EP1527000B1

EP1527000B1 - System for filling flat-bottom pouches

Info

Publication number: EP1527000B1
Application number: EP20030784184
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erich Eder
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2002-08-06
Filing date: 2003-08-06
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-06
Also published as: WO2004014729A1; US7162852B2; EP1527000A1; DE10235929B4; AT512053T; DE10235929A1; DE10235929C5; US20050229550A1; JP2005534581A; AU2003282166A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for filling flat-bottom pouches, especially with a liquid, said pouches having opposite lateral seams and a bottom. Said system contains a filling carousel (9) which can be rotated about a vertical axis and is provided with a plurality of holding elements (10) on the circumference thereof, each respectively holding one pouch. A pouch-distributing station (A), a pouch-opening station (B), a filling station (C), a removal station (D), and a closing station (E) are associated with said filling carousel. The aim of the invention is to optimise one such system and especially to increase the throughput thereof. To this end, the pouch-distributing station is provided with a storage element (7) for prefabricated pouches, and a distribution carousel (8) comprising a plurality of holding devices which can each hold a pouch. Said holding devices can be rotatably driven about a common axis in order to be able to remove each pouch individually from the storage element and to continuously transfer each pouch to a holding element on the filling carousel.

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling stand-up bags explained in the preamble of claim 1 Art.
Such a device is off EP 576 058 B1 known.
The known device includes a filling carousel which continuously circulates and is fed directly by a bag forming machine. The bag-forming machine first processes film material from a roll to a bag-string, cuts this bag-string into individual bags and transfers the individual bags to a synchronization device, which then transfers them to the continuously circulating filling carousel. Although it is mentioned in the document that also prefabricated bags can be used from a magazine, but the synchronization device must remain. The type and construction of the synchronization device is not described; However, it can be seen from the illustration that apparently linearly movable arms are used. How the bags are held on the filling carousel is also not described. On the filling carousel, the bags are opened by means of suction cups and then filled. Thereafter, the filled but still open bags are handed over to an intermediate wheel, from which they subsequently arrive at a sealing device in the form of a sealing carousel. Although this document to the prior art mentions that the efficiency should be increased with the known device, the known device still shows weak points. One of these weak points is the synchronization device that places the bags on the filling carousel. The second weakness is the idler wheel that transports the open, filled bags, the speed of which transport is limited to ensure that the contents of the bags, especially when filled with liquid, do not spill over.
Bag fillers of other construction are known in the art in a wide variety. For example, shows the US 3,323,280 a filling carousel for filling bags with granules. The bags are prefabricated and provided in a bag magazine from which they are transferred in a linear motion to the filling carousel. In the filling carousel, the bags are at both opposite side seams each gripped by a clamping gripper, which are movable relative to each other to open the bag. This movement of the clamping gripper is relatively complicated to perform. Before closing the opening, which happens here by sewing, the bags are rotated, which in turn must be done by a superimposed movement of the clamping gripper.
From the US 4 580 473 For example, a bag-filling device is known that uses an endless conveyor that conveys the bags, clamped to an endless conveyor belt, through the various stations. When conveying, the bag is clamped by means of a clamping gripper on only one side seam. However, this clamped side seam is the leading side seam, which on the one hand has the disadvantage that no longer both side walls of the bag are available to the open, and on the other hand greatly reduce the throughput of the bags, since the bags now have their largest dimensions in the conveying direction.
US 4,473,989 discloses a bag filling machine with a spatially spaced upstream bag feeding station, in which prefabricated bags are removed from a magazine with the aid of suction cups attached to swinging levers and subsequently transported via a conveyor belt system to the filling machine. This solution is comprehensive and limited in terms of performance.
The invention is therefore the object of developing a device of the type mentioned so that their effectiveness is increased.
The object is solved by the features specified in claim 1.
With the inventive design, a considerable optimization of the filling device is achieved because the abandonment of the bag on the filling carousel can take place continuously and nevertheless from a magazine prefabricated bag. Neither the production of the bags nor their intermittent provision by the necessary separating cut thus forms a limit to the working speed of the filling carousel.
Of particular advantage is the one-sided clamping, which already isolated for themselves, ie without the task carousel leads to a significant increase in the operating speed of the bag, since in this case the abandonment of the bag can be done very easily because no second gripping device is in the way, and as the throughput, ie the number of bags that can be accommodated on the filling carousel is optimized.
Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims 2 to 8.
Due to the only one-sided clamping, it is also possible according to claim 9, the suction pads for opening the bag according to claim 9 with integrate into the holder. The additionally provided support surface according to claim 10, whose mobility according to claims 11 and 12 and the possibility with the centering according to claim 13 serve the further optimization of the holder on filling carousel, and in particular the better adaptation to subsequent process steps.
The object is further, if necessary alone, solved by the Verschließkarussell according to claim 14, as this is able, the bags directly from the filling carousel, i. without an idler, to take over.
Due to the configuration according to claim 15, the sealing device of the Verschliesskarussells can take over simultaneously promotional functions.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it :

Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a device according to the invention in plan view,
Fig. 2: the device after Fig. 1 in a perspective side view,
Fig. 3: a first construction principle in a first mode of operation of the bag-feeding station in plan view,
Fig. 4: the design principle of the bag feeding station Fig. 3 in a second mode of operation,
Fig. 5: another design principle of the bag-feeding station in plan view,
Fig. 6: a holder of the filling carousel when grasping the bag in plan view,
Fig. 7: a holder of the filling carousel when opening the bag in plan view,
Fig. 8: a side view of the holder of the filling carousel, seen in the direction of movement,
Fig. 9: a side view of a holder of the filling carousel seen in the radial direction,
Fig. 10: a perspective view of a section of a filling carousel,
Fig. 11: a perspective view of another section of the filling carousel,
Fig. 12: a perspective view of a section of the Verschließkarussells,
Fig. 13: a perspective view of the sealing jaws of Verschließkarussells and
Fig. 14: a schematic representation of a modified device according to Fig. 1 in plan view.

From the Fig. 1 and 2 is a schematic representation of a device 1 for filling of stand-up bags 2 shown. Stand-up pouches are widely used for packaging, and serve, among other things, for packaging drinking portions of liquids, especially drinks. Each stand-up pouch 2 (see also the Fig. 6 to 9 ) consists of two side walls 3, 4 of flexible sheet material, which are connected to each other at their long sides by welds 2a, 2b and on one of their short sides by an inserted or folded stand base 5. The stand 5 opposite side has a filling opening 6, which is also closed after filling.
The bags 2 are prefabricated, that is provided with side seams 2a, 2b and bottom floor 5, but with still open filling opening 6, kept in a magazine 7 in stock. From the magazine 7, the bags 2 at a bag-feeding station by a task carousel 8, which is rotatably driven about a vertical axis 8 ', taken individually and continuously transferred to a filling carousel 9, which also about a vertical axis 9', the preferred is parallel to the axis 8 ', in synchronism with the task carousel 8 and rotatably driven in the direction of arrow I. At the periphery of the filling carousel 9 a plurality of holders 10 are provided at constant pitches, the only schematically and are each shown with the first and last holder for each step. The filling carousel 9 carries the bags 2 held in the holders 10 through an opening station B, in which the filling opening 6 is opened by spreading the walls 3, 4 of the bag 2. Subsequently, the opened bag 2 enters a filling station C, in which it is filled with the product, preferably a beverage. This is followed by a station D in which the bag is rotated 90 ° about its vertical axis in preparation for the removal of the bag from the filling carousel 9 and the sealing of its upper opening 6 in the sealing station E. The sealing station E has a sealing carousel 11 which, in turn, is rotatably driven about an axis 11 'parallel to the axes 8' and 9 'in the direction of arrow II and in synchronism with the filling carousel 9 and transfers the filled and sealed bags to a further conveyor 12 shown only schematically ,
The individual stations will be described in detail below.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a feed station A. The feed station A contains the magazine 7, in which the bags are stacked upright and individually lying one behind the other. The magazine 7 extends substantially tangentially to the filling carousel 9 and is arranged with its discharge opening 7a tangent to the task carousel 8. The continuously drivable task carousel 8 is provided at its periphery with a plurality of holding devices which are formed in the illustrated embodiment as suction cups 13. The Suction cups 13 are shown via a suitable gear 14, are shown planetary gears having gears, so coupled with the rotation of the task carousel 8, that the bags are transferred without delay radially to the filling carousel 9, wherein in the illustrated arrangement of the magazine 7, the task carousel 8 and Füllkarussells 9, the orientation of the suction cups 13 remains constant at least during their movement from the discharge opening 7a to the brackets 10 of the filling carousel 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the suction cups 13 are aligned substantially perpendicular to each of the foremost bag 2 in the discharge opening 7a and maintain this orientation. In the illustrated embodiment, the task carousel 8 rotates in the clockwise direction III, while the filling carousel 9, the in Fig. 1 having shown direction of rotation I counterclockwise. The suction cups 13 are controlled so that they suck in the respective foremost bag 2 when passing the discharge opening 7a of the magazine 7, transport it in the same orientation to the area of the holders 10 of the filling carousel 9 and handed over there each to a holder 10 ,
As Fig. 4 shows, the task carousel 8 of Fig. 3 are also operated in the opposite direction of rotation IIIa, ie counterclockwise, when the filling carousel 9 in the reverse direction of rotation Ia, ie clockwise, rotates. The mode of operation is identical, except that during operation according to Fig. 4 the bag must be transported over a smaller angular range of the task carousel 8.
Fig. 5 shows a modified embodiment of a task carousel 8. In this embodiment, the task carousel 8 a carousel body 15, on which pivotable arms 16 are arranged, which also support means in the form of suction cups 13 carry. The arms 16 are controlled so as to be pivotable from an approximately radial position with respect to the axis of rotation 8 'to a substantially tangential orientation thereto. The magazine 7 is also arranged tangentially to the filling carousel 9 in this embodiment, but its discharge opening 7a extends substantially radially to the task carousel 8. The arms 16 are controlled so that they receive the respective foremost bag 2 from the discharge opening 7a of the magazine 7 in FIG their radial position are pivoted, this position during transport of the recorded bag 2 in the direction of rotation III in the clockwise direction until the transfer of the bag 2 to the brackets 10 radially to the counterclockwise I rotating Füllkarussells and keep the bag 2 rotate it by 180 °. Subsequently, the arms 16 tangentially abut against the carousel body 15, so that the distance between the magazine 7 and the task carousel 8 need not be too large.
However, in another arrangement with respect to the position and orientation of the magazine, another pattern of movement of the suction cups may be required and made.
Based on Fig. 6 to 11 The holder and handling of the bags in the region of the filling carousel 9 will be described below.
Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the holder 10 at the moment of the acquisition of a bag 2 from the task carousel 8. The holder 10 includes a clamping gripper 17, which consists of two jaws 17a and 17b, which is represented by a suitable control 18, a knee joint, between an open position in which the bag 2 is released, and a clamping position are movable relative to each other. In the clamping position, the clamping jaws 17a, 17b engage in the left, radially with respect to the axis of rotation 9 'of the filling carousel 9 inner side edge 2b of the bag 2 and hold the bag 2 in a substantially radial orientation to the filling carousel 9 and facing upwards Filling 6 fixed.
The bracket 10 further includes a support surface 19 provided on the upper surface of a punch 20. The punch 20 is in the direction of the double arrow IV up and down movable and about its vertical center line 20 'in the direction of the double arrow V rotatable. The center line 20 'extends in its extension through the center of the bag 2. On the support surface 19, a centering device 21 is provided which includes in the illustrated embodiment, four upstanding retaining fingers, which are arranged distributed around the circumference of the bag and a distance from one another have, which corresponds to the circumference of the bag in the region of the bottom 5 in the filled state, so that the bag 2 is held securely in the centering device 21 in the filled state. The retaining fingers 21a extend in height over about one third of the bag height.
The holder 10 also has an opening device 22 for opening the filling opening 6, which in the illustrated Embodiment two suction cups 27 includes, which are supplied and moved by only schematically illustrated holding arms 28 with vacuum. The suction cups 27 are arranged on both sides of the bag 2 and pull in a known manner, the two side walls 3, 4 for opening the filling opening 6 apart.
How best in Fig. 2 and 10 as can be seen, the bags 2 are given to the clamping grippers 17 at the loading station A, while the support surface 19 is still in the lowered state. The support surface 19 then moves up and attaches to the bottom of the bag 5. The opening device 22 is actuated and opens the bag. Subsequently, the bag can be filled in a known manner via filler neck 29, while the bag 2 moves together with its associated filler neck 29 through the filling station C.
When the filling is complete, it dissolves, like Fig. 11 shows, the clamping grip of the clamping gripper 17 and the holding force of the opening means 22, and the punch 20 with the support surfaces 19 moves downward. Depending on the design of the sealing carousel 11, the punches 20 can rotate until the side seams 2a, 2b of the bag 2 are aligned tangentially to the filling carousel 9 and / or tangentially to the sealing carousel 11. In this position, the filling opening can be sealed.
The sealing of the filling opening 6 will be described below with reference to Fig. 12 and 13 explained in more detail. The sealing carousel 11 includes a plurality in Circumferential direction of adjacent sealing grippers 30, which are preferably formed as part of an ultrasonic seal. Each sealing gripper 30 includes a movable jaw 31 having a sealing surface 31a and a fixed jaw 32 having a sealing surface 32a. The sealing surfaces 31a and 32a can be pressed together by the pivoting of the pivotable jaw 31 for clamping the upper portion of the bag 2 to the filling opening 6 and ultrasound, whereby the two side walls 3, 4 in the region of the opening 6 sealingly connected to each other and the bag 2 is thus closed. The clamping surfaces 31a, 32a extend tangentially to the sealing carousel and / or to the filling carousel 9; ie parallel to the orientation of the bags at the sealing station E, so that the sealing grippers 30 can grasp the bag well. By lowering the punches 20 with the filled bags 2 resting thereon in this station, the sealing grippers 30 can move over the bags without collision with the filling nozzles, while the bags are still held by the support surface 19 during sealing, so that an expansion of the heated material of the bag is avoided during the sealing process under the weight of the full bag. After sealing, the punch 20 continues to move downwards, so that the bag, suspended on the sealing gripper 30 with the movement of the sealing carousel 11, is finally cooled down and transported to the further conveyor 12. There open the gripper 30 so that the bags can be transported on their floor standing standing by the linear conveyor 12 or by any other suitable conveyor away.
In a modification of the described and illustrated embodiments, the filling carousel may be formed with other conventional holders for the bag. The welding station does not necessarily have to be designed as a carousel and be arranged separately from the filling carousel, but can also be integrated into the filling carousel, for example.
According to Fig. 14 For example, a stationary welding station E 'can be arranged in the outlet area of the filling carousel 9 such that its sealing tools 40, 41 are aligned tangentially to the pitch circle of the filling carousel and to the orbit of the upper area of the bags 2, the edges still open at the filling opening 6 of a bag pass through the gap between the stationary sealing tools 40, 41 pointing tangentially in the direction of rotation and, during this time, are connected in a liquid-tight manner along the direction of rotation by the action of ultrasound. The stationary ultrasonic oscillation unit of the welding station E 'comprises a sonotrode 40 and a counter-tool 41 designed, for example, as an anvil or a rotatable roller, which serve as sealing tools in interaction. On the one hand, this arrangement is cost-effective and, on the other hand, permits very high material conveying speeds, which enable a continuous mode of operation.

Claims

Device (1) for filling flat-bottom pouches (2) with opposite side seams (2a, 2b) and a base (3), in particular with liquid, with a filling carousel (9) which can be rotated on a vertical axis, on the circumference of which are provided a multiplicity of holders (10) for one pouch each, wherein a pouch feed station (A), a pouch opening station (B), a pouch filling station (C) and a removal station (D) and a sealing station (E) is assigned to the filling carousel, wherein the pouch feed station (A) has a store (7) for pre-fabricated pouches (2) and a feed carousel (8) which contains a plurality of holding devices (13) for one pouch (2) each, characterised in that the holding devices (13) can be rotationally driven on a common axis (8') in order to remove each pouch (2) individually from the store (7) and deliver directly continuously to one of the holders (10) of the filling carousel (9), and that the holder (10) of the filling carousel (9) comprises a clamping gripper (17) to grasp and hold the pouch (2) on only one side seam (2b) of the pouch (2), and that the pouch (2) is oriented in the filling carousel (9) with its side seams (2a, 2b) radially to the axis of rotation (9') and the clamping gripper (17) grasps the radially internal side seam (2b).
Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the holding device (13) of the feed carousel (8) comprises a vacuum gripper.
Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the holding device (13) of the feed carousel (8) can be moved relative to the rotation of the feed carousel (8).
Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the holding device (13) is arranged on an axis in a rotatable manner on the feed carousel (8).
Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the orientation of the pouches (2) in the store (7) corresponds substantially to the orientation of the pouches (2) that the pouch takes when it is delivered to the filling carousel, wherein the holding device (13) of the feed carousel (8) is movable in a controlled manner such that the orientation of the pouches between the store (7) and the filling carousel (9) is substantially unchanged.
Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the orientation of the pouches (2) in the store (7) corresponds substantially to the orientation of the pouches (2) that the pouch takes when it is delivered to the filling carousel, wherein the holding device (13) of the feed carousel (8) is movable in a controlled manner such that the pouches (2) can be rotated 180°C between the store (7) and the filling carousel (9).
Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the holding device (13) is arranged on a swivel arm (16) which can be pivoted from an approximately tangential orientation to the feed carousel (8) into an approximately radial orientation thereto.
Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the opening station (B) has vacuum grippers (27) that grip on opposite side walls (3, 4) of the pouch (2).
Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the holder (10) has a clamping gripper (17) to grasp a side seam (2b) of the pouch (2) and two vacuum grippers (27) which can be moved relative to one another, arranged symmetrical to the clamping gripper (17), to grasp a side wall (3, 4) each of the pouch (2) to open the pouch (2).
Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the holder (10) contains a support area (19) for the flat bottom (5) of the pouch (2).
Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the support area (19) can be moved upwards and downwards.
Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the support area (19) can be pivoted on a vertical axis (20').
Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the support area (19) contains a centring device (21) for the pouch (2).
Device, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the removal station and sealing station (E) contains a sealing carousel (11) with a plurality of sealing devices (30) rotating on a common axis (11') for one pouch (2) each, which sealing carousel is arranged directly adjoining the filling carousel (9), wherein the sealing device (30) can be moved to remove a pouch (2) via the holder (10) of the filling carousel (9).
Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the sealing device (30) contains sealing jaws (31, 32) with a holder function for sealing the pouch (2) and for removing the pouch (2) from the filling carousel (9) and for delivering the pouch (2) onto a further conveyor (12).
Device according to the pre-characterising clause of claim 1, characterised in that on the continuously rotating drivable filling carousel (9) is arranged a stationary sealing station (E'), the sealing tools (40, 41) of which have a gap oriented tangentially to the rotating path of the pouches (2) through which the open edges of the tangentially oriented pouches continuously pass and are thereby connected to one another longitudinally to the direction of rotation.
Device according to claim 16, characterised in that the sealing station (E1) has at least one stationary ultrasound sealing device, in particular with a sonotrode (40) and a countertool (41).