EP1404576A1 - Apparatus and process for filling containers with granular or pulverulent material - Google Patents

Apparatus and process for filling containers with granular or pulverulent material

Info

Publication number
EP1404576A1
EP1404576A1 EP02748849A EP02748849A EP1404576A1 EP 1404576 A1 EP1404576 A1 EP 1404576A1 EP 02748849 A EP02748849 A EP 02748849A EP 02748849 A EP02748849 A EP 02748849A EP 1404576 A1 EP1404576 A1 EP 1404576A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
cage
filling
woven fabric
permeable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP02748849A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1404576B1 (en
Inventor
Roland Schaffer
Johannes Andreas Joze Middelman
Gerd Theodor Brand
Frank Dieter HÜNIG
Hans-Jürgen Strempel
Hans-Joachim Seydel
Michael Hirschhäuser
Thomas Riedemann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Evonik Operations GmbH
Original Assignee
Degussa GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE10133666A external-priority patent/DE10133666A1/en
Application filed by Degussa GmbH filed Critical Degussa GmbH
Priority to EP06101459A priority Critical patent/EP1666377B1/en
Priority to EP06101462A priority patent/EP1661612A1/en
Priority to EP02748849A priority patent/EP1404576B1/en
Publication of EP1404576A1 publication Critical patent/EP1404576A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1404576B1 publication Critical patent/EP1404576B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/4295—Ventilating arrangements, e.g. openings, space elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B1/28—Controlling escape of air or dust from containers or receptacles during filling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D65/00—Wrappers or flexible covers; Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/38—Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/40—Applications of laminates for particular packaging purposes
    • B65D65/403—Applications of laminates for particular packaging purposes with at least one corrugated layer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/16—Large containers flexible
    • B65D88/1612—Flexible intermediate bulk containers [FIBC]
    • B65D88/1618—Flexible intermediate bulk containers [FIBC] double-walled or with linings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/16—Large containers flexible
    • B65D88/1612—Flexible intermediate bulk containers [FIBC]
    • B65D88/1668—Flexible intermediate bulk containers [FIBC] closures for top or bottom openings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for filling containers with granular or powdered materials, in particular with finely divided solids with a high air content, as well as to the container itself.
  • finely divided silica is a product having an extremely low compacted bulk density of about 40 to 50 g/1. Owing to its fine structure, finely divided silica is capable of binding a very large amount of gas, for example air, so the product is put into a quasi-fluid state of about 20 to 30 g/1.
  • the bags consist of three to four plies of paper, and one ply of the paper may additionally be laminated with polyethylene as a barrier against penetrating moisture. To achieve the desired air permeability during the filling process, all plies are microperforated. This has the effect that the product is compressed as it is introduced into the bag and its filling density increases relative to the natural pour density.
  • a process and a receptacle for repeated filling with and emptying of pourable product having a low pouring density is known from EP-A-0 773 159.
  • the woven fabric receptacle described therein, the so-called big bag or also super bag consists of flexible air-permeable woven fabric, preferably a single or multiple ply of plastic woven fabric with at least one inlet.
  • This woven fabric receptacle is also filled using vacuum filling systems. A vacuum is applied to the woven fabric receptacle and the product is aspirated through the open inlet into the woven fabric receptacle until a predetermined filling weight is achieved. The issuing gas is distributed over the entire surface of the woven fabric receptacle.
  • DE-A-198 39 106 describes flexible large containers for finely divided solids having a high air content for repeated filling using vacuum filling systems, which consist of at least two superimposed plies, an inner ply consisting of uncoated air-permeable woven fabric and an outer ply being dustproof and being coated with a moisture barrier and these plies being mutually connected by a special seam in such a way that the container may only be aerated through it.
  • the DE-A-198 39 106 describes a particular process for filling this large container, with which the filling material is subjected to preliminary deaeration prior to filling and a further deaeration via the seams of the fabric is carried out during filling.
  • the preliminary deaeration and therefore partial compaction of the filling product are also effected by the application of vacuum.
  • a drawback of the process described in DE-A-198 39 106 is the extremely high expenditure on apparatus as vacuum systems are required for both preliminary compaction and filling of the large container. Despite this expenditure, the filling capacity is still too low, so the process described in DE-A-198 39 106 is uneconomical overall.
  • an apparatus for filling containers in particular with finely divided solids having a high air content, comprising a feed nozzle which may be introduced into the feed orifice of the container, wherein the feed nozzle is so designed that the solids may be introduced under pressure and the container is surrounded by a two-part or multi-part cage (3) .
  • the present invention also relates to a process for filling containers, in particular with finely divided solids having a high air content, by arranging an air-permeable container in an apparatus according to the invention, air-tight connection of the container to the feed nozzle, filling of the container under pressure and removal of the filled container.
  • Another subject matter of the invention is a flexible container for finely divided solids for the repeated filling and draining, characterized in that it consists of at least two ply, one above the other, wherein one play consists of an air-permeable supporting material that is preferably non-coated and the other ply consists of a filter material.
  • the air- permeable, supporting material can be arranged on the outside and filter material on the inside.
  • the container according to the invention can be designed for optional amounts of finely divided filler materials.
  • the container according to the invention can preferably be used for amounts up to 1,200 kg. In contrast, containers according to prior art could only accommodate filling amounts of 90 to 100 kg.
  • the material used for each ply can be commercially available material.
  • the container according to the invention permits a dust- free filling through compacting on the inside of the container, in particular using the apparatus according to the invention, wherein clearly higher bulk weights can be achieved.
  • the finely divided material can be drained from the container according to the invention through a preceding fluidization and simultaneous conveying.
  • a further subject matter of the invention is a corrugated cardboard container (carton) for finely divided materials, which can be ventilated.
  • This container is characterized by its design, for which one side of the corrugated cardboard consists of a highly air-permeable paper and the inside undulation (s) as well as the other sides and intermediate plies consist of non air-permeable standard corrugated cardboard with a microperforation.
  • the container corrugated cardboard container
  • the container has a supporting as well as filtering design.
  • the highly air-permeable inner ply acts as a filter for the product and permits the air to escape.
  • the outer ply and the intermediate ply (plies) and the undulation (s) absorb the forces, but permit the air to escape.
  • air is moved quickly through the walls and the product can be highly compacted inside the container with considerably higher filling weights than is possible with known systems (up to 1,200 kg as compared to the known 90-100 kg, depending on the product type) .
  • the container according to the invention is shown schematically in Figure 5.
  • Finely divided solids having a high air content may be poured with adequate compression of the solids in high capacities using the apparatus according to the invention and the process according to the invention, without high expenditure on apparatus.
  • finely divided granular powdered solids having a high air content and selected from pyrogenic oxides, precipitated oxides, carbon blacks and modifications may be poured.
  • the apparatus according to the invention has a special feed nozzle which is equipped with a flexible , sealing, skin, and therefore allows dust-free pressure filling.
  • the feed nozzle may be deformable and may therefore allow the filling of containers of various sizes.
  • the cage which is an important component of the apparatus according to the invention has to withstand, in particular, the pressure required. At the same time, the cage gives the container adequate support during the filling process, to ensure that the container withstands the pressure applied and keeps its shape during the filling process.
  • Containers of a wide variety of shapes and of various materials may be filled in the apparatus according to the invention.
  • the materials may be: air-permeable plastic woven fabric, preferably polypropylene woven fabric, plastic woven fabric, textile woven fabric, cardboard, paper, paper plastic woven material, plastic non-woven fabric, textile non-woven fabric or composites of the aforementioned materials.
  • the filling pressure is generally 0 to 8 bar, preferably 0 to 2 bar and particularly preferably 0.2 to 1.2 bar.
  • the containers employed in the apparatus according to the invention using the process according to the invention may be of any conventional shapes and materials.
  • the containers may have a base area selected from a group consisting of polygon, circle, semicircle, ellipse, trapezium, triangle, rhombus, square and rectangle or a star-shaped base area.
  • the containers may also have the shape of a hood, of assembled pockets or the shape of a tied-up bag.
  • the cage contacts the container to be filled, as uniformly and snugly as possible. It is therefore expedient if the cage substantially corresponds to the shape of the container. Additional fittings in the cage allow adaptation to the respective container to be filled.
  • the cage (3) itself is also gas-permeable ' .
  • the cage may have walls with openings or with adequate porosity. This may be achieved, for example, by openings in the cage walls.
  • the cage walls are produced from a material selected from perforated plate, mesh or netting, woven fabric or sintered material or a mesh material, because this allows high gas permeability with adequate stability to ensure that the container does not explode even under high filling pressures.
  • the cage may be in several parts, preferably two parts.
  • the cage (3) may have a bottom and may be designed without a bottom. Preferably, the cage (3) has no bottom.
  • the cage (3). may be in two or more parts and the apparatus comprises additional devices with which the two parts (3a, 3b) of the cage may be separated from one another and may be driven apart manually or automatically, preferably electro- pneumatically, to release the filled container.
  • the cage in particular in the case of cage shapes with a polygonal base area, it is expedient if the cage can be separated along a diagonal as ' this prevents damage to. the container.
  • the cage has no bottom, in other words the cage is open at the bottom.
  • This embodiment ' allows particularly simple management of the filling process.
  • the actual filling process can begin.
  • the container can then be positioned directly on a plate or a pallet, the feed nozzle can then be introduced into the feed orifice of the container and can be connected in an airtight manner to the container.
  • the two cage wedges can then be separated from one another and driven apart to release the filled container. As the filled container is then standing on a plate or pallet, it can easily be removed by a transportation device.
  • Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 with opened cage.
  • the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a framework 1 with two rails 2 at the top, along which the two halves 3a and 3b of the cage (3) may be moved by conventional drive devices.
  • the cage has a square base area and is divided along the diagonal into the two halves 3a and 3b. This ensures that the two halves can easily be separated from the filled container, even when the [sic] has been pressed against the cage owing to the high filling pressure.
  • the cage also has two half shells 4a and 4b which surround the feed nozzle (not shown) when closed.
  • the cage 3 is open at the bottom and the container is positioned on a. pallet or' plate during the filling process. It is also advantageous, as shown in the figures, if the filling nozzle is arranged symmetrically with respect to the frame 1 so a cage half 3a may be removed further from the pallet or plate 5 to allow easy access, for example for a transportation device for removing the filled container.
  • Figure 3 shows schematically a representation of the container according to the invention.
  • the container 6 according to Figure 3 consists of two plies, namely the supporting, air-permeable outer material 7 (PP woven ribbon material with a weight of 75 to 300 g/m 3 ) .
  • the supporting, air-permeable outer material 7 PP woven ribbon material with a weight of 75 to 300 g/m 3 .
  • the material is not coated so that air can pass through.
  • This outer layer is supporting as well as carrying for product amounts up to 1,200 kg.
  • the second ply, the inner ply 8 (inliner) consists of a filter material (e.g. HDPE nonwovenjudicialTyvek ⁇ N by DuPont, which holds back the finely divided product but permits the air escaping from the product to pass through (filter effect) .
  • a filter material e.g. HDPE nonwovenjudicialTyvek ⁇ N by DuPont, which holds back the finely divided product but permits the air escaping from the product to pass through (filter effect) .
  • the drain 9 is shown schematically in Figure 4.
  • the drain has a conical design and is thus particularly suitable for a special draining apparatus according to EP 0 761 566 Bl.
  • Figure 5 shows the schematic representation of the corrugated cardboard container according to the invention.

Abstract

A flexible container (6) for the repeated filling and draining of finely divided solids, characterized in that it consists of at least two plies (7,8), wherein one ply is made of an air-permeable, supporting material (7) and the other ply (8) consists of a filter material.

Description

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH GRANULAR OR PULVERULENT MATERIAL
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for filling containers with granular or powdered materials, in particular with finely divided solids with a high air content, as well as to the container itself.
The handling of pourable finely divided solids having a high air content and extremely low pour density such as, for example, finely divided silica poses various problems. Producers as well as final consumers are faced with the fact that these materials raise dust even in the slightest air convection. The formation of dust must be avoided to protect the personnel dealing with the product from possible damage to their health by breathing in the dust. In addition, the low pour density increases transportation costs because the ratio of container weight to filling weight is high and a correspondingly large amount of packaging material is required.
Owing to its three-dimensional spatial branch structure, finely divided silica is a product having an extremely low compacted bulk density of about 40 to 50 g/1. Owing to its fine structure, finely divided silica is capable of binding a very large amount of gas, for example air, so the product is put into a quasi-fluid state of about 20 to 30 g/1.
Spontaneous escape of this removable air content takes place only very slowly and incompletely. The dust problem is also increased in this fluid state because the mobility of the finely divided silica is extremely high.
Pourable finely divided solids with a high air content and extremely low pour density are therefore introduced into air-permeable bags predominantly by means of an externally applied vacuum. The duration of filling increases as the air content increases.
The bags consist of three to four plies of paper, and one ply of the paper may additionally be laminated with polyethylene as a barrier against penetrating moisture. To achieve the desired air permeability during the filling process, all plies are microperforated. This has the effect that the product is compressed as it is introduced into the bag and its filling density increases relative to the natural pour density.
It is also possible to carry out preliminary deaeration using special press rollers, but this can always give rise to structural damage which may adversely affect the properties of the solids in use.
The higher proportion of the product in the container weight reduces transportation costs, but this saving is offset by additional expenditure for procuring the special container and the necessary filling devices.
A process and a receptacle for repeated filling with and emptying of pourable product having a low pouring density is known from EP-A-0 773 159. The woven fabric receptacle described therein, the so-called big bag or also super bag, consists of flexible air-permeable woven fabric, preferably a single or multiple ply of plastic woven fabric with at least one inlet. This woven fabric receptacle is also filled using vacuum filling systems. A vacuum is applied to the woven fabric receptacle and the product is aspirated through the open inlet into the woven fabric receptacle until a predetermined filling weight is achieved. The issuing gas is distributed over the entire surface of the woven fabric receptacle. During the filling process, the product is reversibly compacted, as when being poured into bags, without its structure being destroyed in the process. DE-A-198 39 106 describes flexible large containers for finely divided solids having a high air content for repeated filling using vacuum filling systems, which consist of at least two superimposed plies, an inner ply consisting of uncoated air-permeable woven fabric and an outer ply being dustproof and being coated with a moisture barrier and these plies being mutually connected by a special seam in such a way that the container may only be aerated through it.
With this design of containers, in particular the increase in moisture in the filling product during storage in the large container could be reduced.
As the air is no longer able to escape over the entire surface of the woven fabric receptacle, however, a drawback is that the period of time required to reach a predetermined pouring density is considerably extended and the filling capacity therefore reduced. To compensate for. this, the DE-A-198 39 106 describes a particular process for filling this large container, with which the filling material is subjected to preliminary deaeration prior to filling and a further deaeration via the seams of the fabric is carried out during filling. The preliminary deaeration and therefore partial compaction of the filling product are also effected by the application of vacuum.
A drawback of the process described in DE-A-198 39 106 is the extremely high expenditure on apparatus as vacuum systems are required for both preliminary compaction and filling of the large container. Despite this expenditure, the filling capacity is still too low, so the process described in DE-A-198 39 106 is uneconomical overall.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a container and a process for filling the containers, in particular with finely divided solids having a high air content, with which a high filling capacity with adequate compression of the solids to be poured may be achieved with low expenditure on apparatus and therefore low capital outlay.
This object is achieved with an apparatus for filling containers, in particular with finely divided solids having a high air content, comprising a feed nozzle which may be introduced into the feed orifice of the container, wherein the feed nozzle is so designed that the solids may be introduced under pressure and the container is surrounded by a two-part or multi-part cage (3) .
The present invention also relates to a process for filling containers, in particular with finely divided solids having a high air content, by arranging an air-permeable container in an apparatus according to the invention, air-tight connection of the container to the feed nozzle, filling of the container under pressure and removal of the filled container.
Another subject matter of the invention is a flexible container for finely divided solids for the repeated filling and draining, characterized in that it consists of at least two ply, one above the other, wherein one play consists of an air-permeable supporting material that is preferably non-coated and the other ply consists of a filter material.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the air- permeable, supporting material can be arranged on the outside and filter material on the inside.
However, other combinations of the plies, from the inside toward the outside, are possible, wherein the combination of supporting and filtering element of the container is essential.
The container according to the invention can be designed for optional amounts of finely divided filler materials. The container according to the invention can preferably be used for amounts up to 1,200 kg. In contrast, containers according to prior art could only accommodate filling amounts of 90 to 100 kg.
The material used for each ply can be commercially available material.
The container according to the invention permits a dust- free filling through compacting on the inside of the container, in particular using the apparatus according to the invention, wherein clearly higher bulk weights can be achieved.
The finely divided material can be drained from the container according to the invention through a preceding fluidization and simultaneous conveying.
For this, known drainage devices can be used.
The container according to the invention is shown schematically in Figure 3.
A further subject matter of the invention is a corrugated cardboard container (carton) for finely divided materials, which can be ventilated. This container is characterized by its design, for which one side of the corrugated cardboard consists of a highly air-permeable paper and the inside undulation (s) as well as the other sides and intermediate plies consist of non air-permeable standard corrugated cardboard with a microperforation.
Optional combinations of the outer plies, the inner plies and the intermediate plies are possible, wherein the container (corrugated cardboard container) has a supporting as well as filtering design.
This results in the following advantages as compared to the known technology: The highly air-permeable inner ply acts as a filter for the product and permits the air to escape.
The outer ply and the intermediate ply (plies) and the undulation (s) absorb the forces, but permit the air to escape. As a result of this configuration, air is moved quickly through the walls and the product can be highly compacted inside the container with considerably higher filling weights than is possible with known systems (up to 1,200 kg as compared to the known 90-100 kg, depending on the product type) .
The container according to the invention is shown schematically in Figure 5.
Finely divided solids having a high air content may be poured with adequate compression of the solids in high capacities using the apparatus according to the invention and the process according to the invention, without high expenditure on apparatus. In particular, finely divided granular powdered solids having a high air content and selected from pyrogenic oxides, precipitated oxides, carbon blacks and modifications may be poured.
In particular with pneumatic conveyance of the filling product, the resultant pressure is sufficient to achieve appropriate filling of the container. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus according to the invention has a special feed nozzle which is equipped with a flexible, sealing, skin, and therefore allows dust-free pressure filling. The feed nozzle may be deformable and may therefore allow the filling of containers of various sizes.
The cage which is an important component of the apparatus according to the invention has to withstand, in particular, the pressure required. At the same time, the cage gives the container adequate support during the filling process, to ensure that the container withstands the pressure applied and keeps its shape during the filling process.
Containers of a wide variety of shapes and of various materials may be filled in the apparatus according to the invention. The materials may be: air-permeable plastic woven fabric, preferably polypropylene woven fabric, plastic woven fabric, textile woven fabric, cardboard, paper, paper plastic woven material, plastic non-woven fabric, textile non-woven fabric or composites of the aforementioned materials. The filling pressure is generally 0 to 8 bar, preferably 0 to 2 bar and particularly preferably 0.2 to 1.2 bar.
The containers employed in the apparatus according to the invention using the process according to the invention may be of any conventional shapes and materials. For example, the containers may have a base area selected from a group consisting of polygon, circle, semicircle, ellipse, trapezium, triangle, rhombus, square and rectangle or a star-shaped base area. The containers may also have the shape of a hood, of assembled pockets or the shape of a tied-up bag. To ensure safe handling even during pressure filling, however, it is advantageous if, during the filling process, the cage contacts the container to be filled, as uniformly and snugly as possible. It is therefore expedient if the cage substantially corresponds to the shape of the container. Additional fittings in the cage allow adaptation to the respective container to be filled.
Owing to the excess pressure prevailing in the interior of the container, the air is carried off over the surface of the container. As the excess pressure is able to escape, compression of the filling product is also achieved. To enable the excess pressure to escape as rapidly as possible from the container, in particular in the case of a snugly fitting cage, it is expedient if the cage (3) itself is also gas-permeable'. The cage may have walls with openings or with adequate porosity. This may be achieved, for example, by openings in the cage walls. It is particularly advantageous if the cage walls are produced from a material selected from perforated plate, mesh or netting, woven fabric or sintered material or a mesh material, because this allows high gas permeability with adequate stability to ensure that the container does not explode even under high filling pressures. The cage may be in several parts, preferably two parts. The cage (3) may have a bottom and may be designed without a bottom. Preferably, the cage (3) has no bottom.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the cage (3). may be in two or more parts and the apparatus comprises additional devices with which the two parts (3a, 3b) of the cage may be separated from one another and may be driven apart manually or automatically, preferably electro- pneumatically, to release the filled container. In particular in the case of cage shapes with a polygonal base area, it is expedient if the cage can be separated along a diagonal as' this prevents damage to. the container.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cage has no bottom, in other words the cage is open at the bottom. This embodiment' allows particularly simple management of the filling process.
After the two-part cage has been closed and the two parts have been connected to one another, the actual filling process can begin. For example, the container can then be positioned directly on a plate or a pallet, the feed nozzle can then be introduced into the feed orifice of the container and can be connected in an airtight manner to the container. On completion of the' filling process, the two cage wedges can then be separated from one another and driven apart to release the filled container. As the filled container is then standing on a plate or pallet, it can easily be removed by a transportation device.
The present invention will now be described again with reference to figures.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 with opened cage.
As shown in the figures, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a framework 1 with two rails 2 at the top, along which the two halves 3a and 3b of the cage (3) may be moved by conventional drive devices.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the cage has a square base area and is divided along the diagonal into the two halves 3a and 3b. This ensures that the two halves can easily be separated from the filled container, even when the [sic] has been pressed against the cage owing to the high filling pressure.
The cage also has two half shells 4a and 4b which surround the feed nozzle (not shown) when closed.
As shown in Fig. 2, the cage 3 is open at the bottom and the container is positioned on a. pallet or' plate during the filling process. It is also advantageous, as shown in the figures, if the filling nozzle is arranged symmetrically with respect to the frame 1 so a cage half 3a may be removed further from the pallet or plate 5 to allow easy access, for example for a transportation device for removing the filled container.
Figure 3 shows schematically a representation of the container according to the invention. On the one hand, the container 6 according to Figure 3 consists of two plies, namely the supporting, air-permeable outer material 7 (PP woven ribbon material with a weight of 75 to 300 g/m3) .
The material is not coated so that air can pass through. This outer layer is supporting as well as carrying for product amounts up to 1,200 kg.
On the other hand, the second ply, the inner ply 8 (inliner) consists of a filter material (e.g. HDPE nonwoven „TyvekΛN by DuPont, which holds back the finely divided product but permits the air escaping from the product to pass through (filter effect) .
The drain 9 is shown schematically in Figure 4. The drain has a conical design and is thus particularly suitable for a special draining apparatus according to EP 0 761 566 Bl.
Figure 5 shows the schematic representation of the corrugated cardboard container according to the invention.

Claims

Claims
1. Apparatus for filling containers, in particular with granular, powdered or finely divided solids having a high air content, comprising a feed nozzle which may be introduced into the feed orifice of the container, characterised in that the feed nozzle is so designed that the solids may be introduced under pressure and the container is surrounded by a two-part or multi-part cage (3) .
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the feed nozzle is equipped with a flexible sealing skin which allows dust-free pressure filling.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the base area of the cage (3) has a shape selected from the group consisting of polygon, circle, semicircle, ellipse, trapezium, triangle, rhombus, square and rectangle or the base area is star-shaped.
4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cage (3) is in two or more parts and the apparatus comprises additional devices with which the two or more parts (3a, 3b) of the cage may be separated from one another and may be driven apart to release the filled container.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the devices are driven apart manually or by drives.
6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cage (3) is gas permeable.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that the cage (3) has walls with orifices or adequate porosity.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the walls are produced from a material selected from perforated plate, mesh, netting, woven fabric and sintered material.
9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cage is designed with a bottom or, preferably, without a bottom.
10. Process for filling containers, in particular with finely divided granular, powdered materials having a high air content, by
♦ arranging an air-permeable container in an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8,
♦ air-tight connection of the container to the feed nozzle,
♦ filling of the container under pressure and
♦ removal of the filled container.
11. Process according to claim 10, characterised in that an apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 8 is used and, for removing the container from multipart preferably two halves of the cage are separated from one another, are driven apart.
12. Process according to any of claims 10 and 11, characterised in that the container is produced from air-permeable plastic woven fabric, preferably polypropylene, plastic woven fabric, textile woven fabric, cardboard, paper, paper-plastic woven fabric, plastic non-woven fabric, textile non-woven fabric or composites of the aforementioned materials.
13. Process according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the filling pressure is generally 0 to 8 bar, preferably 0 to 2 bar and particularly preferably 0.2 to 1.2 bar.
14. Process according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that any finely divided granular powdered solids having a high air content and selected from a group consisting of pyrogenic oxides, precipitated oxides, carbon black and modifications thereof can be filled in.
15. Process according to any of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the container has a base area of a shape selected from the group consisting of polygon, circle, semicircle, ellipse, trapezium, triangle, rhombus, square and rectangle or which has a star- shaped base area or the shape of a hood, of assembled pockets or takes the form of a tied in bag.
16. A flexible container for the repeated filling and draining of finely divided solids, characterized in that it consists of at least two plies, wherein one ply is made of an air-permeable, supporting material and the other ply consists of a filter material.
17. Filtering corrugated cardboard packaging (carton) for finely divided solids, which can be ventilated, characterized by a design, for which one side of the corrugated cardboard consists of a high air-permeable paper and the inner undulation (s) and the other sides and the intermediate plies consist of a non permeable standard corrugated cardboard with a microperforation.
EP02748849A 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and process for filling containers with granular or pulverulent material Expired - Lifetime EP1404576B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06101459A EP1666377B1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Flexible, double-layer container
EP06101462A EP1661612A1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and Process for Filling Large Containers of Different Sizes and Shapes
EP02748849A EP1404576B1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and process for filling containers with granular or pulverulent material

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10133666 2001-07-11
DE10133666A DE10133666A1 (en) 2001-07-11 2001-07-11 Device and method for filling large containers of different sizes and shapes
EP01122734 2001-09-21
EP01122734 2001-09-21
PCT/EP2002/007615 WO2003006314A1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and process for filling containers with granular or pulverulent material
EP02748849A EP1404576B1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and process for filling containers with granular or pulverulent material

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06101462A Division EP1661612A1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and Process for Filling Large Containers of Different Sizes and Shapes
EP06101459A Division EP1666377B1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Flexible, double-layer container

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1404576A1 true EP1404576A1 (en) 2004-04-07
EP1404576B1 EP1404576B1 (en) 2006-11-15

Family

ID=26009681

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02748849A Expired - Lifetime EP1404576B1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and process for filling containers with granular or pulverulent material
EP06101459A Expired - Lifetime EP1666377B1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Flexible, double-layer container
EP06101462A Withdrawn EP1661612A1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and Process for Filling Large Containers of Different Sizes and Shapes

Family Applications After (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06101459A Expired - Lifetime EP1666377B1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Flexible, double-layer container
EP06101462A Withdrawn EP1661612A1 (en) 2001-07-11 2002-07-09 Apparatus and Process for Filling Large Containers of Different Sizes and Shapes

Country Status (12)

Country Link
EP (3) EP1404576B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4088668B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100599026B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1248912C (en)
AT (2) ATE345266T1 (en)
CA (2) CA2569061C (en)
DE (2) DE60216095T2 (en)
DK (1) DK1404576T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2276943T3 (en)
PL (1) PL207558B1 (en)
UA (1) UA76169C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2003006314A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102007036388A1 (en) 2007-07-31 2009-02-05 Evonik Degussa Gmbh Process for compacting pyrogenically prepared oxides
DE102007036389A1 (en) 2007-07-31 2009-02-12 Evonik Degussa Gmbh Process for compacting pyrogenically prepared oxides
DE102009008984B4 (en) * 2009-02-14 2016-09-29 Empac GmbH Flexible bulk material container
JO3416B1 (en) 2009-04-27 2019-10-20 Jeneil Biosurfactant Co Llc Antimicrobial compositions and related methods of use
US20100290721A1 (en) * 2009-05-13 2010-11-18 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Industrial bag having a fluid drainage layer
ES2914239T3 (en) 2016-08-09 2022-06-08 Chew Innovations Ltd A compactor and a method of operation of a compactor

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2569061C (en) 2010-09-28
JP4088668B2 (en) 2008-05-21
UA76169C2 (en) 2006-07-17
CA2452775A1 (en) 2003-01-23
ATE423070T1 (en) 2009-03-15
JP2004533978A (en) 2004-11-11
WO2003006314A1 (en) 2003-01-23
KR100599026B1 (en) 2006-07-12
KR20040019054A (en) 2004-03-04
CA2452775C (en) 2007-09-25
DE60216095T2 (en) 2007-06-21
EP1666377B1 (en) 2009-02-18
ATE345266T1 (en) 2006-12-15
CA2569061A1 (en) 2003-01-23
EP1666377A2 (en) 2006-06-07
EP1666377A3 (en) 2006-09-13
CN1248912C (en) 2006-04-05
CN1525921A (en) 2004-09-01
DE60216095D1 (en) 2006-12-28
EP1661612A1 (en) 2006-05-31
ES2276943T3 (en) 2007-07-01
PL207558B1 (en) 2011-01-31
DE60231261D1 (en) 2009-04-02
DK1404576T3 (en) 2007-03-19
PL367330A1 (en) 2005-02-21
EP1404576B1 (en) 2006-11-15

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