EP0460495B1 - Method and device for packaging bags - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and to a device for packaging at least one bag, in which at least one filled bag is placed in a folding carton and then closed, the bag or bags being placed against a flat blank for a folding carton, hereinafter the Bags and the blank are placed in a folding station and the folding box is folded around the bag and that the folding box is subsequently closed. Such a method is known from US-A-4156333.

Tubular bag packaging machines are known from the prior art, in which a tubular film is produced from a film web by means of a longitudinal sealing device, and the goods to be packed are filled into the film tube. The film tube is then divided and separated by transverse sealing seams, so that a large number of individual bags result.

These individual bags are subsequently transported further via transport devices and in a packaging system packed in boxes. The packaging can be done in such a way that only one bag is arranged in each box, it is also possible to insert several bags stacked on top of one another in a box.

Both solid and liquid objects are suitable for packaging in bags; as an example for liquid objects, reference should be made to the refill packs for detergents; a typical application example for solid objects is the packaging of potato chips. In the prior art, however, the bags are highly stressed, so that this type of packaging can only be used with pressure-insensitive goods. In addition, the packaging must be suitable for transmitting the required compressive forces.

The invention has for its object to provide a method and a device of the type mentioned, which with a simple structure and reliable, easy to use allow a quick, reliable and gentle insertion of a bag in a carton with minimal dimensions.

With regard to the method, the object is achieved in that the blank is drawn into the folding station and the bag or bags are pushed into the folding station.

Since the bag is inserted into the folding box or the folding box during the molding process, it is possible to dimension the folding box so that the inside volume of the box is exactly matched to the outside volume of the bag. Thus, the folding box can be dimensioned much smaller, since in the finished state it fits the bag volume exactly.

This not only reduces the manufacturing costs, since material for the folding box can be saved, it can also achieve a substantial reduction in the subsequent transport and storage costs for the filled box. Furthermore, the appropriate dimensioning of the carton for the bag means that the goods in the bag are better protected and stabilized. This is of great importance in particular for bags which are filled with liquid products.

Several stacked bags are advantageously packed in a folding box. The advantage of this procedure lies in the fact that the stacked Bags are inserted into the folding carton in a close mutual relationship. Furthermore, larger stacks of bags can be introduced into the folding carton without further problems, in particular without the risk that the stack of bags will separate during insertion and the individual bags will slip.

In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the folding box is closed by means of a separate lid. This has the advantage that the blank body of the folding carton can be simple and essentially symmetrical, so that there is no disruptive lid part during the insertion and folding process.

After folding the actual folding box, it is advantageous if it is tilted by 90 ° so that its opening points upwards. This considerably facilitates the application of a lid.

According to the invention, it is also favorable if the lid is also placed, folded and connected to the carton in the form of a flat blank on the filled and folded folding carton. This eliminates the need for further process steps that would be required to fit an already prefabricated lid onto the box.

With regard to the device, the object is achieved with the features of claim 7.

The device according to the invention is also distinguished by particular advantages. It is particularly important that, in contrast to the prior art, no special insertion means have to be provided in order to fill a prefabricated folding box with the bags. Rather, the folding of the folding box together with the insertion of the bags can take place in one work step in a filling and folding station.

In a particularly advantageous development of the invention it is provided that the closing element, with the aid of which the folding box blank is formed into the finished folding box, is designed in the form of a frame, the free surface of which is essentially the same as the bottom surface of the folding box. The blank is thus pulled through the frame, the free side surfaces of the folding cardboard blank being able to bend during this passage process and be placed against the bag. A suitable dimensioning of the frame ensures that the folding carton tightly encloses the bag and thus packaging of the bag is possible in such a way that no additional, unnecessary volume is created in the folding carton.

In order to make the implementation and folding process as uniform and reliable as possible, the frame is preferably conical. Furthermore, it is favorable if the free area of the frame, ie the area available within the frame, is equal to or smaller than the assigned area of the bag or stack of bags. As a result, a corresponding pressure is exerted on the bag when the side walls of the blank body are folded over, so that the material in the bag can be distributed uniformly and adapted to the shape of the finished folding box.

In order to avoid damage to the bag when the bag is being pushed into the folding carton being created, transport means are preferably provided to push the bag to the closing element while the folding box blank is being drawn to the closing element by suitable means.

Means are advantageously arranged downstream of the closing element in order to rotate the filled folding carton by 90 °, so that the lid can be applied to the opening of the folding carton pointing upward. The lid is preferably formed by placing a flat blank and then shaping the lid, suitable means being provided to fold over the side walls of the blank.

Conventional devices can be used to glue the side walls of the folding carton and / or the side walls of the lid, for example a hot glue device or the like, which is connected to glue nozzles.

Fig. 1

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Gesamtanlage zum Verpacken von Beuteln, welche erfindungsgemäß ausgebildet ist, und

Fig. 2

eine vereinfachte, explosionsartige Darstellung der einzelnen Arbeitsschritte.

The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

is a schematic perspective view of an overall system for packaging bags, which is designed according to the invention, and

Fig. 2

a simplified, explosive representation of the individual work steps.

1 and 2 show a complete system for feeding and completely packaging a bag 1. This is fed via an ascending belt 9 to an acceleration belt 10, which ends at a higher level than a storage area 11. At the end region of the acceleration belt 10 there are two Conveyor wheels 12 are arranged, which serve to receive the bag 1 emitted by the acceleration belt and transfer it in a targeted manner to a stack 13. The stack 13 is formed with the help of a paternoster 14, which is used to collect a predetermined number of bags 1 and then to feed them to the packaging.

In the area next to the stack 13, a magazine 7 is arranged, in which blank bodies 3 for folding boxes 2 are stored. By means of a device which is only shown schematically and is not described in detail, one of the blank bodies 3 is removed and, after the stack 13 has the predetermined number of bags, assigned to it. The stack 13 is displaced on the storage surface 11 by means of a slide 15 and fed to a closing element which is provided with a frame 8. As can be seen in particular from the illustration in FIG. 2, the passage of the blank 3 and the stack 13 through the closing element 8 leads to the blank 3 being shaped into a folding box 2.

Following the closing element 8, the finished folding carton 2, filled with the stack 13 of bags 1, as shown in particular in FIG. 2, is tilted by 90 ° and subsequently transferred to a conveyor belt 17 by means of a slide.

The folding carton 2 is then closed by means of a lid 5, which is formed from a blank 6 which is stored in a magazine 18. The blank 6 is placed on the folding box 2 and, as shown in the figures, deformed in such a way that a lid 5 which closes the folding box 2 tightly results.

According to the invention, both the folding and thus the production of the folding box 2 and the packaging of the bags take place in the folding station 4.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown, rather there are various possible modifications and modifications within the scope of the claims.

Claims (13)

1. A method of packing at least one bag (1), in which at least one filled bag (1) is placed in a folding box (2) and the latter then closed, wherein the bag or bags (1) are placed against a flat cut-out (3) for a folding box (2), and the bag (1) and the cut-out (3) are introduced into a folding station (4), where the folding box (2) is folded round the bag (1) and the folding box (2) then closed, characterised in that the cut-out (3) is pulled into the folding station (4) and the bag or bags (1) simultaneously pushed into the folding station (4).
2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the bag (1) rests in a pressure-free manner against the cut-out (3) when pushed into the folding box (2).
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the folding box (2) is closed by means of a separate cover (5).
4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that several of the bags (1) are laid against the cut-out (3) so as to be stacked on top of each other.
5. A method according to claim 4, characterised in that the filled and folded folding box (2) is tilted about 90° before being closed so that the opening faces upwards.
6. A method according to claim 5, characterised in that the cover (5), in the form of a flat cut-out (6), is placed on top of the filled and folded folding box (2), folded and joined to the folding box (2).
7. A device for packing bags, in particular for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 [sic], comprising a bag feeding device, a folding box magazine (7) and means for inserting the bag (1) and closing the folding box (2), characterised by means for placing at least one bag (1) against a flat cut-out (3) of the folding box (2), means for pulling the folding box cut-out (3) and means for pushing the bag or bags (1) through a closing element (8) and means for placing a cover (5) on top of the folding box (2).
8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that the closing element (8) is designed in the form of a frame, the open space of which is substantially equal to the base of the folding box (2).
9. A method [sic] according to claim 8, characterised in that the frame (8) is formed so as to be tapered.
10. A method [sic] according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the open space of the frame (8) is equal to or smaller than the corresponding surface of the bag (1).
11. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterised by a tilting device arranged after the closing element (8) for tilting the filled folding box (2) about 90° before the cover (5) is placed thereon.
12. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterised by means for placing a flat cover cut-out (6) on top of the filled folding box (2) and for folding the cover (5).
13. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterised by a device for applying adhesive to the folding box (2) and/or the cover (5).

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