DE102011081153A1 - Process for filling granules in bags - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a support element (1) for supporting a bag (34, 36) during filling, wherein the support element (1) has the shape of a saddle roof and wherein on the underside of the support element (1) means for attachment (24) to a conveyor belt (10) are arranged. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for filling granules in bags (34).

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling granules in bags with a filling plant and to a device for filling granules in bags, in which a bag is supported during the filling of supporting elements.

State of the art

Bulk goods usually have to be filled and packed for transport. Bulk materials include, for example, sand, powder, powder and granules made of various materials. In the present description, the general term granulate is used for all these bulk materials.

For transport, granules are packed especially in silo trucks, big bags, corrugated octagon containers and sacks. With a silo truck, very large bulk quantities can be transported at once. Increasingly, however, the bulk goods are in demand in smaller units. With big-bags and corrugated octagon containers, single and reusable containers with a large capacity, typically between 500 and 2000 liters, are available. Increasingly, however, the bulk goods are in demand in smaller units, whereby the proportion of granules that are delivered packaged in sacks, has been rising rapidly in recent years. The bags have a typical width between 20 and 50 cm with a length between 40 cm and 1 m and a depth of 2 cm to 20 cm. Typical filling weights are in the range between 1 and 100 kg. Preferably, the weight of the sacks is chosen so that a sack can be moved by a single worker e.g. from 5 to 50 kg.

For the filling of granules in bags, automated systems are available that work according to the FFS principle (forming, filling, closing), for example. The material for the bags is often delivered on an endless roll and formed into a bag in the first step. If the bag material is supplied on a roll, for example in the form of a gusseted tubular film, the lower end of the bag is welded, the bag is cut to the required length (for example 80 cm) and opened, for example, via suction bars and brought into the filling position.

In the next step, a certain amount of the granules is poured into the bag. The amount can be determined, for example, by weight or by volume. Depending on the embodiment of the filling device, the bag can be shaken to compress the filled granules.

For the next step, the filled with granules bag, for example, with a pair of pliers and / or using a conveyor belt, transported to a closing station. If necessary, the upper seam area of the bag is cleaned and sealed for sealing. During capping, excess air can be removed from the interior of the bag via a vacuum pump. After closing the bag, it is transported further and usually with a palletizer for transport to a carrier, e.g. a euro pallet prepared.

A disadvantage of this method is that the so-filled sacks differ significantly from the optimal cuboid shape and thereby the stacking property of the bags is impaired. For reasons of stability, the sacks can only be stacked on a pallet at a height of about 4 to 6 layers. Furthermore, the space utilization is not optimal, since between the bags to a greater extent unused cavities remain. This problem is in 1a clarified. Between the bags remain clear cavities ( 35 ) and other layers can not be safely stacked ( 31 ) on the pallet ( 32 ) become.

Object of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a method and associated apparatus with which the format of bags, e.g. were bottled according to the FFS principle, can be designed almost cuboid.

Disclosure of the invention

It is proposed a support member for supporting a bag during filling, wherein the support member preferably has the shape of a saddle roof, and being arranged on the underside of the support member means for attachment to a conveyor belt.

The support elements are preferably mounted on the conveyor belt of a device for filling granules so that the gable sides of the support member perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor belt and formed between two flanks of two support members is a form in which a bag can be accommodated.

In one embodiment of the support element, the means for attachment to a conveyor belt are designed as a clamp which encloses a Stollenbandfuß a running as a conveyor belt conveyor belt. As a result, the support element according to the invention can be easily attached to a studded belt, which is usually in one Device for filling granules in bags is used.

Further changes to the device or replacement of the conveyor belt are usually not required.

Preferably, an angle of 20 to 45 degrees is included between the flanks of the support member and the solder.

By the flanks of two adjacent support elements is a down, ie in the direction of conveyor belt, tapered shape formed. This assists the sack during filling and prevents excessive sagging of the sack at the bottom ("foot formation"). The angle of the flanks can be adapted to the bag size used.

In one embodiment of the support element according to the invention, the two flanks of the saddle-roof-shaped support element at the same angle to the solder.

In a further embodiment of the support element, the two flanks of the support element have different angles. For example, an angle other than the flank pointing in the opposite direction can be set for the flank pointing in the direction of transport. As a result, the behavior of the conveyor belt during the ejection of the filled and closed bag, ie during the transfer of the bag from the device for filling granules in the bags to a downstream palletizer can be optimized. Likewise, by adjusting the angle of the flanks, the support element can be adapted to the filling system used.

In one embodiment, the edges of the support element according to the invention are rounded.

By rounding the pointed edge of the saddle-roof-shaped support element, as well as pointing in the direction of the conveyor belt edges of the two edges, sharp points are avoided, which could mechanically damage the material of the bags.

The support element according to the invention is made of a suitable material such as plastic (in particular polypropylene, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride) or a metal.

The support element must be made of a material which does not chemically attack the bag material. Together with the rounding of the edges of the support element is achieved that undesirable damage to the bags during filling, sealing and transport is avoided.

A further aspect of the invention is the provision of a device for filling granules into sacks, comprising a filling device and a conveyor belt, wherein support elements according to the invention are fastened on the conveyor belt, wherein adjacent support elements form a downwardly tapering shape on the conveyor belt.

During the filling of a bag, the bag is received and supported in the form formed by two adjacent support elements. The tapering shape counteracts excessive broadening of the bag in the lower area.

In one embodiment of the device, the conveyor belt is designed as a studded belt and the support elements are attached to the studded belt feet of the studded belt.

The flanks of the form formed by two adjacent support elements on the conveyor belt in an embodiment of the invention form an angle between 20 and 40 degrees. In a further embodiment of the invention, the two flanks of the shape have different angles.

The height of the arranged on the conveyor belt of the device according to the invention support elements is chosen so that the conveyor belt is not hindered with the mounted support elements in its course.

This choice of height of the support elements ensures that the support elements can be easily mounted on a lug strip of a device for filling granules in bags, without further modifications or modifications to the system are required.

• a) Abfüllen des Granulats in einen Sack
• b) Vakuumieren und Verschließen des Sacks,

wobei der Sack während des Abfüllens in einer sich verjüngenden Form abgestützt wird und nach dem Verschließen in sein endgültiges Format gepresst wird.A further aspect of the invention is the provision of a method for filling granules in sacks with a filling installation as just described, wherein the sacks are at least partially guided on a conveyor belt, with the following method steps:

• a) filling the granules in a bag
• b) vacuuming and sealing the bag,

wherein the bag is supported in a tapered shape during filling and pressed into its final format after closing.

In the first step of the process granules are filled into a sack. Without additional Supporting the bag, the bag would take its greatest thickness at the bottom and become narrower towards its upper end. By supporting the bag in a downwardly tapered shape, this effect is counteracted. The sack is narrower at the bottom and now has its largest thickness approximately in the middle. In the next process step, the granulate bag is transported to a closing station. In the closing station, the bag is closed by welding.

Simultaneously or in a timely manner, the bag is vacuumed, in which excess air is removed from the interior of the bag by means of a vacuum pump. So that the sack is at the same time stable, airtight and easy to weld, a composite material, for example of at least one plastic layer and / or of at least one metal layer, is preferred as the sack material. Subsequently, the closed and vacuumed bag is transported further and thereby dropped from the conveyor belt of the apparatus for filling granules on another conveyor belt. The sack is led to a press and pressed through it into its final format. By pressing granules from the center of the bag is pressed into the adjacent areas. Since the sack has its greatest thickness in the middle before pressing, a sack with a nearly parallelepipedal format is produced after pressing.

In one embodiment of the method, the bag during filling is aligned with its longest side up.

By supporting the bag during filling, a bag with the longest side facing upwards has a smaller thickness after bottling, both at the lower end and at the upper end than at its center.

In one embodiment of the method, a filled bag lies on its largest surface during pressing and has an approximately rectangular shape after pressing.

The method is suitable for bags of various sizes and allows you to freely adjust the length of the bag.

By means of the support element according to the invention, an apparatus for filling granules into sacks can be improved so that the filled sacks can be brought into an approximately parallelepipedal format by pressing. As a result, a better utilization of space is achieved in a downstream of the filling of the bags palletizing and improves the stackability of the filled granule bags. This makes it possible to accommodate the bags in more layers than previously possible on a pallet. The number of pallets required for transport is reduced, which reduces costs and costs in logistics.

The advantageous Ausgestattung of the support element according to the invention with a holding device makes it possible to attach the support member to a studded belt, as it is commonly used in devices for filling granules in bags. The inventive choice of the maximum height of the support elements ensures that in addition to the mounting of the support elements no further changes or modifications to the device for filling granules in bags must be made.

The angles of the flanks of the form formed by the support elements are matched to the size of the bags to be filled and set for optimum support of the bag during filling and for a fault-free discharge of the bag.

The method can be set up for different sizes of sacks, so that the great flexibility of filling according to the FFS principle is maintained.

Brief description of the figures

With reference to the drawings, the invention will be described in more detail below.

It shows:

1a a palletized stack of granulated bags filled according to the state of the art,

1b a palletized stack of granule bags filled with the method according to the invention,

2 a schematic representation of the device according to the invention for filling granule bags,

3 completing the formatting of a granular sack by pressing,

4 a filled granulate bag supported by the support elements according to the invention,

5 an embodiment of a support element according to the invention.

variants

1a shows a palletized stack of granular bags, which were filled by a method according to the prior art.

1a shows granule bags 31 , which were filled by a method according to the prior art. The granules bags 31 are in six layers on a pallet 32 stacked. There is another pallet on this pile 32 with another six layers of granule bags 31 , Clearly recognizable are unused cavities 35 between the sacks 31 , Furthermore, the format of every single bag 31 strongly different and there are sometimes significant deviations from the ideal cuboidal format. More layers of sacks 31 can not be stored safely on the stack.

1b shows a palletized stack of bags that have been filled and formatted by the method according to the invention.

In 1b are six layers of sacks 30 on a pallet 32 shown. Above this pile is another pallet 32 placed on the also six layers of sacks 30 are arranged. Due to the approximately cuboidal format of the bags 30 occur less or only small cavities 35 between the sacks 30 on. Furthermore, the top of the bag stack is suitable to the stack more layers with bags 30 add.

2 shows a schematic representation of the device according to the invention for filling granules in bags.

In 2 is a tunnel belt 10 shown on the a variety of cleated belt feet 12 is arranged. On the gallery belt 10 are support elements 1 attached, which have a pitched roof-like shape. The material required to make the bags becomes an endless roll 60 wound up delivered. That on the roll 60 wound material is designed for example as an endless tube or as Endlosseitenfaltenschlauchfolie.

As a bag material, single films, composite films, paper and composites of at least one film layer and at least one further layer are used.

Examples of bag materials used are polyethylene, polypropylene, composite of aluminum and polyethylene, and composite of paper and polyethylene.

The endless material 61 is over several pulleys 62 and a few powered wheels 66 through a closing and cutting device 64 guided. With the closing and cutting device 64 First, the lower end of the bag is welded. After that, the bag material 61 continue to unroll until the desired length of the bag is reached, and then from the closing and cutting device 64 cut off. This creates a still folded bag that is closed at one end by welding. The later side walls of the bag are already closed because the bag material 61 in the form of a hose or a gusseted hose. The still folded bag is from a holding and transporting device 46 and into the area of the tunnel belt 10 moves where the lower end of the bag 34 on the tunnel belt 10 between two support elements 1 is introduced, which is a towards conveyor belt 10 rejuvenating shape 2 form.

The top of the bag 34 is from the holding and transport device 46 opened, leaving a filling device 40 in the opened sack 34 can intervene. About the filling device 40 For example, it is then possible to fill in a material or granulate to be inserted, for example, by weighing or measuring the volume. During the filling process the bag becomes 34 further from the holding and transport device 46 held. The holding and transport device 46 For example, can be designed as a suction bar that holds the bag by means of negative pressure.

After filling the bag 34 this is from the holding and transport device 46 Approved. By filling with granules, the bag is on its own. By supporting the bag 34 with the support elements 1 on the tunnel belt 10 has the granule bag 34 in the area below 39 a smaller thickness than in the middle. The filled but not yet sealed granule bag 34 is from the gallery belt 10 to a closure device 42 transported. There the sack is at the top 38 taken and sealed by welding. At the same time, the closure device sucks 42 via a connection to a vacuum pump 44 Excess air out of the granule bag.

After sealing, the closed granule bag 36 from the tunnel belt 10 to a Sackabwurf 13 transported. At the Sackabwurf 13 falls the closed granule bag 36 from the tunnel belt 10 on a conveyor belt 14 , This changes the orientation of the granular sack 36 , On the gallery belt 10 is the granule bag 36 aligned with its longest side upwards. On the conveyor belt 14 is the granule bag 36 on the side so that its largest surface faces down. The conveyor belt 14 transports the granule bag 36 to a press through which the granule bag 36 receives its almost cuboid formatting.

Due to the possibility of air and water impermeable composites such as a continuous film tube 61 made of polyethylene and aluminum too can process, in conjunction with the vacuuming of the bags 34 also granules are filled from hygroscopic materials. Examples of bagged hygroscopic materials are plastic granules such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), PA (polyamides), PC (polycarbonates), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PUR (polyurethanes) PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and basic chemicals such as caprolactam (crystalline), Adipic acid (crystalline) and hexamethylenediamine adiport (crystalline salt).

In one embodiment of the device, the opened granule bag 34 shaken after filling with granules to compress the filled granules.

In 3 a granule bag is shown immediately before and after pressing.

3 shows a filled and sealed, but not yet pressed granule bag 36 , The granule bag 36 lies on the side with its largest side face down in a press 50 , The thickness of the bag is in the middle 37 largest and takes both to the bottom 39 as well as to the top 38 down. Through the press 50 is in the direction of the reference numeral 52 marked arrow pressure on the granule bag 36 exercised. This will make granules from the middle area 37 of the granular bag 36 towards the top 38 and bottom 39 pressed.

Furthermore, the 3 a representation of a pressed granule bag 30 to see which is still in a press 50 located. Due to the pressure during pressing, the bag has 30 taken an approximately cuboid formatting, in which the thickness of the bag 30 both in the middle of the field 37 as well as in the area of the top 38 and the bottom 39 is almost identical.

4 represents a filled, but not yet pressed granule bag on a tunnel belt with the support elements according to the invention.

In 4 is an already filled and sealed, but not yet pressed granule bag 36 shown. The granule bag 36 is on a gallery belt 10 and will be in the range of its bottom 39 of two support elements 1 supported. Through the support elements 1 takes the bag 36 a form in which he is in the midst of his midst 37 has the largest thickness. In the area of the bottom 39 and the top 38 takes the granule bag 36 each a smaller thickness. The support elements according to the invention 1 comprise a saddle roof shaped part 20 and a fixture 24 , With the attachment 24 becomes the saddle roof shaped part 20 of the support element 1 at a Stollenbandfuß 12 of the conveyor belt 10 attached.

By two adjacent support elements 1 is on the tunnel belt 10 one down, that is to the tunnel belt 10 towards, rejuvenating shape 2 educated. The size of the support elements 1 , in particular their height, is chosen so that the support elements 1 together with the gallery belt 10 can circulate in the device for filling granules in bags, without the lug strip 10 to hinder.

In 5 an embodiment of the support element according to the invention is shown.

5 shows a support element 1 on a gallery belt 10 , The support element 1 includes a saddle roof shaped part 20 and a holder 24 , The saddle roof shaped part 20 is both at the top of the tapered edge as well as on the studded tape 10 rounded edges facing. This will prevent the bag material from being transported on the conveyor belt 10 is mechanically damaged. The holder 24 includes a retaining plate 23 with the saddle roof shaped part 20 connected to a clamp 25 , a clamp plate 26 as well as several screws 27 and nuts 28 , With the clamp 25 , the clamp plate 26 and at least two screws 27 becomes the holder 24 at a Stollenbandfuß 12 of the tunnel belt 10 attached. The screws 27 engage in thread 29 in the clamp 25 one. About at least one screw 27 is the clamp 25 with the retaining plate 23 connected. With several nuts 28 the connection is fixed.

Depending on the design of the tunnel band foot 12 and optionally further requirements for the support elements, such as the possibility of the support elements 1 simply from the tunnel belt 10 To be able to remove, is the mounting of the support elements 1 on the tunnel belt 10 also possible with other means than those just mentioned. Need the support elements 1 no longer from the tunnel belt 10 be removed, for example, it is conceivable the support element 1 by welding or gluing with a Stollenbandfuß 12 connect to. For an easily detachable connection, the holder 24 be carried out with other means for attachment such as a direct screw in the Stollenbandfuß 12 ,

The saddle roof shaped part 20 has two flanks 21 . 22 on. The direction of the tunnel belt 10 facing flank 21 closes with the Lot an angle α. The opposite to the direction of the tunnel belt 10 pointing edge 22 of the saddle roof-shaped part 20 closes an angle β with the solder. In the in 5 the embodiment shown is the angle α of the flank 21 smaller than the angle β of the flank 22 that is, the flank pointing in the direction of transport 21 is steeper than the opposite to the transport direction pointing edge 22 , This will change the behavior of the conveyor belt or conveyor belt 10 at the Sackabwurf 13 optimized

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 support element

2

 shape

10

 Stollen band

12

 Stollenbandfuß

13

 bag discharge

14

 Conveyor belt to the press

18

 upper edge

19

 lower edge

20

 Roof shape / saddle-shaped part

21

 in the direction of Sackabwurfs (direction) pointing edge

22

 against the direction pointing edge

23

 Retaining plate

24

 attachment

25

 clamp

26

 Clamp plate

27

 (Threaded) bolt

28

 mother

29

 thread

α

 Flank angle (running direction)

β

 Flank angle (against running direction)

30

 according to the invention formatted bag

31

 Sack according to the prior art

32

 palette

35

 cavity

34

 open, still to be filled bag

36

 filled but not yet pressed bag

37

 Middle of the bag

38

 Top of the bag

39

 Unterzeile

40

 filling device

41

 material to be filled

42

 closure device

44

 Connection to a vacuum pump

46

 Holding and transport device

50

 Press

52

 print direction

60

 Sack material as an endless tube on a roll

61

 Endless hose (gusseted film)

62

 idler pulley

64

 Closure and cutting device

66

 driven roller

Claims (16)

Support element ( 1 ) for supporting a bag ( 34 . 36 ) During filling, characterized in that the support element ( 1 ) has the shape of a saddle roof and that on the underside of the support element ( 1 ) Means for attachment ( 24 ) on a conveyor belt ( 10 ) are arranged. Support element ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for fixing ( 24 ) on a conveyor belt ( 10 ) as parenthesis ( 25 . 26 ), which has a tunnel belt foot ( 12 ) of a conveyor belt designed as a conveyor belt ( 10 ), are executed. Support element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that between the flanks ( 21 . 22 ) of the support element ( 1 ) and the solder an angle (α, β) of 20 ° to 45 ° is included. Support element ( 1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the two flanks ( 21 . 22 ) of the support element ( 5 ) have different angles (α, β). Support element ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the edges ( 18 . 19 ) of the support element ( 1 ) are rounded. Support element ( 1 ) according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the supporting element ( 1 ) is made of a plastic or a metal, in particular polypropylene, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Device for filling granules into sacks ( 30 . 34 . 36 ), comprising a filling device ( 40 ) and a conveyor belt ( 10 ), characterized in that on the conveyor belt ( 10 ) Supporting elements ( 1 ) are attached according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein two adjacent support elements ( 1 ) on the conveyor belt ( 10 ) a downwardly tapering shape ( 2 ) form. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the conveyor belt ( 10 ) is a tunnel belt, characterized in that the support elements ( 1 ) at the cleat belt feet ( 12 ) are attached. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the flanks ( 21 . 22 ) with the solder an angle (α, β) between 20 ° and 45 °. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the two flanks ( 21 . 22 ) of two support elements ( 1 ) and the conveyor belt ( 10 ) Form ( 2 ) have different angles (α, β). Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the height of the support elements ( 1 ) is selected so that the conveyor belt ( 10 ) with the mounted support elements ( 1 ) is not hindered in its course. Method of filling granules into sacks ( 30 . 34 . 36 ) with a device for filling of granules in sacks according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the sacks ( 30 . 34 . 36 ) at least partially on a conveyor belt ( 10 ), comprising the following steps: a) filling the granulate into a bag ( 34 ), b) vacuuming and sealing the bag ( 34 ), characterized in that the sack ( 34 . 36 . 30 ) during filling in a tapered shape ( 2 ) is pressed and pressed into its final format after closing. The method of claim 12, wherein the bag ( 34 ) is aligned with the filling of its longest side up. A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the bag ( 34 ) is oriented upwards after filling with its longest side, characterized in that the bag ( 34 ) both at the lower end ( 39 ) as well as at the upper end ( 38 ) a smaller thickness than in the middle ( 37 ) having. Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the bag ( 36 ) lies on its largest surface during pressing and the sack ( 30 ) has an approximately cuboid shape after pressing. Method according to one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the length of the bag ( 30 . 34 . 36 ) is freely adjustable.

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