BR112014015009B1 - filling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

FILLING MACHINE, as it is a multistage filling machine (1) adapted to obtain closed bags (50) from a plurality of packaging strips (51), comprising means of transport (2) for the packaging strip (51) and a plurality of bagging stations (3), each including: forming means (4), sealing means (5), filling means (6), cutting means (7), where each station bagging (3) comprises driving means (8) for said packaging strip (51) separated from the sealing means (5) and including a frictional drag surface (16) adapted to interact by contact with the strip ( 51) and to drag it along the forward direction.

Description

FILLING MACHINE

[001] The present invention relates to a filling machine of the type referred to in the preamble to the first claim.

[002] Currently, filling machines adapted to produce sealed packages containing varied contents are known. In particular, the filling machines form a plurality of bags and sachets in sequence from a packaging blade and the loose product.

[003] Most filling machines operate as described below.

[004] A packaging sheet is placed close to the machine and, from this sheet wrapped in a bobbin, bags or sachets will be made. The blade is unrolled and transported to a forming and sealing device. Throughout this apparatus, the blade is wound in a tube that has a transverse axis in relation to the direction of the largest extension of the blade and a circumference slightly smaller than the width of the blade. The forward parts of the blade wound along the tube are joined and sealed together. It is, therefore, a sealed in the longitudinal direction in relation to the direction of the greater extension of the blade.

[005] Subsequently, the longitudinally sealed sheet extends beyond the tube along which it is rolled and sealed transversely. The cross seal is cut in half so that the cross seal acts as an upper seal for one bag and a lower seal for the next bag. In addition, the bag that received the bottom seal is filled with the product in such a way that the product remains inside the bag when the top seal is done.

[006] During this process, the unwinding of the blade is carried out by a transverse sealing device that, at the same time that it grips the two opposite flaps of the rolled sheet for mutual sealing of them, directs them in the direction of unwinding.

[007] Thanks to these filling machines, most objects of any size are bagged, from sachets containing single dose condiments with a width less than one centimeter, to bags of earth more than one meter wide. In addition, in order to improve the productivity of filling machines, multistage filling machines have been manufactured.

[008] In these machines, the blade wrapped in a coil is divided, in the longitudinal direction, into a plurality of blades or strips, each of which is adapted to make a series of bags. Several bags in parallel are therefore produced and the process is greatly accelerated.

[009] The known art mentioned earlier has some important drawbacks.

[010] In fact, multitrack filling machines are not adapted to unwind very wide total width blades that, for example, exceed a few tens of centimeters. This drawback is due to the fact that high stresses and friction are created between the blade and the transport and driving apparatus so that the tension on the different parts of the blade cannot be maintained at a constant level. Thus, multistage filling machines can only produce sachets of a very small width, the so-called "sachets", and, in addition, a reduced number of mats can be provided in parallel.

[011] Another drawback lies in the fact that the sachets that leave the multitrack filling machines in parallel are in close contact with each other. Thus, sealing elements or particular formation for the bags cannot be placed close to the multistage filling machines due to the lack of space between the bags.

[012] Under this situation, the fundamental technical function of the present invention is to design a multistage filling machine capable of substantially removing the mentioned drawbacks.

[013] Within the scope of this technical function, it is an important objective of the invention to obtain a multi-conveyor filling machine capable of operating with wide blades and, therefore, adapted to produce, in parallel, several wide bags or a large number of bags of reduced width.

[014] Another important objective of the invention is to make available a multistage filling machine supplied with particular sealing or forming elements for the bags.

[015] The mentioned technical function and specified objectives are achieved by the particular sealing and forming elements for the bags as claimed in the attached independent claims.

[016] The preferred achievements are highlighted in the sub-claims.

[017] The characteristics and advantages of the invention are explained below through the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[018] Fig. 1a shows a front view of a four-track filling machine according to the invention;

[019] Fig. 1b shows a top view of a four-track filling machine according to the invention;

[020] Fig. 2a shows a front view of a six-belt filling machine according to the invention;

[021] Fig. 2a shows a top view of a six-belt filling machine according to the invention;

[022] Fig. 3 shows a top view of a variant of a filling machine according to the invention;

[023] Fig. 4 reproduces a detail of the filling machine according to the invention;

[024] Fig. 5 schematically shows a bag obtained by using a filling machine according to the invention;

[025] With reference to the drawings, the multitrack filling machine according to the invention is generally identified by reference number 1.

[026] The filling machine is adapted to form closed bags 50 from a plurality of packaging strips or strips 51, suitably formed by the longitudinal cut of a single packaging blade 57 wound on a reel 58.

[027] Each strip 51 of packaging defines a longitudinal direction 52 and a transverse direction 53 perpendicular to said longitudinal direction 52.

[028] In particular, the filling machine 1 is adapted to make closed bags 50 formed with a transverse part of the packaging strip 51 folded over itself in a longitudinal direction 52, such that the two longitudinal flaps 54 of the transverse part are superimposed and sealed together and that the lower ends 55 and upper 56 of the bag 50 are sealed together, as shown in Fig. 5. The filling machine 1 briefly comprises means of transport 2 and a plurality of bagging stations 3 each including : forming means 4, sealing means 5, filling means 6, cutting means 7 and drive means 8.

[029] In greater detail, the means of transport 2 defines an unwinding path for the strip 51, in a manner adapted to supply each bagging station 3 with a strip 51, along a forward direction or feed.

[030] Said means comprise a coil unwinding unit 9, preferably structurally independent from the rest of the machine. The unit is adapted to move coils 58 with large diameters and widths, diameters even greater than one meter and widths greater than 1.25 meters, for example. Therefore, unit 9 is able to provide a long autonomy period by substantially increasing the time between two coil changes, and, consequently, the efficiency of the machine itself.

[031] The coil unwinding unit 9 preferably comprises a coil transport axis 9a effectively driven by a servomotor, operated based on information from sensors that measure the diameter of the coil 58.

[032] The unit 9 further comprises a set of cylinders 9c consisting of a plurality of mobile transport cylinders and adapted to join the packing blade 57 waiting for processing and to adjust its tension.

[033] The coil unwinding unit 9 further comprises longitudinal cutting knives 9d adapted to longitudinally divide the packaging blade 57 into a plurality of packaging strips 51, preferably four or six strips 51.

[034] The coil unwinding unit 9 finally comprises a pair of cylinders of attraction 9a of inverse power forming substantially a calender. Said cylinders 9e preferably have a high friction surface, made of elastomer, for example, and are adapted to ensure control when transporting strips 51 downstream of the coil unwinding unit 9.

[035] The means of transport 2 further comprises a deflection unit 10, downstream of the coil unwinding unit 9. The deflection unit 10 comprises deflection devices 10b consisting of cylinders or bars oriented at 45 ° with respect to the direction of exit of strips 51 from the coil unwinding unit 9 and adapted to deflect strips 51 through a right angle. In particular, a bypass device 10b is present for each strip 51.

[036] Furthermore, beside each bypass device 10b there are movable cylinders 10a along the unrolling path of the bypass strip 51, for a more precise adjustment of the path length of the packing strip 51.

[037] The means of transport 2, finally, preferably comprises tensioning cylinders 11 placed in the proximity of the stations 3. They preferably have an outer surface of high friction, in particular, made of elastomer or the like. In addition, they are capable of detecting the tension of strip 51, as further specified below.

[038] Bagging stations 3, preferably downstream of the means of transport, are of the same number as the number of strips 51.

[039] Bagging stations 3 are preferably extended mainly in the vertical direction. The longitudinal direction of the strip 51 in this part of the machine 1 is therefore suitably coincident with the vertical direction. Each bagging station 3, firstly, comprises a forming means 4 for the packaging strip 51. This means is adapted to fold a transverse part of one of the strips 51 along the longitudinal direction 52, in such a way that the two longitudinal flaps 54 of the transverse part of the strip 51 are superimposed.

[040] The forming means 4, suitably comprises a collar 12 known per se, and which comprises a surface along which the strip 51 is placed for execution within a small part of an underlying tube.

[041] Collar 12 is followed by a forming tube 13, around which strip 51 is arranged, completely wrapping it in the circumferential direction, leaving the two longitudinal flaps 54 unwound around the circumference and mutually opposite.

[042] Arranged downstream of the forming means 4 is the sealing means 5. This means comprises a longitudinal sealing device 14, adapted to seal the two overlapping longitudinal flaps 54. This device 14 adequately performs the sealing by means of heat. In particular, it comprises a heating part adapted to be moved by a suitable means of movement, in order to come into contact with the two flaps 54. It is suitably equipped with means of temperature control and independent pneumatic movement for each individual station 3 . It can also comprise a means of sealing the pulse, that is, through electric heating.

[043] The sealing means 5 also comprises a transverse sealing device 15, adapted to seal the strip 51 in the transverse direction 53 at certain longitudinal spatial intervals. This device 15 also adequately performs heat sealing. In particular, it comprises a series of opposing bars, preferably heated by independent heating, arranged after the forming tube 13 and adapted to be moved by a suitable means of movement, in order to come into contact with the two opposed longitudinally sealed parts . It is suitably arranged on a single support for all stations 3. It can also comprise a means of sealing the pulse, that is, through electric heating.

[044] Also arranged in the transverse sealing device 15 may be a bag forming device 50 which comprises a device known, for example, for making a square bottom or the like.

[045] The stations 3 then comprise a filling medium 6 (Fig. 1a), in which the medium is adapted to fill an open bag with the desired products, that is, a bag that has been subjected to longitudinal and transversal seals, constituting the latter the bottom of the bag, with the upper part open. The filling means 6 is known in itself and introduces the products through the collar 12 and the forming tube 13.

[046] The stations 3 also comprise a cutting means 7 downstream of the sealing means 5 of the strip 51. This means preferably comprises two opposite cutters and divides the bags 50 in the sealing in the transverse direction, so that said sealing in the transverse direction constitutes the lower end 55 of the open bag to then be filled and the upper end 56 of the bag 50 made in the anterior space gap of the strip 51.

[047] Finally, each bagging station 3 advantageously comprises a targeting means 8 for strip 51. This targeting means 8 is separate from the sealing means 5 and comprises a high friction trailing surface 16, preferably made of elastomer or similar, adapted to interact through the contact with the strip 51 and to drag the latter along the feeding direction.

[048] In particular, the targeting means 8 is arranged between the forming means 4 and the cutting means 7. In greater detail, this means is preferably arranged in the forming tube 13, such that the surface dragging 16 comes into contact with strip 51, which in turn is wrapped around tube 13. The targeting means 8 is shown in Fig. 4 and preferably comprises tracks 17 driven by wheels 18. The outer surface of the tracks it therefore constitutes the trailing surface 16. Mats 17 preferably have a surface layer of elastomer and more particularly natural rubber, and an inner layer of teeth of a more rigid and resistant material.

[049] The mats 17 are preferably between 1 cm and 3 cm wide and are wound around an angular part of the forming tube 13, comprised between 20 ° and 30 °; its thickness is between 2 mm and 1 cm and the length is between 30 cm and 80 cm.

[050] The targeting means 8 of each individual station 3, according to an innovative process, can also be adjusted appropriately independently, as a function of the tension of the individual strip 51, and each belt 17 is preferably placed in motion by a single servomotor.

[051] Machine 1 further comprises tension sensors 19 for individual strips 51, adapted to check the tension of said individual strips 51. They can, for example, be arranged on tension cylinders 11, and consist of sensors adapted to check the vertical displacements of said cylinders 11. Alternatively, they can comprise an optical reading means or by other means known per se.

[052] The operation of a multistage filling machine 1 described above in terms of its structure is as follows.

[053] Machine 1 preferably moves strip 51 with alternating pauses. First, the coil unwinding unit 9 unwinds a part of the coil 58 and feeds the cylinder set 9c, which in turn feeds the remaining part of the machine 1. An activation of the coil set 9c occurs by unwinding the coil 58 through the axis 9c of movement of the servomotor, taking into account the information of both the sensors placed in the set of cylinders 9c and the sensor measuring the diameter of the coil 58.

[054] The packing blade 57 is then unrolled, separated into strips by knives 9d and transported to the traction cylinders 9e.
Each strip therefore corresponds to a mat comprising a station 3.

[055] From the pull cylinders 9e onwards, the unwinding of the strips 51 is appropriately timed with the operations of the stations 3. In particular, in a step of movement, the strips 51 are moved towards the stations 3. In detail, the medium steering system 8 is activated simultaneously on all conveyors 3, each conveyor 17 receives movement from a single servomotor. At the same time, drive cylinders 9e are properly activated by a servomotor. In particular, the traction cylinders 9e and the steering means 8 are connected on an electrical axis, so that the strips 51 are simultaneously dragged by the cylinder assembly 9c.

[056] In the part between the driving means 8 and the traction cylinders 9e, the individual strips 51 are dragged, being compensated in position by cylinders 10a and deflected by the deviation devices 10b; subsequently, they pass through the tension cylinders 11 and arrive at stations 3. In particular, the deviation of strips 51 allows stations 3 to be arranged at arbitrary mutual distances. Therefore, said stations allow the aforementioned forming device or drive means 8 and sealing 15, with said "square bottom", to be introduced.

[057] Consequently, each strip 51 enters its own station 3. At each station 3 each strip 51 passes through the forming means 4 and takes the shape required for the subsequent sealing step through the sealing means 5 and cutting 7 .

[058] Additionally, in the part in question, the tension of the packaging material is controlled by adjusting the speed ratio between the steering means 8 and the tension cylinders 9e.

[059] When the movement step is completed, a pause step begins. The strips 51 are therefore stationary, the longitudinal sealing devices 14 are operated by a pneumatic movement when coming into contact with the strips 51 and carrying out the longitudinal sealing.

[060] Simultaneously, the transverse sealing device 15 is operated by a servomotor when it comes in contact with the packing strip 51 and performs the transverse sealing.

[061] At the same time, the cutting medium 7 is driven by the servomotor and executes the simultaneous cutting longitudinally at all stations 3. In this stage, the process of measuring the product to be packaged by the filling medium 6 also occurs appropriately.

[062] The invention comprises a new process for bagging material or operating multi-track filling machines. The process contemplates the operation disclosed above.

[063] The invention allows important advantages to be achieved.

[064] In fact, the machine, due to the presence of the particular drive medium 8, is also capable of using and working blades of an important width, for example, exceeding 1.25 m, with great skill.

[065] Consequently, this machine 1 can make closed bags 50 which are very large or a large number of bags 50 in parallel, thus significantly improving productivity, since the productivity in the examples shown is four to six times higher than in the known machines.

[066] The quality of the bags 50 obtained at individual stations 3 is ensured by the tension control that is independent on each belt.

[067] In addition, once the strips are deflected, according to the two configurations shown (Fig. 1b and Fig. 3.), stations 3 can be spaced and bulky elements can be introduced, as stated earlier.

[068] The invention is susceptible to variations that fall within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the independent claims. All details can be replaced by equivalent elements, and the materials, shapes and sizes can be of any nature and magnitude.

Claims (8)

FILLING MACHINE (1) adapted to obtain bags (50) closed from a plurality of packaging strips (51), each of said packaging strips (51) define a longitudinal direction (52) and a transverse direction ( 53) perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (52), said packaging machine (1) comprising a plurality of bagging stations (3), each including:

• - forming means (4) for said packaging strip (51), adapted to fold a transverse portion of one of said packaging strips (51) along a longitudinal direction (52), in a manner adapted to overlap the two longitudinal flaps (54) of said transverse part of said packaging strip (51);
• - sealing means (5) adapted to seal said two overlapping longitudinal flaps (54) and to seal said packaging strip (51) in the transverse direction (53), at specified space intervals;
• - filling means (6), for filling an open bag formed by said longitudinally and transversely sealed packaging strip (51), such that said transverse sealing forms the bottom of said open bag;
• - cutting means (7) for cutting said packaging strip (51) in said sealing in the transverse direction, such that said sealing in the transverse direction constitutes the bottom of said open bag and the upper closing part of the bag ( 50) closed, obtained in the previous space gap of the packaging strip (51);
• - targeting means (8) for said packaging strip (51) separate from said sealing means (5);
• - said filling machine (1) further comprises a means of transport (2) for said plurality of packaging strips (51), adapted to transport said packaging strips (51) along an unwinding path, and an advance or feed direction in a manner adapted to supply each of said bagging stations (3) with one of said packaging strips (51),

characterized by the fact that said steering means (8) includes a high friction traction surface (16) adapted to interact through contact with said strip (51) and guide it in the forward direction;

• - wherein said driving means (8) of said plurality of bagging stations (3) are independently adjustable according to the tension of said packaging strips (51);
• - and also because it comprises tension sensors (19) for individual strips (51), adapted to measure the tension of said individual strips (51).

MACHINE, as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said targeting means (8) comprises tracks (17) that define said drag surface (16). MACHINE, as claimed in claim 2, characterized by the fact that said targeting means (8) comprises opposite tracks (17). MACHINE, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said forming device (4) comprises a forming tube (13) and is adapted to wrap said packaging strip (51) in around said forming tube (13), and wherein said trailing surfaces (16) are provided on said forming tube (13). MACHINE, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that said trailing surface (16) is made of elastomer. MACHINE, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that said means of transport (2) comprises a bypass unit (10) adapted to bypass said strips (51) of packaging through a straight angle. MACHINE, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that said means of transport (2) comprises attraction cylinders (9a) upstream of said bagging stations (3), in relation to time said targeting means (8) and adapted to drag said packaging strips (51) long. MACHINE, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that it comprises tension cylinders (11) positioned in the vicinity of said stations (3) and provided with a high friction outer surface.

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