, left by the hands 7, is transported by the handling means to the next step.

From what has been described above it can therefore be seen how the invention achieves the intended aim and objects and in particular it is emphasized that a device for filling bags, particularly for preformed bags, is provided, which allows the realization of a very linear production cycle, extremely simple and which ensures extremely fast filling, alignment and closing of the bags.

In particular, the movement of the embracing means allows the filling and alignment station to work in line, so as to be able to fill a second bag during the alignment of the first bag.

Furthermore, the transport of the bag from the filling cone to the alignment station allows the creation of a device with guides and slides for handling hands and omega elements developing along the production line which therefore coincides with the development direction of the support frame. . This allows a more rational arrangement of the device components and therefore allows a comfortable intervention of the operators during the operating cycle.

Another advantage of the invention is given by the fact that, since the handling of the bags takes place in line and in pitch without the need for conveyors and conveyor belts, but by means of several groups of gripping elements located in the upper selvedge part and in the lower part caseback, the movement is simultaneous and therefore extremely faster in terms of hourly production and therefore competitive.

Another advantage of the bag filling device, particularly for pre-formed bags, is that, since the sack selvedge can not be closed directly under the discharge cone but in a subsequent station, it is possible to introduce more produced in the bag thanks to a longer vibration.

In particular, the invention makes it possible to package powdery products, such as flours, in open-mouth bags rather than valve bags, obtaining a bag with the same appearance and the same dimensions as the valve bag, preventing the contents from escaping from bag itself and does not overflow off the pallet during the palletizing phase.

Another advantage of the device, according to the invention, is given by the fact that the reduction of mechanical moving parts also entails a reduction in maintenance costs and machine downtime as well as greater reliability in the work processes.

Last but not least, using means that are easily available on the market as well as the use of commonly used materials allows the device to be even more competitive.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements, as long as they are consistent with the construction purpose.

Claims (10)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1) Bag filling device, particularly for preformed bags, comprising a bearing frame (2) extending along a production line (10), having at least one filling cone (3) provided with an unloading mouth (4) which can be coupled removably with the selvedge (8) of a sack (9) to be filled, and also having means for retaining said sack (9) and embracing means, during the filling phase, between said selvedge (8) and said discharge mouth ( 4), characterized in that it comprises movement means for said embracing means associated with said supporting frame (2) along said production line (10). 2) Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said movement means comprise at least one guide (15), fixed to said supporting frame (2), extending along said production line (10) and engaging a slider (14) ) connected to an actuation arm (13) for coupling said selvedge (8) and said discharge mouth (4), said actuation arm (13) being a support for said embracing means. 3) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a station for aligning said bag (9) along said production line (10), connected to said supporting frame (2). 4) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said alignment station comprises displacement means for at least one pair of alignment hands (11) of said bag (9). 5) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said displacement means comprise at least one slide (17) for moving said pair of alignment hands (11) in the opposite direction, one with respect to the other, along said production line (10). 6) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said alignment hands (11) comprises a pair of widening and narrowing legs (18), suitable for being rotated on a normal plane with respect to said line of production (10). 7) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises secondary transport means, to aid said handling means, for engaging the bottom part of said filled bag (9). 8) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said embracing means have main vibrating means for the filled bag (9). 9) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main vibrating means have a combined double vibration. 10) Process for filling bags, particularly preformed open-mouth bags, comprising the positioning of the selvedge (8) of said bag (9) to be filled, held by holding means, under a filling cone (3), by the approach of said bag (9) and said filling cone (3) so that said selvedge (8) is coupled with the discharge mouth (4) of said filling cone (4), by the approach of embracing means so as to make said selvedge (8) adhere perfectly to said discharge mouth (4), the filling of said bag (9) and the removal of said selvedge (8) from said discharge mouth (4), characterized by the fact to consist in transporting said bag (9) to the subsequent processing step by moving said embracing means.