EP1623926A2 - Method and machine for producing and filling bags - Google Patents

Abstract

The tubular material (4) is wound off a winding device (2,3,5) and fed to a bag forming apparatus (1). The tubular material or the bags (27) are provided with handle holes in the bag forming apparatus. An independent claim is included for an apparatus for forming and filling bags.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing and filling bags according to claims 1 and 13.

Sacks are manufactured, among others, by so-called "form, fill and seal" machines (hereinafter FFS machines).

These machines, which are shown, inter alia, in the publications DE 199 33 486, EP 534 062, DE 44 23 964, DE 199 20478 and DE 199 36 660, have unwinding devices on which hoses are stored. From these unwinding devices, the hose is unwound and singulated into pieces of tubing. In further operations, tube bottoms are generally formed, contents are filled into the resulting bag, and the bag is closed. The type of bag formation and filling, which is shown in the cited documents, is part of the disclosure of this document. The same applies to the provisions of the term "form, fill and seal" (FFS) machines used in these documents and to the transport of film hoses, film sections and sacks in these machines. As a rule bulk goods are filled with these machines.

As a rule, film hoses are formed for processing on the FFS machines by blown film extrusion, the format of which (here the circumference thereof) coincides with that of the sack formed. However, this procedure leads to the fact that already relatively expensive format changes have to be made at the extrusion plants in order to obtain different ones To be able to realize bag formats. In order to make format changes more cost-effective, very wide film webs are often first produced by flat film extrusion or by blown film extrusion on systems of large format. The resulting film tubes or film webs of large format were then further processed by flat format cutting to flat film webs. Then flattened film webs are folded into a tube and connected by a longitudinal weld to a hose. The described production methods for tubular films are followed by winding devices, which wind the films after their production or after further processing steps (eg the printing) to wind them, which can then be transported in a simple manner.

In bags made from these films, various products are filled. These products, which are filled in the described sacks and with the described FFS machines, also include products of the consumer goods industry. The bags filled with consumer goods are often distributed through the retail sector and are therefore usually of higher value. For easier transport by the end customer, the bags are usually provided with handle holes. Such grip holes are incorporated into the tubular film in known manufacturing processes before being wound up into coils.

However, it proves to be disadvantageous that the length of the later sacks must already be known during the introduction of the grip holes, even if the film is processed into sacks only much later. This leads to an increased inventory, as films for different sack formats must be stored. In addition, it is disadvantageous that grip holes are introduced into the film, which are produced in a continuous process, further processed (eg printed) or wound up. Such manufacturing, processing and winding devices, which are equipped with means for introducing grip holes are mechanically complex and therefore expensive.

The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a method and a device with which bags with handle holes can be produced more cheaply.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a method having the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 and by a device having the features of the characterizing part of claim 10.

Thereafter, it is provided that the tubular material is unwound from a unwinding device and fed to a bag-forming device and that the unwound, tubular material or the bags in the bag-forming device is provided with grip holes.

Handle holes can be formed by cutting out or punching material out of the tubular film. However, even simple cuts can be made in the film, so that tabs arise, which are firmly connected to the rest of the material. The grip holes are defined in this way and arise completely when the tabs are folded over, for example by first grasping the handle holes.

In the method according to the invention, therefore, the grip holes are introduced from the tubular film immediately before, at or even shortly after the production of sacks or pieces of hose. To produce sacks or pieces of hose, the film must be transported intermittently, ie intermittently. Therefore, it is of particular advantage, then make the making of grip holes.

In order to process the tubular material into sacks, it is advantageous to close a sack end by one or more transverse welds over the entire width of the film. Cross welds are particularly easy to form the still tubular material, since this material can still be taken at different locations of grippers or pliers or similar holding means.

For the same reason, it makes sense to also make the grip holes before the material is singulated into pieces of tubing. In this case, the formation of the grip holes can take place before the transverse welds are formed. In addition, the tubular material can be provided with diagonal welds before or after forming the grip holes, which at the later sacks form so-called corner welds, which increase the stability of the sacks.

In an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the sacks in the bag-forming device are also filled. A piece of hose, which is held by retaining means for the purpose of forming transverse seams and grip holes, can be supplied by these or further holding means to a filling device. The time-consuming storing, storing and resuming the hose pieces is eliminated. The transport through the bag forming device advantageously take over as a gripper executed holding means. The grippers can each be present in pairs, wherein they grip around the hose pieces laterally in the region of the upper edge. It may be necessary to transfer the piece of hose from one gripper pair to another gripper pair. For this purpose, transfer positions are provided, where briefly hold both pairs of grippers the hose piece. The transport of the pieces of hose or sacks takes place at least half in the horizontal direction, d. H. that with each movement of the hose pieces or sacks the horizontal distance exceeds the vertical distance.

In the bag forming apparatus, the tubular material may be provided with grip holes during the stoppage phases of the intermittent transport. The tools for providing the film with grip holes in this case, for example, need only be moved perpendicular to the film surface. A movement component of these tools in the transport direction of the film is therefore not necessary. This leads to a mechanically simple embodiment of a device for carrying out the method.

It is advantageous if contour welds are made which surround the grip holes. These contours can then form closed curves on the sheet material. In this way, the grip holes are surrounded by welds, so that later no product can get to the handle holes and escape through them from the bag.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that grip holes, transverse welds and possibly also the other welds are performed simultaneously or at least within a work cycle. In a suitable device all necessary tools are only slightly spaced from each other. Thus, the tools for the transverse welding, the Grifflochbildung and the other welds can be arranged on a tool carrier, which is moved relative to the film. It is understood that the individual tools can also be arranged on several tool carriers. Therefore, for Grifflochbildung only a few other components that are essentially limited to a knife or a punching tool and a counter-position, necessary.

It is particularly advantageous to use a gusseted tube. Although the process can be carried out with a simple tubular film, the gusseted hose offers particular advantages, such as better handling and greater stability.

A device according to the invention has means for providing the tubular material or the bags with grip holes. These means have contour knives, with which the grip holes are generated. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the contour of the contour knife provides an open curve, so that the grip holes consist of tabs which are folded over only when the bag is gripped. By this measure, can be dispensed with the punching of sheet material, so that no waste within the device, which would otherwise be removed with special devices, such as a suction system.

Fig. 1

schlauchförmige Folie mit Seitenfalten und Grifflöchern gemäß dem Stand der Technik

Fig. 2

Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung

Fig. 3

Ausschnitt aus einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung

Fig. 4

Sack, hergestellt nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren

Fig. 5

Sack, hergestellt nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren

Fig. 6

Sack, hergestellt nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren

Fig. 7

Sack, hergestellt nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren

Fig. 8

Sack, hergestellt nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren

Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the claims.
The individual figures show:

Fig. 1

tubular film with gussets and fingerholes according to the prior art

Fig. 2

View of a device according to the invention

Fig. 3

Detail of a device according to the invention

Fig. 4

Sack produced by the process of the invention

Fig. 5

Sack produced by the process of the invention

Fig. 6

Sack produced by the process of the invention

Fig. 7

Sack produced by the process of the invention

Fig. 8

Sack produced by the process of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a tubular film 4 with side gussets 41 according to the prior art, which is located on a winding 3. This film 4 is provided for the production of sacks, which are later filled with a filling material. The tubular film 4 was provided with grip holes 43 prior to winding, to later obtain sacks having grip holes therefrom. The tubular film 4 was also already provided with transverse welds 42. Parallel to these 42, the tubular film 4 is separated later to pieces of tubing 18. These pieces of tubing 18 are later filled and closed with another weld 48. The roll 3 from the tubular film 4 prepared in this way is fed to a further processing device, which produces hose pieces 18 therefrom.

FIG. 2 shows a bag forming device according to the invention. This device 1 comprises a support arm 2, on which a winding 3 with tubular film 4 rests. The tubular film 4 has gussets, not shown. The transport rollers 5, which can also be driven in part, provide for a, usually continuous, development of the tubular film 4. The acted upon by a piston-cylinder unit 10 with a load lever 9, which carries a guide roller 6 and a total is often referred to as a dancer, and the Transport roller 7, 8 and the feed roller pair 15 ensure in a generally known manner that the tubular film 4 is intermittently moved intermittently on their further transport path intermittently. The transport roller 8a is part of a register device 29, with which the length of the transport path of the tubular film 4 can be adapted to the format of the later bags. For this purpose, the transport roller 8a is arranged relative to the device 1 so as to be displaceable. To move is a manual or electric motor operated and known per se spindle drive available.

In the course of its transport through the device 1, the tubular film 4 passes through a station 28 for the introduction of grip holes 43. This station 28 consists essentially of a punching or cutting tool 34 and an abutment 35. The station 28 can also have means for applying welds For example, of diagonal or Eckabschweißungen 46 and / or contour welds have. The punching or cutting process or the welding process takes place during the stoppage phases of the intermittent transport. About further transport rollers 8 provided with handle holes 43 tubular film 4 is conveyed to a cooling station 12, in which the welds are cooled.

With the feed roller pair 15, the tubular film 4 is pushed through the welding jaws 33 of a transverse welding station 13 and through a cross-cutting station 16. The tools of the transverse welding station 13 and the cross cutting station 16 can be moved in a manner not described in detail, for example by a parallelogram 14, in planes orthogonal to the feed direction of the tubular film 4 to and from this. After the grippers 17 have gripped the tubular film 4, a piece of tubing 18 is separated from the tubular film 4 above the gripper 17 in the cross-cutting station 16. At the same time above the cutting edge of the tubular film 4 in the transverse welding station 13, a transverse weld is attached, which the bottom or the head side of the next working cycle the device 1 to be formed hose piece 18 represents. In this context, it should be mentioned that bags with handle holes are advantageously filled from the bottom side so that they do not have to be filled by the area in which the handle holes are located. Accordingly, 13 head seams are generated in the transverse welding station. In general, however, the manufacture of the head or bottom seams may not only be effected by transverse welding, although preferably, but also other joining methods, such as gluing, are conceivable.

The grippers 17 convey the tube piece 18 to a transfer point at which further grippers 19 grasp the tube piece 18 and transport it to a filling station 20. There, the tube piece 18 is transferred to stationary gripper 21 and opened by the suckers 22, so that the contents, which is passed through the filler neck 23, can get into the tube piece 18. The hose piece lies with its lower end on a conveyor belt 24, so that the hose piece 18 is not excessively loaded along its longitudinal edges during the filling process. Further grippers 25 convey the filled tube piece to the head or bottom seam welding station 26, in which the tube piece 18 is closed with a top or bottom weld seam and thus forms a finished bag 27. Also, the closing of the tube piece 18 in its head area can be done by a different joining method. The finished sack is guided out of the device 1 by the conveyor belt 24.

FIG. 3 shows a section of a further embodiment of a device according to the invention with which the method according to the invention can be carried out. This section shows next to the feed roller pair 15, which provides in the manner already described for the transport of the tubular film 4, a transverse welding, Querschneide- and Grifflochstanzstation 31, which takes the place of the transverse welding station 13 and cross cutting station 16 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the station shown in FIG. 2 for the introduction of handle holes 28 can then be omitted. The transverse welding, cross cutting and Grifflochstanzstation 31 has two tool carrier 32, 32 ', which in Direction to the tubular film 4 and can be moved away from this again. These tool carriers 32, 32 'each carry two transverse welding bars 33, whereby a transverse weld seam can be attached to the tubular film 4 by cooperation between two opposing transverse welding bars 33. Furthermore, a punching or cutting tool 34 is attached to the tool carrier 32 '. This provides for the introduction of a handle hole 43 in the tubular film 4. On the tool holder 32, a counter-layer 35 is attached to support the film 4 during the punching or cutting process. For punching or cutting, it may be necessary for the punching or cutting tool 34 to travel a distance that extends beyond the path of the tool carrier 32 '. Therefore, the punching or cutting tool 34 can be displaced by a displacement unit 36 relative to the tool carrier 32 '. Advantageously, a piston-cylinder unit is used as a displacement unit 36. With the cross-cutting blade 37 of the tubular film 4, which is also provided with the cross-cutting with transverse welds and handle holes, a piece of tubing 18 separated, which was provided in the previous power stroke with transverse welds and handle holes. In order to be able to hold the tubular film 4 as centrally as possible between the tool carriers 32, 32 'and the tools 33, 34, 35, 37 directly before the processing, these 4 are gripped by gripper pairs 38 and 39 shortly before.

Fig. 4 shows a bag 27 which is not operated with a device 1 according to Figure 2, in which a transverse welding, Querschneide- and Grifflochstanzstation 31, and the station for attaching the station for the introduction of handle holes 28 is not operated not available. This bag 27 has gussets 41. It should again be noted that the invention also relates to a method and a device with which also tubular material can be processed without gussets. In the transverse welding, cross cutting and punch hole punching station 31, two transverse weld seams 42 were attached to the bag 27 or to the tubular bag 4 forming the later bag 27, which extend over the entire width of the bag 27. Between these transverse welds 42, a grip hole 43 has been inserted into the tubular film 4. This grip hole 43 consists of a section representing an open curve. The cut can be interrupted with webs, so that the tab formed by the cut remains in the plane of the film material until the bag is first grasped by the grip hole 43. In this way, a disturbance of a subsequent transport or stacking operation is avoided. The illustrated arrangement of the transverse welds 42 and the handle hole 43 prevents the contents, which is filled through the lower end 44 of the bag 27, escapes again through the handle hole 43. After filling the bag 27, this is closed in the top or bottom seam welding station 26 (see FIG. 2) with a bottom weld seam 45.

FIG. 5 shows a further bag 27 which can be produced by the method according to the invention and in a device 1 according to the invention. This bag 27 corresponds to the bag shown in FIG. 4, but supplemented by further welds. These further welds are corner welds 46 and longitudinal weld seams 47. The corner welds 46 and the longitudinal weld seams 47 at the lower end 44 of the bag 27 are advantageously applied prior to filling the bag. Eckabschweißungen 46 and longitudinal welds 47 can be provided especially in heavy material to minimize the forces on the points in which meet the transverse welds 42, 45 with the outer edges of the bag, which are usually weak points of a bag 27.

FIG. 6 shows a variation of a bag according to FIG. 5. In this case, the weld seam 42 (see FIG. 4) spaced from the head end extends only between the longitudinal weld seams 47. In this way, crossover points between a transverse weld seam and the outer edges of the bag 27 can be saved ,

FIG. 7 shows a further bag 27. In this case, the weld seam 42 (see FIG. 4) spaced from the head end was dispensed with. However, so that no filling material can escape through the grip hole 43, this 43 is surrounded by a weld 48, which forms a closed curve, which may be elliptical, for example.

FIG. 8 shows a variation of the bag 27 of FIG. 7. Here, the weld seam 48 does not form a closed curve but an open curve which begins and ends at the transverse weld seam 42. Thus, the handle hole 43 is completely surrounded by welds here, so that no filling material can escape. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 1 Device for producing and filling bags 2 Beam 3 reel 4 foil 5 transport roller 6 deflecting 7 transport roller 8, 8a transport roller 9 lever 10 Piston-cylinder unit 11 12 cooling station 13 Cross welding station 14 parallelogram 15 Feed roller pair 16 Cross-cutting station 17 grab 18 hose Connector 19 grab 20 filling station 21 Stationary gripper 22 sucker 23 filling 24 conveyor belt 25 grab 26 Head or bottom seam welding station 27 bag 28 Station for introducing grip holes 29 register device 30 31 Cross welding, cross cutting and handle punching station 32, 32 ' tool carrier 33 welding bars 34 Punching or cutting tool 35 counter support 36 displacement unit 37 Sheeter knives 38 gripper pair 39 gripper pair 40 41 gusseted 42 transverse weld 43 handle hole 44 lower end 45 bottom weld 46 corner welding 47 longitudinal weld 48 Weld

Claims (17)

Method for producing and filling sacks with handle holes (43), which are formed from tubular material (4),
characterized, - That the tubular material (4) by a unwinding device (2, 3, 5) unwound and a bag forming device (1) is supplied, and - That the unwound, tubular material (4) or the bags (27) in the bag-forming device (1) with handle holes (43) is provided. Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the bag formation in the bag forming device (1) is made by forming a sack end by transverse welds (42, 45) in the tube-like material (4). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bag formation in the bag forming device (1) is made by singulating the tubular material (4) into pieces of tubing (18) after the tubular material (4) has been provided with handle holes (43). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
also the filling of the bags (27) in the bag forming device (1) is made. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the tube pieces (18) or sacks (27) are transported by grippers (17, 19, 25) during at least part of their travel in the bag forming device (1). Method according to the preceding claim,
characterized in that
the grippers (17,19,25) engage around the hose pieces (18) or the bags (27) in the region of their outer edges (31), the hose piece (18) or the bag (27) hanging down. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the tube pieces (18) or sacks (27) are transported horizontally at least halfway. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the tubular material (4) in the bag forming device (1) is provided with grip holes (43) during the stoppage phases of the intermittent transport. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the tubular material is provided with diagonal welds (46). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the tubular material (4) is provided with contour welds (48) to form closed curves (48) surrounding the handle holes (43). Method according to one of claims 2 to 8,
characterized in that
the tubular material (4) is provided within a working cycle at least with transverse welds (42) and handle holes (43). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
as a tubular material (4) a gusseted tube is used. Device (1) for producing and filling sacks (27) with handle holes (43), which can be produced from tubular material (4),
marked by - A unwinding device (2, 3, 5), of which the material (4) from which the bags (27) are made, in the form of tubular material (4) of the device is supplied and - Means (28, 34, 35, 36) for providing the tubular material (4) or the bags (27) with handle holes (43). Device (1) according to the preceding claim,
characterized in that
the means (28, 34, 35, 36) for providing the tubular material (4) or the bags (27) with handle holes (43) have a contour knife (34). Device according to the preceding claim,
characterized in that
the contour of the contour cutter (34) represents an open curve. Device according to one of the three preceding claims,
characterized in that
at least one tool carrier (32, 32 ') is provided, which carries at least the means (28, 34, 35, 36) for providing the tubular material (4) or the bags (27) with grip holes (43) and which (32, 32; 32 ') in the direction of the tubular material (4) on and away from this again is movable. Device according to the preceding claim,
characterized in that
the tool carrier (32, 32 ') additionally carries welding means (33) for producing transverse weld seams (42) and cutting means (37) for separating the tubular material (4) into hose pieces (18).

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