EP0590437B1 - Apparatus for filling bags with powdery, granular filling, especially sand - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for filling bags 18 especially with sand has a funnel-shaped feed container 1 for the filling material. Located in the bottom of this feed container 1 is a conveyor worm 2 which is driven by an electric motor 4 and which opens out in a filling connection 6 of the feed container 1. This filling connection 6 is angled vertically downwards and, in its push-on region, has a switch 9, 9' which can be actuated when the bag 18 is pushed on and which at the same time sets the electric motor 4 for the conveyor worm 2 in operation and stops the electric motor 4 again when the bag 18 is drawn off. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling sacks with a powdery, granular or granular filling material, in particular sand, with an in particular funnel-shaped feed container for the filling material, with a horizontal and electric motor-operated screw conveyor arranged in the bottom region of the feeding container and with a cantilevered and vertically protruding screw Angled filler neck of the feed container, in which the screw feeder opens and onto which the sack to be filled can be pushed, a switch being arranged in the push-on area of the filler neck for the respective sack to be filled, which can be actuated when the sack is pushed open and thereby triggers the filling process .

A special field of application of the filling device according to the invention is the filling of sandbags. Such sandbags are used, for example, to build dams during floods. Nonetheless, the filling device according to the invention is also suitable for other filling materials, namely powdery, granular or granular filling materials.

US-A-3 867 970 discloses a device for mixing two materials, in particular cement and sand, and then filling them into corresponding filling containers of the type specified at the outset. For this purpose, feed containers are provided for the materials to be mixed, which are by means of a piston / cylinder unit pivotable flap are completed. The two feed containers open into a screw conveyor in the area of the bottom. This in turn opens into a filler neck that is angled vertically downwards and onto which the sack to be filled can be pushed. This filler neck has a bag clamping device in the slide-open area for the sack to be filled, which is in operative connection with a switch, this switch in turn being in operative connection with an electromagnetic valve for the piston / cylinder unit. After the correct ratio of the materials to be mixed with one another has been set in the known mixing and filling device, the screw conveyor is switched to continuous operation. By pushing on a bag to be filled, the switch is actuated by the bag clamping device and by this the electromagnetic valve, which swings open the flap by means of the piston / cylinder unit, so that the materials in the feed containers get into the screw conveyor and are mixed with one another there. During the mixing process, the materials are simultaneously transported to the filler neck, from where they fall into the sack.

When filling powdery, granular or granular material, it is known to initiate or end the filling process by starting or stopping the screw conveyor.

Such an operation is described for example in DE-A-27 40 178. In this case, however, a quantity of product to be filled is predefined in a control unit and the rotating dosing screw is stopped as a function of the predefined value. The individual interruption of the filling process by an operator regardless of fixed values is not possible with this system.

In the device according to DE -A- 34 41 409, the filling process is ended in that the direction of rotation of the metering screw is reversed as a function of a certain filling weight.

The possibility of an individual interruption of the filling process by an operator is not addressed in this document either.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to create an easy-to-handle filling device, in particular for sandbags, with which a high filling capacity is also possible.

As a technical solution , the invention proposes that the switch put the electric motor for the screw conveyor into operation and stop the electric motor again when the bag is removed.

In this way, a filling device is created in particular for sandbags, which is easy to handle on the one hand and which works with a high filling capacity on the other hand. This is achieved according to the invention in that the opening of the sack is pushed from below onto the filler neck projecting vertically downwards. During the deferral process, the switch that starts the electric motor for the screw conveyor is automatically activated. This switch can be operated by the upper edge of the bag and / or by the operator's hand. As soon as the sack to be filled is in the filling position on the filler neck, the filling process is started immediately. When the sack is then filled with the specified amount, it is pulled down from the filler neck. At the same time, the switch returns to its inoperative position and thereby stops the motor for the screw conveyor, so that the supply of further filling material is interrupted. First When the next (empty) sack is pushed back onto the filler neck, the screw conveyor is put into operation again and the new sack is filled accordingly.

A further development of the filling device according to the invention proposes that a first, cylindrical and horizontally projecting filler neck section is provided, into which the end of the screw conveyor protrudes, and that a second, likewise cylindrical filler neck section extends from the lateral surface of this first filler neck section. This represents a technically simple way of designing the filler neck, whereby conventional components can be used. The filling material conveyed by means of the screw conveyor falls after passing through the first filling nozzle section into the second filling nozzle section down into the sack to be filled. Of course, it is also conceivable to connect the two cylindrical filler neck sections at an angle to one another by means of a miter cut.

A development of this suggests that the shaft of the screw conveyor is freely rotatably mounted in an end wall of the first filler neck section. This represents a technically simple possibility for mounting the screw conveyor in that the first filler neck section has an end wall with a corresponding rotary bearing.

A further development suggests that the screw conveyor has the same diameter over its entire length. This ensures that the filling material is conveyed into the filler neck without complications, without, for example, the filling material being compressed, which tends to become blocked.

A further development of the filling device according to the invention proposes that a grate is provided below the filler neck for placing the sack to be filled in each case. This has the advantage that the operator does not have to hold the sack continuously during the entire filling process, but is relieved of the weight. The grate can preferably be folded up when not in use, so that the filling device can be easily transported from one place to another. A further development of the support grid suggests that it can be adjusted in height, for example by means of a plug-in mechanism, and thus can be adapted to different bag heights.

A further preferred development of the filling device according to the invention proposes that a trigger element which can be actuated by the hand of the operator is arranged on the filler neck and is operatively connected to the switch. When postponing each Sacks to be filled are thus actuated either by the upper edge of the sack and / or by the operator's hand, so that this in turn actuates the switch and thereby sets the screw conveyor in motion. If the sack is removed from the filler neck after filling, the trigger element returns to its starting position and interrupts the switch again.

A further development of this suggests that two trigger elements are arranged on the filler neck, each of which is operatively connected to a switch, the two trigger elements being operable by one hand of the operator, and the electric motor for the screw conveyor can only be put into operation if both release elements can be operated simultaneously with both hands. The basic idea of this development using two trigger elements is that the operator must use both hands to start the electric motor and thus the screw conveyor when the bag is pushed onto the filler neck. Each of the two tripping elements thus actuates an electrical switch on its own, these two electrical switches being connected in series (AND circuit). Since the screw conveyor can thus only be operated with both hands, the operator is prevented from reaching into the filler neck from below and possibly injuring himself in the process. This increases security.

The trigger element is preferably a trigger lever which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis. This is a technically simple way to operate the switch or the two switches. The trigger lever, which is pivotably articulated about a horizontal axis, is pivoted upward when the sack is pushed onto the filler neck, so that the switch is actuated and the screw conveyor is started. If the sack is removed from the filler neck after filling, the release lever returns to its starting position and interrupts the switch again. This pivoting back of the trigger lever can take place due to gravity, but also by the switch when it is spring-loaded and presses down on the trigger lever.

A preferred development of this proposes that if there is only one release lever, this is horseshoe-shaped and surrounds the filler neck, wherein it is pivotably articulated on the filler neck in the base region. This design of the release lever has the advantage that the filler neck is surrounded almost around its entire circumference by an actuating stop in the form of the horseshoe-shaped release lever for actuating the switch, so that when the bag to be filled is pushed open in any case the switch is operated.

A further development of the feed container suggests that it has a vibration device. Moist sands can also be conveyed in this way, since the vibrating device ensures that the sand settles in the bottom area of the feed container, thus ensuring that the screw conveyor is always replenished.

A further development of the filling device according to the invention proposes that the feed container be covered by a sieve-like grid. This prevents stones from entering the feed container, for example with sand, which could lead to a malfunction when the feed container is filled. For example, this sieve-like grille can be folded up so that the inside of the feed container is freely accessible. In this case, the fold-up grille is operatively connected to a switch in such a way that the electric motor is switched off in any case when the grid is folded up, in order to prevent the risk of toppling over. But it is also conceivable that the grid is firmly connected to the feed container without it can be easily removed. For example, the sieve-like grille is screwed to the feed container.

A further preferred development of the feed container suggests that an extension attachment can optionally be placed thereon. This add-on container which can be placed on the feed container serves to increase the volume, for example for mechanical filling by means of a shovel loader or excavator. If the feed container is provided with such an extension attachment, then the sieve-like grid is no longer arranged on the actual feed container, but on the extension attachment. So that the vibration energy is optimally transmitted to the extension attachment when using a vibration device, it must be firmly connected to the feed container, for example screwed to the feed container.

Finally, in a preferred development of the filling device according to the invention, it is proposed that it be designed laterally in such a way that several of these filling devices can be aligned side by side and define a closed feed surface for the filling material. The individual filling devices can thus be put together in modules to form a larger unit. This has the advantage that a number of these filling devices can be loaded with the filling material at the same time by means of an excavator, which further improves the handling of the filling device according to the invention, since a plurality of filling devices can be worked with at the same time with a high throughput.

The developments of the filling device according to the invention, as are also the subject of the following claims 2 to 13, represent independent inventions.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht der Befüllvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

einen Längsschnitt durch die Befüllvorrichtung in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Stirnansicht der Befüllvorrichtung in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf die Befüllvorrichtung in Fig. 1.

An embodiment of a filling device according to the invention for filling sacks, in particular with sand, is described below with reference to the drawings. In these shows:

Fig. 1

a side view of the filling device;

Fig. 2

a longitudinal section through the filling device in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

an end view of the filling device in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

2 shows a top view of the filling device in FIG. 1.

The filling device has a funnel-shaped feed container 1 with a V-shaped cross section. An extension attachment 1 'is placed on this feed container 1 and firmly connected to the feed container 1, for example by screwing.

In the bottom area of this feed container 1, a screw conveyor 2 extends along the apex line, which is rotatably mounted with its end 3 in the feed container 1. For this purpose, an electric motor 4 is provided which drives the shaft 3 of the screw conveyor 2 via a belt 5.

With its other end, the screw conveyor 2 protrudes into a filler neck 6, which is arranged on the end of the feed container 1 in a projecting manner on the end thereof. The filler neck 6 consists of a first filler neck section 6 ′ which is arranged on the feed container 1 in a projecting manner. The shaft 3 of the screw conveyor 2 is rotatably mounted in a final end wall 7 of this first filler neck section 6 '. A second, likewise cylindrical, filler neck section 6 ″ extends vertically downward from the lateral surface 8 of the first filler neck section 6 ′ and is open at the bottom. The filler neck 6 is thus angularly formed by the two filler neck sections 6 ', 6' '.

Two switches 9, 9 'are arranged on the feed container 1 in the area of the filler neck 6 on both sides of this. These are operatively connected to two release levers 10, 10 'which are pivoted about a horizontal axis A on the second filler neck section 6'' are that the free legs of the release lever 10, 10 'are below the switches 9, 9'. Instead, however, it is also conceivable to provide only a single switch which is operatively connected to a horseshoe-shaped release lever, which is pivoted in its base region about the horizontal axis A on the second filler neck section 6 '' in such a way that the horseshoe-shaped release lever engages the second filler neck section 6 '' engages, then one leg of the release lever is below the assigned switch.

The top of the extension attachment 1 'is covered by a sieve-shaped grating 11 which can be pivoted upwards and is in operative connection with a switch 12. Instead of the pivoting of the grid 11, this can also be fixedly attached to the extension attachment 1 'or - if the extension attachment 1' is missing - to the feed container 1.

The feed container 1 with all of its described additional devices is mounted on a frame 13. This has rollers 14 at one end. At the other end, the frame 13 has handles 15 that can be folded up. Furthermore, the frame 13 has height-adjustable support legs 16 in the region of the handles 15, which allow adaptation to uneven floors. Furthermore, the operating height of the sandbag filling device can be changed by the height-adjustable support legs 16. Finally, the frame 13 below the filler neck 6 has a grate 17 which can be folded up for the filling device when it is not in use. Furthermore, the grate 17 is adjustable in height, so that an easy adaptation to different sack heights is possible.

The filling device works as follows:
First of all, the filling device can be easily moved by hand to the place of use by folding the handles 15 upward, so that the operator can lift the filling device and move it on the rollers 14. At the place of use, to increase the stability, the support legs 16 are extended if necessary and the grate 17 is folded down and its height is adjusted depending on the size of the bags to be filled. The grid 11 is also in the lower position. Then the filling material, in particular sand, is fed from above to the feed container 1 with its extension attachment 1 ′ through the grid 11, the grid 11 holding back large stones which do not fall through the mesh of the grid 11. The feed container 1 or the extension attachment 1 'can be loaded with the filling material up to the upper edge.

The sack 18 to be filled is then pushed from below onto the second filler neck section 6 ″ and lies on the grate 17. When the bag 18 is pushed onto the second filler neck section 6 ″, the two release levers 10, 10 ′ are pivoted upward by the two hands of the operator such that the two switches 9, 9 ′ are actuated. Only when both switches 9, 9 'are actuated is the electric motor 4 and thus the screw conveyor 2 set in motion, so that the filling material is transported within the feed container 1 to the filling nozzle 6. The filling material falls down into the sack 18 through the second filling nozzle section 6 ″ which points vertically downwards, so that the latter gradually fills up. As soon as the sack 18 has reached the desired filling quantity, the operator slides the sack 18 down from the second filler neck section 6 ″, so that the release levers 10, 10 ′ also (due to gravity and / or due to the spring loading of the switches 9, 9 ′ ) Swing down again and do not operate the switches 9, 9 'anymore, so that the electric motor 4 is switched off and no further conveyance of the filling material takes place. Since both hands are required to actuate the electric motor 4, the operator is prevented from getting into the second filler neck section 6 ″ from below with one hand. This eliminates the risk of injury.

As already described, the grille 11 is operatively connected to a switch 12 in such a way that when the grille 11 is folded up, the electric motor 4 and thus the drive of the screw conveyor 2 is definitely interrupted in order to reduce the risk of accidents, for example when rotating Screw conveyor 2 someone would get into the feed container 1 or into the extension attachment 1 '.

In the event that the sand is moist, the feed container 1 has a vibrating device 19 on the side. By shaking this vibrating device, the sand continuously slips in the feed container 1, so that a feed jam cannot occur.

In Fig. 4 is indicated by dashed lines that several filling devices can be strung together, which are flush with each other for this purpose laterally. As a result, the filling devices can be assembled into a larger unit, which has the advantage that this unit can be loaded with the filling material by means of a single bucket load of an excavator.

Reference list

1

Feed container

1'

Extension attachment

2nd

Auger

3rd

wave

4th

Electric motor

5

belt

6

Filler neck

6 '

Filler neck section

6 ''

Filler neck section

7

Front wall

8th

Lateral surface

9, 9 '

counter

10, 10 '

Release lever

11

Grid

12th

counter

13

frame

14

role

15

Handle

16

Support leg

17th

rust

18th

bag

19th

Vibrating device

A

axis

Claims (13)

1. Device for filling bags (18) with a powdery, granular or granulated product, in particular sand,
   with in particular a hopper-like feeder container (1) for the product,
   with a horizontal, electric motor driven feed screw (2) arranged in the base area of the feeder container (1) and with a filling nozzle (6) of the feeder container (1) projecting from the front and angled vertically downwards, into which the feed screw (2) opens and onto which can be pushed the bag (18) to be filled,
   where in the contact area of the filling nozzle (6) for the bag (18) to be filled is arranged a switch (9, 9') which can be activated when the bag (18) is pushed on and thus triggers the filling process,
   characterised in that
   the switch (9, 9') starts the electric motor (4) for the feed screw (2) and when the bag (18) is withdrawn stops the electric motor (4) again.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a first cylindrical and horizontally projecting section (6') of the filling nozzle is provided into which extends the end of the feed screw (2), and that from the casing surface (8) of this first filling nozzle section (6') extends vertically downwards a second also cylindrical section (6'') of the filling nozzle.
3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaft (3) of the feed screw (2) is mounted freely rotatably on bearings in a front wall (7) of the first filling nozzle section (6').
4. Device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the feed screw (2) has the same diameter over its entire length.
5. Device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that below the filling nozzle (6) is a grid (17) to support the bag (18) to be filled.
6. Device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that on the filling nozzle (6) is arranged a trigger element controllable manually by the operator which is functionally connected to the switch (9, 9').
7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that on the filling nozzle (6) are arranged two trigger elements which are each functionally connected to a switch (9, 9'), where the two trigger elements can each be operated by one hand by the operator and thus the electric motor (4) for the feed screw (2) can only be started when both trigger elements are operated simultaneously by both hands.
8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the trigger element is a trigger lever (10, 10') which swivels about a horizontal axis (A).
9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that where only one trigger lever (10, 10') is provided, this is horseshoe-shaped and surrounds the filling nozzle (6), where it is mounted to swivel on the filling nozzle (6) in the base area.
10. Device according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the feeder container (1) has a vibration device (19).
11. Device according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the feeder container (1) is covered by a mesh-like grid (11).
12. Device according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that an extension piece (1') can be fitted to the feeder container (1) if required.
13. Device according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that this has sides shaped such that several filling devices can be arranged flush side by side and define a complete feed surface for the product.

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